Patents Examined by John B. Vigushin
  • Patent number: 8031111
    Abstract: A format for providing messages among GNSS apparatus includes providing a message identification block and a message body. The message identification block includes information specifying a message length and a message type block specifying a message type. Rather than sending all data from one apparatus to another, ambiguous observation data is sent to conserve bandwidth. At the sender a deconstruction of GNSS code and carrier observations using knowledge of the signal structure and constellation geometry, together with simplifications of atmospheric models, allows removal from the observation data of that information which can be implicitly understood or recreated by the recipient. This enables only the necessary information to be packed for transmission to the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kendall Ferguson, Benjamin W. Remondi, Michael Timo Allison, Michael Albright
  • Patent number: 8022869
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cross-correlation spur mitigation comprising choosing from a plurality of peak measurements, a first peak measurement with a first carrier-to-noise density estimate and a first Doppler offset measurement, and a second peak measurement with a second carrier-to-noise density estimate and a second Doppler offset measurement to form a pair; calculating a carrier-to-noise density difference based on the first carrier-to-noise density estimate and the second carrier-to-noise density estimate; calculating a Doppler difference based on the first Doppler offset measurement and the second Doppler offset measurement; comparing the carrier-to-noise density difference to a carrier-to-noise density threshold; and comparing the Doppler difference to at least one Doppler threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jie Wu, Rizwan Ahmed, Emilija M. Simic, Dominic Gerard Farmer
  • Patent number: 8013786
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for limiting the functionality of a mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver configured to determine a GNSS Doppler frequency shift measurement corresponding to a GNSS signal. A control component is configured to control an operation of the mobile electronic device in response to a control signal which is generated when the GNSS Doppler frequency shift measurement is used to determine that the speed of the mobile electronic device exceeds a speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: David Gildea
  • Patent number: 7990307
    Abstract: The integrity of operation of a GPS precision aircraft approach and landing system may be compromised by error producing effects of reflected multipath signals. An integrity monitor antenna system as disclosed may utilize both attenuation and shadowing of reflected multipath GPS signals to achieve extreme multipath mitigation of the order of 50 dB suppression. An antenna with a right-hand circular polarization pattern having a sharp cut off at the horizon may provide 30 dB suppression of reflected multipath signals. A signal absorbent ground plane bed of defined dimensions may provide 20 dB attenuation of incident multipath signals. A signal/processor may be employed to derive position error data for integrity monitoring, based upon differentials between a known fixed location and a current GPS-indicated location. Communication of identification of a subset of particular GPS satellites for common usage may also reduce potential error levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred R. Lopez
  • Patent number: 7990314
    Abstract: A method and system for locating and positioning using broadcast frequency modulation (FM) signals, is provided. One implementation involves receiving FM stereo signals from three FM stations at one or more receivers, each stereo signal including a modulated 19 KHz FM pilot tone; and determining a geographical position at each receiver based on the phase difference of the demodulated pilot tones in the received FM signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Henry H. Liao
  • Patent number: 7982672
    Abstract: A reception device includes a receiver, a direction detector, a location information acquisition component and a location calculator. The receiver receives broadcast signals sent from transmission towers, respectively. The direction detector detects reception directions of the broadcast signals. The location information acquisition component acquires location information indicating locations where the transmission towers are installed, respectively. The location calculator selects at least three of the transmission towers, estimate at least two estimated areas in which the reception device is located with each of the at least two of the estimated areas being estimated based on the reception directions of the broadcast signals of two of the at least three of the transmission towers and the location information of the two of the at least three of the transmission towers, and calculate a location of the reception device based on the at least two of the estimated areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Fuimoto
  • Patent number: 7978132
    Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) signal data converter device includes a plurality of output ports configured to connect with and transmit GPS information to devices connected with the output ports, and a processor configured to receive GPS information in a first format, convert the GPS information from the first format into a second format, and to transmit the GPS information to at least two output ports in the first and second formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Louis Jasper, Michael Banks, Mark Wulffert
  • Patent number: 7978130
    Abstract: A practical method for adding new high-performance, tightly integrated Nav-Com capability to any Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) user equipment requires no hardware modifications to the existing user equipment. In one example, the iGPS concept is applied to a Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) and combines Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites, such as Iridium, with GPS or other GNSS systems to significantly improve the accuracy, integrity, and availability of Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) and to enable new communication enhancements made available by the synthesis of precisely coupled navigation and communication modes. To achieve time synchronization stability between the existing DAGR and a plug-in iGPS enhancement module, a special-purpose wideband reference signal is generated by the iGPS module and coupled to the DAGR via the existing antenna port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Coherent Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark E. Cohen, Todd E. Humphreys, Brent M. Ledvina, William J. Bencze, Mark L. Psiaki, Bryan T. Galusha
  • Patent number: 7973708
    Abstract: The present invention provides a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) based positioning system and tracking method using a data communication network. When a GNSS-based positioning device is connected to a data communication network, the positioning device transfers the GNSS digital data and supplementary information used for additional performance improvement to a location tracking server through the data communication network, the location tracking server calculates a position of the positioning device with improved receiver sensitivity based on plentiful computational resources available at the location tracking server. Thus, the positioning device may find its location of even in very poor signal condition. Further, the present invention provides a positioning system and method using a data communication network, which may achieve time synchronization when there is a need to extract not only position information but also absolute timing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Telace Inc.
    Inventors: Hun Lee, Jin Hee Han, Jeong Goo Lee, No Hyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 7973711
    Abstract: Methods of operating a satellite navigation system (SNS) receiver in a portable electronic device according to some embodiments include determining the presence or absence of a low frequency signal associated with power distribution lines, and disabling the SNS receiver in response to detecting the low frequency signal associated with power distribution lines. The methods may further include detecting weakening of a satellite navigation signal, and determining the presence or absence of a low frequency signal associated with power distribution lines may be performed in response to a detected weakening of the satellite navigation signal. Related devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Jacobus Cornelis Haartsen, Frank Hooijschuur, William O. Camp, Jr., Charles Liu
  • Patent number: 7973706
    Abstract: To maintain the safety by avoiding deterioration in the positioning accuracy through making SBAS satellite navigation data used in a ground system and in an airborne system consistent by employing GBAS. The system includes: a ground system which estimates errors contained in ranging signals received from the navigation satellites, and formats and transmits correction information for correcting the estimated errors; and an airborne system which calculates differential GPS positioning based on the ranging signals received from the navigation satellites and the formatted correction information, and displays a displacement from a regulated route. The ground system notifies update, when SBAS satellite navigation data used for generating the correction information is updated, by adding information regarding update of navigation data to the correction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kazushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7952518
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to various embodiments provide for navigation in attenuated environments by integrating satellite signals with Internet hotspot signals. In one embodiment, a receiver unit adapted to perform geolocation comprises an antenna adapted to receive a precision time signal from a satellite and receive additional aiding information from a wireless network station, wherein the precision time signal comprises a periodic repeating code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David A. Whelan, Robert W. Brumley, Gregory M. Gutt, Barton G. Ferrell
  • Patent number: 7940210
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating corrections to a navigation solution based on differential GPS data includes receiving GPS ephemeris from at least three GPS satellites. A PVT solution is resolved from the GPS ephemeris. The PVT solution includes a Circular Error Probable (CEP). Differential GPS data for calculating the corrections to the PVT solution is received. A corrected PVT solution is then based upon the differential GPS data. The corrected PVT solution is compared to an area defined by the CEP. Where the corrected PVT solution is not within the area, the corrected PVT solution is rejected in favor of the PVT solution for determining an accurate navigational solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Fly, Kenneth S. Morgan, James D. Waid, Martin P. Ignac
  • Patent number: 7932856
    Abstract: A satellite signal reception device has a reception unit that receives a satellite signal transmitted from a positioning information satellite, and a reception control component that controls the reception unit to execute a reception process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norimitsu Baba
  • Patent number: 7928904
    Abstract: A signal acquiring method of a GPS receiver and a digital camera thereof, suitable for accelerating a signal acquiring speed of the GPS receiver, are described. The signal acquiring method includes the following steps receiving a plurality of satellite signals; performing a discrete cosine transform (DCT) demodulation procedure, so as to parse a receiving time base of the satellite signals; next, transforming the satellite signals into a code information and a navigation frequency according to the receiving time base of the satellite signals; then, performing a correlation correction procedure to acquire a navigation information from the satellite signals according to the code information and the navigation frequency; which thus accelerates the processing speed on the signal acquiring flow through calculation characteristics of the DCT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventor: Chao-Hui Huang
  • Patent number: 7269028
    Abstract: A method of routing or laying out signal traces on printed wire or circuit board in order to improve signal transmission quality. The method includes routing a given signal trace such that it is electrically connected to a rectangular corner of a substantially wider component pin pad and forms an angle of approximately 135 degrees with the proximate sides of the pad, thereby minimizing the impedance discontinuity at the interface or junction of the signal trace and pad and hence minimizing the reflection of the digital signal at the interface or junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Celestica, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacqueline V. Csonka, Ignatius T. Chong
  • Patent number: 7245507
    Abstract: A microprocessor packaging architecture using a modular circuit board assembly that provides power to a microprocessor while also providing for integrated thermal and electromagnetic interference (EMI) is disclosed. The modular circuit board assembly comprises a substrate, having a component mounted thereon, a circuit board, including a circuit for supplying power to the component, and at least one conductive interconnect device disposed between the substrate and the circuit board, the conductive interconnect device configured to electrically couple the circuit to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph T. DiBene, II, David H. Hartke, James J. Hjerpe Kaskade, Carl E. Hoge
  • Patent number: 7235886
    Abstract: A chip-join process to reduce elongation mismatch between the adherents involves thermally expanding each of a coefficient of thermal expansion mismatched semiconductor chip and substrate a substantially equal amount from their room temperature state in a direction along surfaces thereof to be joined by soldering. The thermally expanded semiconductor chip and substrate are then soldered to one another forming a plurality of soldered joints, and then cooled to room temperature. The process enables elongation mismatch from soldering to be reduced to less than half that expected based up cooling the substrate and semiconductor chip from the solder solidification temperature following soldering, thereby reducing post soldering residual stress, residual plastic deformation in the soldered joints, residual plastic deformation in the substrate, and semiconductor chip warpage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Biju Chandran, Carlos A. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 7215016
    Abstract: A multi-chips stacked package mainly comprises a substrate, a first lower chip, a second lower chip, an upper chip and a carrier. The substrate has an upper surface, and the first lower chip and the second lower chip are disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the substrate. The carrier is disposed on and electrically connected to the first lower chip and the second lower chip simultaneously, and the upper chip is mounted on the carrier. Moreover, the upper chip is electrically connected to the substrate through the carrier, the first lower chip or the second lower chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Fei Wang
  • Patent number: 7202420
    Abstract: Methods and associated apparatus of reducing stress in a package are described in which a package is provided comprising an array of interconnects that are connected to a substrate, and then reducing the stress of the interconnects located near a weak area in the package, during flexure of the substrate, by spring loading the weak area of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Biju I. Chandran