Patents by Inventor David S. Sprague

David S. Sprague has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5661652
    Abstract: A network comprises a plurality of GPS navigation receivers with two-way radio data communication for communicating the current computed positions of individual mobile units to other mobile units in the network and to stationary dispatch controllers connected in by the public switched telephone network. Ordinary telephone personal pager service is carried out transparently in the network for non-GPS equipped mobile units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: David S. Sprague, Arthur N. Woo
  • Patent number: 5642285
    Abstract: A GPS navigation receiver with a data output port for communicating a position estimate frame-by-frame and time codes in SMPTE format. The conventional date and time sentence output of the GPS navigation receiver is combined with a highly-accurate one pulse-per-second (.+-.one microsecond) to form a time-keeping base for the time code output. A data-logger records the position estimates with their corresponding time in time code format frame-by-frame in a database. The recorded position estimates are then used in special-effects post-production to direct the special-effects animation, modeling kinetics, etc., in a composite, final film or video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Arthur N. Woo, David S. Sprague
  • Patent number: 5596500
    Abstract: A combination of a GPS receiver for determining a user's position in terms of latitude and longitude, a database that indexes approximately 53,000 USGS 7.5 minute series topographical quadrangle maps by the latitude and longitude of at least one point on each map, and an interpreter and display that communicates the particular USGS map that represents the user's position together with the ruler dimensions left/right/up/down from a reference point on that map which pinpoints the user's position on the map. The database is stored in the permanent memory of the GPS receiver and the interpreter and display are controller by a microcomputer included in the GPS receiver. The reference points include sixteen intersections on the map of 2.5 minute intervals of latitude and longitude contained in each 7.5 minute series quadrangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: David S. Sprague, Arthur N. Woo
  • Patent number: 5479351
    Abstract: A GPS receiver comprises a data output port for communicating time code information formatted according to standards published by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineer (SMPTE). Such time code information is input to independent sound, film and video recorders at a performance event to create tracks on each recording for re-synchronizing the pictures and sounds in post-performance editing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Arthur Woo, David S. Sprague
  • Patent number: 5450344
    Abstract: A GPS receiver comprises a data input/output port for communication of datum-less position fixes in an earth-centered, earth-fixed (ECEF) coordinate style to avoid the errors associated with not communicating the datum choice with latitude longitude data communication formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Arthur Woo, David S. Sprague
  • Patent number: 5422814
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a GPS receiver including a conversion table memory index for storing latitude-longitude lookup conversions to standardized map coordinates and scale factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: David S. Sprague, Anil Tiwari, Arthur Woo
  • Patent number: 5422816
    Abstract: A data/voice modem embodiment of the present invention comprises an asynchronous-to-synchronous data converter for interface with a GPS receiver, a minimum space keyed modem, and a continuous tone controlled sub-audible squelch controller that modulates a radio transceiver interface with a discrete tone such that both voice and data may share a common radio channel. The data/voice modem periodically keys-up the radio transmitter through its interface and transmits a packet of information that contains user position and velocity obtained through the GPS transceiver interface and adds a user identification code and time tag. Incoming message packets from the radio transceiver that are sent from other similarly equipped mobile units are used to supply individual network member absolute positions and velocities, and this information is stored by user identification number as goal or waypoint equivalents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: David S. Sprague, Arthur Woo