Patents by Inventor Shawn Weisenburge

Shawn Weisenburge 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: 12374797
    Abstract: A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) patch antenna can include a middle laminate, a top laminate, a bottom laminate, and a ground well. The middle laminate can include a first side and a second side. The top laminate can be coupled to the middle laminate and can be positioned on the first side of the middle laminate. The top laminate can include an electrically conductive antenna element configured to receive GNSS signals. The bottom laminate can be coupled to the middle laminate and can be positioned on the second side of the middle laminate. The ground well can cover exposed surfaces of the bottom laminate and exposed portions of the second side of the middle laminate and can comprise electrically conductive material. Some of the surface of the middle laminate that is covered by the bottom laminate can be free from the electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: John Atkinson, Shawn Weisenburger, Gregory Wallace
  • Patent number: 12339374
    Abstract: A receiver system for determining coordinates of a location can include two GNSS receiver antennas positioned in fixed relation to each other and separated by a short baseline. Signals received from the two receiver antennas can be processed to define a “virtual” antenna located at the midpoint between the two receiver antennas. For instance, a location can be determined for each receiver antenna using GNSS-based techniques, and the locations of the two antennas can be used to determine a location of the virtual antenna. As another example, GNSS observables from the two antennas can be combined to provide a set of “virtual” observables for the virtual antenna, and GNSS-based techniques can be applied to the virtual observables to determine a location of the virtual antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Clare, Shawn Weisenburger, Greg Wallace, Gleb Zyryanov
  • Patent number: 12313752
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus are provided for determining the amount of obstruction of a view of a satellite. An estimated satellite location from a satellite signal is mapped to a matrix of obstructions. A window is determined around the satellite location and all the obstructions within the window are considered in determining whether the satellite is obstructed, with the window considering the degree of possible error within the various measurements. In embodiments, the window size if varied based on the estimated amount of error and location of the satellite within the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Clare, Shawn Weisenburger, Yu Jiao
  • Publication number: 20240421488
    Abstract: A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) patch antenna can include a middle laminate, a top laminate, a bottom laminate, and a ground well. The middle laminate can include a first side and a second side. The top laminate can be coupled to the middle laminate and can be positioned on the first side of the middle laminate. The top laminate can include an electrically conductive antenna element configured to receive GNSS signals. The bottom laminate can be coupled to the middle laminate and can be positioned on the second side of the middle laminate. The ground well can cover exposed surfaces of the bottom laminate and exposed portions of the second side of the middle laminate and can comprise electrically conductive material. Some of the surface of the middle laminate that is covered by the bottom laminate can be free from the electrically conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: John Atkinson, Shawn Weisenburger, Gregory Wallace
  • Publication number: 20240219581
    Abstract: A device for determining coordinates of a location can include two GNSS receiver antennas positioned in fixed relation to each other and separated by a short baseline. Signals received from the two receiver antennas can be processed to estimate a degree to a multipath effect may be impairing reliability of observables extracted from the received signals. Where both antennas observe signals at the same carrier frequency from the same satellite, each antenna can determine a carrier phase, and a single-difference carrier phase (SDCP) can be computed and used to estimate multipath effects. Where both antennas observe signals at two (or more) carrier frequencies from the same satellite, a “geometry-free” SDCP can be computed and used to estimate multipath effects. Observations of different satellites can be weighted based on the estimated multipath effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Clare, Shawn Weisenburger, Greg Wallace
  • Publication number: 20240219576
    Abstract: A receiver system for determining coordinates of a location can include two GNSS receiver antennas positioned in fixed relation to each other and separated by a short baseline. Signals received from the two receiver antennas can be processed to define a “virtual” antenna located at the midpoint between the two receiver antennas. For instance, a location can be determined for each receiver antenna using GNSS-based techniques, and the locations of the two antennas can be used to determine a location of the virtual antenna. As another example, GNSS observables from the two antennas can be combined to provide a set of “virtual” observables for the virtual antenna, and GNSS-based techniques can be applied to the virtual observables to determine a location of the virtual antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Clare, Shawn Weisenburger, Greg Wallace, Gleb Zyryanov
  • Publication number: 20240168175
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus are provided for determining the amount of obstruction of a view of a satellite. An estimated satellite location from a satellite signal is mapped to a matrix of obstructions. A window is determined around the satellite location and all the obstructions within the window are considered in determining whether the satellite is obstructed, with the window considering the degree of possible error within the various measurements. In embodiments, the window size if varied based on the estimated amount of error and location of the satellite within the matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Clare, Shawn Weisenburger, Yu Jiao
  • Patent number: 11536857
    Abstract: A surveying pole is part of a primary surveying system (e.g., a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or a total station). Cameras are mounted to the surveying pole and used for ground tracking as the survey pole is moved from a place where the primary surveying system is unimpeded to an environment where the primary surveying system is impaired (e.g., to a GNSS-impaired environment or to a position that is blocked from view of the total station). Using ground tracking and/or other sensors, surveying can be continued even though the primary surveying system is impaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory C. Best, Shawn Weisenburger
  • Patent number: 11513237
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for processing satellite signals for computing a geospatial position. A plurality of GNSS signals are received from a plurality of GNSS satellites. An image is captured using an imaging device at least partially oriented toward the plurality of GNSS satellites. The image is segmented into a plurality of regions based on RF characteristics of objects in the image. An orientation of the image is determined. The plurality of GNSS satellites are projected onto the image based on the orientation of the image such that a corresponding region is identified for each of the plurality of GNSS satellites. Each of the plurality of GNSS signals is processed in accordance with the corresponding region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Weisenburger, Gregory Wallace
  • Publication number: 20220018973
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for processing satellite signals for computing a geospatial position. A plurality of GNSS signals are received from a plurality of GNSS satellites. An image is captured using an imaging device at least partially oriented toward the plurality of GNSS satellites. The image is segmented into a plurality of regions based on RF characteristics of objects in the image. An orientation of the image is determined. The plurality of GNSS satellites are projected onto the image based on the orientation of the image such that a corresponding region is identified for each of the plurality of GNSS satellites. Each of the plurality of GNSS signals is processed in accordance with the corresponding region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Shawn Weisenburger, Gregory Wallace
  • Patent number: 11175134
    Abstract: A surveying pole is part of a primary surveying system (e.g., a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or a total station). Cameras are mounted to the surveying pole and used for ground tracking as the survey pole is moved from a place where the primary surveying system is unimpeded to an environment where the primary surveying system is impaired (e.g., to a GNSS-impaired environment or to a position that is blocked from view of the total station). Using ground tracking and/or other sensors, surveying can be continued even though the primary surveying system is impaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Weisenburger, Gregory C. Best
  • Publication number: 20210190488
    Abstract: A surveying pole is part of a primary surveying system (e.g., a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or a total station). Cameras are mounted to the surveying pole and used for ground tracking as the survey pole is moved from a place where the primary surveying system is unimpeded to an environment where the primary surveying system is impaired (e.g., to a GNSS-impaired environment or to a position that is blocked from view of the total station). Using ground tracking and/or other sensors, surveying can be continued even though the primary surveying system is impaired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Shawn Weisenburger, Gregory C. Best
  • Publication number: 20210190969
    Abstract: A surveying pole is part of a primary surveying system (e.g., a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or a total station). Cameras are mounted to the surveying pole and used for ground tracking as the survey pole is moved from a place where the primary surveying system is unimpeded to an environment where the primary surveying system is impaired (e.g., to a GNSS-impaired environment or to a position that is blocked from view of the total station). Using ground tracking and/or other sensors, surveying can be continued even though the primary surveying system is impaired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Gregory C. Best, Shawn Weisenburger
  • Patent number: 9247239
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for defining a search range for conjugate points in a set of images. In one technique, an intra-overlap area in two images can be used to define a search range in which a conjugate point can be found; in an aspect, this search range might be expressed as a distance range from a station at which one or both of the two images were captured. That distance range can be used to narrow the search range in an image captured from another station, substantially reducing both the computation time to identify a conjugate match and the likelihood of identifying an incorrect match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Shaojun He, Shawn Weisenburger
  • Publication number: 20140375773
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for defining a search range for conjugate points in a set of images. In one technique, an intra-overlap area in two images can be used to define a search range in which a conjugate point can be found; in an aspect, this search range might be expressed as a distance range from a station at which one or both of the two images were captured. That distance range can be used to narrow the search range in an image captured from another station, substantially reducing both the computation time to identify a conjugate match and the likelihood of identifying an incorrect match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Shaojun He, Shawn Weisenburger
  • Patent number: 8903163
    Abstract: A method for determining a location of a target includes, at a first location, determining first location coordinates of a measuring device using one or more GNSS signals, determining a first gravitational direction, and capturing a first image using the camera. The method also includes, at a second location, determining second location coordinates of the measuring device, and capturing a second image. The method further includes determining a plurality of correspondence points between the first and second images, determining a first plurality of image coordinates for the plurality of correspondence points in the first image, determining a second plurality of image coordinates for the plurality of correspondence points in the second image, and determining the location of the target using at least the first plurality of image coordinates, the second plurality of image coordinates, and the first gravitational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Sharp, Shawn Weisenburger
  • Publication number: 20140044341
    Abstract: A method for determining a location of a target includes, at a first location, determining first location coordinates of a measuring device using one or more GNSS signals, determining a first gravitational direction, and capturing a first image using the camera. The method also includes, at a second location, determining second location coordinates of the measuring device, and capturing a second image. The method further includes determining a plurality of correspondence points between the first and second images, determining a first plurality of image coordinates for the plurality of correspondence points in the first image, determining a second plurality of image coordinates for the plurality of correspondence points in the second image, and determining the location of the target using at least the first plurality of image coordinates, the second plurality of image coordinates, and the first gravitational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED
    Inventors: KEVIN SHARP, Shawn Weisenburge
  • Patent number: 8358242
    Abstract: A computer apparatus for post positioning with a selected precision. The apparatus includes a GNSS post processor to post process reference GNSS carrier phases from a reference system and rover GNSS carrier phases from a rover receiver to compute a secure position for the rover receiver not available to a user. The apparatus includes a random process generator to generate a sequence of offset vectors to dither the secure position according to a computed dither level to provide the selected precision for a user-available position for the rover receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Charles Talbot, Shawn Weisenburger, David G. Bird
  • Patent number: 8199049
    Abstract: A computer apparatus for post positioning with a selected precision. The apparatus includes a GNSS post processor to post process reference GNSS carrier phases from a reference system and rover GNSS carrier phases from a rover receiver to compute a secure position for the rover receiver not available to a user. The apparatus includes a vector offset generator to use the selected precision to compute a dither level for offset vectors to degrade an intrinsic precision of the secure position to provide a user-available position for the rover receiver at the selected precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Charles Talbot, Shawn Weisenburger, David G. Bird
  • Patent number: 8044852
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein recite methods and systems for position determination based on hybrid pseudorange solution data. In one embodiment, navigation satellite system (NSS) pseudorange data is received for high yield pseudoranges. In addition, NSS pseudorange data is received for high accuracy pseudoranges. The high accuracy pseudoranges and selected ones of the high yield pseudoranges utilized by a hybrid PVT processor to determine a hybrid NSS-based location solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Jim Green, Shawn Weisenburger