Patents by Inventor Ulrich Vollath
Ulrich Vollath 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).
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Patent number: 8395542Abstract: Control systems and methods that provide a high degree of vertical measurement accuracy for a body in motion are disclosed. The systems employ an inertial sensor system for vertical measurement and a Global Navigation Satellite System that includes multipath reduction or attenuation to provide corrected vertical information for a moving body to the inertial sensor system. The combination of these systems enables the maintenance of an accurate vertical position for said body.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: Bruno Scherzinger, Ulrich Vollath
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Patent number: 8368590Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of GNSS signals are obtained from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites (120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector at least comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals (140). The filter estimates float value for each float ambiguity of the state vector. Integer values are assigned to at least a subgroup of the estimated float values to define a plurality of integer ambiguity candidate sets (160). A first number of candidate sets is selected having a quality measure better than a first threshold, wherein the first threshold is determined based on a reference quality measure of a reference candidate set (180). A weighted average of the selected candidate sets is formed, each candidate set weighted in the weighted average based on its quality measure (200).Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: Ulrich Vollath, Nicholas Charles Talbot
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Patent number: 8368591Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of a GNSS signal from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites are obtained (2120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals (2140). The filter estimates a float value for each float ambiguity of the state vector and co-variance values associated with the state vector. Integer values are assigned to at least a subgroup of the estimated float values to define a plurality of integer ambiguity candidate sets (2160). A weighted average of the candidate sets is formed (2200). A formal precision value based on covariance values of the filter is determined (2205), the formal precision value being a measure for an achievable precision. An achieved precision value of the weighted average is determined (2210).Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: Nicholas Charles Talbot, Ulrich Vollath
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Publication number: 20120306694Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospheric delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias per satellite. Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented in which a GNSS receiver is operated to obtain multi-frequency code and carrier observations and correction data, to create rover corrections from the correction data, and to determine a precise rover position using the rover observations and the rover corrections.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITEDInventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
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Publication number: 20120293367Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospheric delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias per satellite. Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented in which a GNSS receiver is operated to obtain multi-frequency code and carrier observations and correction data, to create rover corrections from the correction data, and to determine a precise rover position using the rover observations and the rover corrections.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITEDInventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
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Publication number: 20120286991Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospher?c delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias per satellite. Methods and apparatus for determining a precise position of a rover located within a region are presented in which a GNSS receiver is operated to obtain multi-frequency code and carrier observations and correction data, to create rover corrections from the correction data, and to determine a precise rover position using the rover observations and the rover corrections.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITEDInventors: Xiaoming Chen, Ulrich Vollath, Kendall Ferguson
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Publication number: 20120232724Abstract: In a method for refining a position estimate of a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite a first position estimate of a LEO satellite is obtained with a GNSS receiver on-board the LEO satellite. The first position estimate is communicated to a Virtual Reference Station (VRS) processor. VRS corrections are received at the LEO satellite, the VRS corrections having been calculated for the first position estimate by the VRS processor. The VRS corrections are processed on-board the LEO satellite such that a VRS corrected LEO satellite position estimate of the LEO satellite is generated for the first position estimate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Inventors: James M. Janky, Nicholas C. Talbot, Ulrich Vollath, Bruce D. Riter
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Publication number: 20120229332Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reporting quality of GNSS position fixes. A desired quality mode selection is obtained. Position fixes with respective precision estimates and satellite tracking information are obtained. For each of a plurality of position fixes a current positioning quality is determined, based on the precision estimates and satellite tracking information and quality mode selection. Current positioning quality is reported. The quality selection can be a preference of availability over accuracy, or accuracy over availability, or a balance of availability and accuracy.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITEDInventors: Ulrich Vollath, Sidharth Nair, Jesus Michael Martinez, Greg Price, Glenn Waterland, Mark Gibson
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Patent number: 8260551Abstract: In a method for refining a position estimate of a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite a first position estimate of a LEO satellite is obtained with a GNSS receiver on-board the LEO satellite. The first position estimate is communicated to a Virtual Reference Station (VRS) processor. VRS corrections are received at the LEO satellite, the VRS corrections having been calculated for the first position estimate by the VRS processor. The VRS corrections are processed on-board the LEO satellite such that a VRS corrected LEO satellite position estimate of the LEO satellite is generated for the first position estimate.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: James M. Janky, Nicholas C. Talbot, Ulrich Vollath, Bruce D. Riter
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Patent number: 8237609Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for determining a position of an antenna of a GNSS rover from observations of GNSS signals collected at the antenna over multiple epochs and from correction data for at least one of the epochs. A first-epoch rover position relative to a base location is determined for a first epoch using a single-differencing process based on one of (i) fixed carrier-phase ambiguities and (ii) a weighted average of carrier-phase ambiguity candidates which is converged to a predetermined threshold. A second-epoch rover position relative to a base location is determined for a second epoch using a single-differencing process. A second-epoch update of the first-epoch rover position relative to the base location is determined for the second epoch using a single-differenced delta phase process and the first-epoch rover position is combined with the second-epoch update to obtain a second-epoch delta phase rover position relative to a moving base location of the second epoch.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: Nicholas Charles Talbot, Ulrich Vollath
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Patent number: 8232917Abstract: A method of generating post-mission position and orientation data comprises generating position and orientation data representing positions and orientations of a mobile platform, based on global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data and inertial navigation system (INS) data acquired during a data acquisition period by the mobile platform, using a network real-time kinematic (RTK) subsystem to generate correction data associated with the data acquisition period, and correcting the position and orientation data based on the correction data. The RTK subsystem may implement a virtual reference station (VRS) technique to generate the correction data.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: Bruno M. Scherzinger, Joseph J. Hutton, Ulrich Vollath
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Publication number: 20120154215Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for determining position of a rover antenna, comprising: obtaining rover GNSS data derived from code observations and carrier phase observations of GNSS signals of multiple satellites over multiple epochs, obtaining precise satellite data for the satellites, determining a virtual base station location, generating epochs of synthesized base station data using at least the precise satellite data and the virtual base station location, and applying a differential process to at least the rover GNSS data and the synthesized base station data to determine at least rover antenna positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITEDInventors: Ulrich Vollath, Xiaoming Chen, Rodrigo Leandro
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Publication number: 20120146847Abstract: A method and system for delivery of location-dependent time-specific corrections. In one embodiment, a first extended-lifetime correction for a first region is generated. A distribution timetable is used to determine a first time interval for transmitting the first extended-lifetime correction to the first region. The first extended-lifetime correction is then transmitted via a wireless communication network to said first region in accordance with said distribution timetable.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: James M. Janky, Ulrich Vollath, Nicholas C. Talbot
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Publication number: 20120119951Abstract: A method for reducing multipath when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, includes receiving a signal from an antenna moving continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, the signal including a multipath component, processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing and determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventor: Ulrich Vollath
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Patent number: 8134497Abstract: A method and system for delivery of location-dependent time-specific corrections. In one embodiment, a first extended-lifetime correction for a first region is generated. A distribution timetable is used to determine a first time interval for transmitting the first extended-lifetime correction to the first region. The first extended-lifetime correction is then transmitted via a wireless communication network to said first region in accordance with said distribution timetable.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: James M. Janky, Ulrich Vollath, Nicholas C. Talbot
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Patent number: 8130143Abstract: Methods and apparatus are present for determining position of a rover from observations of GNSS signals. Observations of GNSS signals are obtained at a rover location, and observations of the GNSS signals are obtained at a plurality of reference stations, each reference station defining a respective baseline between the rover location and a reference station location. For each reference station, a respective differentially-corrected rover position is determined, wherein at least one of the differentially-corrected rover positions is based on one of (i) a multiple-frequency ionosphere-free observable combination, (ii) a multiple-frequency code-phase observable combination, and (iii) a single-frequency carrier-phase and code-plus-carrier-phase combination. A weighted combination of the differentially-corrected rover positions is prepared.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: Junjie Liu, Ulrich Vollath, Peter Ian West, Soeren Ulf Klose
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Publication number: 20120050095Abstract: Control systems and methods that provide a high degree of vertical measurement accuracy for a body in motion are disclosed. The systems employ an inertial sensor system for vertical measurement and a Global Navigation Satellite System that includes multipath reduction or attenuation to provide corrected vertical information for a moving body to the inertial sensor system. The combination of these systems enables the maintenance of an accurate vertical position for said body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Inventors: Bruno Scherzinger, Ulrich Vollath
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Publication number: 20120026038Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from observations of GNSS signals of multiple transmitters over multiple epochs, the GNSS signals having a first signal and a second signal in a first band which can be tracked as a single wide-band signal and each of which can be tracked separately, comprising: obtaining carrier-phase observations of the first signal, obtaining carrier-phase observations of the second signal, obtaining code observations of the wide-band signal, and estimating from a set of observables comprising the carrier-phase observations of the first signal, the carrier-phase observations of the second signal and the code observations of the wide-band signal values for a set of parameters comprising: position of a receiver of the GNSS signals, clock error of a receiver of the GNSS signals, and an array of ambiguities comprising an ambiguity for each transmitter from which carrier-phase observations of the first signal are obtained and an ambiguity for eaType: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITEDInventor: Ulrich Vollath
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Publication number: 20110285587Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for improved productivity in determining static position of an antenna of a GNSS rover, such as in stop-and-go surveying. Computer-implemented methods and apparatus provide for determining a static position of an antenna of a GNSS rover from observations of GNSS signals collected at the antenna over multiple epochs and from correction data for at least one of the epochs.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITEDInventors: Ulrich Vollath, Nicholas Charles Talbot
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Publication number: 20110279314Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of a first set of satellites having at least three carriers and signals of a second set of satellites having two carriers. A geometry filter uses a geometry filter combination to obtain an array of geometry-filter ambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combination and associated statistical information. Ionosphere filters use a two-frequency ionospheric combination to obtain an array of ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimates for the two-frequency ionospheric combinations and associated statistical information. Each two-frequency ionospheric combination comprises a geometry-free two-frequency ionospheric residual carrier-phase combination of observations of a first frequency and observations of a second frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITEDInventors: Nicholas Charles Talbot, Ulrich Vollath