US5161242A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automated repeating sextant (ARS)
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-01-24
•
Granted: 1992-11-03
•
Expires: 2009-01-24
Abstract
Abstract The automated repeating sextant (ARS) is a navigational instrument suitable for air, sea and land use. The ARS uses an electronic artificial horizon, an A/D conversion board and either microchips or a computer, with software, to read a celestial body's altitude above the horizon repeatedly in a brief period of time, and then compute a line of position from a statistically enhanced mean altitude; after a second or any successive line of position has been obtained the instrument either provides the latitude and longitude of the navigator, or combines the latitude and longitude with a graphic portrayal of the position on a simplified grid map. The instrument averages numerous individual observations and is relatively small, light and fast. The ARS may be embodied in a fully automated, continually-operating mode with a micro-computer, or may be embodied in a handheld version that is switched on and off. The body sighted by the ARS may be either a natural celestial body (sun, moon, navigational planet or navigational star) using light wave signals, or an artificial celestial body (manmade satellite), using radio frequency signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter C. Boulay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01C; G01C1/00; G01C1/08; G01C1/10; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
An automated, repeating sextant comprising: means for receiving a signal from a celestial body; means for measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; means for detecting a signal received from a celestial body and an angle of incidence of the received signal on the detecting means, said angle of incidence being output by said detecting means; means responsive to plural values of said first signal and said angle of incidence for determining a mean altitude of the celestial body, and determining a line of position using said mean altitude and stored data ephemerides for the celestial body; and, means for displaying the line of position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
An automated, repeating sextant comprising: means for receiving a signal from a celestial body; means for measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; means for detecting a signal received from a celestial body and an angle of incidence of the received signal on the detecting means, said angle of incidence being output by said detecting means; means responsive to plural values of said first signal and said angle of incidence for determining a mean altitude of the celestial body, and determining a line of position using said mean altitude and stored data ephemerides for the celestial body; and, means for displaying the line of position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means is a lens contained within a protective globe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein said means for displaying is a digitized map of a given geographical area, and said line of position is placed over said map.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein said means for displaying is a video display terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein said means for displaying is a liquid crystal display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein said means for displaying is a light emitting diode display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein said determining means further includes means for providing an updated date and time from which a mean time of a given observation of the celestial body during said line of position determination is derived.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein all information required to display a line of position is determined automatically.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein a line of position is determined for at least two different celestial bodies to provide a position fix of the sextant, said position fix being displayed on said displaying means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein said mean altitude is statistically enhanced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means is a loop antenna.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 11, wherein said celestial body is a manmade satellite which emits a radio frequency signal, and said detecting means is a radio frequency receiver which detects an angle of incidence of the radio frequency signal received by said loop antenna from said manmade satellite to determine an azimuth of said manmade satellite.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 1, further including means for measuring roll of the sextant about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, as a second signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A repeating sextant according to claim 13, wherein said first and second signals are analog signals, said sextant further including means for converting said first and second signals to digital signals for input to said altitude and line of position determining means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 13, wherein said detecting means further detects a magnitude of said received signal to assist in identifying said celestial body, said magnitude being input to said determining means for deriving a calculated altitude of the celestial body from said stored data ephemerides.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 15, wherein said calculated altitude is determined by applying stored Chebyshev formulae to said stored data ephemerides.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 15, wherein said detecting means further includes an array of light sensitive semiconductors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 17, wherein said light sensitive semiconductors are light sensitive diodes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 17, wherein said light sensitive semiconductors are CCDs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 13, wherein said sextant is a portable, handheld device which is manually directed toward the celestial body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 20, wherein said means for measuring movement about a second axis inhibits said first signal when said second signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 20, wherein said receiving means is a telescope.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 22, wherein said detecting means includes an array of light sensitive semiconductors.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 23, wherein said detecting means inhibits operation of said sextant when an image of the celestial object is not received by said array of light sensitive semiconductors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 24, wherein said line of position is determined by comparing said mean altitude with an altitude of the celestial body calculated from said stored ephemerides.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
173 words
A fully automated, repeating sextant comprising: a lens for receiving a signal from a celestial body; a first inclinometer for measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; a second inclinometer for measuring roll of the sextant about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, as a second signal; a semiconductor array for detecting the magnitude of at least one signal received from a celestial body and an angle of incidence of the received signal on the semiconductor array, said magnitude and angle of incidence being output by said detecting means; means responsive to plural values of said first signal and said angle of incidence for determining a mean altitude of the celestial body, and said magnitude being input to said determining means for deriving a calculated altitude of the celestial body from stored data ephemerides, a line of position of the celestial body being determined from said mean altitude and said calculated altitude; and, means for displaying the line of position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
173 words
A fully automated, repeating sextant comprising: a lens for receiving a signal from a celestial body; a first inclinometer for measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; a second inclinometer for measuring roll of the sextant about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, as a second signal; a semiconductor array for detecting the magnitude of at least one signal received from a celestial body and an angle of incidence of the received signal on the semiconductor array, said magnitude and angle of incidence being output by said detecting means; means responsive to plural values of said first signal and said angle of incidence for determining a mean altitude of the celestial body, and said magnitude being input to said determining means for deriving a calculated altitude of the celestial body from stored data ephemerides, a line of position of the celestial body being determined from said mean altitude and said calculated altitude; and, means for displaying the line of position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 26, wherein said first and second signals are analog signals which represent an altitude of a centroid of the semiconductor array above a true horizon as determined by the first inclinometer, said sextant further including means for converting said first and second signals to digital signals for input to said altitude and line of position determining means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 26, wherein said calculated altitude is determined by applying stored Chebyshev formulae to said stored data ephemerides.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
147 words
An automated, repeating sextant comprising: an antenna for receiving a signal from a celestial body which emits a radio frequency signal; a first inclinometer for measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; a second inclinometer for measuring roll of the sextant about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, as a second signal; a radio frequency receiver which identifies the radio frequency signal received by said antenna from said celestial body to determine an azimuth of said celestial body, said azimuth being output by said radio frequency receiver; means responsive to plural values of said first signal and said azimuth for determining a mean altitude of the celestial body, and determining a line of position using said mean altitude and stored data ephemerides for the celestial body; and, means for displaying the line of position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
147 words
An automated, repeating sextant comprising: an antenna for receiving a signal from a celestial body which emits a radio frequency signal; a first inclinometer for measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; a second inclinometer for measuring roll of the sextant about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, as a second signal; a radio frequency receiver which identifies the radio frequency signal received by said antenna from said celestial body to determine an azimuth of said celestial body, said azimuth being output by said radio frequency receiver; means responsive to plural values of said first signal and said azimuth for determining a mean altitude of the celestial body, and determining a line of position using said mean altitude and stored data ephemerides for the celestial body; and, means for displaying the line of position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 29, wherein a line of position is determined for at least two different celestial bodies to provide a position fix of the sextant, said position fix being displayed on said displaying means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
197 words
A portable, handheld repeating sextant which is manually directed toward a celestial body comprising: a telescope for receiving a signal from a celestial body; a first inclinometer for measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; a second inclinometer for measuring roll of the sextant about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, as a second signal, said second inclinometer inhibiting said first signal when said second signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold; a semiconductor array for detecting the magnitude of at least one signal received from a celestial body and an angle of incidence of the received signal on the semiconductor array, said magnitude and angle of incidence being output by said detecting means; means responsive to plural values of said first signal and said angle of incidence for determining a mean altitude of the celestial body, and said magnitude being input to said determining means for deriving a calculated altitude of the celestial body from stored data ephemerides, a line of position of the celestial body being determined from said mean altitude and said calculated altitude; and, means for displaying the line of position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
197 words
A portable, handheld repeating sextant which is manually directed toward a celestial body comprising: a telescope for receiving a signal from a celestial body; a first inclinometer for measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; a second inclinometer for measuring roll of the sextant about a second axis, perpendicular to said first axis, as a second signal, said second inclinometer inhibiting said first signal when said second signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold; a semiconductor array for detecting the magnitude of at least one signal received from a celestial body and an angle of incidence of the received signal on the semiconductor array, said magnitude and angle of incidence being output by said detecting means; means responsive to plural values of said first signal and said angle of incidence for determining a mean altitude of the celestial body, and said magnitude being input to said determining means for deriving a calculated altitude of the celestial body from stored data ephemerides, a line of position of the celestial body being determined from said mean altitude and said calculated altitude; and, means for displaying the line of position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
A repeating sextant according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said first and second signals is an analog signal, said sextant further including means for converting said analog signal to a digital signal for input to said altitude and line of position determining means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 32, wherein said mean altitude is statistically enhanced.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 32, wherein a line of position is determined for at least two different celestial bodies to provide a position fix of the sextant, said position fix being displayed on said displaying means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
Repeating sextant according to claim 34, wherein said semiconductor array includes light sensitive semiconductors.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for determining a line of position from the location of a celestial body comprising the steps of: receiving a signal from a celestial body; measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; detecting a signal received from a celestial body using a semiconductor array and an angle of incidence of the received signal on the semiconductor array, said angle of incidence being output by said semiconductor array; determining plural values of said first signal and said angle of incidence and calculating a mean altitude of the celestial body; determining a line of position using said mean altitude and stored data ephemerides for the celestial body; and, displaying the line of position.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for determining a line of position from the location of a celestial body comprising the steps of: receiving a signal from a celestial body; measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; detecting a signal received from a celestial body using a semiconductor array and an angle of incidence of the received signal on the semiconductor array, said angle of incidence being output by said semiconductor array; determining plural values of said first signal and said angle of incidence and calculating a mean altitude of the celestial body; determining a line of position using said mean altitude and stored data ephemerides for the celestial body; and, displaying the line of position.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method according to claim 36, wherein a line of position is determined for at least two different celestial bodies to provide a position fix of the sextant, said position fix being displayed.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for determining a line of position from the location of a celestial body comprising the steps of: receiving a signal from a celestial body; measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; detecting a signal received from a celestial body using a radio frequency receiver to determine an azimuth of the celestial body, said azimuth being output by said radio frequency receiver; determining plural values of said first signal and said azimuth and calculating a mean altitude of the celestial body; determining a line of position using said mean altitude and stored data ephemerides for the celestial body; and, displaying the line of position.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for determining a line of position from the location of a celestial body comprising the steps of: receiving a signal from a celestial body; measuring movement of the sextant about a first axis as a first signal which establishes an artificial horizon; detecting a signal received from a celestial body using a radio frequency receiver to determine an azimuth of the celestial body, said azimuth being output by said radio frequency receiver; determining plural values of said first signal and said azimuth and calculating a mean altitude of the celestial body; determining a line of position using said mean altitude and stored data ephemerides for the celestial body; and, displaying the line of position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-03 | 1996-05-04 | 1996-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-03 | 2000-05-04 | 2000-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-03 | 2004-05-04 | 2004-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |