US5179385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Visual navigation aid with point of interest feature
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL MARINE INDUSTRIES Inc
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Filing: 1992-01-02
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Granted: 1993-01-12
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Expires: 2012-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A navigation aid is provided comprising a radar antenna, a position sensor, a compass, map/chart data, a display, and a controller. The controller determines whether the display depicts a chart, a radar sweep or both. Preferably, the visual navigation aid includes a point of interest feature, wherein at least one point of interest is visually selected on the chart or radar sweep by a cursor or the like. The controller also computes the location of the selected point of interest for display on the chart or radar sweep. In another aspect, the invention comprises methods for inputting and displaying a point of interest on a chart or radar sweep.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. O'Loughlin
- 👤 Douglas W. Low
- 👤 Neil Titcomb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36; G01C21/3679; G01C21/3682; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/86; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/04; G01S7/06; G01S7/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A visual navigation aid comprising a radar antenna; means for storing map data; a compass; means for sensing the position of said radar antenna; a display; means for inputting at least one point of interest; and a controller, said controller responsive to said radar antenna to depict a radar sweep on said display, said controller responsive to said map data storage means to depict a map on said display; said controller responsive to said compass, said position sensing means and said point of interest input means for controlling said display to depict the point of interest in its proper position on both the map and the radar sweep, whereby radar targets, map features and the point of interest may be correlated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A visual navigation aid comprising a radar antenna; means for storing map data; a compass; means for sensing the position of said radar antenna; a display; means for inputting at least one point of interest; and a controller, said controller responsive to said radar antenna to depict a radar sweep on said display, said controller responsive to said map data storage means to depict a map on said display; said controller responsive to said compass, said position sensing means and said point of interest input means for controlling said display to depict the point of interest in its proper position on both the map and the radar sweep, whereby radar targets, map features and the point of interest may be correlated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The visual navigation aid of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a toggle switch for depicting the point of interest alternately on the map display and the sweep display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The visual navigation aid of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises means for substantially matching a scale of the map and a range of the radar sweep.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The visual navigation aid of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises means for depicting the radar sweep on said display in a north-up orientation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The visual navigation aid of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises means for depicting the map on said display in a head-up orientation.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for displaying a point of interest on a radar sweep from a radar antenna comprising the steps of: selecting the point of interest on a chart; determining the location of the point of interest; receiving a current geographical position of the radar antenna; comparing the current position of the radar antenna to the point of interest location; computing range and bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest location; and displaying the point of interest on the radar sweep at the point of interest location.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for displaying a point of interest on a radar sweep from a radar antenna comprising the steps of: selecting the point of interest on a chart; determining the location of the point of interest; receiving a current geographical position of the radar antenna; comparing the current position of the radar antenna to the point of interest location; computing range and bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest location; and displaying the point of interest on the radar sweep at the point of interest location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 wherein computing comprises computing range and compass bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7 including, before displaying, the steps of receiving a current heading of the radar antenna, and computing range and relative bearing to the point of interest location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 including, after displaying, the step of repeating the receiving, comparing, computing and displaying steps for a new current position.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for displaying a point of interest on a chart comprising the steps of: visually selecting a point of interest on a radar sweep from a radar antenna; determining initial range and initial bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest; receiving an initial geographical position of the radar antenna; calculating a location of the point of interest; and displaying the point of interest on the chart at the point of interest location.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for displaying a point of interest on a chart comprising the steps of: visually selecting a point of interest on a radar sweep from a radar antenna; determining initial range and initial bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest; receiving an initial geographical position of the radar antenna; calculating a location of the point of interest; and displaying the point of interest on the chart at the point of interest location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein determining comprises determining initial relative bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10 including, before calculating, the steps of receiving an initial heading of the radar antenna, and computing an initial compass bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 10 including the steps of: receiving a current position of the radar antenna; comparing the current position of the radar antenna to the point of interest location; and computing range and bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 where computing comprises computing range and compass bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest location.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 14 including, after computing, the steps of receiving a current heading of the radar antenna, and computing range and relative bearing from the radar antenna to the point of interest location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 including, after computing, the step of displaying the point of interest on the radar sweep at the point of interest location.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16 including the step of toggling between displaying the point of interest on the chart and displaying the point of interest on the radar sweep.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of substantially matching a scale of the chart and a range of the radar sweep.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of displaying the radar sweep in a north-up orientation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 including, after computing, the step of repeating the receiving, comparing, and computing steps for a new current position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
86 words
A visual navigation aid comprising: a radar antenna; means for storing map data; a compass; means for sensing the geographic position of said radar antenna; a display; and a controller responsive to said radar antenna to depict a radar sweep on said display, and responsive to said map data storage means to depict a map on said display; said controller responsive to said compass and to said geographic position sensing means for controlling said display to depict the radar targets and chart features in geographic correlation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
86 words
A visual navigation aid comprising: a radar antenna; means for storing map data; a compass; means for sensing the geographic position of said radar antenna; a display; and a controller responsive to said radar antenna to depict a radar sweep on said display, and responsive to said map data storage means to depict a map on said display; said controller responsive to said compass and to said geographic position sensing means for controlling said display to depict the radar targets and chart features in geographic correlation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The visual navigation method of claim 21 where said controller comprises a toggle switch for alternately depicting the map display and the chart display.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4081802A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-12 | 1996-07-13 | 1997-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-12 | 2000-07-13 | 2001-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-07-13 | 2005-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |