US5268844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic digital position and navigational plotter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-05-21
•
Granted: 1993-12-07
•
Expires: 2010-05-21
Abstract
Abstract An electronic digital plotter for navigators which relieves the rigors of mechanical manual plotting of position on a chart. The plotter utilizes either a flexible or rigid board employing electromagnetic or capacitive resistance technology. It makes use of a fixed X/Y coordinate system to generate latitude and longitude coordinates from a chart overlay. The plotter employs a pencil or pen type stylus with interchangeable cartridge to locate position, derived from electronic position information on the board and hence on the chart. By comparing the location of the stylus to the input data, the plotter directs the user to the input location utilizing a visual, bullseye director display. Given ship's position, on a dead reckoning track or expected destination or waypoint, the plotter gives course, speed distance, and transit time. The plotter can also accept inputs from hand bearing compass or ship's heading compass. The plotter can be used to insert preselected positions into an electronic navigator or a preselected course into an autopilot.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher S. Carver
- 👤 Christopher Carver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/20; G01C21/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An electronic digital plotter for locating positions comprising: controller means for processing selected navigational data and chart data; board means, electronically linked to said controller means, allowing for the overlay of navigational chart means, said board means generating a variable X/Y coordinate matrix and detecting the position of stylus means within the X/Y coordinate matrix; display means, electronically linked to said controller means, for indicating the position of said stylus means relative to a predetermined position on said navigational chart means; input means, electronically linked to said controller means, for inputting said selected navigational data and said chart data to said controller means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electronic digital plotter for locating positions comprising: controller means for processing selected navigational data and chart data; board means, electronically linked to said controller means, allowing for the overlay of navigational chart means, said board means generating a variable X/Y coordinate matrix and detecting the position of stylus means within the X/Y coordinate matrix; display means, electronically linked to said controller means, for indicating the position of said stylus means relative to a predetermined position on said navigational chart means; input means, electronically linked to said controller means, for inputting said selected navigational data and said chart data to said controller means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
an electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, further comprising: means, electronically linked to said controller means, for indicating the position of said stylus means on said navigational chart means hereby a readout of a chart position is visually displayed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, further comprising: means for inputting position data to said controller means comprising an actuating switch means, which, when actuated, inputs the position of said stylus means on said board means to said controller means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, wherein said stylus means comprises means for marking the position of the stylus means on the navigational chart means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, wherein said input means comprises a means for inputting data from at least one electronic position indicating means selected from the group consisting of Loran, Satnav, GPs, Decca, Omega, radar and electronic compass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, wherein said input means comprises a means for manually inputting data whereby said data is input by a user through a keypad or a keyboard.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, further comprising: output means, electronically linked to said controller means, for communicating navigational data to an electronic navigational instrument.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, wherein the board means is a rigid board which uses electromagnetic or capacitative resistance means to generate the coordinate matrix.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, wherein the board means is a flexible board which uses electromagnetic or capacitative resistance means to generate the coordinate matrix, wherein said board can be rolled up for storage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, wherein the board means is sized to receive standard chart book inserts as the navigational chart means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, wherein the board means is sized to receive standard NOAA charts as the navigational chart means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 10, wherein the board means is adapted to accurately detect said stylus means through a 1/2" stack of navigational chart means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 1, wherein display means comprises a visual bull's eye style display.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 3, further comprising: means, electronically linked to said controller means, for indicating the position of said stylus means on said navigational chart means whereby a readout of a chart position is visually displayed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 14, wherein said input means comprises a means for manually inputting data whereby said data is input by a user through a keypad or a keyboard.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 15, further comprising: output means, electronically linked to said controller means, for communicating navigational data to an electronic navigational instrument.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 15, wherein said input means comprises a means for inputting data from at least one electronic position indicating means selected from the group consisting of Loran, Satnav, GPS, Decca, Omega, radar and electronic compass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 16, wherein said input means comprises a means for inputting data from at least one electronic position indicating means selected from the group consisting of Loran, Satnav, GPS, Decca, Omega, radar and electronic compass.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 14, wherein said stylus means comprises means for marking the position of the stylus means on the navigational chart means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic digital plotter according to claim 15, wherein said stylus means comprises means for marking the position of the stylus means on the navigational chart means.
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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) | 1996-12-06 | 1997-06-07 | 1997-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-06 | 2001-06-07 | 2001-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-06 | 2005-06-07 | 2005-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |