US5344105A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Relative guidance using the global positioning system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1992-09-21
•
Granted: 1994-09-06
•
Expires: 2012-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for guiding a vehicle (30) to a target (28) includes furnishing a first vehicle (20) having a first global positioning system (GPS) receiver (24) fixed to receive global positioning signals from a selected constellation (46) of satellites in orbit above the earth and the second vehicle (30) having a second GPS receiver (32) fixed to receive global positioning signals from the same selected constellation (46) of GPS satellites. The first vehicle (20) locates the target (28) with an onboard sensor (26) and converts the location of the target (28) to the frame of reference of the selected constellation (46) of satellites of the GPS. The first vehicle (20) communicates this target position and the available set of GPS satellites to a navigation system of the second vehicle (30). The second vehicle (30) proceeds to the target location provided from the first vehicle (20 ) in the frame of reference of the GPS under control of its navigation system using the positioning signal derived from the second GPS receiver (32) fixed to receive positioning signals from the selected constellation (46) of satellites. In these operations, the second vehicle (30) remains within a sufficiently small operating distance of the position of the first vehicle (20) that variations in systematic bias errors between the first GPS receiver (24) and the second GPS receiver (32) are negligible.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Youhanaie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:05
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/34; F41G7/346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for guiding a vehicle to a target, comprising the steps of: furnishing a first vehicle having a first global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from a selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; furnishing a second vehicle having a second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from the same selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; the first vehicle locating a target with an onboard sensor and converting the location of the target to the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system; the first vehicle communicating the position of the target, expressed in the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system, to a navigation system of the second vehicle; the second vehicle remaining within a sufficiently small operating distance of the position of the first vehicle at the time of the step of locating and converting, that variations in systematic bias errors between the first global positioning system receiver and the second global positioning system receiver are negligible; and the second vehicle proceeding to the target location communicated from the first vehicle under control of its navigation system while using the positioning signal derived from the second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive positioning signals from the selected constellation of satellites.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for guiding a vehicle to a target, comprising the steps of: furnishing a first vehicle having a first global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from a selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; furnishing a second vehicle having a second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from the same selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; the first vehicle locating a target with an onboard sensor and converting the location of the target to the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system; the first vehicle communicating the position of the target, expressed in the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system, to a navigation system of the second vehicle; the second vehicle remaining within a sufficiently small operating distance of the position of the first vehicle at the time of the step of locating and converting, that variations in systematic bias errors between the first global positioning system receiver and the second global positioning system receiver are negligible; and the second vehicle proceeding to the target location communicated from the first vehicle under control of its navigation system while using the positioning signal derived from the second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive positioning signals from the selected constellation of satellites.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for directing a guided vehicle to a target location, comprising the steps of: furnishing a first global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from a selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; furnishing a guided vehicle having a second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from satellites selected from the same constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; locating a target and converting the location of the target to the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system based on the position measurements of the first global positioning system receiver; communicating the position of the target, expressed in the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system, to a navigation system of the guided vehicle; the guided vehicle remaining within a sufficiently small operating distance of the position of the first global positioning system receiver at the time of the step of locating and converting, that variations in systematic bias errors between the first global positioning system receiver and the second global positioning system receiver are negligible; and the guided vehicle proceeding to the target location provided in the step of communicating under control of its navigation system while using the positioning signal derived from the second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive positioning signals from the selected constellation of satellites.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for directing a guided vehicle to a target location, comprising the steps of: furnishing a first global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from a selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; furnishing a guided vehicle having a second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from satellites selected from the same constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; locating a target and converting the location of the target to the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system based on the position measurements of the first global positioning system receiver; communicating the position of the target, expressed in the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system, to a navigation system of the guided vehicle; the guided vehicle remaining within a sufficiently small operating distance of the position of the first global positioning system receiver at the time of the step of locating and converting, that variations in systematic bias errors between the first global positioning system receiver and the second global positioning system receiver are negligible; and the guided vehicle proceeding to the target location provided in the step of communicating under control of its navigation system while using the positioning signal derived from the second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive positioning signals from the selected constellation of satellites.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the guided vehicle is an aircraft and the target location is a location at which the aircraft is to land.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the first global positioning receiver is stationary.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the step of locating a target is accomplished using a sensor.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for guiding a missile to a target, comprising the steps of: furnishing a targeting vehicle having a targeting vehicle global positioning system receiver fixed to receive global positioning signals from a selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; furnishing a missile having a missile global positioning system receiver fixed to receive global positioning signals from the same selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; the targeting vehicle locating a target with an onboard sensor and converting the location of the target to the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system; the targeting vehicle communicating the position of the target, expressed in the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system, to a navigation system of the missile; and the missile proceeding to the target location under control of its navigation system using the target position communicated from the targeting vehicle and the positioning signal derived from the missile global positioning system receiver fixed to receive positioning signals from the selected constellation of satellites, wherein the missile remains within a sufficiently small operating distance of the position of the targeting vehicle, at the time of the step of locating and converting, that variations in systematic bias errors between the targeting global positioning system receiver and the missile global positioning system receiver are negligible.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for guiding a missile to a target, comprising the steps of: furnishing a targeting vehicle having a targeting vehicle global positioning system receiver fixed to receive global positioning signals from a selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; furnishing a missile having a missile global positioning system receiver fixed to receive global positioning signals from the same selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; the targeting vehicle locating a target with an onboard sensor and converting the location of the target to the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system; the targeting vehicle communicating the position of the target, expressed in the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system, to a navigation system of the missile; and the missile proceeding to the target location under control of its navigation system using the target position communicated from the targeting vehicle and the positioning signal derived from the missile global positioning system receiver fixed to receive positioning signals from the selected constellation of satellites, wherein the missile remains within a sufficiently small operating distance of the position of the targeting vehicle, at the time of the step of locating and converting, that variations in systematic bias errors between the targeting global positioning system receiver and the missile global positioning system receiver are negligible.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the targeting vehicle is a guidance control aircraft that does not carry the missile at any time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the targeting vehicle is a launch aircraft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the selected constellation of global positioning system satellites includes at least four satellites.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for directing a guided missile to a target location, comprising the steps of: furnishing a first global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from a selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; furnishing a guided missile having a second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from satellites selected from the same constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; locating a target and converting the location of the target to the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system based on the position measurements of the first global positioning system receiver; communicating the position of the target, expressed in the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the first global positioning system, to a navigation system of the guided missile; and the guided missile proceeding to the target location as communicated by the first global positioning system receiver under control of its guided missile navigation system while using the positioning signal derived from the second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive positioning signals from the selected constellation of satellites.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for directing a guided missile to a target location, comprising the steps of: furnishing a first global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from a selected constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; furnishing a guided missile having a second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive global positioning signals from satellites selected from the same constellation of satellites in orbit above the earth; locating a target and converting the location of the target to the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the global positioning system based on the position measurements of the first global positioning system receiver; communicating the position of the target, expressed in the frame of reference of the selected constellation of satellites of the first global positioning system, to a navigation system of the guided missile; and the guided missile proceeding to the target location as communicated by the first global positioning system receiver under control of its guided missile navigation system while using the positioning signal derived from the second global positioning system receiver aligned to receive positioning signals from the selected constellation of satellites.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the first global positioning system receiver is carried upon a targeting vehicle that does not carry the guided missile at any time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the first global positioning system receiver is carried upon a launch vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the selected constellation of global positioning system satellites includes four satellites.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the guided missile remains within a sufficiently small operating distance of the first global positioning system receiver at the time of the step of locating and converting, that variations in systematic bias errors between the first global positioning system receiver and the second global positioning system receiver are negligible.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the operating distance is less than about 100 miles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-05 | 1998-03-07 | 1998-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-05 | 2002-03-07 | 2002-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-05 | 2006-03-07 | 2006-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |