WO1997004332A1

WO1997004332A1 - System for determining an instantaneous position by radio position-finding

Info

Publication number: WO1997004332A1
Application number: PCT/EP1996/003178
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hermann W. Kurth
Original assignee: Kurth Hermann W
Priority date: 1995-07-20
Filing date: 1996-07-18
Publication date: 1997-02-06
Also published as: DE19526494A1; DE19526494C2

Abstract

In order to design a device which is part of an expandable system for determining information about the user and communicating such user-specific information to the user, the invention proposes a portable or mobile receiver and/or transmitter module (20, 30) which transmits successively determined position coordinates to a processing unit in the immediate vicinity and/or to a remote processing unit which optionally stores incoming and/or processed data.

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR DETECTING A CURRENT LOCATION BY MEANS OF RADIO LOCATION

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to an arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a method is known from "Proceedings of the IEEE", Vo. 71, No. October 10, 1983.

The so-called GLOBAL POSmONING SYSTEM (abbreviated "GPS"), which is based on several geostationary communication satellites, each of which is located on two different frequencies in the L -Band emits encoded location information about its orbit position. A GPS receiver on earth picks up the GPS signals from at least two different GPS satellites via a receiving antenna with omnidirectional characteristics and evaluates the location information contained therein to determine its location. This location information can be used for land surveying as well as for navigation aids in motor vehicles, which use electronically stored maps to compare a desired destination position with the current location position and acoustically and / or optically provide the driver with the cheapest route. Representative of the large number of literature on the GPS system and its various applications, reference is made to the aforementioned "Proceedings of the IEEE", Vo. 71, No. 10, October 1983, the magazine "IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting", vol. 36, no. 4, December 1990 and reference to the following patents: EP-0408 179 A2, EP-0444 738 A2, WO 87/06713, US 5 015 926 and DE 2 845 071 AI. In contrast, the object of the invention is to improve a device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it is part of an expandable system for obtaining information about the user and for conveying user-specific information to the user.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1.

Advantageous refinements and possible uses of the invention result from the subclaims.

The main idea of the invention is to provide a coupling between a portable or mobile receiving and / or transmitting module for determining the location by means of radio location of communication satellites (GPS satellites) and an evaluation unit which, if necessary, evaluates the recorded location coordinates together with further data and optionally stores them. Such further data are preferably dead reckoning data which improve the accuracy of the detected location coordinates. Also suitable as further data are image signals from, for example, a portable video camera and / or certain biomedical data such as pulse frequency, blood pressure, body temperature, etc., which are recorded by the recipient's wearer in order to determine his movement states, particularly when used in sports and occupational medicine to be able to evaluate comprehensively. From the continuously determined and transmitted location coordinates, this evaluation unit determines, for example, mechanical parameters, such as, in particular, the distance s traveled, the instantaneous and average speed v or v _m or acceleration a or shock pulse da / dt. Based on the determined Mechanical parameters can be used to derive further path, position, direction and other information variables. It is also possible to process and display the recorded and / or evaluated data together with terrain data. For example, by means of updated or updatable data carriers, warning messages can be transmitted to the person carrying the module when driving or entering danger points.

The invention opens up a multitude of completely new application possibilities. A preferred application is the integration of a device according to the invention in sports equipment, sports clothing and / or accessories, for example in the protective suit / hard hat / shoes / belt / backpack of a skier, surfer, cyclist, hang glider, balloonist or paraglider pilot, in the boom / mast / rig a surfboard etc., so genere 1 where there is an increased need for location-dependent information.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. L is a schematic representation of a designed as a handheld device

Embodiment of the device according to the invention, which is coupled to a radio channel via a receiving and transmitting antenna attached to the body of a wearer,

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a designed as a measuring cell

Embodiment of the device according to the invention, which has a decouplable internal data memory and is attached to a sports device (for example balloon, sailboat, etc.)

3 shows a schematic representation of an external memory or

Data carrier which stores the measurement data transmitted by the hand-held device according to FIG. 1 via the radio channel, and also an evaluation device for the transmitted and stored measurement data.

The measuring device shown schematically in FIG. 1 comprises a hand-held device 20 with a handle 21 and a basic module 22. The basic module 22 has a user interface with communication buttons or fields 23 and an optical display 24, for example liquid crystal display, and / or an acoustic display, for example Narrator, on. The handheld device 20 can be attached with its handle 21 to the upper arm 13 of a wearer 10, for example. This attachment can also consist in integrating the handheld device 20 into the clothing of the wearer 10. The basic module 22 is connected wirelessly or galvanically to an active or passive transmitting and receiving antenna, which is attached to the body of the wearer 10 as high as possible. The arrangement of the antenna (a) on the head 11, for example on a helmet, cap, headband, headscarf, glasses, (b) on one or on both shoulders (n) 12, for example on shoulder straps, (c) on the hip can be considered 14, for example on a belt or a belt bag, or (d) on the back, for example on a backpack. In the case of an active antenna they are Batteries or accumulators for powering the antenna and, if appropriate, the basic module 22 can also be suitably accommodated on the body of the wearer 10, for example in a belt pouch. For the basic module 22, a power supply via built-in solar cells can also be used in addition to the battery supply or exclusively. For the transmission of data and / or energy between the basic module 22, antenna and batteries, radio connections or cable connections are suitable, which are preferably laid in "cable channels" of the clothing, including a helmet. The individual, necessary sections of the cabling can be coupled to one another by means of plug contacts or quick connections.

The antenna attached to the body of the wearer 10 is designed to receive GPS satellite signals, for example in the L-band, and consists, for example, of a flat or array antenna of a known type. The received antenna signals are demodulated, decoded and processed in the basic module 22 of the hand-held device 20 in such a way that the current position of the wearer 10 is determined in the form of a coordinate measurement value. The location coordinates of the current position can be made optically visible on the display of the basic module 22. The coordinate measured values detected at fixed time intervals in accordance with a set clock frequency are protected against eavesdropping in the basic module 22 and processed in a manner that is resistant to interference. It is often advantageous to carry out the processing directly in the hand-held device 20, provided that there is sufficient computing capacity available there. Alternatively, the coordinate measurement values are transmitted wirelessly to a stationary antenna 80 via the antenna attached to the body of the wearer 10. The modulation signal received by the stationary antenna 80 is demodulated and decoded in a manner not shown in order to determine the sequence of coordinate measurement to be able to evaluate. For this purpose, the measured values are fed to an evaluation computer 70 and stored in a non-volatile storage medium 71 (FIG. 3), for example a data disc, CD-ROM, flash RAM. The evaluation computer 70 determines mechanical parameters such as distance s, speed v, acceleration a or shock da / dt from the coordinate measured values and, if appropriate, the clock frequency according to known calculation methods. The distance traveled by the wearer 10 becomes visible by storing the current location positions and by a common graphic display on the screen or another display medium. The distance traveled can be shown combined with the location-dependent movement variables. In this way, distances can be exactly determined, and intermediate lengths can also be calculated. Comparative calculations can also be carried out. Finally, the overlay and the direct comparison of several passes through the same route, even from different porters, is possible. These display options offer, for example, a substantial improvement in training in the sense of an error analysis in a number of sports, in particular in skiing.

It is important in all evaluations to check the calculated parameters for plausibility. This is done by using restrictive growth criteria and using redundant data. Furthermore, the evaluation computer 70 can link the determined mechanical parameters with other data, for example terrain data, and make them visible on its screen in the form of a three-dimensional display. Such a link can also be implemented directly in the handheld device 20 if there is a corresponding carrier (not shown) for the terrain data. When linked to terrain data, it is also possible to determine the approach of the wearer 10 to danger zones, for example guards or avalanche slopes when skiing or hiking or whirlpools when sailing or surfing, and to generate a warning or alarm signal. When the terrain data are linked in the evaluation computer 70, such an alarm or warning signal is transmitted wirelessly from the antenna 80 to the carrier 10 as a radio signal. A received or locally generated alarm or warning signal triggers an acoustic warning. Such information of the carrier person 10 due to the processing of the coordinate measured values with terrain data is of course not limited to warning displays. Rather, other location-dependent information, for example about sights, inexpensive ski slopes, ski trails, hiking trails, landing sites or airways, can be transmitted to the wearer 10 by the evaluation computer 70 and made visible on the display of the basic module 22. A further possibility is the additional processing of the recorded position data with digital image data of a video camera used by the wearer 10 or a photo CD-ROM in order to achieve a comprehensive information evaluation and communication. The digital image data can either - with sufficient processing capacity - be processed directly within the handheld device 20 or they can be transmitted to the evaluation computer 80 together with the position data in the data stream of the radio signal when the position data is processed.

In addition to the application possibilities mentioned, the position data transmitted by the carrier person 10 by radio signal can be used to search for persons, for example of spilled or accidentally injured persons or victims. To improve the measurement accuracy, it may be advantageous or necessary to carry out dead reckoning, for example with the aid of magnetic field sensors. Magnetic field sensors of this type detect position-related changes in the angle of sensor magnet arrangements with respect to the earth's magnetic field, from which angle of inclination and side angle can be determined. Such dead reckoning sensors are attached to the body of the wearer 10, for example on the shoes, or on the sports equipment, for example on the ski binding. For example, to determine the absolute speed when skiing, it is important to know the respective slope angle of the slope and the skew angle of the skier with respect to the fall line in order to be able to determine the speed from the ground.

Furthermore, sensors for blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature and the like can be attached to the body of the wearer 10 for sports medical purposes, which sensors are connected to the basic module 22 wirelessly or via cable connection (s). While the measured values from inclination or direction sensors are always processed in the handheld device 20 to determine the current position, biomedical measured values can be processed inside or outside the handheld device 20. In any case, they can be made visible on the display 24 of the hand-held device and, if necessary, trigger an acoustic warning message when certain limit values are exceeded. In the case of exclusive or additional remote processing, the bio-medical measurement values together with the coordinate measurement values which tend towards time within the data stream of the radio signal can be transmitted wirelessly from the basic module 22 to the stationary antenna 80 and thus to the evaluation computer 70. The evaluation computer 70 is thus able to assign exact location positions to the received biomedical measurement values. which greatly facilitates and improves the evaluation of such biomedical data.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, an alternative variant of the measuring device according to the invention is specified. Instead of a handheld device 20, a measuring cell 30 is provided, which is attached to a sports device (e.g. balloon 50, sailing boat 60, surfboard, bicycle or the like) or a device accessory, e.g. Ski binding, ski boots, is attached. The measuring cell 30 is connected, for example, via a cable 40 or wirelessly to an antenna which is likewise attached to the sports equipment or the equipment accessories and which establishes a radio connection to the evaluation computer 70. The measuring cell 30 preferably comprises a removable data memory (eg streamer tape, floppy disk, CD-ROM, flash RAM) which processes the actual value data generated by the measuring cell 30 and / or the data received from the evaluation computer 70 via the radio link mentioned Stores data securely. In the event of a transmission disturbance of the radio signal to the evaluation computer 70, the actual value data received in the evaluation computer 70 can be compared with the actual value data stored in the data memory of the measuring cell 30 and combined accordingly.

Instead of a radio connection between the measuring cell 30 and the evaluation computer 70, the comparison data, for example terrain data or tourist data, which are permanently stored in the evaluation computer 70, can be kept available to the users of the measuring cell 30 on data carriers (for example streamer tape, floppy disk, CD-ROM, flash RAM). These data carriers are expediently designed to be updatable in the form of updates. By inserting these updatable data carriers into a suitable drive of the measuring cell 30 and / or by copying the data content of these updatable data carriers onto the removable data memory for the actual value data present in the measuring cell 30, with suitable computing capacity it can be directly in the measuring cell 30 (while avoiding one external evaluation computer 70) carry out the evaluation of the actual value data on the basis of the updated comparison data.

The aforementioned direct processing within the measuring cell 30 is also useful and useful from the point of view of renting measuring cells 30 to tourists with time and / or contribution-dependent access authorization to the various information and processing or service offers. This can be rounded off in particular by a supplementary offer of essential local and / or global information (for example sights, hiking trails, ski slopes, hotels, restaurants, events, weather forecasts, timetables, etc.) on the updatable data carriers for the comparison data. This touristic comparison data is largely location-dependent, so that a large number of informative and useful expansions beyond position processing according to physical parameters (path length, speed, etc.) are possible and sensible through the actual value detection of the current location position of the user of the measuring cell 30.

The measuring cell 30 is attached, for example, in the case of a balloon 50 to a shock-protected location on the nacelle 51 or in the case of a sailing boat to a moisture-protected location below deck. Alternatively, it is also possible to attach the measuring cell 30 to the body of a wearer in the manner already described. A transmitting / receiving antenna of the measuring cell 30 can be attached particularly favorably to the top of the mast 61 in the case of a sailboat 60 and to the top of the balloon envelope 52 in the case of a balloon 50. Also in the case of a transmitting / receiving antenna of the measuring cell 30, one of the fastening types already described on the body of a wearer can be considered as an alternative.

In principle, the same application options as in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 are also conceivable and sensible in the embodiment according to FIG. 2. In addition to the person search, there is for example a search with the Measuring cell 30 equipped devices into consideration. This allows, for example, the search and location of stolen devices. Furthermore, a donation preventing or aggravating use and / or an acoustic and / or optical theft warning device can be activated either automatically (for example by a transponder system) or by radio command via the evaluation computer 70.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1.Device for detecting a current position by means of radio location of communication satellites (GPS satellites), characterized by a portable or mobile receiving and / or transmitting module (20, 30), which sequentially recorded location coordinates to a spatially immediately adjacent and / or to a remote evaluation unit transmits where incoming and / or processed data may be stored.

2. Device according to Anspmch 1, characterized in that the portable or mobile receiving and / or transmitting module (20, 30) further data, for example dead reckoning data from inclination sensors, bio-medical data from pulse, body temperature and blood pressure sensors or image data from one Video camera, receives and evaluates locally and / or transmits it to the evaluation unit (70), these additional data being able to be recorded in the immediate vicinity of the module (20, 30).

3. Device according to Anspmch 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving and / or transmitting module (20, 30) reproduces optical and / or acoustic displays for received data or data derived therefrom.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the data reproduced by the receiving and / or transmitting module (20, 30), for example warnings, generated by the evaluation unit and optionally via the radio channel to the module (20, 30 ) be transmitted.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the case of a coupled evaluation unit, the received location coordinates and / or the further data with other data, e.g. Terrain data to be processed.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the evaluation unit determines mechanical parameters, such as distance s, speed v, acceleration a and / or shock da / dt from the location coordinates according to predetermined routines.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receiving and / or transmitting module (20, 30) with or without structurally integrated evaluation unit in the form of a hand-held device (20) is designed for a wearer (10).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the hand-held device (20) can be connected to a receiving and / or transmitting antenna attached to the carrier (10).

9. Device according to Anspmch 7 or 8, characterized in that the receiving and / or transmitting antenna is designed as an active or passive antenna.

10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a surface or array antenna is provided for the receiving and / or transmitting antenna.

11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the antenna on the head (11) of the wearer (10), for example on a helmet, cap, headband, headscarf, glasses, is arranged.

12. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the antenna is arranged on one or both shoulders (12) of the wearer (10), for example on shoulder straps.

13. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the antenna on the hip (14) of the wearer (10), for example on a belt or a belt pocket, is arranged.

14. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the antenna on the back of the wearer (10), for example on a backpack, is arranged.

15. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that when using an active antenna, the batteries or accumulators for powering the antenna and optionally the receiving and / or transmitting module (20, 30) on the body of the carrier person ( 10) can be fastened, for example in a belt pouch.

16. Device according to one of claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the hand-held device (20) for attachment to or in the clothing of the wearer (10), preferably in the region of the upper arm, is provided.

17. Device according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that within the clothing or a helmet of the wearer (10) one or more channels for receiving connecting lines between the handheld device (20), the receiving and transmitting antenna and optionally a power supply for the handheld device and possibly the receiving and transmitting antenna are provided.

18. Device according to one of claims 7 to 17, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the handheld device (20) is designed to process received satellite position signals and, if appropriate, of further received data signals.

19. Device according to one of claims 7 to 18, characterized in that the hand-held device (20)

a basic module (22) with a communication field (23), an optical display (24) and optionally an acoustic display, and

has a handle (21).

20. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the receiving and transmitting module with or without a structurally integrated evaluation unit is designed as a measuring cell (30), which is optionally designed for attachment to a wearer, on a sports device or on a device accessory is.

21. Device according to Anspmch 20, characterized in that the measuring cell (30) is designed only as a receiving module for the reception and internal processing of location coordinates.

22. Device according to Anspmch 20 or 21, characterized in that the measuring cell (30) has a removable data memory.

23. Measuring cell according to Anspmch 20 or 21, characterized by an optionally removable data memory, an evaluation unit, a display and a control panel.

24. Measuring cell according to Anspmch 23, characterized in that the data content of an updatable external data carrier can be written into the data memory.

25. Measuring cell according to Anspmch 23, characterized in that the measuring cell is provided with a drive for an updatable external data carrier.

26. A method of operating a measuring cell according to Anspmch 24 or 25, characterized in that the data recorded by the measuring cell are processed on the basis of the data content of the updatable external data carrier.

27. Use of an updatable data carrier in a measuring cell (30) according to one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the updatable data carrier contains terrain data and possibly data with tourist information.

28. Use of a device according to one of claims 1 to 21 for the search and location of stolen devices.

29. Use of a device according to one or more of claims 1 to 21 for the search and location of stolen devices in connection with a use preventing or aggravating Spene and / or an acoustic and / or an optical theft warning device.