WO2003013010A1

WO2003013010A1 - Target location system

Info

Publication number: WO2003013010A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001436
Authority: WO
Inventors: Taesun Kim
Original assignee: Taesun Kim
Priority date: 2001-07-28
Filing date: 2002-07-29
Publication date: 2003-02-13
Also published as: KR20030010982A

Abstract

This invention relates to a target locator system that computes the position information of a target from the observer's current position, preferably determined by GPS (Global Positioning System) and then transmits the information to the others who actually require it for example when they rescue a sufferer in the mountain or fulfill a military action. To that end, the system comprises azimuth sensor means, inclination sensor means, elevation sensor means, GPS signal receiving means, distance detecting means, displaying means, sighting means, memories and a microprocessor.

Description

TARGET LOCATION SYSTEM

Background of the invention Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a position coordinate data transmitting device using a navigation system, and more particularly, to a position coordinate data transmitting device which receives a coordinate of a user present position and altitude by a position tracking technology such as a navigation system and displays a size, an altitude, a coordinate, a direction, and a gradient of the measured object projected when the measured object is seen through or measured through a shooting means, and also transmits an information of the measured object to a third party.

Description of Related Art

In general, a satellite navigation system is a system called a global positioning system (GPS) initially used for a military purpose which U.S. department of defense developed at a total cost of about 6 billion dollars in the early 1970s to measure a position of object. This GPS is recently admitted by Congress to be used for a civilian purpose.

Signals are received from at least three satellites to an object position using the GPS. As signals are received from more satellites, it can obtain more accurate position value. A GPS receiver is classified to 4-channel or 8-channel according to the number of the satellite signal. A GPS date has an error tolerance within 50m for a precision

positioning service used for a military purpose and within 200m for a standard positioning service used for a civilian purpose. As a method to compensate such error, a differential GPS (DGPS) is used that reflects a compensated data using a difference between a coordinate value of a certain position and a measured value. Using the DGPS, an error is reduced to within 5m. A DARC system is introduced that provides a DGPS compensation data via FM broadcasting. As other position measurement system, there is a GLONASS of the former Soviet Union. A method is recently developed to reduce an error using both GPS signal and GLONASS signal.

In the meanwhile, the GPS is employed in a navigation system of airplane, ship, or car together an electronic map to identify a position thereof. A portable GPS receiver is developed and is used to identify a user position for an exploration of unknown place or during military operations. A GPS receiver built in a mobile telephone is also developed.

In a position tracking technology used in a vehicle, as a method of calculating a course or a beeline from a present position to a certain place, a navigation system is provided that tracks a position information by various methods. For example, when a user selects a certain destination after a present position is displayed on a display means having a latitude and a longitude or a coordinate on a map of a geographical information system (GIS), a beeline is displayed by calculating distances of all courses from the present position to the destination or by a labyrinth for all courses.

The present invention is a device which receives a present position of a user information and measures position data such as a position information of object, a distance and a direction from the present position to the object position, an altitude, a gradient, a coordinate, and a size information of object, and provide the measured information to a third party. In particular, the position coordinate data transmitting device of the present invention measure various position data of military facilities of enemy troops and transmits the measured position data to the navigation system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a camera or a telescope used for a mountainous purpose or a military purpose, in which a GPS receiver receives a present position of user from a navigation system and provide to a third party a position information such as a distance, a size, a direction, a gradient, an altitude, and a coordinate of the measured object through an image seen through or projected by a shooting means.

In order to achieve the above object, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a position coordinate data transmitting device receiving a present position information of user through signals transmitted by at least three satellite using a navigation system and calculating a distance, a size, a direction, a gradient, an altitude, and a position information of a measured object and trasnmitting to a third party, the device comprising: a plurality of input means for the distance, the size, the direction, the gradient, the altitude, and the position information of the measured object; a microprocessor for storing signals input from the plurality of input means and calling out the stored signals to calculate the distance, the size, the direction, the gradient, the altitude, and the position information by a predetermined arithmetic expression; a display means for displaying a data information calculated in the input means and the microprocessor; and a transmitter for transmitting the data information calculated in the microprocessor to the third party. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a position coordinate data transmitting device using a navigation system according to the present invention; and FIG. 2 shows a position coordinate of the measured object displayed through the display means of the position coordinate data transmitting device using the navigation system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the present invention, example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a position coordinate data transmitting device using a navigation system according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the position cording data transmitting device includes an input means 100, a microprocessor 200, a display means 300, and a transmitter 400. The input means 100 includes a direction measuring means 110 to display a direction such as an electronic compass, a gradient measuring means 120 to display a gradient when a measured object is seen through from a present position of user such as a gradient sensor, an altitude measuring means 130 to measure an altitude by an air pressure in atmosphere, a GPS receiver 140 to receive a coordinate of latitude and longitude of the present position of user by using a position tracking technology such as a navigation system, a distance measuring means 150 to calculate a distance by a time to which a microwave (laser) emitted from a light emitting portion reflect from the measured object and return, a key manipulating portion having a cursor function to select and display a position on a monitor such as a plurality of key-switches and mouse, and a shooting means 170 to display through an output means such as a monitor a focal ratio data and an image of the measured object as an automatic focusing function of like camera.

The direction measuring means 110 converts 360° into 3600" to more

precisely measure the measured direction through the electronic compass. The gradient measuring means 120 measures a gradient by subdividing ±90° into

±90°00".

In the place where an altitude is not provided by a position tracking technology such as a navigation system and a geographical information system (GIS), the altitude measuring means 130 is used to measure an altitude. That is, the altitude measuring means 130 is selectively used.

The microprocessor 200 includes a memory unit storing a signal input from the input means 100. When the signal measured by the input means 100 is received, the microprocessor 200 calculates a direction, a gradient, an altitude, and a distance in a predetermined arithmetic expression and transmits the measured data to the display means 300 and the transmitter 400.

The display means 300 displays a data output from the microprocessor 200 in a plurality of display modes and also displays an image of the measured object measured by the shooting means 170. The data output from the microprocessor 200 is output on a plurality of submodes to display a distance, a direction, a gradient, an altitude, a size, and a coordinate of the measured object.

The transmitter 400 compresses the image by a compression algorithm such as MPEG to transmit a distance, a size, an altitude, a direction, and a coordinate to a third party which are included in the image of the measured object by the microprocessor 200.

As described above, in order to measure a coordinate of the measured object, the input means 100 is configured to include the GPS receiver 140, the direction measuring means 110, the distance measuring means 150, and the shooting means 170. According to signals input from the respective components of the input means 100, the microprocessor 200 first receives a direction value of the measured object calculated by the direction measuring means 110 from a present position coordinate information provided by the GPS receiver 140 and confirms a distance value to the measured object measured by the distance measuring means 150. Thereafter, the microprocessor 200 measures a coordinate information of the measured object by successively calculating through a focal ratio data measured by the shooting means 170.

In order to measure an altitude of the measured object, the input means 100 is configured to include one of the altitude measuring means 130 and the GPS receiver 140, the gradient measuring means 120, the distance measuring means 150, and the shooting means 170. According to signals input from the respective components of the input means 100, the microprocessor 200 first receives an altitude information from the altitude measuring means 130 or the GPS receiver 140 to receive a gradient value measured by the gradient measuring means 120 form an altitude information as to the present position, and confirms a distance value to the measured object measured by the distance measuring means 150. Thereafter, the microprocessor 200 measure an altitude of the measured object by successively calculating through the focal ratio data measured by the shooting means 170.

FIG. 2 shows a position coordinate of the measured object displayed through the display means of the position coordinate data transmitting device using the navigation system according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the position coordinate data transmitting device operates an operation switch to enter an initialization, in order to prevent unnecessary power consumption. Through the initialization, transmission signals having a position information (e.g., latitude, longitude, altitude, and time information) of the present user transmitted from at least three satellites are received through the GPS receiver 140 by the position tracking technology such as the navigation system. A present position of the user is identified by the microprocessor 200 and the display means 300. A present position coordinate and altitude of the user are calculated on a geographical map formed by the geographical information system stored in the memory unit 210, and at the same time the present position information of the user is stored in the memory unit 210. Here, when no altitude information is provided by the position tracking technology such as a navigation system, the altitude measuring means 130 automatically measures an altitude through an air pressure in the atmosphere.

The image and focal ratio data when the measured object is seen through or measured by the shooting means 170 are input to the microprocessor 200 and stored in the memory unit 210, and the image is displayed on the display means 300.

A distance to the measured object is calculated by an arithmetic expression stored in the memory unit by a time value received in the light receiving portion which receives a signal to which a microwave (laser) emitted from the light emitting portion reflects from the measured object and returns when the measured object is seen through or measured by the distance measuring means 150. The measured distance value is input to the microprocessor 200 and displayed on a second submode 330 of the display means 300. A size information of the measured object is calculated by a cursor function of the key manipulating portion 160 after a fundamental unit of a size is set by an arithmetic expression stored previously though a distance and focal ratio data. That is, when at least two certain positions are selected in an image displayed on the display means 300 through the cursor, an imaginary line is drawn from a first point position to a last point position, and then a length of the measured object is calculated by a scale arithmetic expression with respect to a distance through a focal ratio data and a distance to the measured object stored in the memory unit 210. Here, when the user selects a plurality of points so that the microprocessor 200 successively connects the selected points to form a polygon, a length is first calculated and then an area is calculated.

A direction of the measured object is measured by the direction measuring means such as a compass when the measured object is seen through or measured by the shooting means 170, and the measured direction is input to the microprocessor 200 and stored in the memory unit 210. This is connected to the altitude measuring means 130 and the distance measuring means 150 to be applied when an altitude of the measured object is measured. The gradient measuring means 120 is a gradient sensor to measure a gradient when the measured object is seen through or measured. An angle difference to a horizontal state is calculated by a gradient when the measured objected is seen through or measured. The calculated gradient is stored in the memory unit 210 by the microprocessor 200. This is applied when a gradient and an altitude of the measured object are measured.

The microprocessor 200 receives measured signals from the input means 100 and converts electrical signals into letter or digit data to output a control signal so that letter or digit data is stored in the memory unit 210 or output to the display means 300 and the submodes 320 to 340 to be displayed.

The display means 300 includes a display mode 310 displaying an image projected by the shooting means 170, a first submode which receives a signal transmitted by the position tracking technology such as the navigation system to automatically select a present position of the user as an optimum step coordinate among 8 to 14 step coordinates, and displays a direction in solid line and a gradient in dotted line together with the present position or the 14-step coordinate of the measured object, a second submode which displays whether it is the present position or the data of the measured object or not and whether it is an automatic transmitting and receiving or not, and a third submode which displays the data measured by the input means 100 such as a distance, a length, or an area from the data stored in the memory unit 210 by the microprocessor 200. The direction and the gradient of the first submode 320 can be selectively displayed and can be temporarily displayed by user manipulating the key manipulating portion 160. The transmitter 400 externally transmits a position, an altitude, a length, and an area by selecting an automatic or manual mode after a position, an altitude, a length, and an area are calculated.

Therefore, when the position coordinate data transmitting device is applied to a telescope or a camera and is used for a military purpose, a present position of user can be received by the GPS receiver 140 and displayed, a size information of the measured object (e.g., enemy's base) can be displayed in metric system or other scale unit through an image of the measured object when seen through or measured by the shooting means, and a coordinate information is displayed by 8 to 14 step coordinates used for military purpose while transmitting a position information of the measured object through an antenna of the GPS receiver 140 to a third party.

That is, when the enemy's base is seen through by the telescope or the camera, an altitude and coordinate information of the present position are provided by the position tracking technology such as the navigation system or by the altitude measuring means. Thereafter, the direction that the user see through is measured from the present position by the direction measuring means 110 when the measured object is selected by the direction measuring means 110. The distance to the enemy's base is calculated by the distance measuring means. The size and area of the measured object are calculated by a calculating expression stored in the memory unit 210. The altitude of the measured object is calculated by the focal ratio data, the gradient information and the length information when measured by the shooting means 170. The corresponding coordinate is calculated. Thereafter, the calculate data is transmitted to user's force so that user's force may cannonade the enemy's base.

The position measured by the telescope or the camera is received as the enemy's coordinate through the navigation system, and thus the enemy's base can be more precisely cannonaded compared to the conventional method. As described hereinbefore, the present position information of user is received by the GPS receiver, the size information of the measured object is by a key manipulation of user through the image projected when the measured object is seen through or measured, and a distance, a size, a direction, an altitude, and a coordinate information of the measured object are transmitted to people of user side. Therefore, when the measured object is cannonaded or observed, a more precise information is provided in real time than a manually calculated information, where there is an effect of improving convenient of user.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A position coordinate data transmitting device receiving a present position information of user through signals transmitted by at least three satellite using a navigation system and calculating a distance, a size, a direction, a gradient, an altitude, and a position information of a measured object and trasnmitting to a third party, the device comprising: a plurality of input means for the distance, the size, the direction, the gradient, the altitude, and the position information of the measured object; a microprocessor for storing signals input from the plurality of input means and calling out the stored signals to calculate the distance, the size, the direction, the gradient, the altitude, and the position information by a predetermined arithmetic expression; a display means for displaying a data information calculated in the input means and the microprocessor; and a transmitter for transmitting the data information calculated in the microprocessor to the third party.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of input means includes a direction measuring means for displaying a direction; a gradient measuring means for displaying a gradient when the measured objected is seen through from the present position; an altitude measuring means for measuring an altitude from an air pressure in atmosphere; a GPS receiver for receiving a coordinate including a latitude and a longitude of the present position by a position tracking technology; a distance measuring means for calculating a distance by a time value to which light emitted from a light emitting portion reflects from the measured object and returns; a key manipulating portion for selecting and displaying a position on a monitor; and a shooting means for displaying a focal ratio data and an image of the measured object on an output means, as an automatic focusing function of a camera.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor converts electrical signals received from the input means into a letter data and stores in a memory unit and dispays a letter or digit on the display means and submodes.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein it is programmed that the position information of the measured object calculated by the microprocessor is calculated by a position information of user received by the GPS receiver, a direction information measured by the direction measuring means, a distance information measured by the distance measuring means, a focal ratio data measured by the shooting means.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein it is programmed that the altitude information of the measured object measured by the microprocessor is measured by the altitude mesauring means or is calculated by an altitude information received by the GPS receiver, the gradient information measured by the gradient measuring means, a focal ratio data measured by the distance measuring means and the shooting means.