Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Beacon or receiver
Patent
1998-11-12
2000-05-30
Gregory, Bernarr E.
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Beacon or receiver
342 29, 342147, 342195, 342417, 342450, 342454, 342455, 367 99, 367107, 367116, 367124, 367125, 367126, 340979, 381300, 381309, G01S 302
Patent
active
060695854
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a personal direction-finding apparatus making it possible to determine a direction to follow in order to reach a predetermined spot, either in a straight line or by following a predefined path.
To find their way on land, sea or in the air, individuals travelling either on foot or on board a vehicle usually use traditional direction-finding means such as the compass or the satellite navigation system also known as GPS. These means require the frequent reading of the information delivered in order to correct the drift from the path or track error and consequently, during each period of reading, the eyes are no longer available for progressing, observing to noting visual landmarks. In the case of a pedestrian, reading of the information further requires that the pedestrian holds the direction-finding apparatus in order to place it in front of his eyes.
French Patent FR-A-2 731 521 describes an individual goniometric apparatus comprising a means for picking up the radiation of a source, worn on the user's head, a receiver possibly intervening as demodulator, a circuit for processing the goniometric signal and at least one earphone connected to the output of the processing circuit.
Document "Patent Abstract of Japan" Vol. 95 No. 003 discloses a vocal nagivation device comprising a sensor of the position or of the angle of rotation of a pivoting wheel of a vehicle and furnishing auditive data servo-controlled by this orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,987 discloses a control system of an aircraft comprising a GPS receiver making it possible to determine the position of the aircraft, and a computer producing a flight plan having the desired orientation to direct the pilot towards the zone that he must reach.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,515 discloses an attitude indicator comprising a headset with earphones to furnish an individual with data relative to his position in space.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a personal direction-finding apparatus which is convenient to use, allowing the wearer to be permanently informed as to the track to be followed without his eyes and hands having to intervene.
To that end, this personal direction-finding apparatus for determining a direction to be followed in order to reach a predetermined spot either in a straight line or by following a predefined path comprises a headset provided with two left and right earphones applied on the ears of the user of the apparatus, to allow a binaural listening of sound signals, a circuit generating a track error signal which represents the angular deviation between the direction to be followed and the direction effectively followed by the user of the apparatus, a generator of a low-frequency electric signal in the spectrum of audible frequencies by the human ear, and a circuit for processing the binaural sounds which has inputs connected to the output of the track error signal generating circuit and to the output of the low-frequency signal generator, and having two outputs respectively connected to the two earphones, in order to produce sound signals differentiated for the left and right ears as a function of the track error signal and to furnish, when the user stops and/or is moving, a servo-controlled sound signal perceived by the user as seeming to come from a point located in the direction to be followed, characterized in that the track error signal generating circuit comprises a magnetic compass, borne by the headset, outputting a magnetic heading signal corresponding to the magnetic heading of the direction followed, a receiver of a position location and navigation system outputting a heading signal to be followed and a track error computing circuit having a first input connected to the magnetic compass and a second input connected to the receiver and effecting a subtraction between the heading signal to be followed and the magnetic heading signal in order to deliver the track error signal as result of the difference, this signal being
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English Abstract of Japanese Patent Application 7-057190, No Date.
English Abstract of Japanese Patent Application 1-077296, No Date.
Gregory Bernarr E.
Rockwell-Collins France
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