Patent ID: 6363324
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: G01C,G01S

Abstract:
A system for locating an object using the Global Positioning Satellite System (GPS), said system comprising:a) a locator unit connected to the object, said locator unit including: i) a first processor; ii) a first transmitter for transmitting a location request signal to the GPS; and iii) a first receiver for receiving a location signal from the GPS indicative of the location of the locator unit and providing the location signal to said first processor for storage; and b) a hand held remote unit for determining a position of said locator unit relative to a position of said remote unit, said remote unit including: i) a second processor; ii) a second transmitter for transmitting a position request signal to the GPS; iii) a second receiver for receiving a position signal from the GPS generated in response to receipt of the position request signal by the GPS, said position signal being provided to said second processor for storage; iv) means connected to said second processor for generating a request signal requesting said location signal from said locator unit; and v) said locator unit retrieving said location signal from said first processor upon receipt of said request signal and transmitting said location signal to said remote unit, whereby upon receipt of said location signal said second processor compares said location signal to said position signal to determine a relative position of said locator unit with respect to said remote unit; and vi) indicator means connected to said second processor for displaying a visual signal and issuing an audio signal to indicate the relative position of said locator unit to said remote unit, said indicator means including a display with directional arrows to show a direction to said locator unit and an area on said display to indicate by color the relative altitudes of the locator unit and the remote unit.