Patent ID: 6542120
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: G01S,G04B,G04G,G04R,H01Q

Abstract:
A solar powered GPS device for receiving GPS signals transmitted from GPS satellites in order to determine a local time of day by determining a user's position on the Earth's surface, said device comprising:a housing having an interior; a GPS assembly mounted in said interior of said housing for receiving GPS signals from GPS satellites; a clock display being mounted on said housing for displaying a time of day, said clock display being electrically connected to said GPS assembly such that a time of day is set by reception of GPS signals; said clock display comprising a generally semi-transparent material for allowing a light to pass through said clock display; and a solar panel for converting the light passing through said clock display into an electric current, the electric current providing power to said GPS assembly, said solar panel being mounted in said interior of said housing, said solar panel being electrically connected to said GPS assembly; wherein said GPS assembly includes control circuitry being mounted in said interior of said housing for controlling said solar panel and clock display; an hour hand, a minute hand, and a second hand each being rotatably mounted on said clock display such that said hour, minute and second hands point extending outwardly from a central point for displaying hours, minutes and seconds of a time of day to a user; a motor being mounted in said interior of housing for rotatably turning said hour, minute, and second hands; wherein said GPS assembly includes an actuating means for controlling said control circuitry, said actuating means having a time position for selecting one of a plurality of time zones, wherein a user may select a particular time zone to determine a time of day in the selected time zone; and wherein said actuating means is positionable from said time position to a compass position said second hand being adapted for pointing toward a north magnetic pole of earth when said actuating means is positioned in said compass position whereby said second hand forms a compass.