Patent ID: 7116272

Claim:
A method for locating a RF signal source from an avalanche distress beacon from a victim buried in an avalanche using a signal locator comprising: a. initiating a search using the signal locator; b. maneuvering the signal locator toward a plurality of compass directions in order to process RF signal strength data of the avalanche beacon in the plurality of compass directions; c. moving a small distance and again maneuvering the signal locator toward a plurality of compass directions in order to process RF signal strength data of the avalanche beacon in the plurality of compass directions; d. obtaining a directional and distance output (waypoint) of the RF signal source of the avalanche beacon based upon the output of algorithms; e. advancing the signal locator towards the initial way point reading. f. initiating a subsequent way point reading, based on subsequent directional readings and subsequent distance readings, where the subsequent distance readings are based upon the rate of change of the RF signal from the avalanche beacon as received by the signal locator; g. continuing to advance the signal locator; and h. repeating steps f–g until the RF signal source from the avalanche beacon is located.