Patent · US Active

Apparatus and method to conserve power in a portable GNSS unit

US9658338B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
6References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 13, 2012
Grant dateMay 23, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S19/52
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A device is disclosed that is capable of determining its location using high-power with high accuracy, and using low-power with lower accuracy. By coordinating usage between the high power method and the low power, overall power consumption of the device can be significantly reduced without a significant reduction in accuracy. Such high accuracy may be achieved through the use of a GNSS unit, such a GPS receiver. In addition, the low-power alternative may be achieved using an accelerometer, together with software, hardware or firmware for extrapolating a speed based on the force measurements by the accelerometer. In this manner, the GPS receiver can be operated for only a fraction of overall use, primarily to provide adjustment data necessary to calibrate usage of the accelerometer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.