The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 13, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 14, 2008
Ralph M Kling, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Darren S Liccardo, San Jose, CA (US);
Michael J Grimmer, San Jose, CA (US);
Ralph M Kling, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Darren S Liccardo, San Jose, CA (US);
Michael J Grimmer, San Jose, CA (US);
Crossbow Technology, Inc., Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
An antenna assembly for receiving the GPS signals in a global positioning system (GPS) receiver module automatically orients the antenna to better receive the GPS signals. The antenna is oriented by a positioner (e.g., a counterweight) that automatically rotates a frame on which the antenna is mounted. The GPS receiver module may also include multiple antennas oriented in different directions to maintain good reception of the GPS signals in any position. The multiple antennas are oriented in a manner so that the poor reception range an antenna is covered by other antennas. Signals from multiple antennas may be combined or chosen for processing by a GPS processor. Also, multiple GPS receiver modules may be deployed in close proximity so that wireless communication between the GPS receiver modules may be established. The GPS receiver modules with good GPS signals reception may determine its location and send its location information to the GPS modules with poor or no signal reception. The GPS receiver module receiving the location information from other GPS receiver modules may take the location as indicated in the received location information as its location or process the location information further to determine its location.