Handheld automatic target acquisition system

A target acquisition system comprising:

• first means for obtaining coordinates of a first position;
• second means for measuring a pointing angle from said first position toward a target, said first position coordinates and pointing angle comprising a first set of data;
• third means for obtaining a second set of data comprising a second position and a pointing angle from said second position toward said target;
• and
• fourth means for calculating coordinates of said target using said first and second sets of data.

A target acquisition device comprising:

• a housing;
• an optical sight for aiming said housing at a target;
• a Global Positioning System receiver for determining a position coordinates of said housing;
• a direction measuring mechanism for determining a pointing angle toward which said housing is aimed;
• a laser rangefinder for determining a distance between said housing and said target;
• a user interface for interfacing with a user;
• and
• a control circuit adapted to receive a signal from said user interface and in response thereto acquire housing coordinates, pointing angle, and distance data from said Global Positioning System receiver, direction measuring mechanism, and laser rangefinder, respectively, and use said data to calculate position coordinates of said target.

A method for acquiring a target including the steps of:

• aiming a housing at said target;
• determining position coordinates of said housing;
• measuring a pointing angle toward which said housing is aimed;
• measuring a distance between said housing and said target;
• and
• computing coordinates of said target from said housing coordinates, pointing angle, and distance, or from two or more sets of housing coordinates and pointing angle data.

A method for acquiring a target including the steps of:

• obtaining coordinates of a first position;
• measuring a pointing angle from said first position toward a target, said first position coordinates and pointing angle comprising a first set of data;
• obtaining a second set of data comprising a second position and a pointing angle from said second position toward said target;
• and
• calculating coordinates of said target using said first and second sets of data.