Directional steering and navigation indicator

A positioning apparatus for indicating integrated directional and point of closest approach (PCA) information to a user traveling along a current course toward a desired destination, the positioning apparatus operable with a computer and a navigation system providing the user's current position data, destination position data, bearing data, and course-over-ground (COG) data, comprising:

• destination position means for indicating the position of the desired destination;
• current position means for indicating the current position of the user relative to the desired destination;
• PCA means for indicating a position along the current course that is closest to the desired destination;
• COG position means for indicating the COG data, the COG position means coupled to the current position means, wherein the COG data represents the direction of travel of the user at the user's current position, further wherein the PCA means is coupled along a line formed by the current position means and the COG position means;
• bearing-to-destination (BTD) means for integrally coupling the destination position means with the current position means;
• and
• alignment means for aligning the COG position means with the BTD means such that the PCA means coincides with the destination position means, wherein the user is oriented such that the COG means superimposes the BTD means, further wherein when the PCA means coincides with the destination position means, the user's current course is directed toward the desired destination.

An integrated steering indicator operable with a programmable computer and a navigation system, the integrated steering indicator for displaying point of closest approach (PCA), route, and position information to a traveling operator, to direct the operator from an origin to a desired destination, the origin and desired destination having an associated origin waypoint and a destination waypoint, respectively, the positions of the origin and destination waypoints being determined by the navigation system, respectively, the integrated steering indicator comprising:

• an origin waypoint indicator for displaying the position of the origin waypoint;
• a destination waypoint indicator for displaying the position of the destination waypoint relative to the origin waypoint;
• a current position indicator for indicating a current position of the operator;
• a course-over-ground (COG) indicator integrally coupled to the current position indicator for indicating a direction of travel of the operator;
• a PCA indicator positioned in line with the COG indicator;
• a bearing-to-destination (BTD) indicator defining a line between the destination waypoint and the operator's current position;
• means for steering the COG indicator toward the destination waypoint such that the PCA indicator moves toward the destination waypoint indicator, wherein as the PCA indicator moves toward the destination waypoint indicator, the operator travels toward and in the direction of the desired destination;
• and
• alignment means for aligning the COG indicator with the BTD indicator such that the PCA indicator superimposes the destination waypoint indicator, such that the operator is traveling directly toward the desired destination.

A method for steering a user having a current position toward a desired destination, wherein the user moves in a direction of travel associated with course-over-ground (COG) data, comprising the steps of:

• providing location information of the user's current position, the desired destination, and the user's COG data representing the user's direction of travel;
• displaying the position of the desired destination;
• simultaneously indicating the current position of the user relative to the desired destination;
• displaying the COG data integrally with the user's current position to indicate a direction of travel of the user;
• displaying a point-of-closest-approach (PCA) of the user's current position integrally with the user's direction of travel, wherein the PCA indicates whether the user will reach the desired destination according to the user's current direction of travel;
• and
• aligning the PCA with the desired destination, such that when the PCA superimposes the position of the desired destination, the user's current direction of travel accurately matches the bearing of the desired destination.

A positioning apparatus for integrally displaying directional and point of closest approach (PCA) information to a user traveling along a current course toward a desired destination, the positioning apparatus operable with a computer and a navigation system providing the user's current position data, destination position data, bearing data, and course-over-ground (COG) data, wherein the user's current position data, destination position data, bearing data, and COG data are graphically represented on the computer, the positioning apparatus comprising:

• a display coupled to the computer;
• destination position means for indicating the position of the desired destination on the display;
• current position means for indicating the current position of the user relative to the desired destination on the display;
• PCA means for displaying a position along the current course that is closest to the desired destination;
• COG position means for indicating the COG data on the display, the COG position means coupled to the current position means, wherein the COG data represents the direction of travel of the user at the user's current position;
• bearing-to-destination (BTD) means for integrally coupling the destination position means with the current position means;
• and
• alignment means for enabling the COG position means to be aligned with the BTD means, the PCA means being displayed to move toward the destination position means, such that the user is oriented to cause the COG means to move closer to the BTD means, wherein when the PCA means coincides with the destination position means the display indicates that the user's current course is directed toward the desired destination.