US 7,116,272 B2Granted

Direction and distance finder for locating distress signals

OwnerEdward A. Wolf, Mark Clarkinventors

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for locating the direction and distance to a RF signal source from an avalanche beacon to find an avalanche victim. The system and method includes a RF signal locator and a graphical display residing on the signal locator. The receiver graphical display provides the searcher with an initial way point reading that includes directional and distance data associated with the beacon RF signal source from the avalanche beacon. The directional and distance data is based upon the received RF signals. A processor within the locator receiver receives and measures RF signals emitted by the RF signal source. The locator advantageously provides continuous subsequent way point readings for the user, where the subsequent way point readings include directional and distance data associated with the RF signal source. The distance data provided by the subsequent way point readings is based upon a path loss slope of the received RF signals from the avalanche beacon.

Claims10

Dependent claims

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.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/189,144Filed 26 Jul 2005 · continuation in part
Priority: 9 Jun 2003
Published: US 2005/0270234 A18 Dec 2005
Granted: 3 Oct 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G01S 3/40
Using adjustment of real or effective orientation of directivity characteristic of an antenna or an antenna system to give a desired condition…
A63B 29/021
Mountain guy-ropes or accessories, e.g. avalanche ropes; Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons:…
G01S 11/06
Using radio waves: using intensity measurements
G01S
Radio direction-finding

Family

Application60/477,125Us provisional application · filed 9 Jun 2003
Application10/709,656Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 May 2004
US 2005/0270234 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Dec 2005
US 6,933,889 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 7,116,272 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.