# US 8,788,201 B2 · Homing display system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,201 B2 - Document ID: US8788201B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/644,955 - Filed: 2012-10-04 - Published: 2013-01-31 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2004-08-30 - Applicants: Phillip M. Adams - Inventors: Phillip M. Adams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788201B2 ## CPC - G01C 21/166: {Mechanical, construction or arrangement details of inertial navigation systems} - B63C 11/02: Divers' equipment - B63B 2213/00: Navigational aids and use thereof, not otherwise provided for in this class - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract A relative positioning system enabling a user to return to a starting position or some other point on the user's path. The system may include an array of accelerometers. The output from the accelerometers may be integrated to quantify movement of the array. The various movements of the array may be reconstructed to determine a net two or three dimensional translation. The current location of the array may be compared to a reference point to derive at trajectory directing the user to the reference point, such as an originating point. The trajectory may be continuously or periodically updated. Applications may include various displays presenting images, numbers, pointers, paths, vectors, or data by digital screens, watch faces, or other devices integrated with or remote from the processor calculating the vector back to the point of origin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A user-portable, self-contained, homing apparatus comprising: a processor; memory operably connected to the processor; an array of accelerometers oriented to detect acceleration in at least two of transverse, longitudinal, and lateral directions; the array operably connected to the processor to deliver a signal substantially continually to the processor; and the processor substantially continually calculating, based exclusively on the signal, a direction to a fixed point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an output device operably connected to the processor to substantially continually output a sensible signal directing toward the fixed point. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the output device is selected from a digital display, a video device, an analog device, and an audio device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensible signal is selected from a pointer on the digital display, a pointer on the video device, a needle on the analog device, and an audible signal emanating from the audio device and designating a direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the memory stores dive-computer software programmed to inform a user of critical dive parameters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a user interface operably connected to communicate user inputs to the processor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the memory further stores relative positioning software programmed to receive, from a user, one or more inputs identifying the fixed point. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory stores relative positioning software programmed to substantially continually calculate, based exclusively on the signal, a vector pointing to the fixed point. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing containing the processor, memory, and array of accelerometers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a band for securing the housing to a user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the band comprises a wrist band. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing is waterproof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operably connected to communicate user inputs to the processor. ### Claim 14 A user-portable, self-contained, homing apparatus comprising: a processor; memory operably connected to the processor, the memory storing dive-computer software programmed to inform a user of critical dive parameters; an array of accelerometers oriented to detect acceleration in at least two of transverse, longitudinal, and lateral directions; the array operably connected to the processor to deliver a signal substantially continually to the processor; and the processor substantially continually calculating, based exclusively on the signal, a direction to a fixed point. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a user interface operably connected to communicate user inputs to the processor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a housing containing the processing, memory, and array of accelerometers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 an output device contained within the housing and operably connected to the processor to substantially continually output a sensible signal directing toward the fixed point. ### Claim 18 A user-portable, self-contained, homing apparatus comprising: a housing; a processor contained within the housing; memory contained within the housing and operably connected to the processor; an array of accelerometers contained within the housing and oriented to detect acceleration in at least two of transverse, longitudinal, and lateral directions; the array operably connected to the processor to deliver a signal substantially continually to the processor; the processor substantially continually calculating, based exclusively on the signal, a direction to a fixed point; and the memory storing dive-computer software programmed to inform a user of critical dive parameters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a band for securing the housing to a user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the band comprises a wrist band.