US3576124A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for aligning an inertial navigation system
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1969-03-19
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A system and a method of aligning an inertial navigation system providing signals corresponding to azimuth movement of a vehicle moving in a known azimuth. The azimuth movement signals are compared with a signal corresponding to the known azimuth to provide a difference signal for correcting the azimuth movement signals accordingly.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E O'connor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C25/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for aligning an inertial navigation system providing signals corresponding to movement of a vehicle, comprising means for providing a signal corresponding to a known azimuth in which the vehicle is moving which includes means for storing information corresponding to all azimuths available to the vehicle for movement, and means connected to the storing means for automatically selecting the azimuth in which the vehicle is moving and causing the storing means to provide a known azimuth signal corresponding to the selected azimuth, means responsive to the movement signals from the navigation system for resolving the movement signals to a signal corresponding to azimuth movement of the vehicle, means connected to the storing means and to the azimuth movement signal means for providing a signal corresponding to the difference between the known azimuth signal and the azimuth movement signal, and means connected to the navigation system and to the difference signal means for correcting the movement signals in accordance with the difference signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for aligning an inertial navigation system providing signals corresponding to movement of a vehicle, comprising means for providing a signal corresponding to a known azimuth in which the vehicle is moving which includes means for storing information corresponding to all azimuths available to the vehicle for movement, and means connected to the storing means for automatically selecting the azimuth in which the vehicle is moving and causing the storing means to provide a known azimuth signal corresponding to the selected azimuth, means responsive to the movement signals from the navigation system for resolving the movement signals to a signal corresponding to azimuth movement of the vehicle, means connected to the storing means and to the azimuth movement signal means for providing a signal corresponding to the difference between the known azimuth signal and the azimuth movement signal, and means connected to the navigation system and to the difference signal means for correcting the movement signals in accordance with the difference signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as described in claim 1 in which the azimuth movement signal means includes averaging means connected to the difference means for applying an average azimuth movement signal so as to average out the effect on the azimuth movement signal of spurious excursions of the vehicle as it moves in the known azimuth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as described in claim 1 in which the correcting means includes a computer which computes the location of the vehicle in response to the movement signals and the difference signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for aligning an inertial navigation system comprising moving the inertial navigation system in a known azimuth causing it to provide movement signals, resolving the movement signals to a signal cOrresponding to azimuth movement of a vehicle, storing signals corresponding to known azimuths, selecting a known azimuth signal corresponding to the azimuth that the inertial navigational system is moving in, subtracting the known azimuth signal from the azimuth movement signal from the inertial navigation system algebraically to determine the difference between the azimuth movement signal and the known azimuth signal, providing a signal corresponding to the difference and correcting subsequent movement signals from the inertial navigation system in accordance with the difference signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for aligning an inertial navigation system comprising moving the inertial navigation system in a known azimuth causing it to provide movement signals, resolving the movement signals to a signal cOrresponding to azimuth movement of a vehicle, storing signals corresponding to known azimuths, selecting a known azimuth signal corresponding to the azimuth that the inertial navigational system is moving in, subtracting the known azimuth signal from the azimuth movement signal from the inertial navigation system algebraically to determine the difference between the azimuth movement signal and the known azimuth signal, providing a signal corresponding to the difference and correcting subsequent movement signals from the inertial navigation system in accordance with the difference signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as described in claim 1 in which the selection means is a magnetic detector providing an output to the storing means corresponding approximately to azimuth movement of the vehicle causing the storing means to provide a signal corresponding to a known azimuth closest to the approximate azimuth detected by the magnetic detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as described in claim 1 further comprising control means connecting the azimuth movement signal means to the difference means for applying the azimuth movement signal to the difference means only when the vehicle is moving in the known azimuth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
162 words
A system as described in claim 6 in which the movement signals correspond to accelerations along the X and Y axes of the inertial navigation system; the azimuth movement signal means includes integrating means for integrating the movement signals and providing signals corresponding to velocities, and means for resolving the velocity signals to the azimuth movement signal and to a signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle; and the control means includes means connected to the resolving means for providing a command signal in response to the speed signal when the speed of the vehicle is between predetermined minimum and maximum speeds peculiar to movement of the craft in the known azimuth, and switching means connected to the resolving means and to the command signal means for applying the azimuth movement signal to the difference means in response to the command signal so that alignment of the inertial navigation system only occurs when the vehicle is moving in the known azimuth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system as defined in claim 8 in which the command signal means includes a detector connected to the resolving means for comparing the speed signal with two reference voltages having amplitudes corresponding to the minimum and maximum speeds and providing the command signal when the amplitude of the speed signal is greater than the amplitude of a first reference voltage but less than the amplitude of a second reference voltage.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for aligning an inertial navigation system comprising moving the inertial navigation system in a known azimuth causing it to provide movement signals, resolving the movement signals to a signal corresponding to azimuth movement of a vehicle, providing a signal corresponding to the known azimuth, subtracting the known azimuth signal from the azimuth movement signal from the inertial navigation system algebraically to determine the difference between the azimuth movement signal and the known azimuth signal, providing a signal corresponding to the difference and correcting subsequent movement signals from the inertial navigation system in accordance with the difference signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for aligning an inertial navigation system comprising moving the inertial navigation system in a known azimuth causing it to provide movement signals, resolving the movement signals to a signal corresponding to azimuth movement of a vehicle, providing a signal corresponding to the known azimuth, subtracting the known azimuth signal from the azimuth movement signal from the inertial navigation system algebraically to determine the difference between the azimuth movement signal and the known azimuth signal, providing a signal corresponding to the difference and correcting subsequent movement signals from the inertial navigation system in accordance with the difference signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for aligning an inertial navigation system as described in claim 9 further comprising averaging the azimuth movement signal prior to subtracting so as to average out spurious azimuth movement signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |