CN101109795A - Power switch control device for GPS receiver and power supply control method - Google Patents

Abstract

The power switch control device for the GPS receiver can determine the power supply state of the GPS receiver according to whether the GPS receiver is moved. The power switch control device mainly comprises an orientation sensor (such as a gyroscope or a digital compass) and a power control module. When the orientation sensor provides the orientation information, the power control module determines the power supply state of the GPS receiver based on the variation of the orientation information. In this way, as long as the position is not changed and the GPS receiver is not moving, the GPS receiver can be powered off temporarily without receiving positioning information since there is no moving position.

Description

Power switch control device and power supply control method for GPS receiver

technical field

The invention relates to a power switch control device, especially a power switch control device for a GPS receiver.

Background technique

The Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the United States in the 1970s. It took 20 years and cost 20 billion U.S. dollars. It was fully completed in 1994. It has all-round real-time three-dimensional navigation and positioning in sea, land and air. A new generation of satellite navigation and positioning system with advanced capabilities. With its all-weather, high-precision, automation, and high-efficiency features, GPS has won the trust of users and has been successfully used in navigation, timing, and high-precision measurement.

The basic positioning principle of GPS is: the satellite continuously sends its own ephemeris parameters and time information, and after receiving the information, the user calculates the three-dimensional position, three-dimensional direction, motion speed and time information of the receiver.

Generally speaking, after receiving the positioning information from the satellite through the satellite positioning receiver, the positioning information is transmitted to the positioning information analyzer (an electronic device with computing functions; such as PDA) through Bluetooth communication, and the positioning The information analyzer analyzes the relative position based on the existing graphics and information, and then lets the user understand its position in a graphical way through the display.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a known satellite positioning receiver. As shown in FIG. 1 , a known satellite positioning receiver 10 is mainly composed of a Bluetooth module 12 and a GPS receiver 14 , and supplies power to the Bluetooth module 12 and the GPS receiver 14 respectively. Between the Bluetooth module 12 and the GPS receiver 14, at least positioning information is transmitted through a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) interface.

After the GPS receiver 14 receives the positioning information provided by the satellite, the GPS receiver 14 generally provides the positioning information to the Bluetooth module 12 continuously at intervals of one second. At this time, if the bluetooth module 12 has established a connection with the corresponding location information analyzer (not shown), then the bluetooth module 12 will transmit the received location information. On the contrary, if the connection has not been established, the positioning information will be discarded.

It can be seen that, when the Bluetooth module 12 has not established a connection with the location information analyzer, the Bluetooth module 12 does not need to transmit the location information. Since there is no need to transmit positioning information, the Bluetooth module 12 certainly does not need these positioning information. Since there is no need to obtain location information, the GPS receiver 14 that provides location information can be completely turned off. Therefore, when the Bluetooth module 12 has not established an online connection with the positioning information analyzer, the power supply to the GPS receiver 14 can actually be cut off, but because the Bluetooth module 12 still needs to wait for the online request at any time, it cannot be completely closed.

In short, with the trend of short, light and thin electronic products, satellite positioning receivers must also find ways to make them smaller and lighter. However, the battery takes up a lot of space and weight. According to the current technical level, it is impossible to reduce the size and greatly increase its storage capacity in a short period of time. Therefore, each manufacturer can only find ways to reduce the power consumption of satellite positioning receivers. To avoid being forced to use a battery with a large volume and a large storage capacity.

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which is a schematic diagram of another conventional satellite positioning receiver. As shown in Figure 2, the known satellite positioning receiver 30 is still mainly composed of a GPS receiver 34 and a Bluetooth module 32, but in order to achieve the known power-saving design, it is specially changed to only supply power to the Bluetooth module 32, and to pass through the transmission line instead. 16 supplies power to the GPS receiver 34, and the switch 18 decides whether to transmit power to the GPS receiver 34.

The power-saving design of the conventional satellite positioning receiver 30 mainly determines whether to supply power to the GPS receiver 34 according to the connection mode between the Bluetooth module 32 and the positioning information analyzer (not shown). Specifically, if the connection mode is not established, the GPS receiver 34 is not powered by the switch 18 . On the contrary, if the connection mode is established, the GPS receiver 34 is powered on. In this way, the GPS receiver 34 is only powered on when necessary (it is already online, and the positioning information may need to be transmitted to the positioning information analyzer at any time), thereby saving unnecessary power consumption.

In addition to determining the timing of cutting off the power supply by the connection mode between the Bluetooth module 32 and the location information analyzer, the PDA equipped with the GPS receiver 34 or the movement of the vehicle can also be used to determine the power supply mode. Specifically, if the PDA loaded with the GPS receiver 34 or the vehicle does not move, the positioning information received by the GPS receiver 34 must not change. Since there is no change when there is no movement, the GPS can be temporarily turned off of course. The receiver 34 also achieves power saving effect.

Contents of the invention

The first object of the present invention is to provide a power switch control device for a GPS receiver, which can be inferred that the GPS receiver is not in a moving position because the orientation measured by the orientation sensor does not change. There is no need to receive positioning information, but the power of the GPS receiver can be temporarily cut off.

The second object of the present invention is to provide a kind of power supply control method for GPS receiver, utilize the azimuth measured by the azimuth sensor to no longer change, and deduce that the GPS receiver is not in the moving position, since there is no moving position, it will not To receive positioning information, the power to the GPS receiver can be temporarily cut off.

Based on the above purpose, the power switch control device for the GPS receiver of the present invention can determine the power supply status of the GPS receiver according to whether the GPS receiver is moved. The power switch control device mainly includes an orientation sensor (such as a gyroscope or a digital compass) and a power control module. After the orientation sensor provides the orientation information, the power control module determines the power supply state of the GPS receiver based on the orientation information.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood through the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a known satellite positioning receiver.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another conventional satellite positioning receiver.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the power switch control device of the GPS receiver of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the present invention implemented by the power control module.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of another variation example of the present invention executed by the power control module.

Symbol Description

10, 30 Satellite positioning receiver 12, 32 Bluetooth module

14, 34 positioning module 16 transmission line

18 Switch 40 Power switch control device

42 Orientation sensor 44 Power control module

46 GPS receiver 48 Power supply control signal

50 switch

Detailed ways

Please refer to FIG. 3 . FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a power switch control device for a GPS receiver of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3, the present invention is used for the power switch control device 40 of GPS receiver, mainly comprises azimuth sensor 42 (for example gyroscope or digital compass) and power control module 44, and azimuth sensor 42 is connected to power control module 44, and is used to generate orientation information. The power control module 44 is used to determine the power supply state of the GPS receiver 46 according to the change degree of the orientation information within a predetermined time period.

Generally speaking, in actual products, the power switch control device 40 and the GPS receiver 46 of the present invention are usually installed in the same device (such as PDA) or inside the vehicle at the same time. Therefore, the position sensor 42 of the power switch control device 40 of the present invention is The measured orientation information is equivalent to the orientation of the GPS receiver 46, and through the power switch control device 40 of the present invention, it is estimated whether the device (such as a PDA) or the vehicle has moved, and whether the orientation information of the GPS receiver 46 will change .

In this way, if the device or the vehicle does not move, it can be inferred that the orientation information has not changed. Since the orientation information has not changed, the power control module 44 can be used to temporarily cut off the power of the GPS receiver 46 to achieve power saving. . Conversely, if the device or the vehicle moves again, it can be inferred that the orientation information will change, and the power supply control module 44 is used to restore power to the GPS receiver 46 again.

When determining whether there is displacement, the power control module 44 will output a power supply control signal 48 to supply power or not to the switch 50 , and the switch 50 is connected between the power supply, the GPS receiver 46 and the power control module 44 . The switch 50 connects the power supply and the GPS receiver 46 into two connection states of conduction or non-conduction according to the power supply control signal 48 , so as to supply power to the GPS receiver 46 or not to supply power.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the present invention implemented by the power control module. Specifically, since the orientation information provided by the orientation sensor 42 includes at least the orientation angle, the power control module 44 will change the orientation angle less than the first predetermined angle, for example, 10 degrees, and continue to reach the first predetermined time. During, for example: 10 minutes, the power control module 44 will output the power supply control signal 48 of no power supply to the switch 50, and the disconnection function of the switch 50 will cause the GPS receiver 46 to form a disconnection with the power supply, thus stopping the GPS receiver 46 operation.

If the variation of the azimuth angle is greater than the second predetermined angle, for example: 15 degrees, the power supply control module 44 will output the power supply control signal 48 for power supply to the switch 50, and the GPS receiver 46 will be activated by the conduction of the switch 50. A short circuit is formed to the power supply, allowing the GPS receiver 46 to restore power and operate again.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of another variation example of the present invention executed by the power control module. Furthermore, in order to prevent the user from accidentally touching the power switch control device 40 (especially the orientation sensor 42 ) of the present invention, the variation of the azimuth angle is greater than the second predetermined angle, thus resulting in misjudgment. Therefore, in addition to the condition that the variation of the azimuth angle is greater than the second predetermined angle, the power supply control module 44 still needs to judge whether the variation of the azimuth angle is greater than the second predetermined angle, whether it has reached the second predetermined time period , For example: after 15 minutes, the power control module 44 will output the power supply control signal 48 to the switch 50, so that the GPS receiver 46 resumes power supply and then operates again.

The above-mentioned switch 50 of the present invention can adopt a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) or other electronic switch components.

The specific means of the above-mentioned power control module 44 of the present invention can adopt a microcontroller. Utilize the microcontroller 44 to receive the orientation information, and judge according to the degree of change of the orientation information within a predetermined time period, and output the power supply control signal 50 for supplying or not supplying power. The above-mentioned processes of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 can be implemented as a firmware, and the microcontroller 44 executes the firmware.

Through the above detailed description of the preferred embodiments, it is hoped that the characteristics and spirit of the present invention can be described more clearly, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the preferred embodiments disclosed above. On the contrary, the intention is to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. a power supply switch controller that is used for gps receiver is characterized in that, is in order to determining the power supply state of a gps receiver, and this power supply switch controller comprises:

One aspect sensor is to be used for producing an azimuth information, and is to be used for providing this azimuth information with respect to this gps receiver to an energy supply control module; And

This energy supply control module is to be connected in this aspect sensor, and is to be used for according to the variable quantity of this azimuth information within a predetermined time period, and determines this power supply state of this gps receiver.

2. the power supply switch controller that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that this azimuth information comprises a position angle at least.

3. the power supply switch controller that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 2, it is characterized in that, this energy supply control module, be to be used at this azimuthal variable quantity less than one first predetermined angular and continue to reach this first predetermined time period, output one power supplying control signal of not powering makes this gps receiver cut off the power supply whereby.

4. the power supply switch controller that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 2, it is characterized in that, this energy supply control module, be to be used at this azimuthal variable quantity during greater than one second predetermined angular, the power supplying control signal of output one power supply makes this gps receiver is restored electricity whereby.

5. the power supply switch controller that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 2, it is characterized in that, this energy supply control module, be to be used for measuring greater than one second predetermined angular and continuing to reach one second predetermined time period in this azimuthal variation, the power supplying control signal of output one power supply makes this gps receiver is restored electricity whereby.

6. the power supply switch controller that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that this energy supply control module is to comprise a microcontroller at least, wherein this microcontroller is to be used for variable quantity according to this azimuth information, and determines this power supply state of this gps receiver.

7. a power supply control method that is used for gps receiver is characterized in that, is in order to determine the power supply state of a gps receiver, to comprise the following steps:

One aspect sensor and an energy supply control module are provided;

Make this aspect sensor produce an azimuth information, and make this aspect sensor provide this azimuth information with respect to this gps receiver to this energy supply control module; And

Make this energy supply control module receive this azimuth information, and according to the variable quantity of this azimuth information within a predetermined time period, and determine this power supply state of this gps receiver.

8. the power supply control method that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that this azimuth information comprises a position angle at least.

9. the power supply control method that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 8, it is characterized in that, this energy supply control module, be to be used at this azimuthal variable quantity less than one first predetermined angular and continue to reach this first predetermined time period, output one power supplying control signal of not powering makes this gps receiver cut off the power supply whereby.

10. the power supply control method that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 8, it is characterized in that, this energy supply control module, be to be used at this azimuthal variable quantity during greater than one second predetermined angular, the power supplying control signal of output one power supply makes this gps receiver is restored electricity whereby.

11. the power supply control method that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 8, it is characterized in that, this energy supply control module, be to be used for measuring greater than one second predetermined angular and continuing to reach one second predetermined time period in this azimuthal variation, the power supplying control signal of output one power supply makes this gps receiver is restored electricity whereby.

12. the power supply control method that is used for gps receiver as claimed in claim 7, it is characterized in that this energy supply control module is to comprise a microcontroller at least, wherein this microcontroller is to be used for variable quantity according to this azimuth information, and determines this power supply state of this gps receiver.

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