JP2002162247A - Gps system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a GPS system superior in small-sized and lightweight portability by contriving the miniaturization and small size of a GPS sensor part. SOLUTION: The GPS system comprises the GPS sensor part 2 receiving a signal including a navigation message transmitted from a satellite by an electric wave and measuring a receiving position by using the navigation message, and an information terminal device 3 in which the GPS sensor part 2 is detachably connected through a connection part 4 and prescribed processing in regard to the receiving position is performed. The constitution of the GPS sensor part 2 is simplified by directly accessibly providing a time generation part 35 generating a current time necessary for positioning of the GPS sensor part 2 and a storage part 35 storing a navigation message and the information of a receiving position acquired at previous positioning necessary for initial positioning through the connection part 4 by the GPS sensor part 2, and the small size and lightweight of the GPS system 1 is enabled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a GPS (Global P
The present invention relates to a GPS system including a GPS sensor unit that measures a position (absolute position of the moving object itself) using an ositioning system and an information terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a PDA (Personal Digital Assis
2. Description of the Related Art A GPS system is known in which a portable information terminal device such as a tants) is combined with a GPS sensor unit. In this GPS system, the position is detected by a GPS sensor unit, and the position information can be output from the information terminal device to an external device, or the information terminal device can perform display using the position information. .

FIG. 2 shows an example of a block configuration of a conventional GPS system. A GPS system 100 shown in the figure includes a GPS sensor unit 101 and an information terminal device 102.
Are detachably connected to each other via a connection section 103 such as a connector.

[0004] The GPS positioning principle is that, out of a plurality of artificial satellites orbiting the earth, four artificial satellites simultaneously receive satellite signals including information such as navigation messages and PRN codes transmitted by radio waves of a predetermined frequency. Using the satellite signal, the distance from each artificial satellite to a moving object (receiving point) such as an automobile, a ship, an airplane, etc. and the propagation delay time of the radio wave are measured, and information on the distance and the propagation delay time is used. To calculate the current position (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the moving object, the moving speed and the azimuth of the moving object. When it is not necessary to consider the altitude of the receiving position on land or at sea, the current position (latitude, longitude) of the receiving point using satellite signals from three artificial satellites
Can be calculated.

Accordingly, the GPS sensor unit 101 includes an antenna 101a for receiving radio waves from artificial satellites, and a signal processing unit 101 for detecting information such as navigation messages from the received radio waves.
b, the position (GPS system 100
(The current position) is calculated.

The GPS sensor unit 101 and the information terminal device 10
2 are electrically connected to each other via a connection unit 103,
When the sensor unit 101 is connected to the information terminal device 102 via the connection unit 103, the GPS sensor unit 101 continuously measures the current position of the GPS system 100 at a predetermined cycle, and transmits the measurement result to the connection unit 103. Via the central processing unit (CPU) 102a in the information terminal device 102

The information terminal device 102 has a central processing unit (CP
U) 102a, storage unit 102b, information display unit 102c,
An information output unit 102d and a time generation unit 102e,
For example, a GPS system 10 such as a navigation function
When performing processing related to the position of 0, the CPU 102
a, a predetermined process is performed using the position information sequentially input from the GPS sensor unit 101, and the processing result is stored in the storage unit 10.
2b, display on the information display unit 102c,
The information is output from the information output unit 102d to an external device.

In the GPS system, among a plurality of artificial satellites,
When the GPS system is started by turning on the main power to select three or four satellites that can receive radio waves and calculate the current position of the receiving point using satellite signals from those satellites At the start of positioning such as when the GPS sensor unit 101 is connected to the information terminal device 102 (hereinafter, positioning at this time is referred to as initial positioning), three or four artificial satellites capable of receiving radio waves first are used. A process to select is required.

[0009] However, if an artificial satellite capable of receiving radio waves is searched every time the initial positioning is performed, a long time is required for the processing, and there is a disadvantage that positioning is not easily started even if the satellite is started. Therefore, in the conventional GPS system 100, in order to solve such a problem, at the time of the initial positioning, the navigation message and the reception position information acquired in the previous positioning processing and the time information at the time of the start of the positioning are used for the artificial satellite. A setting process is performed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a storage unit 101d for storing a navigation message used for GPS positioning and a positioning result (position information of the GPS system) in a GPS sensor unit 101, and a time generating unit 101e for generating time. These are provided with a battery 101f for supplying power for backup, and when the positioning operation is completed by the GPS sensor unit 101, the navigation message acquired in the positioning operation and the position of the GPS system required for the next initial positioning are next required. The information is stored in the storage unit 101d, and the information is stored in the storage unit 101d while the GPS sensor unit 101 is stopped.

[0011]

By the way, in the conventional GPS system 100, a storage unit 10 for storing a navigation message and a positioning result (position information) necessary for initial positioning.
1d, the time generation unit 101e, and the backup battery 101e are built in the GPS sensor unit 101, so that the GPS sensor unit 101 is reduced in size and weight, and further the entire GPS system 100 is reduced in size and weight. Has become difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a small, lightweight, and highly portable GPS system by reducing the size and weight of a GPS sensor unit.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided a GPS sensor unit for receiving a navigation message transmitted from a satellite and measuring a reception position using the navigation message.
In a GPS system comprising an information terminal device for performing a predetermined process using the reception position measured by the S sensor unit, a time information generating means for generating current time information is provided in the information terminal device, and the GPS A storage means is provided for storing the navigation message and the information on the reception position obtained by the sensor unit so that the GPS sensor unit can directly read and write the information.

In the GPS system, the time information generated by the time information generating means may be provided to the GPS sensor via the storage means.

In the above-mentioned GPS system, the GPS sensor section is detachably attached to the information terminal device.
When connected to the information terminal device, the navigation message and the information on the reception position are read from the storage means, the time information generated by the time information generation means is obtained, and the reception position is measured using the information. It is good to start.

According to this configuration, the storage means for storing the navigation message and the reception position obtained in the positioning processing of the GPS sensor unit and the time generation means for generating the current time are provided in the information terminal device. In addition, the configuration of the GPS sensor unit is simplified, and the size can be reduced.

When the GPS sensor unit is connected to the information terminal device, the GPS sensor unit reads out the navigation message and the information of the reception position obtained in the previous positioning process from the storage unit and generates the information by the time information generation unit. Since the obtained time information is obtained and the measurement of the reception position is started using the information, the start of the positioning is not delayed.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a GPS system according to the present invention.

The GPS system 1 has a connection section 4 such as a connector.
GPS sensor unit 2 and PD detachably connected via
A and other portable information terminal devices 3. G
The PS sensor unit 2 and the information terminal device 3 are electrically connected via a connection unit 4, and position information (information on the current position of the GPS system 1) measured by the GPS sensor unit 2 is used as described later. 4 to a central processing unit (CPU) 31 in the information terminal device 3. Also,
While the navigation message and the position information obtained by the GPS sensor unit 2 by the positioning process are written directly into the storage unit 32 in the information terminal device 3 via the connection unit 4, at the time of the initial positioning, it is obtained by the previous positioning process. The navigation message and the position information stored in the storage unit 32 are directly transmitted to the GP via the connection unit 4.
The time information generated by the time generation unit 35 of the information terminal device 3 is read out by the positioning calculation unit 23 in the S sensor unit 2 and the GPS sensor unit 2
Input to the positioning calculation unit 23 in the navigation message,
Initial positioning is started using the position information and the time information.

The GPS sensor unit 2 measures a position (current position of the GPS system 1) using GPS, and an antenna 2 for receiving radio waves from a GPS artificial satellite.
1. A signal processing unit 22 that detects radio waves received by an antenna 21 and detects information such as a navigation message (orbit information, calendar, PRN code, etc.) transmitted from an artificial satellite, and a connection unit 4 from the information terminal device 3 And a positioning operation unit 23 that measures a position based on the positioning principle of the GPS using information on the current time input via the GPS and the navigation message detected by the signal processing unit 22.

On the other hand, the information terminal device 3 performs various processes of multimedia information such as characters and images (for example, processes such as display, processing, editing, saving, communication, etc.). A central processing unit (CPU) 31 for performing processing; a storage unit 3 for storing a processing program of the CPU 31, a processing result of the central processing unit 31, and a navigation message and position information obtained by the GPS sensor unit 2
2. It comprises an information display unit 33 for displaying information, an information output unit 34 for outputting information to an external device, and a time generation unit 35 for generating time.

In the GPS system 1, when the GPS sensor unit 2 is connected to the information terminal device 3 via the connection unit 4, the position of the GPS system 1 is measured by the GPS sensor unit 2 at a predetermined cycle using the GPS. The measurement results are sequentially transferred to the CPU 31 in the information terminal device 3. For example, when processing related to the position of the GPS system 1 such as a navigation function is performed, the CPU 31
At 31, a predetermined process is performed using the position information sequentially input from the GPS sensor unit 2, and the processing result is displayed on the information display unit 3.
3 or output from the information output unit 34 to an external device in a wired or wireless manner.

As described above, the GPS positioning principle is to simultaneously receive satellite signals transmitted by radio waves from three or four artificial satellites orbiting the earth, and to use the navigation messages included in the satellite signals to transmit each signal. From satellite to GPS system 1
And the propagation delay time of radio waves from each satellite to the GPS system 1 are measured, and the position (latitude, longitude, (altitude)) of the GPS system 1 is calculated using the distance information and the propagation delay time. Is measured.

Therefore, the GPS sensor unit 2
When the S sensor unit 2 is connected to the information terminal device 3 via the connection unit 4, a position measurement process is performed as follows.
That is, for example, in the case of two-dimensional positioning, three artificial satellites S
The carrier is PSK with a signal obtained by integrating signals for positioning (navigation messages (orbit information, calendar information, etc.) and PRN codes different for each satellite) radiated from T1, ST2, ST3
(Phase Shift Keying) modulated signals) are simultaneously received by the antenna 21, and the signal
Navigation messages M1, M2, and M3 for 1 to ST3 are demodulated, and the navigation messages M1 to M3 are input to the positioning calculation unit 23.

On the other hand, when the GPS sensor unit 2 is connected to the information terminal device 3 via the connection unit 4, time information is input from the information terminal device 3 to the positioning calculation unit 23 via the connection unit 4. It has become. That is, in the information terminal device 3, the time information generated by the time generating unit 35 is stored in the CPU 31.
The time information is updated and stored in the storage unit 32 via the CPU 31. When the GPS sensor unit 2 is connected to the information terminal device 3 via the connection unit 4, the storage unit 3
2, the time information is sequentially read directly to the positioning operation unit 23, and the time information is input from the information terminal device 3 to the positioning operation unit 23. Note that reading the time information directly to the positioning calculation unit 23 means that the positioning calculation unit 23
This does not mean that the time information is obtained indirectly through another member such as the PU 31, but that the positioning calculation unit 23 directly accesses the storage unit 32 in the information terminal device 3 to obtain the time information.

The positioning calculation unit 23 calculates the current position (latitude and longitude coordinates) of the GPS system 1 using the time information input from the information terminal device 3 and the navigation message input from the signal processing unit 22. That is, the positioning calculation unit 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a signal for positioning based on the transmission time information of the positioning signal included in the PRN code and the time information (reception time information) input from the information terminal device 3 for each satellite ST1.
Calculate the times T1, T2 and T3 required to reach the GPS system 1 from ST3 to ST3, and multiply this time by the signal transmission speed (light speed) to obtain the satellites ST1, ST2 and ST.
The distances L1, L2 and L3 between the GPS system 3 and the GPS system 1 are calculated. Further, the positioning calculation unit 23 calculates the positions P1, P2, and P3 of the satellites ST1, ST2, and ST3 on the orbit using the orbit information included in the navigation message, and calculates the position data of the satellites, the satellites, and the GPS. Distance L to system 1
1, L2, L3 and GP based on the principle of triangulation.
The longitude and latitude coordinates of the S system 1 are calculated.

Each time the position calculation unit 23 calculates the position information of the GPS system 1, the position calculation unit 23 transfers the position information to the CPU 31 in the information terminal device 3 via the connection unit 4, and the navigation message of each of the satellites ST 1 to ST 3. And GPS system 1
Is directly stored in the storage unit 32 in the information terminal device 3 via the connection unit 4. The position information and the like are stored in the storage unit 3.
To store directly in the information terminal device 3 does not mean that the positioning calculation unit 23 indirectly stores the position information and the like via another member such as the CPU 31 in the information terminal device 3. Means that the storage unit 32 is directly accessed to store position information and the like.

In the positioning processing of the GPS sensor unit 2, G
When positioning is started when the PS sensor unit 2 is connected to the information terminal device 3 via the connection unit 4, it is necessary to set an artificial satellite to be used for positioning. This satellite setting process quickly starts positioning. To do so, the navigation message and the position information obtained in the previous positioning process stored in the storage unit 32 in the information terminal device 3 and are directly input from the information terminal device 3 via the storage unit 32 and the connection unit 4. This is performed using the time information.

That is, when the GPS sensor unit 2 is connected to the information terminal device 3 via the connection unit 4, the positioning calculation unit 23
Directly reads the navigation message and the position information obtained in the previous positioning process from the storage unit 32 in the information terminal device 3, and reads the information and the time information input from the information terminal device 3 (time information at the start of positioning). Then, an artificial satellite used for positioning is set. Then, the positioning signal from the artificial satellite is received and the initial positioning is started.

As described above, in the GPS system 1 according to the present embodiment, the storage member of the navigation message and the position information acquired in the previous positioning process necessary for the initial positioning is stored in the storage unit 32 in the information terminal device 3. The arithmetic unit 23 is provided so as to be directly readable and writable, and the time generating member
Is shared by the time generation unit 35 of
There is no need to provide a storage member for the navigation message and the position information and a time generation member in the S sensor section 2, and the G
The configuration of the PS sensor unit 2 is simplified, and the size can be reduced.

Further, since the storage member for the navigation message and the position information and the time generation member are not provided in the GPS sensor unit 2, the backup battery is not required, so that the weight of the GPS sensor unit 2 can be reduced. And then G
Maintenance of the PS sensor unit 2 (battery replacement or the like) can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the GPS sensor unit 2
And the information terminal device 3 are detachably connected, but the GPS sensor unit 2 and the information terminal device 3 may be integrally configured.

In the above embodiment, the positioning calculation unit 23
The storage unit for the positioning operation unit 23 may be provided in the information terminal device 3 independently of the storage unit 32 for the CPU 31.

In the above embodiment, the GPS sensor unit 2
Although the time generation member and the storage member necessary for the above are arranged in the information terminal device 3, any one of them may be arranged in the information terminal device 3.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A GPS sensor unit for receiving a navigation message transmitted from a satellite and measuring a reception position using the navigation message, and an information terminal device for performing a predetermined process using the reception position measured by the GPS sensor unit. In the GPS system, a time generating means for generating the time required for the positioning calculation of the GPS sensor unit is provided in the information terminal device, and the information of the navigation message and the received position obtained in the previous positioning process required for the initial positioning is provided. Since the storage means for storing is provided in the information terminal device so that the GPS sensor unit can directly read and write, the configuration of the GPS sensor unit is simplified,
The S sensor unit and the GPS system can be reduced in size.

Further, since a secondary power supply for backing up the storage means and the time generation means is not required, the weight of the GPS sensor unit and the GPS system can be reduced. Further, maintenance of the GPS sensor such as replacement of the secondary battery can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a GPS system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of a conventional GPS system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 GPS system 2 GPS sensor part 21 Antenna 22 Signal processing part 23 Positioning calculation part 3 Information terminal device 31 Central processing part (CPU) 32 Storage part (storage means) 33 Information display part 34 Information output part 35 Time generation part (Time information) Generation means) 4 Connection

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yamamoto 1048 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.F-term (reference) CC07

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A GPS sensor unit for receiving a navigation message transmitted from a satellite and measuring a reception position using the navigation message, and performing a predetermined process using the reception position measured by the GPS sensor unit. In a GPS system including an information terminal device, a time information generating means for generating current time information is provided in the information terminal device, and the navigation message and the reception position information obtained by the GPS sensor unit are transmitted to the GPS system. A GPS system, comprising: a storage unit for directly reading and writing by a sensor unit. 2. The GPS system according to claim 1, wherein the time information generated by said time information generating means is provided to said GPS sensor via said storage means. 3. The GPS sensor unit is detachably attached to the information terminal device. When connected to the information terminal device, the GPS sensor unit reads out the navigation message and the information on the reception position from the storage means and simultaneously reads the time information. 3. The GPS system according to claim 1, wherein time information generated by said generating means is obtained, and measurement of a reception position is started using said information.