US5722064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radio receiver for use in a radio tracking system
Assignee: NTP Inc
•
Filing: 1995-12-06
•
Granted: 1998-02-24
•
Expires: 2015-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A radio receiver unit for directionally tracking at least one radio transmitter in accordance with the invention includes a housing containing a radio receiver including a directional antenna for receiving radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter; a display, which is electrically coupled to the receiver and fixed in position with respect to the housing, for visually displaying a strength of the radio transmissions received by the directional antenna; and a field of view limiter for limiting light emanating from the display to a field of view of the display when a user holds the receiver unit in the user's hand away from the body of the user, the field of view being limited to planes extending upward from a plane of sight extending from the eyes of the user downward and intersecting a horizontal plane extending from the user's waist substantially at arms length of the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J. Campana, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 01:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/04; H04B7/08; H04B7/0837; H04B7/0842; H04B7/086; G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/0202; G08B21/0222; G08B21/0227; G08B21/023; G08B21/0241; G08B21/0247; G08B21/0263; H04B17/00; H04B17/10; H04B17/15; H04B17/18; H04B17/20; H04B17/23; H04B17/30; H04B17/309; H04B17/318; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/004; H04L1/0045; H04L1/0072; H04L1/20; H04L1/0056; H04L1/0057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A radio receiver unit for directionally tracking at least one radio transmitter comprising: a housing containing a radio receiver including a directional antenna for receiving radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter; a display, which is electrically coupled to the receiver and fixed in position with respect to the housing, for visually displaying a strength of the radio transmissions received by the directional antenna; and a field of view limiter for limiting light emanating from the display to a field of view of the display when a user holds the receiver unit in the user's hand away from the body of the user, the field of view being limited to planes extending upward from a plane of sight extending from the eyes of the user downward and intersecting a horizontal plane extending from the user's waist substantially at arms length of the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A radio receiver unit for directionally tracking at least one radio transmitter comprising: a housing containing a radio receiver including a directional antenna for receiving radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter; a display, which is electrically coupled to the receiver and fixed in position with respect to the housing, for visually displaying a strength of the radio transmissions received by the directional antenna; and a field of view limiter for limiting light emanating from the display to a field of view of the display when a user holds the receiver unit in the user's hand away from the body of the user, the field of view being limited to planes extending upward from a plane of sight extending from the eyes of the user downward and intersecting a horizontal plane extending from the user's waist substantially at arms length of the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the field of view limiter limits the field of view of the display by the user to planes extending upward from a plane of sight extending from the eyes of the user downward and intersecting a horizontal plane extending from the user's chest substantially at arms length of the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the field of view limiter is contained within the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 3 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 4 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 3 wherein the field of view limiter comprises: an opening within the housing extending inward from an outer surface of the housing and having a bottom with the display being positioned at the bottom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 6 wherein: the field of view limited by the field of view limiter is defined by a pair of straight lines respectively extending from opposed edges of the display to opposed edges of the opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 7 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 8 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 6 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 10 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
155 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 2 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 12 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the field of view limiter is contained within the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 14 wherein the field of view limiter comprises: an opening within the housing extending inward from an outer surface of the housing and having a bottom with the display being positioned at the bottom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 15 wherein: the field of view limited by the field of view limiter is defined by a pair of straight lines respectively extending from opposed edges of the display to opposed edges of the opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 16 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 15 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 18 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 14 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 20 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 22 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
162 words
A radio receiver unit for directionally tracking at least one radio transmitter comprising: a housing containing a radio receiver including a directional antenna for receiving radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter; a display, which is electrically coupled to the receiver and fixed in position with respect to the housing, for visually displaying a strength of the radio transmissions received by the directional antenna from the at least one radio transmitter; and a field of view limiter for limiting light emanating from the display to a field of view of the display wherein in order to view the display a user holds the receiver unit in the user's hand away from the body of the user and at least at waist height and above, the field of view subtending an angle not greater than 45°, the angle being defined by a pair of lines respectively extending between opposed edges of the display and edges of the field of view limiter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
162 words
A radio receiver unit for directionally tracking at least one radio transmitter comprising: a housing containing a radio receiver including a directional antenna for receiving radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter; a display, which is electrically coupled to the receiver and fixed in position with respect to the housing, for visually displaying a strength of the radio transmissions received by the directional antenna from the at least one radio transmitter; and a field of view limiter for limiting light emanating from the display to a field of view of the display wherein in order to view the display a user holds the receiver unit in the user's hand away from the body of the user and at least at waist height and above, the field of view subtending an angle not greater than 45°, the angle being defined by a pair of lines respectively extending between opposed edges of the display and edges of the field of view limiter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 24 wherein: the angle is not greater than 30°.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 25 wherein: the field of view limiter is contained within the housing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 26 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 27 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 26 wherein the field of view limiter comprises: an opening within the housing extending inward from an outer surface of the housing and having a bottom with the display being on the bottom.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 29 wherein: the field of view limited by the field of view limiter is defined by a pair of straight lines respectively extending from opposed edges of the display to opposed edges of the opening.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 30 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 31 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 29 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 33 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 25 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 35 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 24 wherein: the field of view limiter is contained within the housing.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 37 wherein the field of view limiter comprises: an opening within the housing extending inward from an outer surface of the housing and having a bottom with the display being positioned at the bottom.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 38 wherein: the field of view limited by the field of view limiter is defined by a pair of straight lines respectively extending from opposed edges of the display to opposed edges of the opening.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 39 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 40 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 38 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 42 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 37 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 44 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
156 words
A radio receiver unit in accordance with claim 24 further comprising: a switch, coupled to the receiver, the switch having a first position at which the directional antenna is not operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter and a second position at which the directional antenna is operative to receive the radio transmissions from the at least one radio transmitter, the switch being positioned relative to the housing so that a hand of the user of the receiver during directional tracking of the at least one transmitter holds the switch in the second position; and wherein the directional antenna is positioned relative to the housing so that during the holding of the switch in the second position by the user's hand a line of sight between the directional antenna and the at least one radio transmitter is not occluded by the user's hand holding the switch in the second position.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver unit in accordance with claim 46 wherein: the field of view limiter is set in the housing in front of the directional antenna with reference to a line of sight extending between the user and the at least one transmitter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-23 | 2001-08-25 | 2002-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-23 | 2005-08-25 | 2006-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-23 | 2009-08-25 | 2010-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |