`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`April 21, 2014
`
`Certification
`
`Park IP Translations
`
`
`
`This is to certify that the attached translation is, to the best of my knowledge and
`belief, a true and accurate translation from French into English of the patent
`entitled: DEVICE FOR THE MEASUREMENT AND REMOTE TRANSMISSION OF DATA,
`AND VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING SUCH A DEVICE.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_______________________________________
`
`Sabrina Smith
`
`Project Manager
`
`Project Number: OSLI_1404_007
`
`
`
`
`15 W. 37th Street 8th Floor
`New York, NY 10018
`212.581.8870
`ParkIP.com
`
`Parrot Ex. 1004
`
`

`

`
`
`THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
`–––––––
`NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL
`PROPERTY INSTITUTE
`–––––––
`PARIS
`–––––––
`
`
`(19)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(12)
`
`
`(22) Filing date: MFebruary 12, 1999.
`
`
`(30) Priority: [blank]
`
`
`2789765
`
` 99 01683
`
`
`
`
`(11) Publication No.:
`
`(to be used only in connection
`
` with requests for copies)
`
`(21) National registration No.:
`
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.7: G 01 S 1/08, G 01 C 21/20
`
`PATENT APPLICATION
`
`A1
`
`
`(71) Applicant(s): CAP NAV Société à responsabilité
`
`limitée [limited-liability company] – FR.
`
`
`
`(43) Application disclosure date: August 18, 2000,
`
`in issue No. 00/33 of the Bulletin.
`
`(56) List of documents cited in the search report:
`
`See the end of this set of documents
`
`(60) References to other related French documents:
`
`
`
`
`Inventor(s): PATRICK POTIRON and JEAN-
`CLAUDE VALENTINO.
`
`
`
`(72)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(73) Assignee(s):
`
`
`(74) Agent(s): PONTET ET ALLANO SARL
`
`[Pontet and Allano, Ltd.].
`
`
`
`(54) DEVICE FOR THE MEASUREMENT AND REMOTE TRANSMISSION OF DATA, AND VEHICLE CONTROL
`
`SYSTEM INCLUDING SUCH A DEVICE.
`
`includes remote emitter means (8)
`(57) The device (TE)
`associated with a receiver (10). It is characterized by:
`
`– Angular location means (2) that provide an angle (ΘP,N)
`between a pointing direction (P) of the device and an absolute
`reference (N);
`
`– Means (3,4,5,9) for the validation, by the person using the
`device (TE), of a digital validation datum (V) that is representative
`of a given operating situation (N) (D) (CR); and
`
`– Computation means (7) for converting the said angle
`(ΘP,N) into a digital datum (AP,N), with the said emitter means (8)
`transmitting the said digital datum (AP,N) and the said digital
`validation datum (V) to the said receiver (10).
`
`The system according to the invention includes a device
`(TE) of this type; receiver means (10) associated with the remote
`emitter means (8); and an interface (15) between the receiver (10)
`and the autopilot (16) of the vehicle.
`
`The device is used, in particular, for the rescue at sea of a
`person who has fallen overboard, or by a person on board the
`vehicle in order to perform a course change.
`
`It is applicable to solo navigators.
`
`
`
`

`

`– 1 –
`
`2789765
`
`“Device for the measurement and remote transmission of data,
`
`and vehicle control system including such a device”
`
`DESCRIPTIVE SPECIFICATION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5
`
`The present invention relates to a device for the measurement and remote
`
`transmission of data that is useful for the control of a vehicle, particularly in the
`
`case of a rescue at sea. The invention also relates to a vehicle control system
`
`that includes one or more devices of this type, and a receiver located on board
`
`10
`
`the vehicle.
`
`
`
`The procedure generally used for the rescue of a person who has fallen
`
`overboard at sea consists of having the victim launch a distress beacon that is
`
`carried on his person, or a distress beacon that is automatically launched upon
`
`contact with the water, with the said beacon being detected, for example, by a
`
`15
`
`satellite. The position of the person who has fallen overboard is then
`
`communicated to the appropriate rescue center and the nearest vessels are
`
`dispatched to find and recover the person who has fallen overboard.
`
`
`
`Another solution, which may be supplemental, is described in document
`
`DE 19503829. This solution employs a device that is carried by the person who
`
`20
`
`has fallen overboard and that is capable of issuing a rescue signal that is
`
`received by a receiver located on board the boat. The receiver is linked to the
`
`autopilot of the boat, which is programmed to initiate, in response to the rescue
`
`signal, a stopping maneuver, such as, for example, the dropping of the anchor of
`
`the boat, such that the crew members can then come to the rescue of the person
`
`25
`
`who has fallen overboard by performing an approach maneuver.
`
`
`
`The goal of the present invention is to propose a reliable, simple, and
`
`economical solution of this type for the rapid execution of a rescue at sea, which
`
`solution is equally applicable to solo navigators who have fallen overboard and
`
`whose boat is equipped with an autopilot.
`
`30
`
`
`
`The invention proposes a device for the measurement and remote
`
`transmission of data that is useful for the control of a vehicle, including, in
`
`

`

`
`
`– 2 –
`
`
`
`particular, for the rescue at sea of a person who has fallen overboard, which
`
`device includes remote emitter means associated with a receiver located on
`
`2789765
`
`board the vehicle, characterized by:
`
`
`
`– Angular location means that provide an angle between a pointing
`
`5
`
`direction of the device and an absolute reference;
`
`
`
`– Means for the validation, by the person using the device, of a digital
`
`validation datum that is representative of a given operating situation; and
`
`
`
`– Computation means for converting the said angle into a digital datum,
`
`with the said emitter means transmitting the said digital angle datum and the said
`
`10
`
`digital validation datum to the said receiver.
`
`
`
`Thus, thanks to the invention, the angle formed between the pointing
`
`direction of the remote control and an absolute reference can be measured and
`
`can then be transmitted to the receiver located on board the vehicle. This
`
`measurement, along with the known value of the angle formed between the
`
`15
`
`course being followed by the vehicle in relation to the said absolute reference,
`
`makes it possible to calculate a set course to be mandated for the vehicle.
`
`
`
`In an advantageous manner according to the invention, this ability to change
`
`the absolute course can be employed by a person who has fallen overboard in
`
`order to cause the vehicle to return to him and to stop (for example, with the sails
`
`20
`
`lowered and facing into the wind, for a sailboat), and also by a person on board
`
`the vehicle, particularly to perform a sudden course change in order to avoid an
`
`unforeseen obstacle.
`
`
`
`In the first of these situations, referred to as the “distress” situation, the
`
`remote control is carried by the person who has fallen overboard, who points it
`
`25
`
`toward the vehicle.
`
`
`
`In the second of these situations, referred to as the “normal” operating
`
`situation, the person carrying the remote control is located on board the vehicle,
`
`and points remote control toward the new course to be followed. Within the
`
`scope of this second application, the device may also be used to point out, from
`
`30
`
`the boat, a person who has fallen overboard.
`
`

`

`– 3 –
`
`2789765
`
`The device according to the invention may also include incremental course-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`change means.
`
`
`
`Thus, according to the invention, a multi-function device is advantageously
`
`offered.
`
`5
`
`
`
`For a person who has fallen overboard, the validation means provided by
`
`the device may consist of a sensor that is sensitive to the presence of water.
`
`
`
`The course change may be ordered by the autopilot, which receives, via an
`
`interface and the calculation algorithm, a course-change instruction based on the
`
`type of situation (distress, normal operation, or incremental). The course change
`
`10
`
`may also simply be displayed on the receiver housing, so that it can then be
`
`manually applied by a crew member to the helm or rudder of the boat.
`
`
`
`A traditional supplemental signal – such as, for example, an alarm or a
`
`satellite transmission – may also be issued in order to alert the official rescuers.
`
`
`
`The present invention is particularly advantageous in the case of a solo
`
`15
`
`navigator. In such a situation, the autopilot will be programmed to perform a
`
`rescue maneuver in the direction of the solo navigator who has fallen overboard.
`
`This rescue maneuver will be faster and less expensive than the searches
`
`conducted by other boats or helicopters. Furthermore, the boat itself may also
`
`be recovered.
`
`20
`
`
`
`Yet another advantage of the device, when it is used for a course change on
`
`board the boat, is that it offers, in comparison with conventional wire-based
`
`remote controls, great freedom of movement from one end of the boat to the
`
`other, particularly for a solo navigator.
`
`
`
`The present invention also proposes a vehicle control system that includes
`
`25
`
`an automatic pilot, remote emitter means, associated receiver means, and an
`
`interface between the receiver and the autopilot, characterized in that the said
`
`system includes one or more remote control devices, for example, one for each
`
`crew member, each of which is equipped with the said remote emitter means.
`
`More specifically, the system includes a magnetic compass that is capable of
`
`30
`
`measuring the angle between the course followed by the vehicle and the
`
`absolute reference; a computer that is capable of calculating the angle of the
`
`

`

`
`
`– 4 –
`
`
`
`course change; and means for displaying the angle of the course change. Yet
`
`more specifically, the system includes a receiver housing that contains the
`
`2789765
`
`receiver, the computer, and the display means.
`
`
`
`The present invention will be better understood in the light of the following
`
`5
`
`description of one embodiment, which description refers to the attached
`
`drawings, on which:
`
`
`
`– Figure 1 is a diagram showing the means and the operation of the device
`
`according to the invention is applied to a boat; and
`
`
`
`– Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an operating situation known as the
`
`10
`
`“distress” situation and an operating situation known as the “normal” situation.
`
`
`
`According to the embodiment selected and shown in Figure 1, a remote-
`
`control housing (TE) includes a directional magnetic sensor (2) that is capable of
`
`measuring a pointing direction (P) of the remote-control housing (TE) and an
`
`angle (ΘP,N) formed between the said pointing direction (P) and magnetic north
`
`15
`
`(N) (see Figure 2); a “distress” key (3) that is used to validate a digital datum (D)
`
`that represents this distress situation; a “validation” key (4) that is used to
`
`validate a datum (N) that represents a normal operating situation; a set (9) of four
`
`keys corresponding to course changes of -1°, +1°, -10°, and +10°, with each key
`
`in this set corresponding to the validation of a digital datum (CR), with the (D),
`
`20
`
`(N), or (CR) datum, as validated by the user of the remote control (TE), being
`
`stored in the form of a datum (V) in a memory device (5). The remote-control
`
`housing (TE) also includes an analog/digital computer (7) that is capable of
`
`converting the said angle (ΘP,N) into a digital datum (AP,N), and a radio emitter (8)
`
`that is capable of transmitting, to a receiver (10) located on board a boat (B), the
`
`25
`
`said digital datum (AP,N) and the datum (V) stored in the memory device (5). The
`
`receiver (10) is part of a receiver housing (11) that is located on board the boat
`
`and that also includes a computer (12) that is capable of reconverting the said
`
`digital datum (AP,N) into an angular value (ΘP,N) and of computing, in accordance
`
`with an algorithm that is not described in detail in the present application, a set
`
`30
`
`course (ΘC), and a display (14) that displays the said set course (ΘC). The
`
`receiver housing (11) is connected to an interface (15) that is capable of
`
`

`

`
`
`– 5 –
`
`
`
`transmitting a course-change instruction (C) to the autopilot (16) of the boat. A
`
`magnetic compass is provided on board the boat for the purpose of measuring
`
`the angular position of the boat as the boat progresses along a course (CAP) in
`
`2789765
`
`relation to magnetic north (N).
`
`5
`
`
`
`The operation of the device is explained here and below with reference to
`
`Figure 2, which represents a case of so-called “distress” operation (with the
`
`remote control (TE) shown in solid lines) and a case of so-called “normal”
`
`operation (with the remote control (TE') shown in broken lines), with the same
`
`pointing direction (P).
`
`10
`
`
`
`The individual carrying the remote control (TE) or (TE') points at an
`
`objective (which may be the boat or the new course) and operates one of the
`
`keys (3), (4), or (9) in order to validate the situation in the memory device (5).
`
`
`
`The angle (ΘP,N) formed between the pointing direction (P) and magnetic
`
`north (N) is measured by the magnetic sensor (2). The computer (7) in the
`
`15
`
`remote control converts the analog value of this angle into a digital value (AP,N).
`
`The emitter (8) transmits this digital value to the receiver (10), along with the
`
`validated datum (V) stored in the memory device (5). The computer (12)
`
`reconverts the digital datum (AP,N) into an analog datum corresponding to the
`
`angle (ΘP,N), and then calculates the set course (ΘC) as a function of the
`
`20
`
`measured angle (ΘB,N) formed between the course (CAP) of the boat and
`
`magnetic north (N), as measured by the magnetic compass (13), and also as a
`
`function of the validation datum (V) that represents the operating situation. The
`
`set course (ΘC) appears on the display (14) and an instruction (C) is then
`
`transmitted to the interface (15) of the autopilot (16) so that the autopilot can
`
`25
`
`make a change in the actual course of the boat, either along the arrow (F), if the
`
`situation is a distress situation, or along the arrow (F'), if the situation is a normal
`
`operating situation, or else incrementally.
`
`
`
`In order to remedy drift problems relating to the boat, the person carrying
`
`the remote control will actuate the validation key (4) at regular pre-determined
`
`30
`
`intervals, and the set course will be corrected simultaneously.
`
`

`

`– 6 –
`
`2789765
`
`In the example consisting of the selected embodiment, the system
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`according to the invention includes a remote-control device (TE), the receiver
`
`(10), the computer (12), the display (14), the magnetic compass (13), and the
`
`interface (15) with the autopilot (16).
`
`5
`
`
`
`
`
`Naturally, variants of this embodiment are possible, such as, in particular:
`
`– The means for validating the distress situation may consist of a sensor
`
`that is sensitive to the presence of water;
`
`
`
`– Another absolute reference may be selected, such as, for example, a
`
`geographic point of reference, a star, or a satellite-based reference;
`
`10
`
`
`
`– The remote-control device may be used to control a motorized vehicle in
`
`a desert, or a piece of agricultural machinery, or mobile civil-engineering
`
`equipment; or
`
`
`
`– The system may include a plurality of remote-control devices, such as, for
`
`example, one for each crew member.
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2789765
`
`– 7 –
`
`CLAIMS
`
`1. Device (TE) (TE') for the measurement and remote transmission of data that are
`
`useful for the control of the vehicle, including, in particular, for the rescue at sea of a
`
`5
`
`person who has fallen overboard, which device includes remote emitter means (8)
`
`associated with a receiver (10) located on board the vehicle, characterized by:
`
`
`
`– Angular location means (2) that provide an angle (ΘP,N) between a pointing
`
`direction (P) of the device and an absolute reference (N);
`
`
`
`– Means (3) (4) (5) (9) for the validation, by the person using the device (TE)
`
`10
`
`(TE'), of a digital validation datum (V) that is representative of a given operating situation
`
`(N) (D) (CR); and
`
`
`
`– Computation means (7) for converting the said angle (ΘP,N) into a digital datum
`
`(AP,N), with the said emitter means (8) transmitting the said digital datum (AP,N) and the
`
`said digital validation datum (V) to the said receiver (10).
`
`15
`
`
`
`2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the angular location means
`
`consist of a directional magnetic sensor (2) and that the said absolute reference is
`
`magnetic north (N).
`
`
`
`20
`
`3. Device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the receiver means
`
`(10) are connected to a computer (12) that is capable of calculating a set course (ΘC)
`
`that is a function of the angle (ΘP,N) as measured between the pointing direction (P) of
`
`the device and the absolute reference (N) of the angle (ΘP,N), as measured with the aid
`
`of a magnetic compass (13) located on the vehicle between the course (CAP) followed
`
`25
`
`by the vehicle and the said absolute reference (N), and as a function of the said
`
`validation datum (V).
`
`
`
`4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said vehicle is a sailboat,
`
`with the said situation being either a normal operating situation (N) in which the device is
`
`30
`
`used on board the vehicle and is pointed toward a new course, or else a distress
`
`situation (D) in which the device, which is carried by a person who has fallen overboard,
`
`is pointed toward the vessel.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`– 8 –
`
`
`
`5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the set course
`
`(ΘC) is displayed through the use of display means (14) connected to the said computer
`
`2789765
`
`(12).
`
`
`
`5
`
`6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the computer
`
`(12) transmits the set course (ΘC) to an autopilot interface, so that the autopilot can
`
`make a change in the actual course of the vehicle.
`
`
`
`7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it includes
`
`10
`
`incremental course-change means (9).
`
`
`
`8.
`
`System for the control of the vehicle that includes an autopilot (16), remote emitter
`
`means (8), associated receiver means (10), and an interface (15) between the receiver
`
`(10) and the autopilot (16), characterized in that the said control system includes a
`
`15
`
`device (TE) (TE') for the measurement and remote transmission of data, according to
`
`any one of claims 1 to 7, which device includes the said remote emitter means (8).
`
`
`
`9.
`
`System according to Claim 8, characterized in that it includes a plurality of devices
`
`(TE) (TE') for the measurement and remote transmission of data.
`
`20
`
`
`
`10. System according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, characterized in that it includes a
`
`magnetic compass that is suitable for measuring the angle (ΘB,N) between the course
`
`(CAP) followed by the vehicle and the said absolute reference (N).
`
`
`
`25
`
`11. System according to Claim 10, characterized in that it includes a receiver housing
`
`(BR) that contains the said receiver (10), a computer (12) that is capable of calculating
`
`a set course (ΘC) that is a function of the angle (ΘP,N) as measured between the pointing
`
`direction (P) of the device and the absolute reference (N) of the angle (ΘP,N), as
`
`measured with the aid of the magnetic compass (13) and the said absolute reference
`
`30
`
`(N), and display means (14).
`
`
`
`

`

`2789765
`
`1 / 2
`
`VALIDATION
`KEY
`
`DISTRESS
`KEY
`
`MEMORY
`
`COMPUTER
`
`MAGNETIC
`SENSOR
`
`EMITTER
`
`RECEIVER
`
`COMPUTER
`
`DISPLAY
`
`FIGURE 1.
`
`MAGNETIC
`COMPASS
`
`AUTO-
`PILOT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`2/2
`2 / 2
`
`2789765
`2789765
`
`CAP
`
`
`
`
`FIGURE 2.
`FIGURE 2.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`