FR2741732A1 - Portable handheld ground site location system with site modification relaying by satellite, for military purposes. - Google Patents

Abstract

Enables a person on reconnaissance in hostile territory to locate his position and to modify the location data if necessary. System includes: - a microprocessor unit(1); - a digitised geographic database; - a miniature viewing screen(5) fitted with an optical enlarger(7); - a logic unit(2) enabling processing by the unit(1); - a supply battery(14); - a bus connection and interfaces for connection of accessories such as a printer and a push buttons(9) which enables rolling menus to be displayed and for controlling subsequent modifications that the user can introduce into the database..

Description

 The present invention relates to a portable system allowing an isolated person to find his way around, in particular in a hostile site, and allowing this person to exercise an intelligence mission by indicating at any time the modifications that may occur on the site.

 The invention applies more particularly to the field of military intelligence, in particular on battlefields or in sensitive areas requiring the use of intelligence personnel on the ground.

We know that today it is possible to locate mobiles precisely, in particular by using the use of satellites, for example by using the system known as GPS (for Global
Positioning System).

 The aerial or satellite shooting of the various regions of the globe makes it possible, in combination with modern computer image processing techniques, to have geographic data in the form of digital files.

 Magnetic or optical disk memories make it possible to store large masses of information necessary for the representation of geographic data, a surface area of 100 km × 100 km digitized representing a volume of the order of 10 mega bytes, for example in the standard VMAP format.

 The data thus stored can be viewed on the screen of a portable microcomputer equipped with its autonomous power supply battery and of course with the appropriate processing software.

 Generally, such systems can only be validly used, given their weight and bulk which are still relatively large, as well as their fragility, only on board a vehicle.

 The object of the invention is to improve this type of system, by making it easily portable by an infantryman, by making it not very fragile and by allowing the legibility of the image even under usual external lighting conditions, the microcomputer screens. laptops are generally difficult to read in broad daylight, especially in sunny weather.

The portable system allowing an isolated person to find their way, in particular in a hostile site, in accordance with the invention, is characterized in that it comprises in combination
- a central unit or microprocessor,
- a geographic database of digital data,
- a miniature display screen with magnifying optics,
- software allowing the processing by the central unit of the database and its display on the miniature display screen,
- a system supply battery, and
- the connection buses and interfaces necessary for the inter-relation of the various components.

 By using a miniature display screen, for example of the type used on video cameras, for example a miniature color screen with a resolution of approximately 400 × 250 dots, of diagonal approximately 14 mm, to which the display screen is adapted magnifying optics , it becomes possible for the user, whatever the surrounding lighting conditions, by placing his eye on the optics, to view the displayed image taken from the database in a perfect manner.

 According to another important characteristic of the invention, the system includes a pointer and push-button interface allowing the display on the screen of drop-down menus and the subsequent command of modifications which the user can introduce into the database.

 The system thus becomes interactive, the user being able on site, depending on what he observes, to modify the data contained in the base, for example the situation and the number of armored vehicles, the position of a mobile speed camera, the displacement of a battalion, etc.

 According to another important characteristic of the invention, the system includes a display system on the screen of an alphanumeric keyboard to each symbol which the user has access to introduce the desired modifications, without the use of a keyboard Annex.

 By means of this improvement, it is thus possible to save the cost of a keyboard, relatively bulky and fragile, which makes it possible to miniaturize the device whose bulk can then be reduced to the size of a book of poached.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, such miniaturization is favored by the use for the system, as a memory, of an integrated circuit memory, associated with data compression software.

 Besides the miniaturization that allows the use of such memories with integrated circuits, the use of such memories also avoids the problems related to the difficulty of using in a reliable way, when they can be subjected to shocks, vibrations and sudden variations. temperatures, conventional memories comprising moving mechanical parts, such as magnetic or optical disk memories.

The invention and its implementation, as well as other improvements and advantages which it makes it possible to achieve, will appear more clearly with the aid of the description which follows of an embodiment illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a block diagram of the complete apparatus.

 Figure 2 shows how the visualization screen viewed from the system's perspective appears to the user's eye and allows modification of the database data.

 Figure 3 is a block diagram to explain the operation of the system.

 FIG. 4 shows in perspective view respectively in a) the complete device seen from above and from the front in three-quarter perspective and b) the same device seen from below and from the rear also in three-quarter perspective.

 Figure 5 shows the space occupied by the device held in one hand.

 Referring to Figure 1, we will first describe the essential components of the device.

 Reference has been made to 1 the central unit or microprocessor of the system which is of the conventional type.

 The central unit is associated with its control software 2.

 In 3, is represented the geographic database of digital data corresponding to the region concerned that one enters the device.

 This database can either be reported in the form of a block which can be introduced into the device by an access door 25 (see FIG. 4), or it is "loaded" into the system, just before the intervention operation, in a programmable memory provided in the device.

 In 4, the display interface linked to the central unit 1 and which controls the miniature color liquid crystal screen 5 has been referenced.

 For such a screen, one can use for example the liquid crystal model of the company JVC, referenced PEDP0177, with a resolution of 400 X 250 dots and diagonal 14 mm, screen normally intended for its use in a video camera viewfinder portable camcorder type.

 The user's eye 6 can observe the image displayed on the screen 5 by means of a magnifying optic shown diagrammatically at 7 comprising a focusing device 8, for example of the screw type.

 To allow modification of the data entered in the base, the device includes a pointer + push-button interface referenced 9, the control members of which consist of an adjustable push-button referenced at 19 and push-buttons referenced 20, which appear on the wall of the device as seen in Figure 4 and whose use will be explained later.

 In 10, the GPS receiver allowing the location of the user is referenced, receiver equipped with its antenna 11 and which communicates the position information to the central unit 1 through the serial link 13.

 If the device is used inside a vehicle, the GPS receiver is connected as indicated by connector 12 to an outdoor antenna.

 At 14, the system supply battery is illustrated, which can be removable or also simply constituted by batteries of the lithium battery type.

 In 16, the converter associated with the battery 14 has been referenced via the connector 15.

 In 17, the connector connecting the database 3 to the central unit was referenced, in 18, the connector connecting the pointer + push-button interface with the central unit; at 18 ', the connector connecting the display interface 4 to the screen 5.

 In the illustrated diagram of the device referenced as a whole 0, there is also provided a serial interface 22 allowing a connector 23 to connect the device to external devices 21, such as for example a rangefinder or a radio device for entering additional information into the device.

 Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, we will explain the operation of the system.

 The device can be started automatically, for example by any action on the pointer 19.

 In order to save the energy supplied by the battery 14, the device advantageously comprises an automatic switching off by means of timing, known per se, which interrupt the electrical supply of the various functions of the system when these functions are no longer requested and reactivate them as soon as these functions are requested again.

 This will be the case in particular of the display screen which will only be powered if one of the buttons 19 or 20 has been acted on recently and of the power supply to the GPS receiver when it is not used in n '' that was not called in the system drop-down menu.

 In FIG. 2, a generic line has been referenced on line 30 specifying the territory presented here called "CHA", and the order in progress, here modify text ".

 The command line 31 presents the choice of commands accessible to the user: "files", "information", "objects", "texts", "GPS", "zooms", "helpers" in the example illustrated.

 As indicated above, if you are not in GPS use mode, advantageously, the power of the GPS receiver will be cut off automatically, which saves the battery.

 In 32, is shown the illuminated command that the user called, here in the drop-down menu, "texts", the "modify" function, among those represented "add", "delete", "modify".

 In 33, is the area giving the representation of the land. In 34, we see the classic image of a simplified alphanumeric computer control keyboard that the user makes appear at will as part of the modifications he wants to make to the text of the data displayed on the plan, having been assumed here that the user has actually called on the command line 31 the "texts" command allowing the modifications.

 By means of the pointer 19, the user can move the crosshair r over the entire surface of the image, in the same way as one usually operates with the "mouse" of a computer, "mouse" whose use would not be practically possible under the conditions of the user's situation in a hostile environment.

 The pointer in question can for example be of the type with variable resistance with pressure like the Mini Joystick model (registered trademark) developed by the company INTERLINK ELECTRONICS.

 Referring to Figures 2 and 3, we will explain on an example the operating mode of the device.

The example is where the user wishes to modify a text which he has previously positioned on the image.

 The text presentation flowchart begins with a test 40 of the position of the pointing reticle controlled by the user by means of the pointer 19, which is indicated by "POINTER ON COMMAND LINE?".

 If the reticle is on the command line 31, and on the "texts" command, then the software displays the menus of the subcommands by performing the operation 41 "DISPLAY UNDER TEXT ORDER".

 If the pointing reticle r is positioned on the "modify" subcommand and the user validates it by pressing the corresponding push button 20, for example the left validation button, then the software proceeds to operation 42 of "ORDER MODIFY validated?".

 At level 42, the software tests the position of the reticle to check whether the user has pointed it at an area previously covered by text (which must be modified).

 If this is the case, then the software performs the operations 43 of displaying the keyboard and 44 of displaying the cursor under the first letter of the selected text to be modified.

 The user can then by moving the crosshair r on the keys of the keyboard, and by validating by the corresponding push button 20 the letter to modify, carry out any operation of modification of the text, the software processing these modifications in operation 45 " READ KEYBOARD CHARACTER AND MODIFY TEXT ", the text being modified letter by letter, the cursor moving each time by an interval.

 When the modification is complete, the user cancels the "text" and "modify" commands by pressing the cancellation push button 20, here assumed on the right.

 The software then performs operation 46 "DISPLAY BASIC SCREEN" returning to the basic command display and goes into the standby position for a new command.

 This new command could be, for example, the "zoom" command, to see in greater detail such a part on which the user will have pointed the reticle, or even the GPS command which will then supply the GPS receiver and allow the user to position yourself on the map.

 The geographic or other information that the user wishes to enter in order to enrich the database 3 can come from his direct observation or from the use of external complementary devices 21 appearing in FIG. 1, such as rangefinder or radio receiver.

 The central unit 1 provided with a serial interface 22 and the box O being provided with a connector 23, the user can connect to the device the suitable external devices 21 available to him.

 The data thus updated can be transmitted to an operating center by radio or satellite by means of an external transmitter and the link 22.

 In the same way, the user can also receive by the same link the coordinates and the characteristics of a new objective.

 In Figure 4, there is illustrated the overall appearance of the device viewed respectively from the front and from above in a) and from below and from behind in b).

 Figure 5 illustrates the small footprint of the device.

 The push button 20c shown in Figures 4a and 5 serves, in an alternative embodiment, on / off switch.

Claims (7)

 1 - Apparatus forming a portable system allowing an isolated person to find his bearings, in particular in a hostile site, characterized in that it comprises in combination  - a central unit or microprocessor (1),  - a geographic database of digital data (3),  - a miniature display screen (5) with magnifying optics (7),  a software (2) allowing the processing by the central unit (1) of the database (3) and its display on the screen (5) of miniature display,  - a supply battery (14) for the system, and  - the connection buses and interfaces necessary for the inter-relation of the various components.  2 - Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises a pointer interface and push buttons (9) allowing the display on the screen (5) of drop-down menus and the subsequent order of modifications that the user can enter into the database (3).  3 - Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that it comprises a display system on the screen of an alphanumeric keyboard (34) to each symbol which the user has access to introduce the desired modifications without the use of 'an additional keyboard.  4 - Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises timing means which interrupt the electrical supply of the various functions of the system when these functions are no longer requested after a certain period of time and reactivates them as soon as that these functions are again requested.  5 - Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises means for exchanging data with the outside using wireless systems such as radio and satellite transmission in particular.  6 - Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that the pointer (19) is of a type with adjustable push button.  7 - Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it uses as memory an integrated circuit memory associated with data compression software.