Direction and distance finder for locating distress signals
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a system and method for locating the direction and distance to a RF signal source from an avalanche beacon to find an avalanche victim. The system and method includes a RF signal locator and a graphical display residing on the signal locator. The receiver graphical display provides the searcher with an initial way point reading that includes directional and distance data associated with the beacon RF signal source from the avalanche beacon. The directional and distance data is based upon the received RF signals. A processor within the locator receiver receives and measures RF signals emitted by the RF signal source. The locator advantageously provides continuous subsequent way point readings for the user, where the subsequent way point readings include directional and distance data associated with the RF signal source. The distance data provided by the subsequent way point readings is based upon a path loss slope of the received RF signals from the avalanche beacon.
1. A method for locating a RF signal source from an avalanche distress beacon from a victim buried in an avalanche using a signal locator comprising:
a. initiating a search using the signal locator;
b. maneuvering the signal locator toward a plurality of compass directions in order to process RF signal strength data of the avalanche beacon in the plurality of compass directions;
c. moving a small distance and again maneuvering the signal locator toward a plurality of compass directions in order to process RF signal strength data of the avalanche beacon in the plurality of compass directions;
d. obtaining a directional and distance output (waypoint) of the RF signal source of the avalanche beacon based upon the output of algorithms;
e. advancing the signal locator towards the initial way point reading.
f. initiating a subsequent way point reading, based on subsequent directional readings and subsequent distance readings, where the subsequent distance readings are based upon the rate of change of the RF signal from the avalanche beacon as received by the signal locator;
g. continuing to advance the signal locator; and
h. repeating steps f–g until the RF signal source from the avalanche beacon is located.
2. The method for locating the source of a RF signal according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:
a. triggering each subsequent way point reading.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said way point reading is displayed using GPS coordinates.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
a. designating a RF signal frequency.
5. The method for locating the source of a RF signal according to claim 1 , further including the step of providing at least one search mode.
6. The method for locating the source of a RF signal according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one search mode includes a power slope mode, a triangulation (geometrical calculation) mode and a data mapping mode.
7. The method for locating the source of a RF signal according to claim 1 , further including the step of providing a visual display for the signal locator.
8. The method for locating the source of a RF signal according to claim 7 , further including the steps of:
a. incorporating a signal strength reading on the visual display;
b. displaying the initial way point reading on the visual display; and
c. displaying a recommended search mode on the visual display.
9. The method for locating the source of a RF signal according to claim 7 , further including the step of providing a GPS coordinate for each search mode.
10. The method for locating the source of a RF signal according to claim 1 , wherein said signal locator is at least one of a handheld signal locator and a mobile signal locator.