Intelligent Shading Objects Utilizing a Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver and Digital Compass

Abstract

An intelligent umbrella includes a base unit, a central support unit, a shading element projection mechanism, one or more shading elements; and a GPS/GNSS receiver, the GPS/GNSS receiver to capture a latitude and/or longitude of the intelligent umbrella. The intelligent umbrella includes a controller, the controller to receive the latitude and the longitude measurement of the intelligent umbrella and to calculate an associated azimuth angle for the intelligent umbrella. The intelligent umbrella also includes a first motor, the controller to communicate the associated azimuth angle to the first motor to cause the intelligent umbrella to move to the associated azimuth angle. The controller receives an altitude measurement from the GPS receiver and calculates an elevation angle. The intelligent umbrella also includes a second motor, the controller to communicate the associated elevation angle to the second motor to cause the umbrella to the associated elevation angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of positioning a shading element in a shading object comprising:
 capturing, utilizing a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a latitude and longitude of the shading object;   calculating an azimuth angle for the shading object, based at least in part on the latitude and longitude of the shading object;   moving a shading element to the calculated azimuth angle, based at least in part, on the captured latitude and longitude readings from the GPS receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising capturing an altitude, via the GPS receiver, of the shading object;
 calculating an elevation angle for the shading object based, at least in part, on the captured altitude, the captured latitude and/or the captured longitude readings; and   moving the shading element to the calculated elevation angle.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 capturing, utilizing the GPS receiver, a reference time, a local time, and/or a number of days since start of a year of the shading object;   calculating a revised azimuth angle for the shading object based, at least in part, on the captured reference time, the captured local time, and/or the number of days since start of the year; and   moving the shading element to the calculated revised azimuth angle.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 capturing, utilizing the GPS receiver, a reference time, a local time, and/or a number of days since start of a year of the shading object;   calculating a revised elevation angle for the shading object based, at least in part, on the captured reference time, the captured local time, and/or the number of days since start of the year; and   moving the shading element to the calculated revised elevation angle.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 capturing using a digital compass, a true North reading, and determining an orientation measurement of the shading object;   calculating an updated azimuth angle for the shading object based, at least in part, on the determined orientation measurement; and   moving the shading element to the calculated updated azimuth angle.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 capturing using a digital compass, a true North reading, and determining an orientation measurement of the shading object;   calculating an updated elevation angle for the shading object based, at least in part, on the determined orientation measurement; and   moving the shading element to the calculated updated elevation angle.   
     
     
         7 . An intelligent umbrella, comprising:
 a base unit;   a central support unit; and   a shading element projection mechanism;   one or more shading elements; and   a GPS/GNSS receiver, the GPS/GNSS receiver to capture a latitude and/or longitude of the intelligent umbrella.   
     
     
         8 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a controller, the controller to receive the latitude and the longitude measurement of the intelligent umbrella and to calculate an associated azimuth angle for the intelligent umbrella based on the received latitude measurement and the longitude measurement.   
     
     
         9 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 8 , further comprising a first motor, the controller to communicate the associated azimuth angle to the first motor to cause the intelligent umbrella to move to the associated azimuth angle. 
     
     
         10 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 8 , the controller to further receive an altitude measurement from the GPS receiver, calculate an associated elevation angle for the intelligent shading object based, at least in part, on the latitude measurement, the altitude measurement, and the longitude measurement. 
     
     
         11 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 10 , further comprising a second motor, the controller to communicate the associated elevation angle to the second motor to cause the intelligent umbrella to move to the associated elevation angle. 
     
     
         12 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 10 , further comprising a digital compass, the digital compass to capture a true North reading, the controller to determine an orientation reading of the shading object, and to calculate an updated azimuth angle for the intelligent umbrella based, at least in part, on the determined orientation reading. 
     
     
         13 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 12 , the controller further to communicate a command to the first motor to move the shading element to the calculated updated azimuth angle. 
     
     
         14 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 10 , further comprising a motion detection, the motion detector to detect movement in the intelligent umbrella, and in response to the motion detector detection of the movement, to communicate a signal to the controller, the controller to request new readings from the GPS receiver to determine an updated location of the intelligent umbrella. 
     
     
         15 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 14 , the controller to further request new readings from the digital compass to determine an updated location of the intelligent umbrella. 
     
     
         16 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 10 , the motion detector comprising an accelerometer or a gyroscope. 
     
     
         17 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 10 , further comprising a memory, the memory to store one or more preferred azimuth measurements and/or elevation measurements and associated time measurements. 
     
     
         18 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 17 , further comprising the controller to identify a time measurement corresponding to a time of day, to retrieve associated azimuth measurements and/or associated elevation measurements corresponding to the time measurement, and to communicate the associated azimuth measurements to a first motor and the associated elevation measurements to a second motor to move the intelligent umbrella. 
     
     
         19 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 9 , further comprising a light sensor, the light sensor to capture light intensity readings and associated locations, and to communicate the light intensity readings to the controller, the controller to recalculate the azimuth angle and communicate the recalculated azimuth angle to the first motor to move the intelligent umbrella to a position associated with the recalculated azimuth angle. 
     
     
         20 . The intelligent umbrella of  claim 11 , further comprising a light sensor, the light sensor to capture light intensity readings and associated locations, and to communicate the light intensity readings and the associated locations to the controller, the controller to recalculate the elevation angle and communicate the recalculated elevation angle to the second motor to move the intelligent umbrella to a position associated with the recalculated elevation angle.