Device and method for orientation and positioning

Abstract

Methods and devices for, among other applications, locating an emitter, comprises an array of receivers configured in different angular positions about the array relative to a corresponding array location axis, to receive a signal from the emitter having at least one burst containing a train of pulses, and at least one processor configured to profile pulse count values at each receiver, from one receiver to another in the array in relation to their respective angular positions, to designate a maximum peak angular position associated with a maximum pulse count value, and to attribute the peak angular position to an angular emitter location.

1 . A method for a locator configuration to locate a locating signal emitter, comprising:
 providing a plurality of spaced receivers, including a group of receivers in respective locating signal-receiving angular positions, each of the receivers having an angular position coordinate value, stored in memory, associated with a designated angle of the receiver relative to a reference axis;   enabling each receiver in the group of receivers to receive at least one locating signal from the locating signal emitter, the locating signal including, at least in part, a plurality of pulses in at least one train of pulses;   enabling at least one locator processor, in communication with the spaced receivers, at a first clock increment, to:
 process the locating signal received at each receiver in the group of receivers, to form a pulse count value in relation to a count of pulses above a pulse strength threshold; 
 form a pulse count profile whose coordinates include each pulse count value and the corresponding angular location accessed from memory; and to 
 attribute a designated angular position coordinate value corresponding to a maximum pulse count value in the pulse count profile as a location value representative of at least the heading of the emitter.