Automobile lock and locate method and apparatus

• US 20030139878A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joan S. DeLuca, Kathy Lynch, Michael J. Deluca
• Original Assignee: Joan S. DeLuca, Kathy Lynch, Michael J. Deluca
• Inventors: Lynch, Kathy, DeLuca, Michael J., DeLuca, Joan S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,725,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A battery operated portable device, or “lockator” facilitates location of a parked automobile within having an unknown or forgotten location. The lockator locks, unlocks and locates the automobile with a simplified user interface. The locator has a combined automobile door lock and unlock transmitter and GPS locator. Pressing a lock button both transmits a lock signal and substantially determines the automobile location. Pressing the unlock button transmits the unlock signal and determines the direction back to the location where the lock button was pressed. Left and right icons on the lockator direct the driver back to the vehicle. The icons blink at a rate indicative of the distance to the automobile and indicate if the driver is heading away from the automobile. Measures are take to conserve power drawn from a battery powering the lockator.

Claims

1. A method of determining a location of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

receiving a manual input for placing the vehicle in a stationary mode; and

determining a stationary location substantially corresponding to the vehicle in response to the manual input.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed within a portable device being portable while the vehicle is in the stationary mode wherein

said step of receiving the manual input receives the manual input by the press of a button upon the portable device, and the method further comprises the step of

wirelessly transmitting a locking signal from the portable device for locking a door of the vehicle in response to the manual input, and

said step of determining the stationary location includes the steps of:

activating a location determining device in response to the manual input;

determining the stationary location of the portable device by the location determining device; and

deactivating the location determining device in response to determining the stationary location; and

storing the stationary location in a stationary location memory located within the portable device.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the portable device is battery powered and the method further conserves battery power wherein

said step of activating the locating determining device enables substantial battery power consumption by the location determining device, and

said step of deactivating the location determining device disables substantial battery power consumption by the location determining device.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing the stationary location in a memory within a portable device having first and second displayable icons;

receiving a second manual input at the portable device;

determining a current location and a current orientation of the portable device;

determining a direction vector from the current location to the stationary location; and

activating the first icon if the direction vector is left of the current orientation;

or activating the second icon if the direction vector is right of the current orientation.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of

activating both first and second icons if the direction vector is in substantial coincidence with the current orientation of the portable device.

6. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the steps of;

determining if the portable device is substantially close to the vehicle; and

transmitting a signal in response thereto, wherein the vehicle generates an audio or visual alert in response to reception of the transmitted signal.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing the stationary location in a memory within a portable device having a displayable icon;

receiving a second manual input at the portable device;

determining a current location of the portable device in response to the second manual input;

determining a distance from the current location to the stationary location in response to the second manual input; and

activating the icon to provide a blinking signal having a rate indicative of the distance.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of:

determining a second current location of the portable device after said step of determining the current location of the portable device;

determining a second distance from the second current location to the stationary location; and

activating the icon to provide a unique signal indicative of the second distance being greater than the first distance, thereby indicating a substantially increasing distance between the portable device and the vehicle.

9. The method according claim 7 wherein the portable device further includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting an unlock signal to the vehicle, the transmitter having a limited range of reception by the vehicle, and the method further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the unlock signal in response to the distance from the current location to the stationary location being with a criterion indicating a likelihood of reception of the unlock signal by the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the icon includes first and second directional icons further comprising the steps of:

determining a current orientation of the portable device;

determining a direction from the current location to the stationary location; and

activating the first directional icon if the direction is left of the current orientation with the blinking signal having the rate indicative of the distance;

or

activating the second icon if the direction is right of the current orientation with the blinking signal having the rate indicative of the distance.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the method is performed within the portable device wherein

said step of receiving the manual input receives the manual input by a press of a button upon the portable device, and the method further includes the step of

wirelessly transmitting to the vehicle a locking signal for locking a door of the vehicle in response to the manual input, and further wherein

said step of determining the stationary location includes the steps of:

activating a location determining device located within the portable device in response to the manual input;

determining the stationary location with the location determining device; and

deactivating the location determining device in response to determination of the stationary location.

12. The method according to claim 9 wherein the portable device is battery powered and the method further conserves battery power consumed by the transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:

inhibiting battery power to the transmitter for transmitting the unlock signal in response to a termination of the second manual input;

inhibiting battery power to the transmitter for transmitting the unlock signal in response to a persistence of the second manual input and the criterion indicating no likelihood of reception of the unlock signal by the vehicle; and

enabling battery power to the transmitter for transmitting the unlock signal in response to the persistence of the second manual input and the criterion indicating the likelihood of reception of the unlock signal by the vehicle.

13. A portable device for selectively transmitting an unlock signal of limited range to an automobile comprising:

a memory for storing a stationary location substantially corresponding to a location of the automobile;

a location determiner for determining a current location of the portable device;

a distance determining processor for processing the current location and the stationary location and for determining a likelihood of reception of the unlock signal by the automobile; and

a transmitter responsive to said distance determining processor for transmitting the unlock signal in response to a determination that reception of the unlock signal will likely be received by the automobile.

14. The portable device according to claim 13 further comprising

first and second buttons for receiving first and second manual inputs, wherein

said location determiner determines the current location in response to the second manual input at the second button,

said location determiner further determines the stationary location in response to the first manual input at the first button and stores the stationary location in said memory, and

said transmitter transmits a lock signal for locking the automobile in response to the first manual input.

15. A portable device for locating, locking and unlocking an automobile comprising:

a first button for receiving a first manual input;

a GPS location determiner for determining a location of the portable device;

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a lock signal for locking the automobile, wherein

said GPS location determiner determines a stationary location and said transmitter transits the lock signal in response to the first manual input received at said first button wherein the stationary location substantially corresponding to that of the automobile

16. The portable device according to claim 15 further comprising:

a second button for receiving a second manual input;

a controller for processing determined locations from said GPS location determiner; and

a display for generating an audio or visual alert signal, wherein

said GPS location determiner determines a first current location followed by a second current location in response to the second manual input, and

said controller determines a first distance between the portable device and the automobile in response to the stationary location and the first current location and further determines a second distance between the portable device and the automobile in response to the stationary location and the second current location and generates an alarm signal in response to the second distance being greater than the first distance, and

said display generates the alert signal in response to the alarm signal.

17. The portable device according to claim 15 wherein

said GPS location determiner further determines an orientation of the portable device and the portable device further comprising:

a second button for receiving a second manual input,;

a controller for processing the determined location and orientation from said GPS location determiner; and

a display for displaying left and right direction icons and further wherein,

said transmitter further wirelessly transmits an unlock signal for unlocking the automobile,

said GPS location determiner determines a current location and a current orientation of the portable device in response to the second manual input received at said second button,

said transmitter transmits the unlock signal in response to the second manual input received at said second button,

said controller determines a direction vector in response to the stationary location and the current location and generates a left signal in response to the direction vector being left of the current orientation or generates a right signal in response to the direction vector being right of the current orientation, and

said display displays the left or right direction icon in response to generation of the corresponding left or right signal.

18. The portable device according to claim 15 further comprising:

a second button for receiving a second manual input;

a controller for processing the determined location from said GPS location determiner; and

a display for generating a flashing signal, wherein

said GPS location determiner determines a current location in response to the second manual input,

said controller determines a first distance to the automobile in response to the stationary location and the current location and further generates a variable flash rate signal indicative of the first distance, and

said display generates the flashing signal in response to the flash rate signal, thereby providing a portable device which flashes at a rate indicative of the distance between the portable device and the automobile.

19. The portable device according to claim 15 comprised within a system for remotely locking the automobile further comprising:

a receiver for receiving the lock signal and for causing locking of a door of the automobile wherein the system may be installed in the automobile after manufacture and sale of the automobile.

20. The portable device according to claim 15 comprised within a remotely controlled automobile system comprising:

a receiver for receiving the lock signal and for causing locking of a door of the automobile; and

an automobile having at least one lockable door for locking in response to said receiver.