Direction finder and locator

• US 20050088301A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Abbruscato
• Original Assignee: Paul Abbruscato
• Inventors: Abbruscato, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,148,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.320
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/046 Displays or indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/465 the waves arriving at the aerials being frequency modulated and the frequency difference of signals therefrom being measured
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0266 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact distance between parent and child or surveyor and item
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A direction finder is disclosed that is a hand-held device used to locate a vehicle in a parking lot using a two way radio link, operating in an unlicensed freely available band of the radio spectrum. Made for outdoor use, it is independent of GPS systems, cellular telephone systems, Loran, and any other system with a large infrastructure.

Claims

1. A direction finder and locator comprising a remote unit and a target unit wherein:

(a) the remote unit comprises;

(1) a housing;

(2) a power source;

(3) a remote unit radio signal transmitter;

(4) a directional antenna;

(5) an operator controllable activation device that when activated causes the remote unit radio signal transmitter to transmit a first radio signal;

(6) a remote unit radio signal receiver tuned to receive a second radio signal transmitted from the target unit, the second radio signal having an amplitude;

(7) an electronic amplitude measurement circuit to measure the amplitude of the second radio signal; and

,

(8) a visible display compromising a plurality of indicator lights that shows the operator an indication of the amplitude of the second radio signal wherein;

i) the said indication changes as the remote unit points toward or away from the target unit; and

,

ii) the said indication changes as the remote unit moves closer or further away from the target unit; and

,

(b) the target unit comprises;

(1) a housing;

(2) a connection to a power source;

(3) an antenna;

(4) a target unit radio signal receiver tuned to receive the first radio signal from the remote unit; and

,

(5) a target unit radio signal transmitter that continuously transmits the second radio signal in response to the first radio signal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the target unit further comprises a timer unit that becomes active when the target unit radio signal receiver receives the first radio signal, and then terminates transmission of the second radio signal after a specified time period.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the target unit further comprises a second antenna.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the remote unit further comprises a second antenna.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the display of the remote unit comprises a plurality of indicator lights that illuminate to indicate the amplitude of the second radio signal as received by the directional antenna.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the remote unit comprises a different amplitude threshold of the second radio signal for illumination of each of the indicator lights.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein all of the indicator lights of the remote unit are positioned to form a single straight line.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the indicator lights of the remote unit are positioned in order of their respective amplitude thresholds.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the indicator lights of the remote unit are positioned to form several straight lines angularly displaced from one another wherein the indicator lights of each line are positioned in order of their respective amplitudes.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the sequence of amplitude thresholds of each line of the indicator lights is essentially the same as each of the other lines.

11. A direction finder and locator comprising a remote unit and a target unit wherein:

(a) the remote unit comprises;

(1) housing means;

(2) a means for providing power to the remote unit;

(3) a means for transmitting a first radio signal;

(4) an operator controllable activation means that when activated causes the transmitting means to transmit the first radio signal;

(5) a means to receive a second radio signal transmitted from the target unit, the second radio signal having an amplitude;

(6) a means to measure the amplitude of the second radio signal; and

,

(7) a display means to visually display an indication of the amplitude of the second radio signal, wherein;

i) the indication changes when the remote unit points in a direction toward or away from the target unit; and

,

ii) the indication changes as the remote unit moves closer or further away from the target unit; and

,

(b) the target unit comprises;

(1) housing means;

(2) a means for connecting the target unit to a power source;

(3) a means for receiving the first radio signal; and

,

(4) a means for continuously transmitting the second radio signal.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the target unit further comprises a timing means that becomes active when the target unit means for receiving the first radio signal receives the first radio signal, and then terminates transmission of the second radio signal after a specified time period.