TRACKING DEVICE

• US 20150359127A1
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PB, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PebbleBee LLC
• Inventors: Daoura, Daniel, Pearson-Franks, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 9,564,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/00 Key-rings
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/005 Fobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1427 Housings

Abstract

In a tracking device 10, a crescent-shaped PCB 12 partially encircles a battery 15 to minimize thickness of the device 10. A speaker 23 and an LED 24 emit alerts upon command of a control apparatus 37 or in response to motion or temperature sensed by sensor 25. A local network 40 has one hub 41 to tracking devices 33 and a wider area network 45 has multiple hubs for more detailed tracking of devices 33. A wide area network 50 tracks devices anywhere and stores data of each tracking device including its last known position and its sensor data.

Claims

1. A tracking device comprising:

top and bottom covers, a battery, and a printed circuit board having at least one sensor and transmitter for sending a beacon signal;

said printed circuit board having a crescent shape defined by a circular disk of a first diameter with a segment of a circle of a second diameter removed from the edge of the disk whereby the printed circuit board has a shape enclosed by two circular arcs of different diameters which intersect at two points.

2. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the edge of the printed circuit board has a conductive member for contacting one terminal of the battery and one of the covers of the device has another conductor for contacting the another terminal of the battery.

3. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a light emitting diode and a speaker.

4. The tracking device of claim 3 wherein the sensor is a multi-axes motion sensor.

5. The tracking device of claim 4 wherein the sensor comprises a magnetometer, a gyroscope and an accelerometer on each of three axes of motion.

6. The tracking device of claim 4 further comprising one or more sensors to sense physical parameters.

7. The tracking device of claim 6 wherein the physical parameters sensed by the sensor include at least one of the group comprising temperature, electromagnetic radiation, sound, vibration, and pressure.

8. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is a low energy microcontroller-transceiver.

9. The tracking device of claim 8 wherein the range of the transmitter is less than 300 feet.

10. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the other cover of the device has an opening for admitting a battery and a lid covering the opening.

11. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the battery is replaceable.

12. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the battery is rechargeable and the printed circuit board further comprises a wireless recharging circuit for recharging the battery.

13. The tracking device of claim 12 wherein the printed circuit board has an inductor for inductively coupling to an external inductor to charge the battery.

14. The tracking device of claim 1 further comprising one or more solar cells for converting incident light into electrical energy and a rechargeable battery coupled to the solar cells for storing the electrical energy of the solar cells.

15. The tracking device of claim 1 comprising a battery

20. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter further comprises a receiver adapted to receive control signals from at least one control apparatus.

21. The tracking device of claim 20 wherein the receiver is adapted to receive control signals from a plurality of control apparatuses.

22. The tracking device of claim 20 wherein the receiver is adapted to receive control signals releasing the tracking device from control.

23. The tracking device of claim 20 wherein the tracking device not under control of a control apparatus will accept control signals from an authorized control apparatus.

16. A tracking device with top and bottom covers, a battery and a printed circuit board between the covers and a transmitter, at least one sensor and an alarm coupled to the printed circuit 1 on the printed circuit board and a multifunction operating button disposed on the edge of the covers and coupled to the printed circuit board for entering commands to control the transceiver, the sensor and the alarm.

17. The tracking device of claim 16 wherein the sensor is a multi-axis sensor.

18. The tracking device of claim 17 wherein the sensor is nine axis sensor for generating data regarding motion, speed and acceleration of the tracking device and the transmitter sends the nine axis sensor data.

19. The tracking device of claim 16 wherein the sensor further comprises a temperature sensor.