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Mobile tracking units employing motion sensors for reducing power consumption therein

DC
  • US 5,491,486 A
  • Filed: 04/25/1994
  • Issued: 02/13/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A mobile tracking unit for a vehicle location system, said tracking unit comprising:

  • a navigation set for generating data substantially indicative of a respective vehicle position, said navigation set being adapted to be periodically energized at a selected activation rate FG while the vehicle is moving to generate vehicle position data;

    a motion sensor for generating data indicative of vehicle motion; and

    a tracking unit controller coupled to said motion sensor to receive the vehicle motion data, said tracking unit controller being adapted to control said navigation set based upon the vehicle motion data so that when the vehicle is substantially stationary the activation rate FG can be respectively decreased by a predetermined factor, thereby reducing overall power consumption of said tracking unit, said tracking unit controller being further adapted to revert to activation rate FG when said motion sensor indicates renewed vehicle motion, thereby avoiding any substantial loss of vehicle position data during renewed vehicle motion.

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