Intra oral electronic tracking device

• US 6,239,705 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Glen
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Glen
• Inventors: Glen, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US09/552,324
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/572.8, 433/8, 433/37, 433/38, 433/80
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/00 Dental prostheses; Making same tooth crowns for capping teeth A61C5/70; dental implants A61C8/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

An improved stealthy, non-surgical, biocompatable electronic tracking device is provided in which a housing is placed intraorally. The housing contains microcircuitry. The microcircuitry comprises a receiver, a passive mode to active mode activator, a signal decoder for determining positional fix, a transmitter, an antenna, and a power supply. Optionally, an amplifier may be utilized to boost signal strength. The power supply energizes the receiver. Upon receiving a coded activating signal, the positional fix signal decoder is energized, determining a positional fix. The transmitter subsequently transmits through the antenna a position locating signal to be received by a remote locator. In another embodiment of the present invention, the microcircuitry comprises a receiver, a passive mode to active mode activator, a transmitter, an antenna and a power supply. Optionally, an amplifier may be utilized to boost signal strength. The power supply energizes the receiver. Upon receiving a coded activating signal, the transmitter is energized. The transmitter subsequently transmits through the antenna a homing signal to be received by a remote locator.

Claims

1. An electronic tracking device comprising:

an intraorally, nonsurgically placed housing comprising a power supply in communication with a receiver calibrated to receive at least one coded external signal and a transmitter to transmit a coded electromagnetic signal.

2. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 further comprising a signal decoder in communication with the transmitter for determining a positional fix.

3. The electronic tracking device of claim 2 wherein the coded transmitted signal is the positional fix determined by the signal decoder.

4. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the receiver communicates with a passive mode to active mode activator which upon receiving a coded activating signal energizes the transmitter to transmit a coded signal through an antenna to be received by a remotely located receiver.

5. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the at least one coded external signal is a coded activating signal and a coded deactivating signal.

6. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the at least one coded external signal is a coded activating signal, a coded deactivating signal, and a coded power supplying signal.

7. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the at least one coded external signal is sent by at least one orbiting satellite.

8. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 further comprising programmable software or firmware in communication with the receiver.

9. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the housing is affixed to a tooth surface.

10. The electronic tracking device of claim 9 wherein the housing is removably held within a receiving receptacle which is affixed to the tooth surface.

11. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the housing is placed within one of the group consisting of a tooth, fixed prosthesis, and removable prosthesis.

12. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the power supply is a battery.

13. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the power supply is a power storage device, the power storage device receiving its power from an intraoral galvanic reaction.

14. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the power supply is a power storage device, the power storage device receiving its power from a received coded RF beam.

15. The electronic tracking device of claim 1 wherein the coded transmitted signal is a signal homing beacon.

16. A method for locating a human or animal comprising the steps of:

a) nonsurgically placing an intraoral housing comprising a power supply in communication with a receiver calibrated to receive at least one external coded signal and a transmitter to transmit a coded electromagnetic signal;

b) receiving a coded activating signal, the signal initiating a determination of a positional fix; and

c) transmitting the positional fix to a remotely located receiver.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of receiving a coded deactivation signal after the remotely located receiver has received the positional fix.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the coded signals are encrypted.

19. A method for locating a human or animal comprising the steps of:

a) nonsurgically placing an intraoral housing comprising a power supply in communication with a receiver calibrated to receive at least one external coded signal and a transmitter to transmit a coded electromagnetic signal;

b) receiving a coded activating signal;

c) transmitting, upon activation, a signal homing beacon to a remotely located receiver; and

d) homing in on the transmitted signal beacon.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the transmitted signal beacon is received by a receiver selected from the group consisting of a cell phone tower and a plurality of orbiting satellites.