Method and system for tracking a vehicle

• US 6,246,323 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SC Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Trevor A. Fischbach
• Inventors: Fischbach, Trevor A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US09/040,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/989, 340/990, 340/572.8, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• 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: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A tagging system for tagging a target vehicle consists of a tracking device, a launching device, a receiving device and a monitor to display the position of the target vehicle. The tracking device includes a tracking chip contained in a pliable carrier, and is stored in and launched from a housing mounted in a pursuit vehicle'"'"'s grill. The launching device includes a firing pad slidably retained within the housing and spring mounted to the housing rear end. Pad forks in communication with a solenoid retain the firing pad near the housing rear end until two switches in the pursuit vehicle are sequentially activated, whereupon the tracking device emits a tracking signal, the solenoid is activated, releasing pad forks and thereby launching the tracking device towards the target vehicle. The tracking device is in free flight until it impacts (“tags”) the surface of the fleeing vehicle, to which it adheres by means of the carrier. The tagged vehicle thus emits a tracking signal which represents the location of the tagged vehicle, which is received by the receiving device and appears as an image on a monitor within the pursuit vehicle. The system can work with a Global Positioning Satellite system or similar navigational or communications satellites. The need to maintain constant visual contact is reduced, and thereby the risk of injury to the public and parties involved in the hot pursuit of a fleeing vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for tagging a target vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

sighting the target vehicle;

launching a tracking device towards the target vehicle, the tracking device having a carrier and a tracking means for tracking, the tracking means contained within the carrier;

attaching the carrier to the target vehicle, the tracking device within the carrier being attached to the target vehicle, thereby tagging the target vehicle; and

causing a tracking signal to be emitted from the tracking means.

2. The method of tagging a target vehicle as described in claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving the tracking signal emitted by the tracking means, and converting the received tracking signal into an image of the tagged target vehicle.

3. The method of tagging a target vehicle as described in claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying the image on a display means, the image representing the location of the tagged target vehicle.

4. The method for tagging a target vehicle as described in claim 3, wherein said launching step further includes the step of arming the tracking device, such that the tracking means emits the tracking signal prior to being launched towards the target vehicle.

5. The method for tagging a target vehicle as described in claim 4, further comprising the step of receiving the tracking signal by a pursuit vehicle.

6. The method for tagging a target vehicle as described in claim 4, further comprising the step of receiving the tracking signal at a base station.

7. The method for tagging a target vehicle as described in claim 4, wherein the target vehicle is an automobile.

8. The method for tagging a target vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the emitting step further comprises the step of reflecting the tracking signal emitted by the tracking means from a Global Positioning Satellite (“

GPS”

) to a receiving means.

9. A tagging device for tagging a target vehicle, the tagging device comprising:

A. a tracking chip having

a microprocessor,

a power source, and

an emitting means for emitting a tracking signal, the tracking signal emitted being a unique representation of the tracking chip; and

B. an attachment means for attaching the tracking chip to the target vehicle, the attachment means containing the tracking chip therein, such that when the attachment means attaches to the target vehicle, the tracking chip contained therein is not damaged.

10. The tagging device as described in claim 9, wherein the attachment means is adhesive.

11. The tagging device as described in claim 9, wherein the tracking chip further comprises a receiving means for receiving an arming signal, the arming signal causing the tracking chip to emit the tracking signal.

12. The tagging device as described in claim 9, wherein the attachment means has an outer surface.

13. The tagging device as described in claim 12, wherein the attachment means has a suction cup attached to said outer surface.

14. A system for tagging a target vehicle, the system comprising:

A. a tracking device comprising;

1. a tracking chip having

a microprocessor,

a power source, and

an emitting means for emitting a tracking signal, the tracking signal emitted being a unique representation of the tracking chip; and

2. an attachment means for attaching the tracking chip to the target vehicle, the attachment means containing the tracking chip therein, such that when the attachment means attaches to the target vehicle, the tracking chip contained therein is not damaged;

B. a launching device having;

a housing having a front end having an opening therethrough, and a rear end;

a launching means for launching slidably retained within the housing;

a connecting means connecting the launching means to the housing rear end;

a retaining means for retaining the launching means within the housing and proximate to the housing rear end and the connecting means;

the tracking device slidably retained within the housing but not adhering to the housing, and the tracking device in contact with the launching means but not adherent to the launching means;

an actuating means for actuating the launching means, which when activated causes the retaining means to be released, the tracking device to be launched towards the target vehicle and the tracking device to emit the tracking signal;

C. a receiving means comprising;

a signal means for receiving the tracking signal;

an interpretation means for interpreting the received tracking signal to identify the tracking chip and to indicate the location of the tracking chip, the target vehicle being tagged when the tracking device adheres to the target vehicle, the tracking signal emitted thereby being a representation of the location of the tagged target vehicle; and

D. a display means in communication with and receiving the interpreted tracking signal from the receiving means, the interpreted tracking signal being displayed as an image on the display means, the image representing the location of the tagged target vehicle.

15. The tagging system as described in claim 14, wherein the actuating means further includes an arming means for arming the tracking device and a firing means for firing the tracking device, the arming means causing the tracking device to emit the tracking signal while the tracking device is launched.

16. The tagging system as described in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of receiving means, the plurality of receiving means at locations remote from the launching device.

17. The tagging system as described in claim 15, further comprising a Global Positioning Satellite (“

GPS”

) which receives the tracking signal emitted by the tracking device and reflects the tracking signal to the receiving means.

18. The tagging system as described in claim 15, further comprising a communications satellite which receives the tracking signal emitted by the tracking device and reflects the tracking signal to the receiving means.

19. The tagging system as described in claim 15, wherein the arming means, the firing means and the receiving device are contained within a pursuit vehicle.

20. The tagging system as described in claim 15, wherein the launching device further includes a laser sighting means attached to the housing and in communication with the arming means.

21. The tagging system as described in claim 14, wherein said retaining means includes a pair of retaining forks, each retaining fork having a pronged end and a second end, the retaining forks in communication with a solenoid at their second end, the pronged end engaging the launching means and retaining the launching means towards the housing rear end, until the actuating means is activated.

22. The tagging system as described in claim 14, wherein the housing further comprises a door, the door attached to the housing front end, the door preventing debris from entering the housing but opening when the launching means is activated and the tracking device is launched.

23. The tagging system as described in claim 14, wherein the housing is attached to a pursuit vehicle.

25. The tagging system as described in claim 23, wherein the heating means is electric heat wrap tape, the electric heat wrap tape being wrapped around the housing and in communication with a power source.

27. The tagging system as described in claim 23, wherein the launching device further includes a laser sighting means attached to the housing and in communication with the actuating means.

24. A system for tagging a target vehicle, the system comprising:

A. a tracking device comprising;

1. a tracking chip having

a microprocessor,

a power source, and

an emitting means for emitting a tracking signal, the tracking signal emitted being a unique representation of the tracking chip; and

2. an attachment means for attaching the tracking chip to the target vehicle, the attachment means containing the tracking chip therein, such that when the attachment means attaches to the target vehicle, the tracking chip contained therein is not damaged;

B. a launching device having;

a housing having a front end having an opening therethrough, and a rear end;

a launching means for launching slidably retained within the housing;

a connection means connecting the launching means to the housing rear end;

a retaining means for retaining the launching means within the housing and proximate to the housing rear end and the connection means;

the tracking device slidably retained within the housing but not adhering to the housing, and the tracking device in contact with the launching means but not adherent to the launching means;

an actuating means for actuating the launching means, which when activated causes the retaining means to be released, the tracking device to be launched towards the target vehicle and the tracking device to emit the tracking signal;

a heating means for heating the housing, the housing thereby maintaining a temperature adequate to maintain the attachment means in a pliable state;

C. a receiving means comprising;

a signal means for receiving the tracking signal;

an interpreting means for interpreting the received tracking signal to identify the tracking chip and to indicate the location of the tracking chip, the target vehicle being tagged when the tracking device adheres to the target vehicle, the tracking signal emitted thereby being a representation of the location of the tagged target vehicle; and

D. a display means in communication with and receiving the interpreted tracking signal from the receiving means, the interpreted tracking signal being displayed as an image on the display means, the image representing the location of the tagged target vehicle.

26. The tagging system as described in claim 24, wherein the heating means comprises circulating warm liquid about the housing.