Integrated portable tracking signal and access authorization signal generator

• US 6,268,797 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Detection Systems, Inc. (IKUSI - Angel Iglesias SA)
• Original Assignee: Detection Systems, Inc. (IKUSI - Angel Iglesias SA)
• Inventors: Robinson, Michael D., Berube, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/525,985
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/540, 340/568.1, 340/568.6, 340/568.7, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/573.5, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 340/825.71, 340/825.74, 340/825.72, 340/825.73, 342/42
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/004 using portable personal devices hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellent gases or chemicals F41H9/10
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A hand held unit is disclosed, the unit including a tracking signal generator and an access authorization signal generator, each signal generator being separately and independently actuatable by a user.

Claims

1. A personal tracking device, comprising:

(a) a hand held housing;

(b) a tracking signal generator located in the hand held housing, the tracking signal generator selectively actuatable to produce a tracking signal; and

(c) an access authorization signal generator located in the hand held housing selectively actuatable to generate an access authorization signal independent of the tracking signal.

2. The personal tracking device of claim 1, wherein the access authorization signal is encrypted.

3. The personal tracking device of claim 1, wherein the tracking signal and the access authorization signal are the same strength.

4. The personal tracking device of claim 1, wherein the access authorization signal is weaker than the tracking signal.

5. The personal tracking device of claim 1 , wherein the tracking signal is weaker than the access authorization signal.

6. The personal tracking device of claim 1, wherein the access authorization signal generator is an RF transmitter.

7. The personal tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a wire coil carried by the housing, and operably connected to the access authorization signal generator.

8. A hand-held transmitter, comprising:

a tracking signal generator selectively actuatable to produce a tracking signal to a receiver system;

a proximity sensor disposed in the housing for generating a lower frequency signal to generate an access authorization signal; and

a portable housing sized to be carried by an individual and retaining the tracking signal generator and the proximity sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the proximity sensor includes a coil in the handheld housing, the coil is selected to produce an electric current upon being presented to a sufficient magnetic field to generate the authorization access signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the proximity sensor includes a circuit electrically connected to the coil.