GPS tracker

• US 6,628,232 B1
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of the Army
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Barrett, Mark S., Miller, Barry C., Hynes, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/122,118
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.09, 342/457, 701/207, 701/213, 701/215, 701/222
• US Class Current: 342/357.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A vehicle tracking system that includes a plurality of trackers, each adapted to be attached to a respective movable vehicle, and a remotely located controller for individually polling by radio each of the trackers to determine the position of the polled tracker. Each tracker includes a positioning receiver which receives satellite signals from a Global Positioning System and transmits a first positioning signal containing the position of the tracker to a micro controller unit. The micro controller unit receives the signal and transmits a second positioning signal containing the position of the tracker to a communicator. The communicator radios the second positioning signal to the remotely located controller to communicate the position of the tracker in response to a radioed polling signal from the remotely located controller.

Claims

1. A vehicle tracking system comprising:

a plurality of trackers each adapted to be attached to a respective movable vehicle, and

remotely located control means for individually polling by radio each one of the trackers to determine the position of the polled tracker,

each tracker comprising

a positioning receiver for receiving satellite signals from a Global Positioning System and transmitting a first positioning signal containing the position of the tracker;

a first micro controller unit connected to the positioning receiver for receiving the first positioning signal and transmitting a second positioning signal containing the position of the tracker; and

communication means connected to the first micro controller unit for receiving the second positioning signal and, in response to a radioed polling signal from the remotely located control means, radioing the second positioning signal to the control means to communicate the position of the tracker.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the communication means includes a second micro controller unit.

3. The system recited in claim 2 wherein the communication means includes a data radio connected to the second micro controller unit.

4. The system recited in claim 3 wherein the remotely located control means includes a computer.

5. The system recited in claim 4 wherein the remotely located control means includes a data radio connected to the computer.

6. The system recited in claim 5 including a level shifter connected between the positioning receiver and the first micro controller unit.

7. The system recited in claim 5 including a level shifter connected between the second micro controller unit and the data radio.

8. The system recited in claim 7 including a temperature sensor connected to the first micro controller unit.

9. The system recited in claim 8 including a light emitting diode connected to the first micro controller unit.

10. The system recited in claim 7 including a light emitting diode connected to the second micro controller unit.

11. A vehicle tracker for communicating the position of the vehicle to a remotely located control means comprising:

a positioning receiver adapted to be attached to the vehicle for receiving satellite signals from a Global Positioning System and transmitting a first positioning signal containing the position of the tracker,

a first micro controller unit connected to the positioning receiver for receiving the first positioning signal and transmitting a second positioning signal containing the position of the tracker and

communication means connected to the first micro controller unit for receiving the second positioning signal and, responsive to a radioed polling signal from the remotely located control means, radioing the second positioning signal to the control means to communicate the position of the tracker.

12. The tracker recited in claim 11 wherein the communication means includes a second micro controller unit.

13. The tracker recited in claim 12 wherein the communication means includes a data radio connected to the second micro controller unit.

14. The tracker recited in claim 13 including a level shifter connected between the positioning receiver and the first micro controller.

15. The tracker recited in claim 13 including a level shifter connected between the second micro controller unit and the data radio.

16. The tracker recited in claim 13 including a temperature sensor connected to the first micro controller unit.

17. The tracker recited in claim 16 including a light emitting diode connected to the first micro controller unit.

18. The tracker recited in claim 17 including a light emitting diode connected to the second micro controller unit.

19. A method of tracking moving vehicles comprising the steps of:

attaching a plurality of trackers to respective movable vehicles,

in each tracker, receiving at a positioning receiver satellite signals from a Global Positioning System,

transmitting a first positioning signal containing the position of the tracker from the positioning receiver to a micro controller unit,

receiving at the micro controller unit the first positioning signal,

transmitting a second positioning signal containing the position of the tracker from the micro controller unit,

receiving the second positioning signal, and

responsive to a polling signal from a remotely located control means, radioing the second positioning signal to the control means to communicate the position of the tracker.