Vehicular tracking device

• US 6,650,283 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SC Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Starchase Llc
• Inventors: Sawyer, P. Sean, McCall, Amanda D., Brydges, Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULL, FRED H
• Application Number:
  US10/052,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.07, 342/357.09, 342/357.17, 342/54, 342/450, 342/457, 342/464, 342/463, 455/456, 455/457, 340/901-904, 340/825.49, 340/990
• US Class Current: 342/357.36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system for tracking a fleeing vehicle comprising a frangible tracking projectile and a launcher to propel and attach the tracking projectile to the fleeing vehicle. The launcher is a handheld or vehicle mounted pneumatic gun that uses high pressure gas to fire the projectile at the fleeing vehicle. The tracking projectile comprises an outer plastic casing that holds a GPS receiver, a radio transponder and a power source in an adhesive mixture. When the tracking projectile strikes its target, the plastic casing shatters allowing the adhesive substance to attach the GPS receiver, radio transponder and power source to the fleeing vehicle.

Claims

1. A tracking system for vehicles comprising:

a projectile launcher for firing a tracking projectile at a target vehicle; and

a tracking projectile containing a GPS receiver, a RE transponder and a power source wherein said tracking projectile comprises a frangible outer casing enclosing an adhesive compound, said outer casing breaking upon impact with the target vehicle thereby attaching the GPS receiver, the RE transponder and power source to the target vehicle.

2. The tracking system for vehicles of claim 1, wherein:

the GPS receiver, the RE transponder, the power source are a single electronic component.

3. The tracking system for vehicles of claim 2, further comprising:

a pressure switch connected to the electronic component, the pressure switch activating the electronic component when a pre-determined pressure is applied.

4. The tracking system for vehicles of claim 1, wherein:

the GPS receiver receives satellite signals to determine its location, transfers the information to the RE transponder which then transmits the information to a command center.

5. The tracking system for vehicles of claim 1, wherein:

said launcher is attached to vehicle.

6. The tracking system for vehicles of claim 1, wherein:

said launcher is a handheld unit.

7. The tracking system for vehicles of claim 1, wherein:

said launcher is a pneumatic gun.

8. The tracking system for vehicles of claim 1, wherein:

said launcher is attached to vehicle.

9. The tracking system for vehicles of claim 8, wherein:

said launcher is attached to the front of a vehicle and its aim is remotely controlled by a control pad inside the vehicle.

10. The tracking system or vehicles of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure switch connected to and turning on the GPS receiver, the RF transponder and the power source when a pre-determined pressure is applied.

11. The tracking system or vehicles of claim 1, wherein:

the tracking projectile includes a device to charge the power source.

12. The tracking system or vehicles of claim 11, wherein:

the device to charge the power source comprises metal contacts on an outer casing of the tracking projectile.

13. A projectile for tracking the location of a moving target comprising:

a frangible outer casing containing a location determining element, a transmitter, and a power source in an adhesive compound.

14. The projectile for tracking the location of a moving target of claim 13, wherein:

the location determining element is a GPS receiver and the transmitter is an RE transponder.

15. The projectile for tracking the location of a moving target of claim 14, wherein:

the GPS receiver, the RE transponder, and the power source are a single electronic component.

16. The projectile for tracking the location of a moving target of claim 15, further comprising:

a pressure switch connected to the electronic component, the pressure switch activating the electronic component when a pre-determined pressure is applied.

17. The projectile for tracking the location of a moving target of claim 14, wherein:

the GPS receiver receives satellite signals to its location, transfers the information to the RE transponder which then transmits the information to a command center.

18. A method of tracking a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

identifying a target vehicle;

launching a tracking projectile at said target vehicle wherein the tracking projectile comprises a frangible outer casing enclosing an adhesive compound, said outer casing breaking upon impact with the target vehicle and attaching a GPS receiver, a RE transponder and a power source to the target vehicle; and

tracking said target vehicle using tracking information received from said tracking projectile.

19. The method of tracking a vehicle of claim 18, wherein the tracking projectile is launched from a projectile launcher mounted on a source vehicle.

20. The method of tracking a vehicle of claim 18, wherein the GPS receiver, the RE transponder, and the power source are located on a single electronic component, and a pressure switch connected to the electronic component to turn the electronic component on when a pre-determined force is applied to the pressure switch.

21. The method of tracking a vehicle of claim 18, wherein the step of tracking a target vehicle further comprises the steps of:

receiving vehicle location information in the GPS receiver from satellites;

conveying the location information to the RF transponder which broadcasts the information to be received by appropriate personnel; and

determining the target vehicle'"'"'s location using the location information broadcast by the RF transponder.

22. A method of tracking a vehicle comprising the steps of;

identifying a target vehicle using a laser pointer;

firing a tracking projectile at the target vehicle using a tracking projectile launcher;

striking the target vehicle with the tracking projectile, wherein a frangible outer casing of the projectile shatters and an adhesive compound in the tracking projectile secures a GPS receiver, an RF transponder and a power source to the target vehicle;

gathering the target vehicle'"'"'s location information in the GPS receiver;

broadcasting the target vehicle'"'"'s location information using the RE transponder; and

determining the target vehicle'"'"'s location.