Article locating device using position location

• US 6,664,896 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jill Elizabeth Mcdonald, Scott Clifford Harris
• Original Assignee: Jill Elizabeth Mcdonald, Scott Clifford Harris
• Inventors: McDonald, Jill Elizabeth, Harris, Scott Clifford
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/682,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/573.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A lost article finding device, which can be used for, for example, finding keys and the like. The finding device has a element for automatically finding its location, such as a GPS device or other position detecting device. A transceiver receives requests from a remote location, and response to those requests. The requests may include periodic pings, which are simply sent to ensure that the device is responding to requests. The requests may also include specialized requests which specifically request the device to report its current location.

Claims

1. A keychain device comprising:

a keychain part, including a part for holding keys and including a housing;

a source of power in said housing;

a sleep mode controlling device, operating to maintain associated circuitry in a sleep mode during certain modes of operation in which power consumption from the source of power is minimized;

a position detecting device, powered by said source of power and operable responsive to said sleep mode controlling device, operating to detect a current position when requested and enabled by said sleep mode controlling of said using and keychain device; and

a communication device, receiving information from said position detecting device, powered by said source of power, and operating responsive to said sleep mode controlling device, and operating to report said information from said position detecting device to a remote object during the time when said sleep mode controlling device is not maintaining said circuitry in said sleep mode, and when requested by said remote device.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said source of power includes a rechargeable battery.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein said position detecting device includes a receiver for receiving global positioning signals.

4. A device as in claim 1, further comprising an address register, storing information which uniquely identifies said device.

5. A device as in claim 4, further comprising a multiple power level control associated with said communication device, which causes said communication device to transmit at a first level in a first mode, and to transmit at a second higher power level in response to a predetermined stimulus.

6. A keychain device as in claim 1, wherein said sleep mode controlling device maintains said position detecting device in the sleep mode and awakens said position detecting device from said sleep mode responsive to a request by said remote device.

7. A lost article finding device, comprising:

a source of power;

a position detecting device, powered by said source of power, and operable to determine a current position;

a timer device, maintaining a count of time since transmissions of a specified type have been received; and

a transceiver device, operating responsive to a request for position, to send information from said position detecting device, and operable responsive to said timer device, to operate in a second mode of operation, in which it is more likely that the user will receive said information responsive to said request for position, responsive to no transmissions of the specified type having been received for a specified time.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein said second mode of operation causes transmissions by said transceiver device at a higher power than said first mode of operation.

9. A device as in claim 7, wherein said second mode of operation allows operation from an additional source of power beyond that allotted in said first mode of operation.

10. A device as in claim 7, further comprising a memory storing information indicative of a last known position of said device.

11. A device as in claim 7, further comprising a keychain associated with said device, for holding a plurality of keys and locating said plurality of keys.