Vehicle locating system

• US 6,909,964 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kell, Curtis N., Perisho, Robert A. Jr., Armstrong, Ray G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/190,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20040006426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 701/223, 701/213, 701/207, 701/209, 701/208, 701/211, 342/457, 342/357.07, 342/442, 342/449, 455/575.9, 455/90.2, 455/550.1, 340/5.64, 340/5.72, 340/989, 340/426, 340/988, 340/825.72, 340/539
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator

Abstract

A vehicle locating system includes a first transmitter within the vehicle, the first transmitter is configured to transmit a location signal; and a key fob including: a receiver, a direction indicator, and wherein the direction indicator is configured to point towards the first transmitter in response to receipt of the location signal by the receiver. In another embodiment, the vehicle locating system includes a first cellular telephone within the vehicle; a first GPS receiver within the vehicle and in operable communication with the first cellular telephone, the first GPS receiver is configured to determine a location of the vehicle; a hand-held device including: a direction indicator, a second cellular telephone, and a second GPS receiver in operable communication with the second cellular telephone, the second GPS receiver is configured to determine a location of the hand-held device; and wherein the first GPS receiver provides the location of the vehicle to the first cellular telephone, and the direction indicator is configured to point in a direction of the vehicle in response to a comparison of the location of the vehicle and the location of the hand-held device.

Claims

1. A vehicle locating system comprising:

a first transmitter within the vehicle, said first transmitter configured to transmit a location signal;

a hand-held device including a receiver and a direction indicator, said direction indicator is visible on said hand-held device, said direction indicator is configured to point towards said first transmitter in response to transmission of said location signal.

2. The vehicle locating system of claim 1, wherein said receiver is a directional receiver and said location signal is received by said directional receiver.

3. The vehicle locating system of claim 2, wherein said hand-held device further includes:

a proximity indicator visible on said hand-held device, said proximity indicator indicates an intensity of said location signal received by said hand-held receiver.

4. The vehicle locating system of claim 2, wherein said hand-held device further includes:

one or more control buttons; and

a second transmitter configured to transmit a control signal to the vehicle in response to the selection of said one or more control buttons.

5. The vehicle locating system of claim 4, wherein one of said one or more control buttons is a transmitter activation button, and wherein said first transmitter transmits said location signal in response to selection of said transmitter activation button.

6. The vehicle locating system of claim 2, wherein said location signal is an electromagnetic wave encoded with identity information, said identity information uniquely identifies the vehicle.

7. The vehicle locating system of claim 2, wherein said location signal is a light signal.

8. The vehicle locating system of claim 2, wherein said hand-held device is a key fob.

9. The vehicle locating system of claim 1, wherein said location signal is provided to said hand-held device via a cellular telephone network.

10. The vehicle locating system of claim 9, wherein said location signal is encoded with a location of the vehicle, and said hand-held device is configured to compare said location of the vehicle with a location of said hand-held device and point said direction indicator toward the vehicle in response to said comparison.

11. The vehicle locating system of claim 10, further including:

a first cellular telephone within the vehicle, said first cellular telephone including a first receiver and said first transmitter;

a first GPS receiver within the vehicle and in operable communication with said first cellular telephone;

a second cellular telephone within said hand-held device, said second cellular telephone including said second receiver and a second transmitter;

a second GPS receiver in operable communication with said second cellular telephone; and

wherein said first GPS receiver determines said location of the vehicle, and said second GPS receiver determines said location of said hand held device.

12. The vehicle locating system of claim 10, wherein said hand-held device is configured to display one or more selectable options, and said first transmitter transmits said location signal in response to selection of one of said selectable options.

13. The vehicle locating system of claim 10, wherein said first transmitter transmits said location signal in response to receiving an activation signal from said hand-held device.

14. The vehicle locating system of claim 10, further comprising:

a proximity indicator visible on said hand-held device, said proximity indicator indicates a distance between the vehicle and the hand-held device in response to said comparison.

15. A vehicle locating system comprising:

a first transmitter within the vehicle, said first transmitter is configured to transmit a location signal;

a key fob including;

a receiver,

a direction indicator, and

wherein said direction indicator is configured to point towards said first transmitter in response to receipt of said location signal by said receiver.

16. The vehicle locating system of claim 15, wherein said hand-held device further includes:

a proximity indicator visible on said key fob, said proximity indicator indicates an intensity of said location signal received by said receiver.

17. The vehicle locating system of claim 15, wherein said key fob further includes:

one or more control buttons; and

a second transmitter configured to transmit a control signal to the vehicle in response to the selection of said one or more control buttons.

18. The vehicle locating system of claim 17, wherein one of said one or more control buttons is a transmitter activation button, and wherein said first transmitter transmits said location signal in response to selection of said transmitter activation button.

19. The vehicle locating system of claim 15, wherein said location signal is an electromagnetic wave encoded with identity information, said identity information uniquely identifies the vehicle.

20. The vehicle locating system of claim 15, wherein said location signal is a light signal.