Thermoelectric vehicle tracking device
First Claim
1. A waste heat powered vehicle tracking device for attachment to a hot surface of a motor vehicle, said device comprising:
- A) an electric powered radio transmitter,B) a thermoelectric module defining a module hot surface and a module cold surface,C) a finned element in thermal communication with said thermoelectric to provide cooling of said module cold surface,D) an attachment means for holding said thermoelectric module to the hot surface of the motor vehicle with said module hot surface in thermal communication with the hot surface of the motor vehicle,E) an electric energy storage device for storing electrical energy generated by said thermoelectric module and for providing electrical power to said transmitter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tracking device for tracking a vehicle in which a radio transmitter is powered by heat energy of the exhaust system of an engine propelling the vehicle. A thermoelectric module is attached to a hot portion of the exhaust system. Electrical power generated by the thermoelectric module is used to power the transmitter. A preferred tracking device consists of one thermoelectric module, one transmitter, a flexible finned plate for dissipating heat, and two high Curie temperature magnets for attaching the device to the vehicle'"'"'s tail pipe. The transmitter is mounted on the flexible finned plate with a thermal insulator in-between them.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A waste heat powered vehicle tracking device for attachment to a hot surface of a motor vehicle, said device comprising:
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A) an electric powered radio transmitter, B) a thermoelectric module defining a module hot surface and a module cold surface, C) a finned element in thermal communication with said thermoelectric to provide cooling of said module cold surface, D) an attachment means for holding said thermoelectric module to the hot surface of the motor vehicle with said module hot surface in thermal communication with the hot surface of the motor vehicle, E) an electric energy storage device for storing electrical energy generated by said thermoelectric module and for providing electrical power to said transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification