Vehicle locator key fob with range and bearing measurement
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a location of an object by a remote, mobile apparatus comprising the steps of:
- generating a bearing signal from the object, wherein the bearing signal carries relative bearing information with respect to magnetic north;
receiving the bearing signal by the mobile apparatus;
determining by the mobile apparatus a relative bearing between the mobile apparatus and the object; and
providing direction information, including at least the relative bearing, to a user of the mobile apparatus to aid in directing the user to the object.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method of determining bearing and distance measurements between a mobile device and an object using Rf based measurements. The mobile device communicates with a control in the object to determine the relative bearing between the mobile device and the object with respect to magnetic north and, optionally, the distance between the mobile device and the object. An indicator on the mobile device aid in directing s the user of the mobile device toward the object as the mobile device is moved relative to the object. The mobile device can be a key fob and the object can be a vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining a location of an object by a remote, mobile apparatus comprising the steps of:
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generating a bearing signal from the object, wherein the bearing signal carries relative bearing information with respect to magnetic north; receiving the bearing signal by the mobile apparatus; determining by the mobile apparatus a relative bearing between the mobile apparatus and the object; and providing direction information, including at least the relative bearing, to a user of the mobile apparatus to aid in directing the user to the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for determining a location of an object by a remote, mobile apparatus comprising:
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means for generating a circumferential, rotating bearing signal from the object, wherein the circumferential, rotating bearing signal carries relative bearing information with respect to magnetic north; means for receiving the bearing signal by the mobile apparatus; means for determining by the mobile apparatus a relative bearing between the mobile apparatus and the object; and means for providing direction information, at least including the relative bearing, to a user of the mobile apparatus to aid in directing the user to the object.
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10. A method for determining a location of an object location apparatus comprising the steps of:
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providing a control adapted to be mounted on an object to transmit and receive circumferential, rotating wireless signal, wherein the circumferential, rotating wireless signal carries bearing information with respect to a remote mobile device; providing a transmitter and a receiver coupled to the control; providing a transmitter and a receiver for the mobile device; and providing one input member carried on the mobile device for activating a location determining sequence in the mobile device and the control to aid a user of the mobile device in locating the object. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification