Object locator system and method

• US 8,983,537 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glenn Johnson
• Original Assignee: Glenn Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US13/462,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/418, 455/411, 455/466, 455/517, 340/539.32, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1083 Pager locating systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2155 Acoustic coupling

Abstract

A locating system and method for locating objects, such as keys, is disclosed. The locating system may include a transmitter for transmitting an encrypted code in the 900 MHz band. The transmitter may be powered by a battery. By transmitting in the 900 MHz band, the battery power consumed by the transmission may be relatively low and the encrypted code may travel a relatively long distance, such as 100 feet or more. The locating system may include a battery-powered locator device that is configured to detect, receive, and/or decode the encrypted code and determine whether the encrypted code is associated with the locator device or an attached object. After which, the locator device may provide an indication of its position. For instance, an audible sound of 85 dB or greater may be generated. The transmitter may be a self-contained device, or affixed onto or incorporated into a communications device.

Claims

1. A locating system for locating an object, the locating system comprising:

a communications device comprising a first dedicated transmitter and antenna pair configured to transmit, in an encrypted mode, an encrypted code associated with a locator device and/or object, the transmitter transmitting the encrypted code in the 900 MHz band, the transmitter being powered by a first battery; and

the locator device being attached to the object, the locator device having a receiver and an indicator, the receiver being configured to receive the encrypted code transmitted in the 900 MHz band and then the locator device determines whether the encrypted code is associated with the locator device and/or object, the locator device being powered by a second battery,

wherein upon receipt of the encrypted code by the receiver and a determination that the encrypted code is associated with the locator device and/or object by the locator device, the indicator on the locator device provides an indication as to a location of the locator device and/or object,

wherein the communications device is configured to transmit in both a scrambled communications mode operating in a 800 MHz band and the encrypted mode in which the encrypted code is transmitted in the 900 MHz band, and wherein the 900 MHz band is between approximately 900 MHz and approximately 950 MHz.

2. The locating system of claim 1, wherein an effective range that the transmitter can trigger the indicator on the locator device into indicating the location of the locator device and/or object is at least approximately 100 feet or more.

3. The locating system of claim 2, wherein the indication as to the location of the locator device and/or object is an audible sound, and a decibel level of the audible sound is approximately 85 dB or greater.

4. The locating system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter can trigger the indicator on the locator device even if a line of sight between the transmitter and the locator device is blocked.

5. The locating system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is located upon a flat surface having a surface area smaller than approximately 1.0 square inch.

6. The locating system of claim 5, wherein the transmitter has an antenna that is wrapped around at least a portion of the circumference of the flat surface on which the transmitter is located.

7. The locating system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is attached to an exterior, or located within an interior, of the communications device, and transmits the encrypted code upon user activation of a button or icon.

8. A locating system for locating an inanimate object, the locating system comprising:

a communications device configured to transmit, in an encrypted mode, a unique encrypted code associated with a locator device and/or inanimate object, wherein the communications device comprises a first dedicated transmitter and antenna pair configured to transmit, in the encrypted mode, the unique encrypted code associated with the locator device and/or inanimate object; and

the locator device having a receiver and an indicator, the locator device being attached to the inanimate object, the receiver being configured to detect the unique encrypted code and then the receiver or another component of the locator device determines whether the unique encrypted code detected is associated with the locator device and/or inanimate object,

wherein the communications device transmits the unique encrypted code in a 900 MHz band, and upon detection of the unique encrypted code by the receiver and verification that the unique encrypted code is associated with the locator device and/or inanimate object by the locator device, the indicator of the locator device provides an indication of a location of the locator device and/or inanimate object, and

wherein a scrambled mode of the communications device operates in a 800 MHz band, and the 900 MHz band of the encrypted mode for transmitting the unique encrypted code operates between approximately 900 MHz and approximately 925 MHz.

9. The locating system of claim 8, wherein the indication of the location of the locator device and/or inanimate object is an audible sound generated by the indicator, wherein a decibel level of the audible sound is approximately 85 dB or greater.

10. The locating system of claim 8, wherein the indication of the location of the locator device and/or inanimate object generated by the indicator is a visual indication.

11. The locating system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter can trigger the indicator on the locator device into indicating the position of the locator device and/or inanimate object even if a line of sight of between the transmitter and the locator device is blocked.

12. The locating system of claim 8, wherein the locator device is configured to normally operate in sleep mode to conserve power of a battery powering the indicator and/or other components located on the locator device.

13. A method of using a locating system to locate an inanimate object, the method comprising:

receiving an encrypted code in the 900 MHz band via a receiver located on a locator device, the locator device being attached to the inanimate object, wherein the encrypted code is received from a communications device comprising a first dedicated transmitter and antenna pair that is configured to transmit, in an encrypted mode, the encrypted code, and wherein a scrambled mode of the communications device operates in a 800 MHz band, and the 900 MHz band of the encrypted mode for transmitting the unique encrypted code operates between approximately 900 MHz and approximately 950 MHz;

determining whether the encrypted code in the 900 MHz band corresponds to a code identifying the locator device and/or inanimate object via a processor located on the locator device; and

providing an indication of a location of the locator device and/or inanimate object via the locator device when the encrypted code in the 900 MHz band corresponds to the code identifying the locator device and/or inanimate object.

14. The method of using the locating system of claim 13, wherein the indication of the inanimate object is provided by a speaker located on the locator device, the speaker providing an audible sound at approximately 85 dB or greater.

15. The method of using the locating system of claim 13, the method further comprising transmitting the encrypted code in the 900 MHz band such that the encrypted code is capable of travelling at least approximately 100 feet or more.