Reduced thickness tracking device

• US 9,564,774 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PB, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PB, Inc.
• Inventors: Daoura, Daniel, Pearson-Franks, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Sun
• Application Number:
  US14/301,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20150359127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/00 Key-rings
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/005 Fobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1427 Housings

Abstract

In a tracking device, a crescent-shaped PCB partially encircles a battery to minimize thickness of the device. A speaker and an LED emit alerts upon command of a control apparatus or in response to motion or temperature sensed by sensor. A local network has one hub to tracking devices and a wider area network has multiple hubs for more detailed tracking of devices. A wide area network tracks devices anywhere and stores data of each tracking device including its last known position and its sensor data.

Claims

1. A tracking device comprising:

an outside housing comprising top and bottom covers;

a printed circuit board having at least one sensor and a transmitter for sending signals including a signal with information for identifying the tracking device;

said printed circuit board having a crescent shape defined by a circular disk of a first diameter with a segment of a circle of a second diameter removed from an edge of the circular disk whereby the printed circuit board has a shape enclosed by two circular arcs of different diameters which intersect at two points;

a battery having a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal, wherein the battery is disposed at least partially within the removed segment of the circle of the second diameter of the printed circuit board; and

at least one conductor coupled to the printed circuit board and to one battery terminal of the battery;

wherein the battery is held against the at least one conductor by a non-conductive portion of the outside housing.

2. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductor includes:

a first conductive member coupled to an edge of the printed circuit board for contacting the one battery terminal of the battery; and

a second conductive member coupled to one of the top and bottom covers of the outside housing for contacting another battery terminal of the battery.

3. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a light emitting diode and a speaker.

4. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a multi-axis motion sensor.

5. The tracking device of claim 4, wherein the multi-axis motion sensor comprises a magnetometer, a gyroscope and an accelerometer on each of three axes of motion.

6. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more sensors to sense physical parameters.

7. The tracking device of claim 6, wherein the physical parameters sensed by the one or more sensors include at least one of a group comprising temperature, electromagnetic radiation, sound, vibration, and pressure.

8. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a low energy microcontroller-transceiver.

9. The tracking device of claim 8, wherein an operational range of the transmitter is less than 300 feet.

10. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the outside housing has an opening for admitting the battery.

11. The tracking device of claim 10, further comprising a lid covering the opening for admitting the battery.

12. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the battery is replaceable.

13. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the battery is rechargeable and the printed circuit board further comprises a wireless recharging circuit for recharging the battery.

14. The tracking device of claim 13, wherein the printed circuit board has an inductor for inductively coupling to an external inductor to charge the battery.

15. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising one or more solar cells for converting incident light into electrical energy, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery coupled to the one or more solar cells for storing the electrical energy.

16. A tracking device comprising:

an outside housing;

a battery having a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal and a circular shape defined by a first radius of curvature;

a printed circuit board disposed in the outside housing, the printed circuit board having an inner edge with a second radius of curvature whose dimension is greater than that of the first radius of curvature of the battery;

at least one conductor coupled to the printed circuit board and to one battery terminal of the battery;

a transmitter coupled to a printed circuit on the printed circuit board and coupled to the battery for sending signals including a signal with information for identifying the tracking device;

at least one sensor coupled to the printed circuit on the printed circuit board;

an alarm coupled to the printed circuit on the printed circuit boards; and

a multifunction operating button coupled to the printed circuit board for entering commands to control the transmitter, the at least one sensor, and the alarm;

wherein the battery is held against the at least one conductor by a non-conductive portion of the outside housing.

17. The tracking device of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor is a multi-axis sensor.

18. The tracking device of claim 17, wherein the multi-axis sensor is a nine axis sensor for generating data regarding motion, speed and acceleration of the tracking device, and wherein the transmitter sends the nine axis sensor data.

19. The tracking device of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

20. The tracking device of claim 16, further comprising a receiver adapted to receive control signals from at least one control apparatus.

21. The tracking device of claim 20, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive control signals from a plurality of control apparatuses.

22. The tracking device of claim 20, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive control signals releasing the tracking device from control.

23. The tracking device of claim 20, wherein the tracking device not under control of the at least one control apparatus will accept control signals from an authorized control apparatus.