System and method for tracking and locating an object

• US 5,525,967 A
• Filed: 11/01/1993
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Azizi S. Masih, Azizi, S. Massoud
• Original Assignee: Azizi S. Masih, Azizi, S. Massoud
• Inventors: Azizi, S. Massoud, Azizi, S. Masih
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/143,630
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571-573, 340/505, 340/539, 455/88-90, 455/100, 455/277.1, 343/702, 343/718, 343/894, 343/898-99, 348/143, 348/152, 348/155, 348/158
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/74 Systems using reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/02 of systems according to group G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

A system and method to monitor the specific location of a person, pet or item of personal property by employing elements that enable the user to pinpoint both the distance and the direction of the person or object being monitored relative to the position of the monitoring or transmission unit (the "source"), comprising a tracking transceiver unit, which tracks and monitors the person or object, and the target transceiver unit, which is worn or affixed to the person or object being monitored. The tracking transceiver unit broadcasts a signal to a target transceiver unit, which, upon receiving the signal, will then broadcast a response signal back to the tracking transceiver unit. The tracking transceiver unit'"'"'s antenna, which comprises a plurality of flat sensor plate-like elements formed together in a generally spherical configuration, picks up the signal and then conveys the information it receives to a special response signal processor unit, which analyzes the data to determine the direction of the person or object being monitored. Information filtered and analyzed through the response signal processor unit is then conveyed to a central processor unit, which uses the data to calculate the distance of the person or object being monitored from the source.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and determining the location of an individual, pet, or item of personal property, comprising:

a tracking transceiver unit adapted for broadcasting a first signal;

a target transceiver unit adapted for receiving said first signal being broadcast by said tracking transceiver unit and broadcasting a second signal to said tracking transceiver unit, said target transceiver unit having means for securing said target transceiver unit to the individual, pet or item of personal property to be monitored;

an antenna means connected to said tracking transceiver unit for omnidirectional and directional reception of the second signal being broadcast by said target transceiver unit, said antenna means comprising a plurality of adjoining generally flat sensor plates formed together in a generally spherical configuration, each of said plates having an outwardly facing spatial orientation that is different from the outwardly facing spatial orientation of each of the other of said plates;

a response signal processor means having a memory component therein, said response signal processor means connected to the antenna means for receiving said second signal and comparing said second signal with a predetermined identifier programmed within said memory component, said predetermined identifier including a plurality of individual signal frequencies associated with each of said sensor plates such that for a given sensor plate, each of said individual signal frequencies is associated with a different predetermined direction relative to the orientation of said sensor plate wherein a second signal impacting said sensor plate at an angle of incidence normal to said plate produces the highest individual signal frequency corresponding to said plate thereby indicating the direction of the target transceiver unit from the tracking transceiver unit;

a central processor means for correlating information processed through said response signal processor means, said information comprising said second signal, the identity of several said sensor plates upon which said second signal impacts and several said angles of incidence formed by said second signal and several said sensor plates at the points of impact, and analyzing said information to provide an indication of the distance and direction of said target transceiver unit from the position of said tracking transceiver unit wherein the determination of the distance is calculated by dividing by two the total elapsed time it takes said first signal to travel from said tracking transceiver unit to said target transceiver unit and the corresponding said second signal to travel from said target transceiver unit to said tracking transceiver unit less the time required to process said first and second signals through said target transceiver unit and said tracking transceiver unit; and

a viewing means operably connected to said central processor means for displaying data indicating the distance and direction of said target transceiver unit from the position of said tracking transceiver unit.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said target transceiver unit comprises a strap for carrying said target transceiver unit adapted to be removably affixed to the individual, pet or item of personal property by encircling a part of the individual, pet or item of personal property.

3. The system as in claim 1 wherein said tracking transceiver unit is portable.

4. The system as in claim 1 wherein said target transceiver unit is portable.

5. The system as in claim 1 wherein said tracking transceiver unit includes circuitry means for activating an alarm signal when said target transceiver unit exceeds a predetermined distance from the position of said tracking transceiver unit.

6. A method of electronically monitoring the location of an individual, pet or item of personal property, comprising the steps of:

broadcasting a first signal from a tracking transceiver unit to a portable target transceiver unit positioned in an area containing said individual, pet or item of personal property to be monitored, said portable target transceiver unit being secured to said individual, pet or item of personal property to be monitored;

producing a second signal in said target transceiver unit in response to said first signal broadcast by said tracking transceiver unit and broadcasting said second signal to said tracking transceiver unit;

detecting said second signal by said tracking transceiver unit through an antenna comprising a plurality of adjoining generally flat sensor plates formed together in a generally spherical configuration;

receiving said second signal from said antenna into a response signal processor means to identify a single said sensor plate from among said plurality of adjoining flat sensor plates according to the strength of said second signal and relaying the identity of said sensor plate so identified from among said plurality of adjoining flat sensor plates to a central processor unit for analysis to determine the distance and direction of the individual, pet or item of personal property being monitored from the position of said tracking transceiver unit; and

displaying information about said distance and direction of the individual, pet or item of personal property being monitored on a viewing screen.