Battery with integrated tracking device

• US 6,989,748 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MRSI International
• Original Assignee: MRSI International
• Inventors: Rabanne, Michael C., Ivie, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/174,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/572.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/539.32, 340/693.5, 340/693.12, 340/573.4
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0225 Monitoring making use of different thresholds, e.g. for different alarm levels
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0252 System arrangements wherein the child unit emits, i.e. the child unit incorporates the emitter
• 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 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

A system for selectively detecting the presence of one or more objects in proximity to a person. The system includes one or more child units each having a first communicating device (such as a transceiver) for sending a locator signal and for receiving a control signal. Further, the system includes a parent unit having a second communicating device for receiving the locator signal from at least one of the child units, a processor for monitoring the at least one child unit and for determining whether the child unit is within a preselected range, at least one alarm for signaling the person when the selected child unit is outside the preselected range, and controls for selectively controlling the child units to be monitored and for controlling activation of the child units. The child units are comprised of a battery incorporated with child unit circuitry in a conventional battery configuration. The battery/child unit assembly is configured to allow the child unit to be incorporated into any existing electronic device without requiring modification to the existing electronic device.

Claims

1. A system for selectively detecting the presence of at least one battery operated electronic device, comprising:

a battery;

at least one child unit incorporated into a housing of the battery and drawing power therefrom having a first communicating device comprising a transceiver for sending a locator signal, wherein the transceiver does not comprise a cell phone transceiver; and

a parent unit having a second communicating device for receiving the locator signal from at least one child unit and a processor for monitoring the at least one child unit and for determining whether the at least one child unit is within a preselected range.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said battery comprises a cell phone battery.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said battery is comprised of one of a AA battery, a AAA battery, a C battery, a D battery, a 9 Volt battery, and a 12 Volt battery.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one child unit is stacked onto said battery.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one child unit comprises a microcontroller for controlling transmission of said at least one child unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one child unit is electronically coupled to said battery so as to draw power from said battery.

7. A system for selectively detecting the presence of at least one battery operated electronic device, comprising:

a battery;

an adapter configured for attaching between said electronic device and said battery, said adapter comprising child unit circuitry for communicating with a parent unit, said child unit circuitry comprising a transceiver; and

wherein said battery is configured to attach directly to said electronic device without said adapter.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a parent unit having a communicating device for receiving a locator signal from said child unit circuitry, a processor for monitoring the locator signal and for determining whether a child unit including the child unit circuitry is within a preselected range.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said battery comprises a cell phone battery.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said battery is comprised of one of a AA battery, a AAA battery, a C battery, a D battery, a 9 Volt battery, and a 12 Volt battery.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said adapter is configured to be attached to the poles of the battery.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said adapter is stacked on said battery.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein said adapter comprises a microcontroller for controlling transmission of said child unit circuitry.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein said child unit circuitry is comprised of at least one of analog and digital circuitry.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the adapter is configured to attach to a cell phone and said battery is configured to attach to said adapter.

16. A system for selectively detecting the presence of at least one battery operated electronic device, comprising:

a cell phone battery;

an adapter configured for attaching to said cell phone battery and drawing power therefrom and comprising child unit circuitry for communicating with a parent unit, said adapter stacked on said battery;

a parent unit having a communicating device for receiving a locator signal from said child unit circuitry, a processor for monitoring the locator signal and for determining whether a child unit including the child unit circuitry is within a preselected range; and

wherein the cell phone battery is configured for attachment to the electronic device without the adapter, allowing operation of the electronic device directly and without added functionality provided by the adapter.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said adapter is configured to attach to a cell phone and said battery is configured to attach to said adapter.

18. A system for selectively detecting the presence of at least one battery operated electronic device, comprising:

a battery;

an adapter configured for attaching between said electronic device and said battery, said adapter comprising child unit circuitry for communicating with a parent unit and said adapter configured to be attached to the poles of the battery; and

wherein said battery is configured to attach directly to said electronic device without said adapter.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a parent unit having a communicating device for receiving a locator signal from said child unit circuitry, a processor for monitoring the locator signal and for determining whether a child unit including the child unit circuitry is within a preselected range.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said battery comprises a cell phone battery.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said battery is comprised of one of a AA battery, a AAA battery, a C battery, a D battery, a 9 Volt battery, and a 12 Volt battery.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein said child unit circuitry comprises a transceiver.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein said adapter is stacked on said battery.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein said adapter comprises a microcontroller for controlling transmission of said child unit circuitry.