Device for tracking the movement of individuals or objects

• US 8,115,621 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omnilink Systems Incorporated (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Omnilink Systems Incorporated (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Aninye, Steve, Rajala, Yoganand
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/112,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.23, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/825.49, 340/693.5, 340/539.12, 340/573.3, 340/572.1, 340/539.31, 455/456, 455/457, 455/456.1, 200/DIG.2
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/066 sealed by fusion of the joining parts without bringing material; sealed by brazing

Abstract

A tracking device for tracking an individual or object includes a housing configured to house components for tracking an individual or object. The housing has a first part and a second part. The first and second parts are configured to be joined together to form a waterproof housing.

Claims

1. A tracking device for an individual or object, comprising:

a housing configured to house components for tracking an individual or object, the housing having a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being configured to be joined together to form a waterproof housing, wherein the housing comprises a waterproof valve assembly configured to release gas pressure that may originate from a battery failure housed inside the housing,

the valve assembly including a cap configured to close an opening provided in the housing to release gas pressure, a restraining part configured to hold the cap against the opening, and a fastener configured to fasten the restraining part to the housing so that the restraining part holds the cap.

2. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first part includes a housing part and the second part includes a plate-like part.

3. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part are joined together by welding using an ultrasonic welding procedure.

4. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part are joined together using an adhesive.

5. The tracking device of claim 4, wherein the adhesive is a radiation curing adhesive.

6. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the components include a battery electronic circuitry, optical devices, or optical connectors, or any combination of two or more thereof.

7. The tracking device of claim 6, wherein the electronic circuitry includes a transceiver, an antenna, GPS locating circuitry, an electrical connector, or a tamper sensor, or any combination of two or more thereof.

8. The tracking device of claim 7, wherein the electronic circuitry includes the electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is attached to a wall of the housing using an adhesive.

9. The tracking device of claim 8, wherein the adhesive is an epoxy adhesive.

10. The tracking device of claim 7, wherein the electronic circuitry includes the electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector includes terminals to charge or recharge the battery or to transfer data between the device and another device, or both.

11. The tracking device of claim 7, wherein the electronic circuitry includes the tamper sensor.

12. The tracking device of claim 11, further comprising a lock bracket configured to attach to the housing, the lock bracket comprising an element, Wherein the tamper sensor is arranged in the housing such that when the lock bracket is moved the tamper sensor is triggered to generate a tamper alarm.

13. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the components include at least a battery and a data storage component.

14. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the restraining part comprises a breakable section which is adapted to break when gas pressure pushes against the cap.

15. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the restraining part is configured to be flexible so as to bend when gas pressure pushes against the cap.

16. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a lock bracket configured to attach to the housing, and a strap configured to hold the lock bracket around the individual.

17. The tracking device of claim 16, wherein the strap comprises a light guide connector, a light guide and an optical cable, wherein the light guide connector is disposed at a first end of the strap and is configured to direct light through a first length of the optical cable to the light guide disposed at a second end of the strap opposite to the first end of the strap, and the light guide is configured to redirect the light back through a second length of the optical cable to the first end of the strap.

18. The tracking device of claim 17, further comprising a light source configured to emit light into the light guide connector and a light receiver configured to receive light from the optical cable.

19. The tracking device of claim 18, wherein the light source is configured to emit in one or more wavelengths and the light receiver is configured to detect the one or more wavelengths.

20. The tracking device of claim 17, wherein the optical cable is embedded inside the strap.

21. The tracking device of claim 17, wherein the strap is made from a plastic material.

22. The tracking device of claim 16, wherein the housing and/or the lock bracket include at least one pin and the strap includes a plurality of holes at least one of which engages the at least one pin to enable adjustment around the individual.

23. The tracking device of claim 22, wherein the strap is configured and arranged to be reused on different individuals.

24. The tracking device of claim 22, wherein the strap is configured and arranged to enable the adjustment to occur without cutting the strap.

25. The tracking device of claim 16, further comprising a first locking pin and a second locking pin adapted to lock the strap between the housing and the lock bracket.

26. The tracking device of claim 25, wherein the first locking pin comprises a pin head and a hook section, the second locking pin comprises a base and a hook section, the hook section of the first locking pin and the hook section of the second locking pin being configured to interlock with one another when inserted into the lock bracket.

27. The tracking device of claim 16, wherein the strap comprises a light guide connector and a continuous optical cable, the light guide connector being configured to direct light into and receive light from the continuous optical cable and the continuous optical cable being configured to guide light through the strap continuously from one end of the optical cable to another end of the optical cable.

28. The tracking device of claim 27, wherein the light guide connector comprises a first light guide connector configured to direct light into the optical cable and a second light guide connector configured to receive light from the optical cable.

29. The tracking device of claim 28, further comprising a light source configured to emit light into the optical cable through the first light connector and a light receiver configured to receive light from the optical cable via the second light guide connector.

30. The tracking device of claim 29, wherein the light source is configured to emit in one or more wavelengths and the light receiver is configured to detect the one or more wavelengths.

31. The tracking device of claim 27, wherein the continuous optical cable is embedded inside the strap.

32. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the housing is disposed in or on an object.

33. The tracking device of claim 32, wherein the object is a container.

34. The tracking device of claim 33, wherein the container is a money bag.