WO2009142647A2

WO2009142647A2 - Gps location finding device

Info

Publication number: WO2009142647A2
Application number: PCT/US2008/064791
Authority: WO
Inventors: Albert Rodriguez
Original assignee: Idc Design Corporation
Priority date: 2008-05-23
Filing date: 2008-05-23
Publication date: 2009-11-26
Also published as: WO2009142647A3

Abstract

A location finder device uses a GPS (Global Positioning System) to lock in location coordinates of a user site or a stationary car and then uses GPS and the last locked-in coordinates to direct the user back to the original location. The device may use special encrypted, firm-coded language to handle each function and operation, such as to calculate all locked in coordinates and to indicate visually or audibly the distance for the user to return to the last locked-in location.

Description

GPS LOCATION FINDING DEVICE

Description

BACKGROUND

Car owners often forget where they parked their cars, especially in large parldng lots at malls, amusement parks and stadiums or in an area with limited visibility (e.g., a heavily wooded forest). Conventional GPS devices enable the user to determine a current location, but this does not help the user in getting back to a desired location that does not have a specific identifier, such as a street number and address. Thus, what is needed is a device that allows a user to easily navigate back to a location that does not have a specific identifier.

SUMMARY

A GPS (Global Positioning System) location finding device locks in location coordinates of a stationary car or person and then uses GPS signals and the last locked-in coordinates to direct the user back to the locked-in coordinates (e.g., car location, camp site, meeting site, etc.). The device may use special encrypted, firm-coded language to handle each function and operation, which may include mathematical functions. The device may also be used by children, hikers, joggers and campers who get lost. The device will point them in a direction back to a specific starting location, such as a campsite or car. The device may provide a number of advantages. For example, the device may be small, compact, lightweight and adapted to fit on a keychain. The device may be relatively inexpensive to make and own. One configuration of the device does not require a user to purchase any other equipment. For example, one configuration of the device communicates with a GPS satellite and does not need to communicate with any component on the car or a like device. Thus, the device may be a stand-alone unit. Another configuration of the device may communicate the location coordinate or the direction information through wireless technology, such as Bluetooth technology to an earpiece or other Bluetooth enabled devices. One general aspect relates to a portable device comprising a keypad, which is pressable by a user, a microcontroller coupled to the keypad, a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor coupled to the microcontroller, and a user output interface such as a display or a speaker coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is operable to direct the GPS sensor to request and receive first location coordinates of a first location of the user when the user presses the keypad. The microcontroller is operable to store the first location coordinates. The microcontroller is operable to direct the GPS sensor to request and receive second location coordinates at a second location (e.g., the user's present location) when the user presses the keypad. The microcontroller is operable to compare the first and second location coordinates and cause the user output interface to indicate information directing the user from the second location to the first location. This indication can be visual, audio, or a combination of both.

Another general aspect relates to a method that includes receiving at a portable device a first input from a user; responsive to the first input, sending a signal to a Global Positioning System (GPS) to retrieve first location coordinates of the portable device from the GPS; storing the first location coordinates in the portable device; receiving at the portable device a second input from a user; responsive to the second input, sending a signal to the GPS to retrieve second location coordinates of the portable device from the GPS; comparing the second location coordinates to the first location coordinates; and indicating information visually or audibly directing the user from the second location coordinates to the first location coordinates.

The details of one or more aspects are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates components of a location finder device. FIG. 2 illustrates a method of operating the location finder device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the location finder device of FIG. 1.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates components of a location finder device 100 according to one embodiment. The device 100 may have a key-ring handle to fasten to a standard key chain. The device 100 may be implemented in a small housing with dimensions such as 11/2" width x 2" length x 1/2" height. Other configurations of the device 100 may have other dimensions. The device 100 may include light emitting diodes (LEDs) 101, a keypad 114, a keypad interface 102, a microcontroller 104, a memory 103, a digital compass 106, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 108, a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor 110, an audio generator 118, a voice circuit 122, a Bluetooth modem 124, a speaker 126, and a power supply 112, such as a battery. The GPS sensor 110 may include a GPS microchip. Note that Bluetooth modem 124 may be any suitable device capable of wireless transmitting location information from device 100. In some embodiments, Bluetooth modem 124 can be removed to reduce device cost and complexity.

The keypad 114 may have one or more buttons, such as a power button 115 to control a switch to activate and de-activate the device 100, a first small button 116A to control a switch to lock in a first location, and a second small button 116B to control a switch to determine a second location or as a scroll, letting a user go into a menu or a second location finder.

The LCD display may receive 8-bit data from the microcontroller 104. The LCD display 108 may be l"xl". A door compartment for the battery 112 may be ll/2"xl". A primary application for the location finder device 100 is to locate a stationary vehicle in parking lots, camp sites or other areas where there may be other vehicles parked in the same area or even no other vehicle in landscape having limited visibility (e.g., a heavily wooded forest). The term "car" or "vehicle" may refer to any type of vehicle that moves and then becomes stationary, including trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, water craft, etc.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of operating the device 100. When a user parks a vehicle and plans to leave the vehicle (or wishes to return to a location, such as a campsite), the user presses the power button 115 to activate the device 100 and presses the first small button 116A to lock-in a location of the device 100 in or near the vehicle (block 200). The device 100 sends a signal to a GPS satellite 120. The GPS satellite 120 sends a set of location coordinates to the device 100, which stores the location coordinates in the memory 103 in block 202. The user may then leave the vehicle and take the device 100 to a shopping area, a hiking trail, a stadium, etc. The stored location coordinate may be displayed on the LCD display 108 to give the user a visual display of the coordinate of the user. The stored location coordinate may also be transmitted via the Bluetooth modem 124 to another location finder device 100, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer or some other type of Bluetooth enabled portable device.

When the user desires to return to the vehicle (or first location, e.g., campsite), the user presses the second button 116B on the device 100 in block 204. The device 100 requests location coordinates from the GPS satellite 120 and compares the present coordinates of the location of the user to the previously locked-in coordinates representing the location at which the vehicle was parked (block 206). In block 208, the LCD display 108 helps the user return to the last locked-in location by providing a visual display of the last locked-in coordinates (e.g., of the vehicle), a direction arrow to the locked-in coordinates of the vehicle and/or a distance to the last locked-in location. For example, the LCD 108 may display a distance that progressively decrements, e.g., 50 feet, 40 feet, 20 feet, as the user approaches the last locked-in location. The LCD 108 or the LED's 101 may indicate Location Found, Location Activated, and Low Battery. Alternatively or in addition to block 208, in block 210, the direction and distance to the last locked-in location may be processed by the device 100 and the voice circuit 122 to generate a voice command to the speaker 126 directing the user back to the last locked-in location. In block 212, the voice command may also be transmitted by the Bluetooth modem 124 to a Bluetooth earpiece or headphone worn by the user. The direction and distance to the last locked-in location or the location coordinates themselves may also be transmitted by the Bluetooth modem 124 to other Bluetooth enabled portable device. For example, a user's last locked-in location may be transmitted to a second user with another location finder device 100 so that both users may be directed to return to the first user's last locked-in location. In another embodiment, the user may press the same button to (a) lock-in coordinates of the vehicle and (b) request location coordinates from the GPS satellite 120 and compare the present coordinates of the location of the user to the previously locked-in coordinates representing the location at which the vehicle was parked. The device may include three switches activated by the keypad 114. The keypad

114 may be coupled to a first switch to activate the device 100 from a power OFF state or sleep state to an ON state. The button 116 A may be coupled to a second switch to activate and lock in an initial location. The button 116B may be coupled to a third switch to lock in a second, or present, location or control a scroll button that allows the user to scroll into a menu for other possible options displayed on the LCD 108.

The microcontroller 104 may communicate with the other components via the RS232 standard or some other standard. The device 100 may use special encrypted, firm- coded language to handle each function and operation.

The digital compass 106 may have two functions. First, the digital compass 106 may lock the North Pole as a main reference point. Second, the digital compass 106 may use the North Pole as a main reference point to calculate different locations based on the main reference point and provide the exact distance and location of the last locked-in position. The digital compass 106 will also help the LCD 108 display the direction and distance of the last locked-in position of the vehicle or the last position locked-in. The device 100 may include an audio generator 118 to generate an audio response, such as beeps or rings, which may change in tone or frequency to inform the user of the direction and/or distance to the locked-in coordinates, e.g., of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the location finder device 100 of FIG. 1 with a key chain holder 300. The LCD 108 may be a 1" blue glow LCD display showing North, East, South, West directions 310 and text 308 of a distance to the locked-in coordinates. There may be three LED indicators 302, 304, 306, such as an LED 302 to indicate System activated, an LED 304 (may blink) to indicate the device is within 3 to 7 feet of the last locked-in location, and an LED 306 to indicate a low battery status. A number of aspects have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, instead of cars, the device 100 may be used to track other stationary sites, such as a bicycle, a camp site, a meeting place, etc. As another example, the device 100 may be implemented in a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer or some other type of portable device. The device may be implemented through any combination of software and hardware. Accordingly, other aspects are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A portable device comprising: a keypad being pressable by a user; a microcontroller coupled to the keypad; a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor coupled to the microcontroller; and an audio user output interface coupled to the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller is operable to (a) direct the GPS sensor to request and receive first location coordinates of a first location of the user when the user presses the keypad, (b) store the first location coordinates, (c) direct the GPS sensor to request and receive second location coordinates at a second location when the user presses the keypad, (d) compare the first and second location coordinates and cause the user output interface to indicate information directing the user from the second location to the first location.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the first location is a location of a stationary vehicle.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the keypad comprises first and second buttons, the first button causing the microcontroller to direct the GPS sensor to request and receive location coordinates of the stationary vehicle location and store the stationary vehicle location coordinates; the second button causing the microcontroller to direct the GPS sensor to request and receive second location coordinates at the second location and compare the stationary vehicle and second location coordinates and cause the user output interface to indicate information directing the user from the second location to the stationary vehicle location.

4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the audio user output interface comprises a speaker.

5. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a voice circuit to generate voice signal for the location coordinates, or the information directing the user from the second location to the first location.

6. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a Bluetooth modem to transmit or receive the location coordinates, or the information directing the user from the second location to the first location.

7. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller uses an encrypted, firm-coded language to perform each function.

8. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising an audio generator to emit sounds to the user indicating a distance to the stationary vehicle location.

9. A portable device comprising: first and second buttons being pressable by a user; a microcontroller coupled to the buttons; a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor coupled to the microcontroller, the GPS sensor being operable to transmit and receive signals with the Global Positioning System; a user output interface coupled to the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller is operable to (a) direct the GPS sensor to request and receive first location coordinates of a first location of a stationary vehicle when the user presses the first button, (b) store the first location coordinates, (c) direct the GPS sensor to request and receive second location coordinates at a second location when the user presses the second button, (d) compare the first and second location coordinates and direct the user output interface to indicate information directing the user from the second location to the first location; and a wireless modem capable of transmitting first location coordinates, second location coordinates, or the information to another device.

10. A method performed by a portable locator device, the method comprising: receiving a first input from a user at the portable locater device; responsive to the first input, sending a signal to a Global Positioning System

(GPS) to retrieve first location coordinates of the portable locater device from the GPS; storing the first location coordinates in the portable locater device; receiving a second input from a user at the portable locater device; responsive to the second input, sending a signal to the GPS to retrieve second location coordinates of the portable device from the GPS; comparing the second location coordinates to the first location coordinates; and audibly indicating information directing the user from the second location coordinates to the first location coordinates.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising emitting audio sounds to indicate a distance from the second location coordinates to the first location coordinates.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising visually displaying the information directing the user from the first location coordinates to the second location coordinates.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating voice command for the information directing the user from the first location coordinates to the second location coordinates.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting or receiving the information directing the user from the first location coordinates to the second location coordinates.