Adaptive range vehicle locating unit, vehicle tracking unit and vehicle recovery system including same

(54) Title: VEHICLE LOCATION UNIT (57) Summary:

WITH ADAPTABLE REACH, UNIT OF

VEHICLE TRACKING AND SYSTEM

VEHICLE RECOVERY INCLUDING THE SAME (30) Unionist Priority: 12/03/2007 us 11 / 716,793 (73) Holder (s): Lojack Operating Company, LP (72) Inventor (s): Jesse Rhodes, Sampath Krishna (74) Attorney (s): Orlando de Souza (86) International Request: pct US2008003007 of 03/07/2008 (87) International Publication: wo 2008 / H2i3ide 18/09/2008

Signal d · Performance

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ADAPTIVE RANGE VEHICLE LOCATION UNIT, VEHICLE TRACKING UNIT AND VEHICLE RECOVERY SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a vehicle tracking unit of adaptive range and such a vehicle tracking unit that can be more easily located by a vehicle tracking unit in a vehicle recovery system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicant's successful and popular vehicle recovery system sold under the trademark LoJack¹⁵ includes a small electronic vehicle tracking unit (VLU) with a transceiver hidden inside a vehicle, a private network of communication towers, each with a remote transmitting unit (RTU), one or more law enforcement vehicles equipped with a vehicle tracking unit (VTU), and a network center with a database of customers who have purchased a VLU. The network center connects to the National Criminal Information Center. The entries in this database include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the consumer's vehicle and an identification code assigned to the consumer VLU.

When a customer of the LoJack® product reports that their vehicle has been stolen, the vehicle's VIN is reported to a law enforcement center for entry into a stolen vehicle database. The network center includes software that connects to the law enforcement center database to compare the VIN of the stolen vehicle with

2/18 the network center database that includes the VIN corresponding to the VLU identification codes. When there is a combination between a VIN of a stolen vehicle and a VLU identification code, as would be the case when the stolen vehicle is equipped with a VLU, and when the center recognizes that the vehicle has been stolen, the network center communicates with the RTUs of the various communication towers (currently there are approximately 180 national coverage) and progressively each tower transmits a message to activate the transceiver of the particular VLU carrying the identification code.

The VLU transceiver on the stolen vehicle is thus activated and starts transmitting its unique VLU identification code. The VTU of any law enforcement vehicle near the stolen vehicle receives this VLU transceiver code and, based on signal strength and directional information, the appropriate law enforcement vehicle can take active steps to recover the stolen vehicle. See, for example, US Patent No. 4,177,466; 4,818,988; 4,908,609; 5,704,008; 5,917,423;

6,229,988; 6,522,698; and 6,665,613 incorporated herein by this reference.

At present the VLU when activated sends a broadband signal for example, 15 kHz with substantial data identifying the stolen vehicle. In Europe the broadband signal is slightly lower, for example, approximately 11 kHz. When the VTU detects this, the officer in the tracking vehicle reports the acquisition and then the VLU is triggered to start transmitting more frequently, for example, from an initial rate of 4 / min to an increased rate of 60 / min. a

The shortcoming of this is that the broadband signal has a range of only approximately 1.6 km. Thus the police vehicle with the VTU must generally be within about 1.6 km of the stolen vehicle to receive the low band signal. Thus, a larger number of VTUs is required to monitor a given area because of the low range.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved adaptive range vehicle tracking unit.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improved adaptive range vehicle tracking unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved adaptive range vehicle recovery system using such a vehicle location unit and vehicle tracking unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved adaptive range vehicle tracking unit that substantially increases the range at which a vehicle tracking unit can detect a vehicle tracking unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved adaptive range vehicle tracking unit that dramatically reduces the number of vehicle tracking units required to monitor a given area for activated vehicle tracking units.

The invention results from the realization that an improved vehicle tracking unit that increases the range within which a vehicle tracking unit can detect

4/18 a vehicle tracking unit activated and decreases the number of vehicle tracking units required to monitor a given area can be achieved with a narrowband baseband generator to generate a narrowband signal, a band generator broadband base to generate a broadband signal, and a time control circuit responsive to an actuation signal to alternately transmit the narrowband signal and the broadband signal at a first rate; and responsive to a tracking signal to transmit the broadband signal at a second higher rate or at a different rate.

This invention features an adaptive range vehicle tracking unit including a narrowband baseband generator to generate a narrowband signal; a broadband baseband generator for generating a broadband signal; and a time control circuit responsive to an activation signal to alternately transmit the narrowband signal at a first rate, and the broadband signal at a second rate and responsive to a tracking signal to transmit one of the signals broadband and narrowband at a different third rate.

In a preferred embodiment, the first rate and the second rate may be the same. The third rate may be higher than the first and second rates. The time control circuit can be responsive to the tracking signal to effectively shut down the narrowband circuit by setting the third rate to zero. The time control circuit can be responsive to the

5/18 tracking to change the broadband signal from the second rate to the third rate which is higher. The timing control circuit can be responsive to the tracking signal to keep the broadband signal at the second rate or change it to a third rate that is higher and change the narrowband signal rate to a different fourth rate than third rate. The time control circuit can be responsive to the tracking signal to maintain the broadband signal at the second rate or change it to a narrowband signal at the first rate. The first rate and the second rate can be approximately four times a minute. The second rate can be approximately four times a minute. The first rate can be approximately four times per minute and the second rate can be changed to the third rate which is approximately sixty times per minute. The third rate may be approximately four times per minute and approximately sixty times per minute, and the fourth rate may be none. The narrowband base band can be approximately 50Hz. The broadband base band can be approximately 1200Hz. The narrowband baseband signal can load the general data by identifying the signal as from a vehicle tracking unit. The broadband baseband signal can carry unique data identifying the vehicle in which the vehicle location unit is arranged.

This invention also features an adaptive range vehicle tracking unit including a data decoder including a broadband decoder to detect data from a broadband baseband signal, a narrowband decoder for

6/18 detecting data from a narrowband baseband signal; and a broadband sensor responsive to a received signal to distinguish between narrowband and broadband signals and an input switch circuit responsive to the broadband sensor to direct the broadband signal to the broadband decoder and the broadband signal. narrowband to the narrowband decoder.

In a preferred embodiment, the data decoder may further include a second switch circuit responsive to the broadband sensor to select the output of the narrowband or broadband decoder corresponding to the decoder to which the received signal was directed. The data decoder may further include a microprocessor and the second switch circuit may connect the selected decoder output to the microprocessor. The narrowband signal can be a signal of approximately 625Hz with a base band of approximately 50Hz and the broadband signal can be a signal of approximately 15kHz with a base band of approximately 1200Hz. The narrowband baseband signal can load the general data by identifying the signal as from a vehicle tracking unit. The broadband baseband signal can carry unique data identifying the vehicle in which the vehicle location unit is arranged.

This invention features an adaptive range vehicle recovery system including an adaptive range vehicle location unit including a narrowband baseband generator to generate a narrowband signal, a broadband baseband generator

7/18 to generate a broadband signal, a time control circuit responsive to an activation signal to alternately transmit the narrowband signal at a first rate, and the broadband signal at a second rate and responsive a tracking signal to transmit one of the broadband and narrowband signals at a different third rate, and an adaptive range vehicle tracking unit including a data decoder including, a broadband decoder to detect data from a broadband baseband signal, a narrowband decoder to detect data from a narrowband baseband signal, a broadband sensor responsive to a received signal to distinguish between narrowband and broadband signals and an input switching circuit responsive to the broadband sensor to direct the broadband signal to the broadband decoder and the narrowband signal to the narrowband decoder.

In a preferred embodiment, the narrowband signal can be turned off in response to the tracking signal. The narrowband signal can be continued to be transmitted at the first rate in response to the tracking signal. The narrowband signal can be transmitted at a third rate in response to the tracking signal. The first rate can be approximately four times per minute. The second rate can be approximately sixty times a minute. The narrowband base band can be approximately 50Hz. The broadband base band can be approximately 1200Hz. The narrowband baseband signal can load general data

8/18 identifying the signal as a vehicle tracking unit. The broadband baseband signal can carry unique data identifying the vehicle in which the vehicle location unit is arranged. The data decoder may further include a second switch circuit responsive to the broadband sensor for selecting the output of the narrowband or broadband decoder corresponding to the decoder to which the received signal was directed. The data decoder can also include a microprocessor and the second switch circuit can connect the selected filter output to the microprocessor. The narrowband signal can be a signal of approximately 625Hz with a base band of approximately 50 Hz and the broadband signal can be a signal of approximately 15kHz with a base band of approximately 1200Hz. The first rate and the second rate can be the same. The third rate may be higher than the first and second rates. The time control circuit can be responsive to the tracking signal to effectively shut down the narrowband circuit by setting the third rate to zero. The time control circuit can be responsive to the tracking signal to change the broadband signal from the second rate to the third rate which is higher. The time control circuit can be responsive to the tracking signal to keep the broadband signal at the second rate or change it to the third rate which is higher and change the narrowband signal rate to a different rate from the fourth third rate. The time control circuit can be responsive to the tracking signal to keep the broadband signal on

9/18 second rate or change it to a narrowband signal at the first rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, characteristics and advantages will occur to those skilled in the technique of the following description of a preferred modality and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the primary components associated with an example of a stolen vehicle recovery system according to the subject invention;

Fig. 2 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the VLU of Fig. 1 according to this invention;

Fig. 3 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the transmitter of Fig. 2 according to this invention;

Fig. 4 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the VTU of Fig. 2 according to this invention;

Fig. 5 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the data decoder of Fig. 4 according to this invention;

Fig. 6 is a logical flow chart of the time control operation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a logical flow chart of the operation of the data decoder of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 illustrates a sequence of operation of a vehicle recovery system with the vehicle tracking units and vehicle location according to this invention.

DISSEMINATION OF THE PREFERRED MODE

Apart from the preferred modality or modalities

10/18 disclosed below, this invention is capable of other modalities and can be practiced or carried out in various ways. Thus, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and component arrangements determined in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

As discussed in the above plea, the applicant's successful and popular vehicle recovery system

Φ sold under the trademark LoJack includes a small electronic vehicle location unit (VLU) 10, Fig. 1, hidden inside a vehicle 14, a private network of communication towers 16, each with a remote transmitting unit (RTU) ) 18, one or more law enforcement vehicles 20 equipped with a vehicle tracking unit (VTU) 22, and the network center 24.

When a customer of the LoJack * product reports that their vehicle has been stolen, the vehicle's VIN is reported to law enforcement center 26 for entry into the 28 stolen vehicle database. Network center 24 includes software that connects to database 28 of law enforcement center 26 to compare the VIN of the stolen vehicle with database 30 of network center 24 that includes VIN matching codes VLU identification number. When there is a combination between a VIN of a stolen vehicle and a VLU identification code, as would be the case when the stolen vehicle 14 is equipped with VLU 10, the network center 24 communicates with RTUs 18 of the various transmission towers. communication 16 and each tower transmits a message to trigger the VLU 10 carrying the private identification code.

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VLU 10 on stolen vehicle 14, once triggered, starts transmitting a unique VLU identification code. VTU 22 of law enforcement vehicle 20 next to stolen vehicle 14 receives this transponder code from the VLU and, based on signal strength and directional information, the appropriate law enforcement vehicle can take active steps to recover the stolen vehicle 14.

The vehicle location unit (VLU) 10 of Fig. 2, includes power source 30, microprocessor 32, transmitter 34, receiver 36, antenna tuning unit 38 and antenna 40. Power source 30 powers all units and can include a backup battery, as well as the vehicle battery and power source. The antenna tuning unit 3 8 not only acts as an impedance combination for antenna 40 transmitting in, for example, the United States 173.075MHz, but also controls the operation of transmitter 34 and receiver 36. Typically, the tuning unit antenna 38 fails to operational receiver 36 by placing it in listening mode waiting for an actuation signal being transmitted from RTU 18 through antenna 16 Fig. 1. Once the antenna tuning unit 38 receives the actuation signal then the transmitter 34 begins to operate.

In the adaptive range system 41, in Fig. 3, according to this invention, the transmitter 34 includes the narrowband baseband generator 42, in Fig. 3, which generates, for example, a 50Hz baseband signal and a broadband baseband generator 44, which generates, for example, a 1200Hz baseband signal. The time control circuit 46 includes time control 48 and the control circuit

12/18 switching 50.

Upon receiving a drive input, microprocessor 32 provides an actuation signal on line 33 to time control 48 to selectively send a narrowband signal from generator 42 and the broadband signal from generator 44. Initially in response to this microprocessor activation signal 32 the time control 48 sends these signals at the rate of 4 / min. It does this by means of the control circuit 50 operation. The RF 52 modulator produces a 625Hz signal from the 50Hz signal and a 15kHz signal from the 1200Hz signal. Note that these various frequencies (50Hz, 1200Hz, 625Hz, 15kHz, and 173.05MHz) are approximate only and are more arbitrary and the designer's choice and may vary from application to application and from country to country and are not part of this invention.

From the modulator 52 the signal is submitted to the power amplifier 54 and then finally through the antenna tuning unit 38 to the antenna 40 that radiates the 173.05MHz signal. The first activation signal from microprocessor 3 2 to time control 48 causes VLU 10 to start transmitting four times per minute, or every 15 seconds for the narrowband and broadband signal. Subsequently when a vehicle tracking unit (VTU), typically in a police vehicle, receives a signal identifying that the signal is coming from a VLU, the officer can consult the dispatcher by computer, telephone, radio or some other means. At this point the identification of the VLU is confirmed and a response with more unique information is released. At the same time, a signal is released to the microprocessor 32, which in turn sends

13/18 a line tracking signal 33 for time tracking 48 increase the signal rate from approximately 4 per min, for example, to approximately 60 per min, for example At this point the microprocessor 32 can alternatively cease transmitting the narrowband signal completely or can keep it at approximately 4 per min while transmitting the broadband signal at approximately 60 per min or it can transmit the narrowband signal at a rate other than 4 or 60 per min. Broadly, narrowband and broadband signals are transmitted at the first and second rates which can be the same rate (for example, four times per minute). So one of them (for example, the narrow band) could fall at a lower third rate (for example, zero) while the other (for example, broadband) is kept the same (for example, four times per minute) . Or one of them (for example, narrowband) would be maintained at the first rate (for example, four times per minute) while the other (for example, broadband) could be switched to a higher third rate (for example, sixty times per minute). Or broadband could be maintained at a second rate (for example, four or sixty times per minute) while the first narrowband rate is changed to something other than four or sixty times per minute.

VTU 22, Fig. 4, also includes power source 60, microprocessor 62 and an antenna 64. Antenna 64 responds to the 173.05MHz signal it provides to FM receiver 66. FM receiver 66 communicates signals narrowband baseband 50Hz and broadband 1200Hz for direction finding processor 68 and data decoder 70.

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There is also a video screen 72 that can be displayed on the police vehicle. When VTU 22 detected the narrowband signal, the video screen 72 displays a message indicating that a LoJack vehicle tracking unit is certainly the signal source and the direction of the signal. Subsequently, when the broadband signal is received, video screen 72 may still display a message indicating that the signal is originating from a LoJack vehicle tracking unit and the direction of that unit will also provide a VLU identification code (code Give me an answer). Using this response code the officer can then query and find the VIN of the vehicle carrying the vehicle tracking unit. Once the officer has this he will have complete information about the vehicle make, model, year, color, registration and the like.

According to this invention the data decoder 70, Fig. 5, includes the broadband decoder 80, the narrowband decoder 82 and the broadband sensor 84, as well as the input switch circuit 86 and the circuit output switch 88.

In operation, the broadband sensor 84 detects the narrow and wide bandwidth signals, for example, 50Hz and 1200Hz, respectively, arriving from the FM receiver 66. If the broadband sensor 84 detects a narrowband signal, operates switch 86 to direct the input signal to the narrowband decoder filter 82. If the broadband sensor 84 detects a broadband signal it operates switch 86 to direct the input signal to the broadband decoder filter 80. Any decoder 80 or 82 that received the signal provides the output

15/18 of data for switch 88. Broadband sensor 84 also operates switch circuit 88 so that one of the decoders 80 or 82 receiving the input has its output connected to microprocessor 62 via switch 88. The inline data 90 of the narrowband decoder filter 82 includes the non-unique identification that identifies that this is truly a LoJack vehicle location unit, while the inline data 92 of the broadband decoder filter 80

<td rowspan="2">indicate this includes a</td><td colspan="2">information,</td><td colspan="5">as well as a response code that</td>

<td>ID</td><td>only</td><td>for</td><td>the VLU</td><td>particular</td><td>what</td><td>it is</td>

<td>transmitting.</td><td>O</td><td>official</td><td>in</td><td>police</td><td>in the car</td><td>can</td><td>So</td>

using this unique VLU ID to find the VIN of the vehicle in which it is installed and with the VIN determines the make, model, color, year and other characteristics of the vehicle you are tracking. The use of narrow and wide band signals in this combination provides unique benefits. A narrowband signal requires a narrower filter; a narrower filter removes more noise and therefore makes the receiver more sensitive, and consequently increases the range. As a result of this increased range, the range is typically doubled: 1.6 to 3.2 km; vehicle tracking units in police vehicles can acquire a signal from a VLU activated on a stolen vehicle over a much greater distance, for example approximately 3.2 km as opposed to 1.6 km. Equally important, since each VTU has roughly doubled its reach, the number of tracking units can be reduced by a factor of four. That is, a given area can be monitored for the stolen VLU activated using a quarter of the number of

16/18 vehicle tracking required previously.

The logic of the time control circuit 46, Fig. 3, is shown in Fig. 6 where upon receipt of the actuation signal 100 a narrowband signal is sent 102 followed by a broadband signal 104. The inquiry is then done as if a trace signal has been received from the dispatcher at 106, otherwise the system returns 108 back to emitting narrowband signal 102 followed by sending broadband signal 104. If the tracking signal has been received then the broadband signal is now sent at a higher rate 110, for example from four streams per minute to sixty streams per minute. At the same time, the narrowband signal can be eliminated, maintained at four transmissions per minute, or switched at some other higher or lower rate. Once the broadband signal is being transmitted at the highest rate, the system then checks to see if a deactivation signal has been received from dispatcher 112. If not, then the broadband signal continues to be sent 110 at the highest rate elevated. If the deactivation signal has been received, the system simply stops sending signals. The logical operation of the data decoder 70 of Fig. 5 is shown in Fig. 7. Once the system is started 116 a check is made to see if the signal is received 118. If so, an inquiry is made as to whether it is a narrowband signal 120. If it is a narrowband signal then the message narrowband signal 122 indicating that a LoJack vehicle tracking unit is the source of the signal and indicating a direction. If it is not a narrowband signal then the survey is done 124 to

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<td colspan="2">described</td><td>in Fig.</td><td> 8 .</td>

<td>The 130</td><td>O</td><td>system</td><td>in</td>

<td>for</td><td colspan="2">activate the</td><td>VLU</td>

if it is a broadband signal. If it is not a broadband signal the system returns to the start condition and checks to see if the signal is being received at 118. If it is a broadband signal then a display is made of response code 126 identifying a specific VLU which the officer in the police vehicle can now use, for example, to find the VIN number and with it, all other information identification number of the stolen vehicle in which the VLU is located.

The total operation of the system «

When the stolen vehicle is reported 130 law enforcement sends signal 1 installed on the stolen vehicle. The tower then sends an actuation signal 134 to start transmitting the narrow and wide band and the VLU then starts providing alternate wide and narrow transmissions 136. When the VTU in the police vehicle is close enough to the stolen vehicle and the VLU transmission to detect the broadband signal receives the response code identifying the specific VLU and the officer can then make inquiries, for example, the vehicle's VIN , after which through the police channels he can acquire all other information of make, model, year, color of the stolen vehicle. At the same time the police dispatcher sends the tracking signal to accelerate the transmission of broadband signal 140. When the dispatcher's acceleration request reaches the law enforcement system it sends a signal 142 to the tower to accelerate the VLU. The tower then sends the tracking signal, accelerates the broadband signal command 14 4. The VLU then starts transmitting broadband at a higher rate 146, for

18/18 example, 60 times per minute and changes the narrowband signal rate from 4 times per minute to some other rate or leaves it at 4 times per minute or to the narrowband signal entirely. The VLU is now being tracked closely by the VTU and will be recovered. Once a deactivation command 148 is retrieved, it is sent to the police dispatcher to deactivate the broadband signal. The police dispatcher sends the disabled signal 150 to the law enforcement system, which now reports that the vehicle has been recovered and responds with a disable signal 152 to the tower which then transmits the disable signal 154 to the VLU.

Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as long as each feature can be combined with any or all of the other features according to the invention. The words including, understanding, bearing, and as used here must be interpreted widely and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. In addition, any modalities disclosed in the object request should not be taken as the only possible modalities.

Other modalities will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

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