Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With means for moving directive antenna for scanning,...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-07
2003-11-11
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With means for moving directive antenna for scanning,...
C343S718000, C455S575100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06646617
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to personnel tracking systems and methods generally, and more particularly to a multiple, and/or gimbal mounted antenna system orientation maintaining system in remote units of a central control station monitored personnel tracking system, which remote units utilize satellite global positioning. In use, the present invention maintains electromagnetic signal reception means of an antenna system therein in an essentially constant electromagnetic signal reception orientation with respect to at least one earth orbiting satellite, when the orientation of a structural frame “bag” element of a personnel tracking system remote unit, which contains the multiple and/or gimbal mounted antenna system, is changed.
BACKGROUND
It is well known that the orientation of an antenna system with respect to a transmission source of electromagnetic signals is critical to the capability of said antenna system to provide high quality reception of electromagnetic signals transmitted by said transmission source. For instance, a terrestrial based antenna system must have electromagnetic signal reception elements thereof oriented properly to receive electromagnetic signal transmission from an earth orbiting satellite. A non-limiting example of a system wherein orientation of electromagnetic signal reception elements of an antenna system with respect to an earth orbiting satellite is important to the operation thereof, is described in Pat. Nos. 5,072,396 and 6,100,806, which are incorporated by reference into this Disclosure as are applications Ser. Nos. 09/312,708, and 60/087,727. Said incorporated Patents describe statically mounted electromagnetic signal receiving antenna systems and the applications introduce gimbal mounting thereof.
Additional known Patents which are relevant to personnel tracking systems include a Patent to Kotoh, No. 4,673,936. Said 936 Patent describes a rescue transmitter apparatus which is adapted to be worn on a person's wrist. Said transmitter apparatus sends a microwave signal which, in use, is received by a search and rescue craft thereby allowing relative, but not absolute, positioning of the transmitter apparatus, by use of a directional antenna. A Patent to Damell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,736 describes a hand-held apparatus which contains a Global Positioning System (GPS), which allows determining an absolute, (ie. longitude and latitude), and a cellular telephone transmitter.
Several Patents have Issued in the field of prisoner monitoring in house arrest scenarios. One is described in a Patent to Pauley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,571, wherein a “tag” device, which is worn by a prisoner, periodically is caused to transmit to a field unit. Receipt of the signal at a field unit is an indication that the “tag” is within a transmission range, but no absolute, or even relative, positioning data is made available. Another Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,694, describes a central station system which is used to send interrogation signals to a fleet of vehicles requesting that selected vehicles respond, which central station system then waits and listens for a response. The central station can also receive signals indicating that a fleet vehicle requires assistance, then respond with a signal which provides location information to other fleet vehicles, certain of which, if within a predetermined distance to the vehicle which requires assistance, can respond. U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,248 to Steiner et al., describes a hand-held personal digital location apparatus which has a (GPS) antenna and receiver which serves to provide location information, however, no mention of application to continuous tracking and monitoring of an individual is mentioned. U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,845 to Klein describes methods for monitoring adherence of a vehicle to prescribed planned route and/or time schedule. The vehicle can utilize a (GPS), or other location determining system. Said 845 Patent provides that Non-adherence to a specified route or time schedule causes the vehicle to send a signal to a central station. U.S. Pat. No.5,552,772 to Janky et al., describes al location determination system used to determine the location of a fire-fighter at a fire site or the like. One embodiment provides that a fire-fighter carry a unit that receives a signal from a group of sources. A central station interrogates the one or more of said units, which each respond with location information. While the system can store information, the remote units do not have processors which can store location information data or upload or download information showing past locations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,119 to Schipper et al., discloses a method and apparatus which is applicable to use in house-arrest settings, and allows monitoring the current location of a remote unit, which can be checked at selected times. An arrestee wears a location determining device which can combine with a (GPS) type system or ground based system. Either the remote unit or central station can be used to process information and the central station compares said location with prescribed boundaries to determine if the arrestee is staying therewithin. If an expected location determining signal is not received, or a received signal indicates that an arrestee has strayed outside allowed boundaries, the central station notifies appropriate authorities. The remote unit can include tamper detection equipment, and optionally, the remote unit can transmit position information in encrypted form. The
119
invention provides for periodic modification of allowed time scheduled arrestee positioning. A Patent to Hoshen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,390 describes a locator device which can be useful in house arrest and stalker detection. The device utilizes a polling type apparatus wherein a polling message is sent from a central unit to remote units. There is no provision for “real-time” detection of violations, or of any capability to upload or download data. U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,695 to Stutman et al., describes a method and apparatus for alerting patients and medical personnel of emergency medical situations. A telephone network is utilized to transmit information from a patient, and a (GPS) remote telemetry device also collects information for transmission to a host computer. When patient parameters exceed set ranges, an alarm is sounded. A “panic-button” is also provided which permits the patient to directly contact the host computer. A Patent to Baumann, U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,468 describes a plurality of individual remote units on persons, which transmit location data to a “field unit” at periodic intervals. If information is not received within a predetermined time range, an alarm may be triggered. The remote units can include “detectors” which sense environmental conditions and transmit said data along with location data. The Baumann remote units can only transmit data and do not have the capability to determine if it is received by the field unit, and the remote units do not store tracked information.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,155 and 5,268,670 to Shirley and Brasch et al., which focus on monitoring the movements of medical patients, are also known and disclosed.
Patents particularly relevant to the disclosed invention antenna orientation system in a personnel tracking system, and a method of use for maintaining an electromagnetic signal reception means of an antenna system therein in an essentially constant desired orientation with respect to an electromagnetic signal transmission source, when the orientation of a structural frame element of said personnel tracking system is changed were also identified. Perhaps the most relevant is a Patent to Friedrich et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,325 which describes an antenna assembly which is free to rotate about at least one axis parallel to the axis of rotation of an elevationally moveable dump truck bed. Another Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,912 to Ross et al., particularly in
FIG. 4
thereof, provides a two axis gimbaled mounting which allows an antenna to maintain a predetermined position despi
Chen Shih-Chao
iSecuretrac Corp. Inc.
Welch James D.
Wong Don
LandOfFree
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