Stolen equipment recovery device
AssigneeVernon G. Heger
InventorsVernon G. Heger, Henri J. A. Charmasson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and necessary apparatus for detecting the unauthorized operation or asportation of mobile or portable equipment. The apparatus comprises a concealable transmitter designed to re-transmit a coded message received from a check station. The check station may be stationary such as at the exit gate of a garage or at a fixed checkpoint along a thoroughfare; or may be carried on a vehicle such as a police car or other type of security patrol. The concealed repeating transmitter is switched on or off by means of a pocket-sized short-range coded remote switch unit not unlike those used for the remote control of household television receivers.
Claims11
A device for detecting the unauthorized movement or asportation of a body which comprises:
- a check station having:
- means for transmitting a first pulse-coded signal;
- means for receiving a second pulse-coded signal;
- means for comparing the first signal to the second signal;
- means, responsive to said means for comparing, for signaling the reception of the second signal;
- on the body, a code-repeating transceiver having:
- means for receiving said first signal;
- means, responsive to said first signal, for transmitting said second signal, said means for receiving comprising:
- a shift register receiving said first signal on its serial input and delivering said second signal on its serial output;
- switchable means for selectively enabling the operation of the code-repeating transceiver.
A method for detecting the unauthorized movement or asportation of a body which comprises the steps of:
- concealing upon said body a remotely energizable and remotely activable signal-emitting device;
- remotely energizing said signal-emitting device before it is left unattended;
- at a check station,
- emitting a stimulus signal capable of remotely activating said signal-emitting device when said device is in the proximity of said station, said stimulus comprising a carrier frequency modulated by a pulse-train which can be stored and transmitted back from the signal emitting device to the check station;
- listening for a return signal from said signal-emitting device responsive to said stimulus signal;
- interpreting said return signal;
- and
- in function of said interpretation, indicating the proximate presence of said body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.