The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 19, 2005
Filed:
May. 02, 2001
David L. Richardson, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Barry L. Head, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
David L. Richardson, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Barry L. Head, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
An energy conserving tracking tag for receiving a radio frequency location data signal from a global positioning satellite and for communicating with a tracking system. The tag includes a receiver circuit for receiving the location data signal from the global positioning satellite, a customer ID module for generating a unique tag identification signal, a transponder circuit for receiving command signals from the tracking system, and a power circuit electrically engageable with a battery power supply and an external power source. The tag also includes a programmable microprocessor in electrical communication with the power circuit, receiver circuit, customer ID module, and transponder circuit. The microprocessor is operative to collect the location data signal, the identification signal, and the command signals, and subsequently produce an composite output signal. The transponder is further operative to transmit the composite output signal to the tracking system by radio carrier wave.