Crescent PCB Tracking Device for Compact Space and Low Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracking systems for objects, pets, and individuals are inefficient in locating small items within a room or at a distance, require high maintenance, and lack features for remote control and alerts, making them incompatible and costly for individual use.
Innovation Solution
A versatile tracking device with sensors and control mechanisms that can remotely control other devices, emit alerts, and conserve power and space, using Bluetooth low energy transmitters, ceramic antennas, and multi-axis sensors, allowing for networked tracking and sharing of environmental data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS systems are used in tracking sensors, then location tracking capability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the power consumption parameters by using Bluetooth low energy technology instead of continuous GPS operation. The system activates GPS only when needed for initial location tracking, then uses lower-power Bluetooth for ongoing communication, significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking sensor performs location updates periodically rather than continuously. GPS is activated at intervals to update position data, then the system enters a low-power state, using Bluetooth only for periodic data transmission when within range of the control device.
2Volume of moving object
If tracking sensors are made small for attaching to objects and pets, then portability is improved, but battery capacity must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy consumption parameters through Bluetooth low energy technology and periodic operation modes, enabling small battery capacity to provide sufficient operational duration. The system is designed to function effectively with limited power resources by optimizing when high-power components are activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor operates in periodic cycles, activating high-power GPS and Bluetooth transmitters only when needed for location updates or when in communication range, then entering sleep mode. This periodic operation pattern extends battery life despite small capacity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If Bluetooth low energy transmitters are used, then power consumption is reduced, but communication range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two parts: Bluetooth low energy for short-range communication when the sensor is near the control device, and GPS-based location reporting for long-range tracking when the sensor is away. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal range.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the sensor and the user. The sensor communicates location data to the control device via Bluetooth when in range, and the control device relays this information to the user through a mobile application, effectively extending the communication range beyond the Bluetooth limit.
Data Source
AI summary
In a tracking device, a crescent-shaped printed circuit board partially encircles a battery to minimize a thickness of the tracking device. A speaker and a light-emitting diode emit alerts upon receiving a command of a control apparatus or in response to a motion or a temperature sensed by a sensor. A local network has one hub for tracking a plurality of tracking devices and a wider area network has multiple hubs for more detailed tracking of the plurality of tracking devices. The wide area network tracks the plurality of tracking devices anywhere and stores data of each tracking device including its last known position and its sensor data.