Trackable Rechargeable Battery Using RSSI and Audible Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small electronic devices, such as remote controls, are frequently misplaced due to their size and the inefficiency of relying on line of sight, especially in environments without adequate illumination, leading to frustration and time-consuming searches.
Innovation Solution
A traceable rechargeable battery system that includes batteries with a system on a chip (SoC) and a computing device that communicates to determine the battery's location, providing audible, visual, and haptic alerts through a Bluetooth tracking device, using multi-dimensional triangulation for precise location determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If small electronic devices are used, then portability and convenience are improved, but ease of locating the device deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tracking device as an intermediary component that attaches to or integrates with the small electronic device. This tracking device contains a transmitter that emits signals detectable by the computing device, serving as a mediator between the small device and the user's ability to locate it. The tracking device enables location detection of small devices without requiring the small device itself to have complex detection capabilities.
2Device complexity
If line of sight searching is used, then no additional devices are needed, but time consumption and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical line-of-sight searching method with an electronic signal-based tracking system. Instead of manually moving the computing device around to visually locate the small device, the system uses wireless communications and signal processing to electronically determine the location. The computing device processes signals from the tracking device to calculate position information, substituting mechanical searching with electronic detection and computation.
3Measurement precision
If tracking devices with alert capabilities are added, then location detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking device is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a location identifier and an alert mechanism. The same tracking device that emits location signals also contains alert capabilities (visual, auditory, or haptic) that can be triggered remotely. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining improved location detection accuracy through the combination of signal transmission and alert features.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and accurate location of misplaced electronic devices by providing real-time directional cues and alerts, reducing the time and effort required to find them.
Implementation Method 1
determining, by the computing device, a location of the battery device using multi-dimensional triangulation using an angle of arrival (AoA) of each of the second communication and the fourth communication
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes sending, by a computing device, a first communication to a battery device having a system on a chip (SoC) that is powering another device, receiving, by the computing device, a second communication in response to the first communication from the battery device, the second communication comprising a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from the battery device to the computing device, displaying, by the computing device, a graphical user interface (GUI) that indicates the RSSI that provides real-time information in response to at least one of movement of the computing device and movement of the battery device, and sending, by the computing device, a third communication to the battery that when received by the battery device causes the battery device to provide at least one audible alert.