Robert L Gendler

Author:

Robert Gendler

ISBN #:

0760326428

US Patent:

50033174, Mar 26, 1991

Filed:

Jul 11, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/378593

Inventors:

Donald R. Gray - Carmel IN
Robert L. Gendler - Tamarac FL

Assignee:

Mets, Inc. - IN

International Classification:

G01S 302

US Classification:

342457

Abstract:

A stolen vehicle recovery system (20) in which a vehicle transceiver (30) is disposed on each vehicle (28) for cyclically transmitting a pulsed signal which is modulated by a data stream comprising a verification code, a unique identity code associated with the vehicle (28), and a code which corresponds to whether the detected vehicle (28) is moving or stationary. The vehicle transceiver (30) is automatically activated if a proper authorization signal is not provided to the transceiver (30) by a verification unit. A scanning receiver (42) decodes the pulsed signal and provides the information to a control processor (40) which, in turn, sets remote direction finding receivers (44, 46, 48), set up in a triangulation antenna array, to the appropriate channel. The D. F. receivers (44, 46, 48) measure the bearing, signal strength and time variation, as well as the vehicle identity code, and pass it back to the control processor (40) which, after verification of the identity code, passes this positional information on to a mapping and display computer (50) at the central station (22) which, thereafter, provides a digitized street or terrain map display with the vehicle position and identity code being dynamically displayed thereon. The map may be zoomed through a hierarchical geographical display.