Patent ID: 6339397
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: B61L,G01S,G08G,H01Q

Abstract:
A tracking unit, comprising:a generally planar mounting plate having upper and lower edges, opposing side edges, and forward and rearward faces; an enclosure connected to the mounting plate forward face forming a hollow interior cavity, the enclosure formed of a radio-frequency-transparent material; said enclosure including a pair of side panels connected together along a first side edge and oriented at an angle to one another for form a vertically-oriented ridge, each side panel having a second side edge connected to opposing side edges of the mounting plate, said ridge oriented parallel to the mounting plate; said side panels being generally planar, and oriented at an angle to one another generally in the range of 80Â°-100Â°; a GPS receiver mounted within the hollow cavity, operable to receive tracking data from CPS; a microprocessor mounted within the hollow cavity, connected to the GPS receiver and operable to receive tracking data from the GPS receiver and process the tracking data into a data packet; a transmitter within the hollow cavity, connected to the microprocessor and operable to transmit a data packet from the microprocessor to a remote receiving station; a solar panel of photoelectric cells mounted on the enclosure for converting solar radiation into an electrical current, said solar panel electrically connected to at least a first rechargeable battery, which is connected to the receiver, microprocessor and transmitter, to provide electrical current thereto; and a second solar panel of photoelectric cells mounted on the enclosure and electrically connected to at least a second rechargeable battery, which is electrically connected to the receiver, microprocessor and transmitter, to provide electrical current thereto, said first solar panel mounted on and in a plane parallel to one of said side panels and the second solar panel mounted on and in a plane parallel to the other side panel.