Patent ID: 7450083
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: G01S,H01Q

Abstract:
1. A self-contained tracking unit for use on a shipping container, comprising: an elongated hollow housing having forward and rearward walls, opposing sidewalls and upper and lower ends, said housing formed of material invisible to RF transmissions; a GPS receiver within the housing; a microprocessor within the housing and connected to the GPS receiver; a transmitter within the housing and connected to the microprocessor; a power system within the housing and connected to the GPS receiver, microprocessor and transmitter; an antenna mounted on the interior surface of the forward wall within the housing and extending vertically and generally centrally between the sidewalls; said antenna including a helical coil flattened along a longitudinal axis and formed on a circuit board with a forward half of the coil forming traces on one side of the board and a rearward half forming traces on the opposing side of the board; and an antenna ground plane mounted on the interior face of the rearward wall and extending vertically, parallel to the antenna, and connected to the antenna.