Patent ID: 6838987
Filing Date: 2005-01-04
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
1. A vehicle locating system, for locating a vehicle whose whereabouts are unknown, comprising: a hand-held transponder which is carried by a user upon exiting the vehicle, said hand-held transponder having an activation signal generator for selective production of an activation signal, a homing signal receiver, a tone generator, and a signal strength controlled modulator which operates in response to the homing signal receiver, wherein the tone generator is selectively modulated by the signal strength controlled modulator; and a vehicle-installed transponder which is positioned within the vehicle, having an activation signal receiver and a homing signal generator, wherein said activation signal receiver communicates with the activation signal generator located within the hand-held transponder, wherein receipt of the activation signal causes the homing signal generator to produce a homing signal which is transmitted for receipt by the homing signal receiver within the hand-held transponder, wherein said homing signal modulates the tone generator to output either a series of discrete tones or one steady, uninterrupted tone, wherein production of an intermittent tone occurs when the vehicle is located at a substantial distance from the hand-held transponder and a weak homing signal is isolated by the homing signal receiver, and wherein the tone becomes steadier and less intermittent as the hand-held transponder approaches the vehicle and a strong signal is received by the homing signal receiver.