Concealed asset locator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12246766-B2
Application number	US-202117338096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2021
Priority date	Jun 3, 2021
Publication date	Mar 11, 2025
Grant date	Mar 11, 2025

Abstract

A concealed asset locator includes an enclosure with multiple external surfaces, wherein an external surface is configured as reflective surface, an electric notification device, a receiver relay positioned inside the enclosure and electrically coupled to the notification device, wherein the receiver relay is configured to activate the notification device in response to a received transmitter signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A concealed asset location system comprising:
a stationary concealed asset locator comprising
an enclosure,
an electric notification device,
a receiver positioned inside the enclosure and electrically coupled to the electric notification device,

a concealed asset in proximity to the stationary concealed asset locator, the concealed asset including a railroad equipment device located along a railroad track,
a first portable wireless device transmitter,
wherein the receiver is configured to activate the electric notification device in response to a received transmitter signal of the first portable wireless transmitter,
wherein the first portable wireless transmitter and the receiver are configured to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) signals, and
wherein the first portable wireless transmitter is configured to activate the receiver and further receivers of stationary concealed asset locators that are set to a same radio frequency.

2. The concealed asset location system of claim 1 , comprising:
a second portable wireless device,
wherein the second portable wireless device is configured to receive low-energy signals transmitted by a wireless beacon of the stationary concealed asset locator.

3. The concealed asset location system of claim 2 , comprising:
wherein the second portable wireless device is configured to receive data relating to the asset paired with the concealed asset locator via the wireless beacon.

4. The concealed asset location system of claim 2 ,
wherein the second portable wireless device comprises a smartphone, tablet, or portable interface device.

5. The concealed asset location system of claim 2 ,
wherein the second portable wireless device comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

6. The concealed asset location system of claim 1 ,
wherein the stationary concealed asset locator is mounted to another structure.

7. The concealed asset location system of claim 1 ,
wherein the stationary concealed asset locator is mounted to a railroad tie of a railroad track.

Assignees

• Siemens Mobility Inc

Inventors

• Mcgavock Jr Richard Alan
• Sanders John

Classifications

• G10K9/12

  electrically operated · CPC title

• H02S20/10

  Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground (H02S20/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04W4/023

  using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds · CPC title

• G08B7/06

  using electric transmission {, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources} · CPC title

• H04B1/3827

  Portable transceivers · CPC title