D E S C R I P T I O N

Field of application

The present invention is generally applicable to devices and methods for geolocalizing a person. More in detail, the present invention refers to a completion kit for a remote control, in particular, for cars.

Background art

Different technologies for localizing a person on the earth's surface by means of communication networks are widespread in the prior art. Two different technologies used are basically distinguished: a first technology exploits communication networks based on a plurality of radio antennas placed on towers distributed on the ground, like in the case of the GSM network, while a second technology, known as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), uses constellations of artificial satellites appropriately placed in orbit around the earth.

The prior art comprises countless portable devices for geolocalizing people. In particular, three categories can be distinguished: professional locators, used in the management of emergency situations, "full-purpose" locators, mainly used for sports activities, and telephones equipped with geolocalization functionalities.

Professional locators have a predominantly military use and, therefore, are necessarily characterized by precision and reliability. However, these devices are very cumbersome in size and their high cost prevents their diffusion in the civil sphere.

As far as the "full-purpose" locators are concerned, they are typically used to monitor the path followed by an athlete during physical activity, therefore, they are not particularly suitable for use in situations of danger and emergency. In addition, these devices require high energy for their operation and therefore require continuous recharging of the power supply battery.

Finally, the use of mobile phones for localization requires the prior installation of a specific app by the user and/or the availability of a technology of the Advanced Mobile Location (AML) type, which make this category of locators unsuitable for use in emergency conditions. In addition, even for the operation of mobile phones a substantial use of energy is required that limits their autonomy. On closer inspection, therefore, the localization devices present in the prior art have drawbacks that make their use difficult or even ineffective in emergency situations.

Document US 2014/028455 A1 is also known which describes an anti-panic device that can take the form of a keyring. It may activate an alarm circuitry to provide location information to a remote station.

In addition, document US 2011/319048 A1 is also known, which describes an emergency alarm device that can be operated by means of a button.

In addition to this, documents US 2004/183671 A1 and US 2010/066558 A1 which describe emergency devices with localization modules are also known.

However, none of the aforementioned documents allows to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Presentation of the invention

Aim of the present invention is to provide a completion kit for a remote control that allows to overcome at least partially the drawbacks highlighted above.

In particular, aim of the present invention is to provide a completion kit that allows a remote control to be equipped with a geolocalization device suitable for use by a person in case of an emergency.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a completion kit that is limited in size compared to equivalent equipment present in the prior art.

In other words, an aim of the present invention is to provide a completion kit for a remote control, comprising a geolocalization device, which can be easily carried by a person.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a completion kit that allows the geolocalization device to be easily activated even in conditions of danger and/or emergency.

The aforementioned aims, as well as others that will appear more clearly below, are achieved by a completion kit for a remote control in accordance with the following claims which are to be considered an integral part of this patent.

In particular, it comprises at least one geolocalization device for localizing a person in possession of the remote control and at least one activation group operatively connected to the geolocalization device for its activation.

According to another aspect of the invention, the completion kit also comprises at least one support conformed to accommodate in at least a first area at least the remote control and to accommodate in at least a second area the geolocalization device.

Furthermore, according to a further aspect of the invention the first and second areas comprise fixing means for stably coupling respectively the remote control and the geolocalization device.

In addition to this, the ground plane of the geolocalization device is extended over at least a portion of the first area so as to improve the reception/transmission performance of the geolocalization device.

Advantageously, the completion kit of the invention makes it possible to equip a remote control with a geolocalization device by means of the support.

Still advantageously, by means of the kit of the invention, the geolocalization device and the remote control are coupled in such a way as to reduce their encumbrance and make the whole comfortably transportable.

On closer inspection, in fact, the completion kit allows to associate a geolocalization device with a remote control while maintaining the sizes smaller than the equivalent systems present in the prior art.

Still advantageously, the support and the fixing means allow to stabilize the coupling in order to avoid any damage in which both the remote control and the geolocalization device might incur.

Furthermore, the activation group allows to activate the geolocalization device with simplicity, making it suitable, still advantageously, to be used in conditions of danger and/or emergency.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the light of the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a completion kit for a remote control device according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawing tables in which:

Fig. 1 represents the completion kit according to the invention in sectional front view;

Figs. 2 and 3 represent the completion kit of Fig. 1 in side view and in rear view. Detailed description of an exemplary preferred embodiment

With reference to the aforementioned figures, a completion kit 1 for a remote control R according to the invention is described. In particular, the present invention is typically, but not necessarily, suitable for a remote control R for opening a motor vehicle. Obviously, this aspect should not be considered limiting for different embodiments of the invention where, for example, the remote control controls the activation/deactivation of an alarm system or the opening of a gate.

According to one aspect of the invention, the completion kit 1 comprises a geolocalization device 3 and an activation group 4 which is operatively connected to the geolocalization device 3 itself so as to activate it. Obviously, also the number of geolocalization devices should not be considered limiting for different embodiments of the invention.

According to the embodiment of the invention being described, the geolocalization device 3 comprises a power supply system 8 that does not need to be recharged during the entire useful life of the geolocalization device 3.

Thus, the geolocalization device 3 is powered by a system 8 dedicated to it so as to advantageously guarantee the reliability of its operation.

Furthermore, as mentioned, the power supply system 8 does not need recharging, so, still advantageously, it ensures the operation of the geolocalization device 3 even in the event of conditions of danger and/or emergency.

Obviously, this aspect also should not be considered as limiting for different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, the power supply system comprises a large capacity rechargeable battery.

According to the embodiment of the invention being described, the geolocalization device 3 also comprises a plurality of components 9 such as, for example, a reception/transmission module 10 provided with an antenna 11 and capable of exchanging data with one or more remote devices, a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) 14, a memory unit 16 and a logical processing and control unit 18.

In particular, said plurality of components 9 is arranged on a board 21 , comprising a ground plane 22, according to an arrangement suitable for limiting the encumbrances and obtaining the best possible signal/noise ratio. In addition, the board 21 may comprise multiple layers, not depicted in the figures, on which the aforementioned components 9 are arranged.

Advantageously, the arrangement of the components allows to limit the encumbrance of the geolocalization device 3 and, consequently, of the completion kit 1.

In addition to this, to overcome the problem of limitation of the electromagnetic interference (EMI), according to the embodiment being described, the aforementioned components 9 are arranged on the two sides of the board 21 according to a geometry that envisages including capacitors, not depicted in the figures, in the signal line and/or keeping the capacitors and the SIM 14 away from the antenna 11 , and finally using the shortest possible connections.

According to the embodiment of the invention being described, the power supply system 8 is located above the capacitors and the SIM 14 so that, advantageously, it can act as a screen.

As far as the activation group 4 is concerned, according to the embodiment being described, it comprises a first activation mechanism 25 of the "hook and loop" type and a second activation mechanism 26 of the "slide" type.

Advantageously, such mechanisms 25, 26 allow to easily activate the geolocalization device 3 even in conditions of danger and/or emergency.

Obviously, this aspect also should not be considered limiting for different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, the activation group comprises only one of the two mechanisms or in the event that it comprises a "push button" type mechanism.

According to the embodiment of the invention being described, the two mechanisms 25, 26 are arranged close to each other, near the SIM 14 and the antenna 11 , so that after their activation they can be closed on the same conductive element 30.

Advantageously, when the activation mechanisms 25, 26 are activated, the conductive element 30 is electrically connected to the ground plane 22 so as to result de facto as an extension of the ground plane 22.

In other words, according to this arrangement of the mechanisms 25, 26 the conductive element 30 acts as an EMI screen for the antenna 11. According to another aspect of the invention, the completion kit 1 comprises a support 33 conformed to accommodate in a first area 35 the remote control R and to accommodate in a second area 36 the geolocalization device 3.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the first and second area 35, 36 comprise fixing means 40 for stably coupling the remote control R and the geolocalization device 3 to the support 33.

On closer inspection, therefore, the completion kit 1 of the invention makes it possible to equip a remote control R with a geolocalization device 3 suitable for use by a person in case of an emergency.

Still advantageously, the coupling of the remote control R and of the geolocalization device 3 to the support 33 allow to limit the sizes thereof so as to allow a person to carry it without difficulty. In fact, given the sizes of the support 33 , the completion kit 1 is slightly more cumbersome than the remote control R itself and, in any case, has limited sizes compared to the equivalent equipment present in the prior art.

Moreover, the completion kit 1 is, as mentioned, particularly suitable for remote controls R for opening cars and therefore, still advantageously, can be used by many people. In fact, still advantageously, the kit 1 of the invention allows to integrate widely diffused types of remote controls R, which are usually carried by people and therefore it would not cause particular discomfort when carrying an additional device.

According to another aspect of the invention the support 33 comprises a base 42 comprising the first area 35.

Advantageously, the base 42 allows to position the remote control R by coupling it stably to it.

According to the embodiment of the invention being described, the support 33 also comprises a cover 45, by means of which a casing containing the remote control R and the geolocalization device 3 is realised.

Advantageously, the realisation of a casing allows, as mentioned, to enclose in its inside the remote control R and the geolocalization device 3, thus protecting them from any shocks and, consequently, improving their reliability and functionality.

Furthermore, again according to the embodiment of the invention being described, the base 42 also comprises the second area 36.

This allows, advantageously, to be able to place the remote control R side by side with the geolocalization device 3 limiting the width and thickness of the completion kit 1.

In addition to this, the ground plane 22 of the geolocalization device 3 is also extended over the first area 35 so as to improve the reception/transmission performance of the geolocalization device 3.

In other words, by placing the remote control R and the geolocalization device 3 side by side on the base 42 of the support 33, advantageously, it is possible to increase the surface of the ground plane 22 improving the performance of the device 3 compared to the equivalent locators present in the prior art.

According to an embodiment variant of the invention, not depicted in the figures, the second area is included in the cover. This allows the remote control and the geolocalization device to be superimposed so as to advantageously limit the length of the completion kit. However, even according to this embodiment variant, the surface of the ground plane of the geolocalization device can be extended by overlapping the first area.

In addition to this, according to another aspect of the invention, the cover 45 comprises a surface portion 50 adapted to access the functionalities of the remote control R.

Advantageously, this surface portion 50 allows to guarantee a comfortable use of the remote control R regardless of whether it is coupled to the support 33. Obviously, the number of surfaces adapted to access the functionalities of the remote control should not be considered as limiting for different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, there is a first surface that permits the use of the buttons of a remote control for vehicles and there is a second surface that allows extracting the key.

According to the embodiment of the invention being described, said surface portion 50 comprises a transparent 52 and/or flexible layer that advantageously allows making the remote control R visible to the user.

Obviously, this aspect also should not be considered as limiting for different embodiment variants of the invention where, for example, the support comprises one or more elements that superimpose on the control mechanisms of the remote control.

As mentioned, the geolocalization device 3 is operatively connected to remote devices. According to a further aspect of the invention, the completion kit 1 of the invention comprises one or more loudspeakers so as to allow any communications of the person in possession of the remote control R with the remote devices to which the geolocalization device 3 is operatively connected.

Advantageously, this allows to communicate with any emergency contact people or rescue services connected to the remote devices.

According to another aspect of the invention, it also comprises dissipating elements, not depicted in the figures, which are conformed to absorb any impacts so as to further safeguard the integrity of the remote control R and of the geolocalization device 3 in the event of shocks.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the support 33 comprises zones, not depicted in the figures, partially metallic in order to reinforce the shielding action against the generated EMIs.

In light of the foregoing, it can be therefore understood that the completion kit of the invention achieves all the set aims.

In particular, it allows a remote control to be equipped with a geolocalization device suitable for use by a person in case of emergency.

Furthermore, this is done by limiting the sizes compared to equivalent equipment present in the prior art. In fact, the completion kit of the invention appears to have an encumbrance such that it can be easily carried by a person.

Finally, the completion kit comprises an activator that allows to easily activate the geolocalization device and, consequently, it is easily usable even in conditions of danger and/or emergency.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the appended claims. Moreover, all the details and steps may furthermore be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be different depending on needs, without departing from the protection scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.