CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a device for detecting the proximity of an IEEE 802.11 protocol connectable device.

2. Background

Use of mobile devices which typically connect to local area networks using a IEEE 802.11 protocol are a constant for many users in every day life. The most prevalent may be the smart phone. While most users have a smart phone for making calls, they typically use these devices as small computers as well. In order to get more reliable data connections to the internet, users often prefer to connect to a local area network and out through the local area network to the internet, rather than using less reliable and potentially lower bandwidth cellular connections. For this reason, most users leave their WiFi® service, which used the IEEE 802.11 protocol, on their smartphone active.

However, because users tend to turn to their smart phones for a myriad of tasks, they often set their smart phone down where they last used it. This can mean more easily forgetting their smart phone. A user may get in a car and leave their phone behind. When this happens at home it's an inconvenience, when this happens at a commercial establishment, it may have more serious consequences.

A common denominator with both leaving the house and a commercial location in many areas is an automobile. Almost all automobiles have a power source accessible to a user, in fact, many users purchase and user power adapters to charge their phone while in the car.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a device which can notify a user that their smart device is not in the car with them.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a sensor for detecting the proximity of a wireless connectable smart device using the IEEE 802.11 protocols. The sensor may include a housing. The housing may include a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The distal end portion may be configured to be placed in an automotive cigarette lighter, and the proximal end portion may include one or more power sockets for connecting one or more charging cables. The sensor may further include interface surfaces on the distal end portion to draw power from the cigarette lighter. The sensor may further include a power supply. The power supply may be connected to the interface surfaces. The power supply may regulate the voltage of the power. The sensor may further include a transceiver using the IEEE 802.11 protocols. The transceiver may be located in the housing. The transceiver may be electrically connected to the power supply. The transceiver may be configured to connect to IEEE 802.11 protocol capable smart devices within range of the transceiver. The sensor may further include a processor. The processor may be located in the housing and electrically connected to the transceiver. The sensor may further include a memory located in the housing. The memory may be electrically connected to the processor. The memory may have instructions stored on it for execution on the processor. The sensor may have an audio circuit electrically connected to the processor. The audio circuit may include an audio driver for generating audible sounds. The instructions stored on the memory may include instructions that when the automobile is started and power is provided to the transceiver, the instructions cause the transceiver to search for, and connect to, smart devices previously connected to the sensor using the IEEE 802.11 protocols. If the transceiver fails to connect to any previously connected smart devices using the IEEE 802.11 protocols, the instructions cause the audio circuit to emit an audible alarm.

Further disclosed is a method for manufacturing a sensor for detecting the proximity of a smart device connectable to a transceiver using IEEE 802.11 protocols. The method may include forming a housing. The housing may include a distal end portion. The distal end portion may be configured to be placed in an automotive cigarette lighter, and the housing may define an interior of the housing. The method may further include adding a transceiver to the interior of the housing. The transceiver may use IEEE 802.11 protocols to connected to IEEE 802.11 protocol capable smart devices within range of the transceiver. The method may further include adding a processor to the interior of the housing. The processor may be electrically connected to the transceiver. The method may further include adding a memory to the interior of the housing. The memory may be electrically connected to the processor. The memory may have instructions stored on it for execution on the processor. The method may further include adding an audio circuit electrically connected to the processor. The audio circuit may include an audio driver for generating audible sounds. The instructions stored on the memory may include instructions that when the automobile is started and power is provided to the transceiver, the instructions may cause the transceiver to search for, and connect to, smart devices previously connected to the sensor using the IEEE 802.11 protocols. If the transceiver fails to connect to any previously connected smart devices using the IEEE 802.11 protocols, the instructions may cause the audio circuit to emit an audible alarm.

Further disclosed is a sensor for detecting the proximity of a wireless connectable smart device using the IEEE 802.11 protocols. The sensor may include a housing. The housing may include a distal end portion. The distal end portion may be configured to be placed in an automotive cigarette lighter. The housing may define an interior of the housing. The sensor may further include interface surfaces on the distal end portion. The interface surfaces may draw power from the cigarette lighter. The sensor may further include a transceiver which may use the IEEE 802.11 protocols, The transceiver may be located in the interior of the housing and may be electrically connected to the interface surfaces. The transceiver may be configured to connect to IEEE 802.11 protocol capable smart devices within range of the transceiver. The sensor may further include a processor. The processor may be located in the housing and may be electrically connected to the transceiver. The sensor may further include a memory. The memory may be located in the housing and may be electrically connected to the processor. The memory may have instructions stored on it for execution on the processor. The sensor may further have an audio circuit, which may be electrically connected to the processor. The audio circuit may include an audio driver for generating audible sounds. The instructions stored on the memory may include instructions that when the automobile is started and power is provided to the transceiver, the instructions may cause the transceiver to search for, and connect to, smart devices previously connected to the sensor using the IEEE 802.11 protocols. If the transceiver fails to connect to any previously connected smart devices using the IEEE 802.11 protocols, the instructions may cause the audio circuit to emit an audible alarm.

