PERSONAL MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20010050613A1
• Filed: 08/16/1999
• Published: 12/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Albert M. Clark
• Original Assignee: Albert M. Clark
• Inventors: CLARK, ALBERT M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,486,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.32
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/088 by monitoring a device worn by the person, e.g. a bracelet attached to the swimmer

Abstract

A apparatus and method for an operator to monitor the whereabouts of a subject, the apparatus comprising a portable remote unit connected to the subject, the remote unit including a remote unit power supply, a radio transmitter for sending a substantially constant remote unit radio signal, a radio receiver for receiving a base unit radio signal, a remote unit alarm, and a dye pack for releasing dye substantially responsive to submersion of the remote unit in water. The apparatus also includes a base unit in radio communication with the remote unit for enabling the operator to monitor the whereabouts of the remote unit, the base unit including a base unit power supply, a radio transmitter for sending the base unit radio signal, a radio receiver for receiving the substantially continuous remote unit radio signal, a distance estimator for substantially estimating the distance between the base unit and the remote unit, a base unit alarm responsive to the remote unit radio signal so that the base unit alarm is activated when the remote unit radio signal is altered, and a direction finding function for generally finding the direction from which the remote unit signal originates, relative to remote unit radio signal strength.

Claims

1. A personal monitoring apparatus for an operator to monitor the whereabouts of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a) a portable remote unit connected to the subject, said remote unit including a remote unit power supply, a water sensor, a radio transmitter for sending a remote unit radio signal substantially responsive to the water sensor, a radio receiver for receiving a base unit radio signal, a remote unit alarm, and a dye pack for releasing dye substantially responsive to submersion of the remote unit in water; and

b) a base unit in radio communication with the remote unit, the base unit including a base unit power supply, a radio transmitter for sending the base unit radio signal, a radio receiver for receiving the remote unit radio signal, a distance estimator for substantially estimating the distance between the base unit and the remote unit, a base unit alarm responsive to said remote unit radio signal, and a direction finder for generally finding the direction from which the remote unit signal originates.

2. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the remote unit alarm is responsive to the distance estimator so that the remote unit alarm is activated when the distance between the remote unit and the base unit essentially exceeds a predetermined distance.

3. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the base unit alarm is responsive to the distance estimator so that the base unit alarm is activated when the distance between the remote unit and the base unit essentially exceeds a predetermined distance.

4. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 3

, wherein the base unit includes a display providing information responsive to the remote unit radio signal, to thereby substantially aid the operator in determining whether base unit alarm activation is due to the remote unit being submerged in water or the remote unit being beyond a predetermined distance from the base unit.

5. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the direction finder includes a plurality of radio antennas detachably connected spaced-apart to the base unit, for aiding in substantially determining the signal strength of the remote unit radio signal relative to a direction.

6. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, further including a plurality of remote units, so that the base unit is in radio communication with each remote unit of said plurality of remote units, to thereby allow the operator to monitor the whereabouts of a plurality of subjects.

7. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 6

, wherein the remote unit radio signal of each remote unit of said plurality of remote units includes a remote unit identifier, and wherein the base unit is responsive to said remote unit identifier, to thereby allow the operator to individually monitor each remote unit of said plurality.

8. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein the base unit is selectively responsive to said remote unit identifier and displays information for each remote unit of said plurality, thereby allowing an operator to individually monitor each remote unit of the plurality of remote units.

9. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the base unit power supply is a battery and the base unit is positioned in a base unit housing such that the base unit is portable.

10. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said base unit power supply includes a battery and the base unit is positioned in a housing for connecting the base unit to a garment or accessory worn by the operator, to thereby make the base portable by the operator.

11. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 10

, wherein said garment or accessory is selected from a wrist band, a waist pack, a back pack, a pendant, a hat, and a bag.

12. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the remote unit is positioned in a remote unit housing worn by the subject, to thereby connect the remote unit to the subject.

13. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 12

, wherein the remote unit housing is selected from a shirt, a blouse, a vest, a jacket, a harness, a pair of shorts, a pair of pants, a pair of training pants, and a diaper.

14. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the remote unit alarm includes a strobe light responsive to said water sensor.

15. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 10

, wherein the battery in the base unit is rechargeable and the base unit is electrically configured for recharging said battery.

16. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the base unit and the remote unit further include a low power indicator.

17. The personal monitoring apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the direction finder further includes a visual display for aiding the operator in finding the remote unit.

18. A method for an operator to monitor the whereabouts of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

a) connecting a portable remote unit to the subject, the remote unit including a remote unit power supply, a water sensor connected to said power supply, a radio transmitter responsive to said water sensor for sending a remote unit radio signal, a radio receiver for receiving a base unit radio signal, a remote unit alarm responsive to said base unit radio signal, and a dye pack for releasing dye substantially responsive to submersion of the remote unit in water; and

b) monitoring a base unit in radio communication with the remote unit for enabling the operator to substantially track the whereabouts of said remote unit, said base unit including a base unit power supply, a radio transmitter for sending the base unit radio signal, a radio receiver for receiving the remote unit radio signal, a distance estimator for substantially estimating the distance between the base unit and the remote unit, a base unit alarm responsive to said remote unit radio signal, and a direction finder for generally indicating the direction from which the remote unit signal originates.

19. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the remote unit alarm is responsive to the distance estimator, so that the remote unit alarm is activated when the distance between the remote unit and the base unit essentially exceeds a predetermined distance.

20. The method

claim 18

, wherein the base unit alarm is responsive to said distance estimator, so that the base unit alarm is activated when the distance between the remote unit and the base unit essentially exceeds a predetermined distance.

21. The method of

claim 20

, wherein the base unit includes a display providing information responsive to the remote unit radio signal, to thereby substantially aid the operator in determining whether base unit alarm activation is due to the remote unit being submerged in water or the remote unit being beyond a predetermined distance from the base unit.

22. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the direction finder includes a plurality of radio antennas detachably connected spaced-apart to the base unit, for aiding in substantially determining the signal strength of the remote unit radio signal relative to a direction.

23. The method of

claim 18

, further including a plurality of remote units, so that the base unit is in radio communication with said plurality of remote units, to thereby allow the operator to monitor the whereabouts of a plurality of subjects.

24. The method of

claim 23

, wherein the remote unit radio signal of each remote unit of said plurality of remote units includes a remote unit identifier, and wherein the base unit is responsive to said remote unit identifier, to thereby allow the operator to individually monitor each remote unit of said plurality.

25. The method of

claim 24

, wherein the base unit is selectively responsive to said remote unit identifier and displays information for each remote unit of said plurality, thereby allowing an operator to individually monitor each remote unit of the plurality of remote units.

26. The method

claim 18

, wherein said base unit power supply includes a battery and the base unit is positioned in a housing for connecting the base unit to a garment or accessory worn by the operator, to thereby make the base portable by the operator.

27. The method

claim 26

, wherein said accessory is selected from a wrist band, a waist pack, a back pack, a pendant, a hat, and a bag.

28. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the remote unit is housed in a garment or accessory worn by the subject, to thereby connect the remote unit to the subject.

29. The method of

claim 28

, wherein the garment or accessory is selected from a shirt, a vest, a jacket, a harness, a pair of shorts, a pair of pants, a pair of training pants, and a diaper, and the remote unit is positioned thereon so as to be substantially secure from tampering by the subject.

30. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the remote unit alarm includes a strobe light responsive to said water sensor.

31. The method of

claim 26

, wherein the battery in the base unit is rechargeable and the base unit is electrically configured for recharging said battery.

32. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the base unit and the remote unit further include a low power indicator.

33. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the direction finder further includes a display for visually indicating the general direction from the base unit to the remote unit.

34. A personal monitoring apparatus for an operator to monitor the whereabouts of a plurality of subjects, comprising:

a) a plurality of portable remote units, each unit of said plurality having a water sensor, a radio transmitter responsive to said water sensor for sending a remote unit radio signal including a remote unit identifier, an impact resistant housing positioned on a garment worn by the subject, a remote unit power supply, a radio receiver for receiving a base unit radio signal, a remote unit alarm responsive to a predetermined base unit radio signal, and a location aid selected from a dye pack for releasing dye substantially responsive to submersion of the remote unit in water, a strobe light responsive to said water sensor, and a combination thereof; and

b) a portable base unit in radio communication with each remote unit of said plurality for enabling the operator to monitor the whereabouts of each remote unit, said base unit including a power supply, a radio transmitter for sending the base unit radio signal, a radio receiver for receiving and for identifying the remote unit radio signal from each remote unit, a distance estimator for substantially estimating distance between the base unit and each remote unit, a direction finder for generally finding the direction from which each remote unit signal originates, and a base unit alarm and display responsive to the remote unit radio signal from each remote unit and to said distance estimator.