Personal item locator system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A base locator unit for use in a personal item locator system, the base locator unit comprising:
- a base controller;
a plurality of personal item switches coupled to the base controller, wherein each of the personal item switches correspond to one of a plurality of personal item units that each include a personal item receiver and are attached to a personal item to be located;
a base transmitter coupled to the base controller, the base transmitter transmitting a personal item unit location signal that includes one of a plurality of unique identification (ID) codes responsive to the activation of each of the plurality of personal item switches, wherein one of the plurality of personal item units responds when a corresponding one of the plurality of unique ID codes is received;
a base antenna coupled to the base transmitter; and
a programming port for accepting one of the plurality of personal item units, wherein the base transmitter is configured to provide a personal item unit programming signal to the accepted one of the plurality of personal item units, and wherein the accepted one of the plurality of personal item units stores a unique ID code provided by the base transmitter responsive to the personal item unit programming signal.
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Abstract
A personal item unit, for use in a personal item locator system, is attached to a personal item to be located and includes a personal item antenna, a personal item receiver, a personal item controller, a personal item audio output device and a personal item battery contained in a personal item housing. The personal item housing includes a resonating cavity for the personal item audio output device.
25 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A base locator unit for use in a personal item locator system, the base locator unit comprising:
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a base controller;
a plurality of personal item switches coupled to the base controller, wherein each of the personal item switches correspond to one of a plurality of personal item units that each include a personal item receiver and are attached to a personal item to be located;
a base transmitter coupled to the base controller, the base transmitter transmitting a personal item unit location signal that includes one of a plurality of unique identification (ID) codes responsive to the activation of each of the plurality of personal item switches, wherein one of the plurality of personal item units responds when a corresponding one of the plurality of unique ID codes is received;
a base antenna coupled to the base transmitter; and
a programming port for accepting one of the plurality of personal item units, wherein the base transmitter is configured to provide a personal item unit programming signal to the accepted one of the plurality of personal item units, and wherein the accepted one of the plurality of personal item units stores a unique ID code provided by the base transmitter responsive to the personal item unit programming signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A personal item unit for use in a personal item locator system, the personal item unit being attached to a personal item to be located, the personal item unit comprising:
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a personal item antenna for facilitating communication with at least one of a base locator unit and a portable locator unit;
a personal item receiver coupled to the personal item antenna;
a personal item controller coupled to the personal item receiver;
a personal item audio output device coupled to the personal item controller, the personal item controller decoding a received signal and actuating the personal item audio output device when an ID code of the received signal corresponds to a stored ID code of the personal item unit;
a personal item battery for supplying power to the personal item receiver and the personal item controller; and
a personal item housing for retaining the personal item antenna, the personal item controller, the personal item audio output device and the personal item battery, wherein the personal item housing includes a resonating cavity for the personal item audio output device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A portable locator unit for use in a personal item locator system, the portable locator unit comprising:
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a portable controller;
a plurality of personal item select switches coupled to the portable controller, wherein each of the personal item select switches correspond to one of a plurality of personal item units that each include a personal item receiver;
a portable transmitter coupled to the portable controller, the portable transmitter transmitting one of a plurality of unique identification (ID) codes responsive to the activation of each of the plurality of personal item select switches, wherein one of the plurality of personal item units responds to one of the plurality of unique ID codes when appropriate;
a portable antenna coupled to the portable transmitter; and
a portable receiver coupled to the portable controller, the portable receiver receiving transmissions from a base transmitter, wherein the portable controller responds to a portable locator unit ID code. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A personal item locator system, comprising:
a plurality of personal item units for attaching to personal items to be located, the plurality of personal item units each including;
a personal item antenna for facilitating communication with a base locator unit;
a personal item receiver coupled to the personal item antenna;
a personal item controller coupled to the personal item receiver;
a personal item output device coupled to the personal item controller, the personal item controller decoding a received signal and actuating the personal item output device when an identification (ID) code in the received signal corresponds to a stored ID code of the personal item unit;
a personal item battery for supplying power to the personal item receiver and the personal item controller; and
a personal item housing for retaining the personal item antenna, the personal item controller, the personal item output device and the personal item battery, wherein the housing has a diameter of about 0.80 inches and a thickness of about 0.17 inches; and
a base locator unit, including;
a base controller;
a plurality of personal item switches coupled to the base controller, wherein each of the plurality of personal item switches correspond to one of the plurality of personal item units;
a base transmitter coupled to the base controller, the base transmitter transmitting a personal item unit location signal that includes one of a plurality of unique identification (ID) codes responsive to the activation of each of the plurality of personal item switches, wherein one of the plurality of personal item units responds when a corresponding one of the plurality of unique ID codes is received; and
a base antenna coupled to the base transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A base locator unit for use in a personal item locator system, the base locator unit comprising:
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a base controller;
a plurality of personal item switches coupled to the base controller, wherein each of the personal item switches correspond to at least one of a plurality of personal item units that each include a personal item receiver and are attached to a personal item to be located;
a programming switch coupled to the base controller;
a base antenna coupled to the base transmitter; and
a base transmitter coupled to the base controller, the base transmitter transmitting a personal item unit programming signal responsive to the activation of the programming switch, wherein one of the plurality of personal item units receives the personal item unit programming signal and stores a unique identification (ID) code provided by the base transmitter responsive to the personal item unit programming signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A personal item unit for use in a personal item locator system, the personal item unit being attached to a personal item to be located, the personal item unit comprising:
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a personal item antenna for facilitating communication with at least one of a base locator unit and a portable locator unit;
a personal item receiver coupled to the personal item antenna;
a personal item controller coupled to the personal item receiver;
a personal item audio output device coupled to the personal item controller, the personal item controller decoding a received signal and actuating the personal item audio output device when an ID code of the received signal corresponds to a stored ID code of the personal item unit;
a personal item battery for supplying power to the personal item receiver and the personal item controller; and
a personal item housing for retaining the personal item antenna, the personal item controller, the personal item audio output device and the personal item battery. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification