Electronic sensor system for monitoring activity of objects

• US 20030093247A1
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIPO SA
• Original Assignee: DIPO SA
• Inventors: Enea, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 7,009,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• 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 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

An electronic sensor system for monitoring activity of objects according to the invention is of the type includes a central electronic unit exchanging encoded information through radio frequencies with at least one transponder, associated with an object to be monitored, in order to check for activity, such as its presence in a defined volume, and emitting an alarm when said encoded information received from the transponder directs the central electronic unit to start the alarm. The central electronic unit selectively corresponds with each transponder in the system and controls whether the transponder operates in stand-by mode or an active phase mode.

Claims

1. An electronic sensor system for monitoring activity of an object comprising:

a central electronic unit means;

at least one transponder means being interactive with said central electronic unit means;

wherein said central electronic unit means exchanges encoded activity information through radio frequencies with the transponder means; and

wherein said transponder means is associated with the object; and

an alarm means being interactive with said central electronic unit means, wherein said central electronic unit directs said alarm means to emit an alarm upon receipt of selected encoded activity information from the transponder means;

wherein said transponder means has a stand-by mode and an active phase mode, said transponder means being set in stand-by mode for operation of the system, and said central electronic unit means selectively corresponding with the transponder means and controlling said stand-by mode and said active phase mode of said transponder means.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said central electronic unit comprises a transmission/reception circuit, an interface comprising a buffer memory enabling radio-frequency connection between the central electronic unit and several transponders, a microcontroller, and memory storage containing the algorithms, in the form of computer programs, of the different modes of operation of the system, said microcontroller processing the encoded activity information from a transponder, such as location in a defined volume or temperature readings.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said transponder means comprise a sensor means, a power source, a microcontroller and memory storage, a transmission/reception circuit and an interface comprising a buffer memory enabling connection with several controllers.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said transponder further comprises a transmission/reception circuit and an intelligent memory capable, upon receipt of an impulse sent by the central electronic unit, of sending, via said transmission/reception circuit, an encoded information contained in its memory to the central electronic unit.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said sensor means is comprised of an activity sensor, a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, an equilibrium sensor or a means for checking a presence of said transponder means in a defined volume.

6. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising:

a calibration means interactive with said central electronic unit means, said calibration means for monitoring activity of the transponder means within the defined volume and recording activity status of the transponder means in a memory of said central electronic unit means among a set of transponders referenced in said memory;

a protection means interactive with said central electronic unit means for querying successively in a loop the transponder means in said memory and for transmitting an activation signal to said alarm means if activity status of a transponder means is reported outside of pre-determined parameters; and

a detection means interactive with said central electronic unit means for successively querying the transponder means in a loop and for triggering said alarm means at an instant when a transponder means responds with activity information outside of pre-determined parameters.

7. The sensor system of claim 6, further comprising:

an initialization means interactive with said central electronic unit means for introducing additional transponders during a time period at a beginning of the querying of the transponder means, said initialization means for referencing the additional transponders into said memory, the identified transponder means being in said stand-by mode during said time period.

8. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising:

monitor means interactive with said central electronic unit means for informing a user of a state of operation of said central electronic unit means.

9. The sensor system of claim 1, the transponder means comprising:

a microcontroller;

a memory interactive with said microcontroller; and

a transmission/reception circuit in communication with said central electronic unit means.

10. The sensor system of claim 1, the transponder means comprising:

a transmission/reception circuit; and

a random memory means for sending an encoded information contained therein through said transmission/reception circuit to said central electronic unit means upon receipt of an impulse transmitted by said central electronic unit means.

11. The sensor system of claim 1, the transponder means comprising:

an electronic label suitable for being integrated into the object.

12. The sensor system of claim 1, said transponder means comprising a power source autonomous therein so as to supply power to said transponder means.

13. The sensor system of claim 1, said central electronic unit means for supplying power to said transducer means.

14. The sensor system of claim 1, said encoded activity information being encrypted.

15. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising:

an absence counter means interactive with said central electronic unit means for triggering said alarm means when said transponder means reports encoded activity information outside of pre-determined parameters, such as presence in a defined volume, for a desired number times.