Self-activating system and method for alerting when an object or a person is left unattended
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- at least one detector for monitoring the presence of at least one object in a position;
means, coupled to the at least one detector for transmitting one of a plurality of unique wireless signals to include a first signal when the at least one object is in the position and a second signal when the at least one object is moved from the position; and
means, remotely located with respect to the transmitting means, for sensing each of said first signal and said second signal, the sensing means having a first timing function and a second timing function, said first timing function being enabled when the sensing means senses said first signal, said first timing function timing to a first time interval wherein, at the completion of each said first time interval, the sensing means (i) repeats said first timing function if said first signal is sensed, (ii) disables said first timing function if said second signal is sensed, and (iii) enables said second timing function if neither of said first signal and said second signal is sensed, said second timing function, if enabled, timing to a second time interval having a first time and ending at a second time that is later than said first time, the sensing means issuing a first alarm signal at said first time if neither of said first signal and said second signal is sensed thereat, the sensing means discontinuing said first alarm signal if said first signal is sensed during said second time interval, and the sensing means issuing a second alarm signal if said first signal is not sensed during said second time interval, said second alarm signal continuing after said second time until said second signal is sensed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method uses a wireless tether comprising a transmitter and a receiver to alert a caregiver that an object or person has been left unattended. A detector senses the presence of the object, usually a child, located in a position such as a safety seat. The detector couples to the transmitter, which is located near the object. The transmitter transmits at least one wireless signal when the object is in the position. The receiver, which is remotely located from the transmitter, senses the at least one signal as long as the receiver is within a prescribed range of transmission. By performing a timing function, the receiver monitors the proximity of the caregiver, who maintains possession of the receiver, to the transmitter. The system communicates an alarm to the caregiver when the caregiver ventures outside the range of transmission without having removed the object/child from the position.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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at least one detector for monitoring the presence of at least one object in a position;
means, coupled to the at least one detector for transmitting one of a plurality of unique wireless signals to include a first signal when the at least one object is in the position and a second signal when the at least one object is moved from the position; and
means, remotely located with respect to the transmitting means, for sensing each of said first signal and said second signal, the sensing means having a first timing function and a second timing function, said first timing function being enabled when the sensing means senses said first signal, said first timing function timing to a first time interval wherein, at the completion of each said first time interval, the sensing means (i) repeats said first timing function if said first signal is sensed, (ii) disables said first timing function if said second signal is sensed, and (iii) enables said second timing function if neither of said first signal and said second signal is sensed, said second timing function, if enabled, timing to a second time interval having a first time and ending at a second time that is later than said first time, the sensing means issuing a first alarm signal at said first time if neither of said first signal and said second signal is sensed thereat, the sensing means discontinuing said first alarm signal if said first signal is sensed during said second time interval, and the sensing means issuing a second alarm signal if said first signal is not sensed during said second time interval, said second alarm signal continuing after said second time until said second signal is sensed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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at least one detector for monitoring the presence of at least one object in a position;
at least one means, coupled to the at least one detector, for transmitting one of a plurality of wireless signals to include a first signal when the at least one object is placed in the position, a second signal while the at least one object remains in the position, and a third signal when the at least one object is moved from the position; and
means, remotely located with respect to the at least one transmitting means, for sensing each of said first signal, said second signal, and said third signal, the sensing means having a first timing function and a second timing function, said first timing function being enabled when the sensing means senses said first signal, said first timing function timing to a first time interval wherein, at the completion of each said first time interval, the sensing means (i) repeats said first timing function if said second signal is sensed, (ii) disables said first timing function if said third signal is sensed, and (iii) enables said second timing function if neither of said second signal and said third signal is sensed, said second timing function, if enabled, timing to a second time interval having a first time and ending at a second time that is later than said first time, the sensing means issuing a first alarm signal commencing at said first time if neither of said second signal and said third signal is sensed thereat, the sensing means discontinuing said first alarm signal if said second signal is sensed during said second time interval, and the sensing means issuing a second alarm signal if said second signal is not sensed during said second time interval, said second alarm signal continuing after said second time until said third signal is sensed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for alerting a caregiver that a child has been left unattended in a safety seat in a vehicle, comprising:
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a detector for monitoring one of presence and absence of the child in the safety seat;
a transmitter maintained at the vehicle and capable of transmitting a plurality of wireless signals to include at least a first signal and a second signal;
a receiver for possession by the caregiver and capable of receiving each of said plurality of wireless signals provided said receiver is within a predetermined range of said transmitter;
a transmitter controller coupled to said detector and said transmitter for monitoring said detector and for activating said transmitter to generate said first signal when said detector senses that the child is in the safety seat and for activating said transmitter to generate said second signal when said detector senses that the child has left the safety seat;
a receiver controller coupled to said receiver and having a first timing function and a second timing function, said first timing function being enabled when said receiver is within said predetermined range and said first signal is sensed, said first timing function timing to a first time interval wherein, at the completion of each said first time interval, said receiver controller (i) repeats said first timing function if said receiver senses said first signal, (ii) disables said first timing function if said receiver senses said second signal, and (iii) enables said second timing function if said receiver senses neither of said first signal and said second signal, said second timing function, if enabled, timing to a second time interval having a first time and ending at a second time that is later than said first time wherein, once said second timing function has been enabled, said receiver controller i) issues a first alarm signal at said first time if said receiver is beyond said predetermined range, ii) discontinues said first alarm signal, disables said second timing function and re-starts said first timing function if said receiver is brought back within said predetermined range during said second time interval while the child is in the safety seat, and iii) issues a second alarm signal if said receiver is not brought within said predetermined range during said second time interval, said second alarm signal continuing after said second time until said receiver is brought back within said predetermined range and the child is removed from the safety seat; and
an audible sound producer coupled to said receiver controller for generating a first audio output in response to said first alarm signal and for generating a second audio output in response to said second alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for alerting a caregiver that a child has been left unattended in a safety seat in a vehicle, comprising:
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a detector for monitoring one of presence and absence of the child in the safety seat;
a transmitter maintained at the vehicle and capable of transmitting a plurality of wireless signals to include a first signal, a second signal and a third signal;
a receiver for possession by the caregiver and capable of receiving each of said plurality of wireless signals provided said receiver is within a predetermined range of said transmitter;
a transmitter controller coupled to said detector and said transmitter for periodically monitoring said detector and for activating said transmitter to generate said first signal only when said detector first senses that the child has been placed in the safety seat, for activating said transmitter to generate said second signal when said detector senses that the child is in the car seat after a transmission of said first signal, and for activating said transmitter to generate said third signal when the child has left the safety seat;
a receiver controller coupled to said receiver and having a first timing function and a second timing function, said first timing function being enabled when said receiver is within said predetermined range and said second signal is sensed, said first timing function timing to a first time interval wherein, at the completion of each said first time interval, said receiver controller (i) repeats said first timing function if said receiver senses said second signal, (ii) disables said first timing function if said receiver senses said third signal, and (iii) enables said second timing function if said receiver senses neither of said second signal and said third signal, said second timing function, if enabled, timing to a second time interval having a first time and ending at a second time that is later than said first time wherein, once said second timing function has been enabled, said receiver controller i) issues a first alarm signal at said first time if said receiver is beyond said predetermined range, ii) discontinues said first alarm signal, disables said second timing function and restarts said first timing function if said receiver is brought back within said predetermined range during said second time interval while the child is in the safety seat, and iii) issues a second alarm signal if said receiver is not brought within said predetermined range during said second time interval, said second alarm signal continuing after said second time until said receiver is brought back within said predetermined range and the child is removed from the safety seat; and
an audible sound producer coupled to said receiver controller for generating a first audio output in response to said first alarm signal and for generating a second audio output in response to said second alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. An apparatus for alerting a caregiver that an immobile child has been left unattended in a safety seat, comprising:
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a transmitter capable of transmitting at least one encoded wireless signal, the at least one encoded wireless signal having a predetermined range of transmission;
means, operatively coupled to the transmitter, for detecting the presence of the child in the safety seat;
means, operatively coupled to the detecting means, for activating the transmitter to generate the at least one encoded wireless signal when the presence of the child is detected;
means, operatively coupled to the transmitter, for tethering the caregiver within a predetermined distance from the immobile child, the predetermined distance corresponding to the predetermined range of transmission of the transmitter; and
means, remotely located with respect to the transmitter, for communicating an alarm to the caregiver when the caregiver is beyond the predetermined distance from the immobile child. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method for alerting a caregiver that a child has been left unattended in a child safety seat, comprising steps for:
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detecting the presence of the child in the safety seat;
activating a wireless signal-sending system once the presence of the child is detected;
tethering the caregiver with the wireless signal-sending system; and
communicating an alarm to the tethered caregiver once the caregiver is beyond a predetermined distance from the child. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A method for alerting a caregiver that a child has been left unattended in a child safety seat, comprising the acts of:
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sensing the presence of the child in the safety seat;
sending an activating signal to a transmitter that is operatively connected to the child safety seat, the transmitter having a predetermined range of transmission;
transmitting a wireless signal to a receiver that is operatively coupled to the transmitter;
tethering the caregiver by maintaining the receiver in the vicinity of the caregiver; and
issuing an alarm once the receiver is outside the predetermined range of the transmitter.
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Specification