Location Device

• US 20100295675A1
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mobilarm
• Original Assignee: Mobilarm
• Inventors: Lyon, Lindsay
• Application Number:
  US12/739,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/0005 by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat alarms responsive to presence of persons in a body of water in general G08B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/088 by monitoring a device worn by the person, e.g. a bracelet attached to the swimmer

Abstract

A location device includes a location detection and processing module, preferably a global positioning device for receiving satellite signals. Module outputs position data in the form of a digitally encoded signal to a control processor coupled to an activation device. The processor processes the signal and provides a signal to a voice synthesizer in a form the synthesizer can recognize and converts to a voice data signal stating the position in terms of latitude and longitude. The synthesizer sends that signal to a transmitter which transmits the signal as an over the air voice signal. The control processor may send the digitally encoded voice data to a transmitter or to a transmitter for direct transmission to a central authority. The device may include an activation module for activating the device response to a specific stimulus.

Claims

1. A location device for use with a marine vessel, the location device arranged so as to be carried or worn by a person on a marine vessel, the location device comprising:

a location detection processor for providing position data in relation to the location of the device;

a voice synthesiser for receiving the position data and converting the position data to a voice signal;

a transmitter device for receiving the voice signal from the synthesiser and for transmitting an over the air voice message representative of the voice signal; and

a device activation module arranged to activate the location device and thereby cause the device to transmit the voice message when an indication is received by the device activation module that a person is not onboard the vessel.

2. The location device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is also operable to transmit the position data as an additional coded signal directly to a central authority.

3. The location device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control processor for activating the device and processing the position data for receipt by the voice synthesiser.

4. The location device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control processor is operative to provide digitally encoded location data to the voice synthesiser.

5. The location device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control processor is also operative to provide the digitally encoded location data to transmitter apparatus for transmission to a central authority.

6. The location device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transmitter device comprises the transmitter apparatus.

7. The location device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transmitter apparatus is separate to the transmitter device.

8. The location device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device activation module is arranged to activate the location device when a manual switch on the location device is activated.

9. The location device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device activation module is arranged to activate the location device in response to contact of the location device with water.

10. The location device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device activation module is arranged to activate the location device when an expected signal is not received by the location device.

11. The location device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device activation module is arranged to activate the location device when a change in altitude is detected by the location device.