SMART ALARM OBJECT PROXIMITY SYSTEM USING MOTION DETECTION SIGNAL ADJUSTMENT

• US 20150379841A1
• Filed: 09/09/2015
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charm Alarm LLC
• Original Assignee: Charm Alarm LLC
• Inventors: Jenkins, Diane, Tarnoff, Harry, Juran, Warren
• Granted Patent: US 9,437,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1472 with force or weight detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0225 Monitoring making use of different thresholds, e.g. for different alarm levels
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0233 System arrangements with pre-alarms, e.g. when a first distance is exceeded
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]

Abstract

An object proximity alert system using motion detection having a smart alarm component for receiving a proximity signal from an associated object monitor component. The object monitor includes within its housing a motion detector that monitors the state of motion of the object monitor, and at least one operating instruction that adjusts a property of the transmitted proximity signal in response to a change in the object monitor'"'"'s motion state. The smart alarm sets off a perceptible alarm through one or more sensory alert mechanisms when the separation distance between the smart charm and object monitor is determined to exceed a threshold alert criterion.

Claims

1. An object proximity alert system comprising:

a smart alarm and an object monitor;

said smart alarm having an alarm housing;

wherein said alarm housing contains an alarm controller, an alarm communicator capable of receiving a radio frequency proximity signal transmitted from said object monitor, at least one operating instruction to determine a measure of said radio frequency proximity signal, at least one alarm operating instruction to determine if said measure satisfies a threshold alert criterion, and at least one alarm operating instruction to activate a sensory alert mechanism when said measure fails to satisfy said threshold alert criterion;

said object monitor having a monitor housing;

wherein said monitor housing contains a motion detector that is capable of monitoring a motion state of said moveable object monitor and producing a monitor motion signal in response to a change in said motion state of said object monitor;

said monitor housing contains at least one object monitor operating instruction for said moveable object monitor to adjust a property of said radio frequency proximity signal in response to said object monitor motion signal.

2. The object proximity alert system of claim 1 wherein said property adjusted is the transmission power of said proximity signal.

3. The object proximity alert system of claim 1 wherein said measure is of the received signal strength of said proximity signal.

4. The object proximity alert system of claim 1 further comprising said monitor housing contains at least one object monitor operating instruction to transmit said proximity signal as a number of pulses in a transmittal period of time, and said measure is a count of the number of proximity signal pulses received during a receiving period of time.

5. The object proximity alert system of claim 4 wherein said property adjusted is the number of proximity signal pulses received during said transmittal period of time.

6. The object proximity alert system of claim 1 wherein said monitor housing is substantially the same size and shape as a standard banking card.

7. The object proximity alert system of claim 1 wherein said alarm housing is substantially the same size as a jewelry charm.

8. The object proximity alert system of claim 1 wherein said object monitor housing is substantially the same size and shape as a standard banking card, and said alarm housing is substantially the same size as a jewelry charm.

9. The object proximity alert system of claim 1 further comprising a motion detector actuator capable of activating and deactivating said motion detector.

10. The object proximity alert system of claim 9 wherein said motion detector actuator is accessible on said object monitor housing.

11. The object proximity alert system of claim 9 wherein said motion detector actuator is accessible on said alarm housing.

12. The object proximity alert system of claim 1 further comprising said alarm housing containing a visual alert incorporated in said alarm housing.

13. The object proximity alert system of claim 12 further comprising said alarm housing containing an ambient light sensor capable of measuring the level of ambient light, and also containing at least one operating instruction for said smart alarm to adjust a property of said visual alert based on the measured level of ambient light.

14. The object proximity alert system of claim 1 further comprising said alarm housing containing an auditory alert incorporated in said alarm housing.

15. The object proximity alert system of claim 14 further comprising said alarm housing containing an ambient auditory sensor capable of measuring the level of ambient noise, and also containing at least one operating instruction for said smart alarm to adjust a property of said auditory alert based on the measured level of ambient noise.