Apparatus for audible altering of enclosure opening
First Claim
1. A portable miniaturized self-contained audible alerting apparatus for being placed in a normally darkened enclosure for audibly alerting a person outside of and a distance from said enclosure that said enclosure is opened, said apparatus comprising a small case having a light-receiving aperture, photodetector means within said case and positioned with respect to said aperture for detecting light received by said aperture and providing an electronic first signal in response to detected light, time delay means within said case, an oscillator controlled by said time delay means for providing a time-delayed electronic second signal of audible character in response to said first signal after a predetermined period following the providing of said first signal by said photodetector means continuously for said predetermined period, frequency control means within said case for causing said audible second signal to change repeatedly between upper and lower frequency limits, amplifier means within said case for effectively amplifying said time-delayed electronic second signal, and transducer means within said case for converting said electronic second signal to an audible alerting signal of sufficient loudness for being heard by said person outside of and at a distance from said enclosure, said case including within it a battery for powering said time delay means, said oscillator, said frequency control means, said amplifier means, and said transducer means, said case being positionable within said enclosure for permitting light from outside said enclosure to be received by said aperture when said enclosure is opened whereby if said enclosure is opened, said person will be alerted after said predetermined period by said audible alerting signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, miniaturized, self-contained audible alerting device is disclosed. The device is housed in a small case adapted to be positioned in a darkened enclosure, such as a medicine cabinet, for receiving light when the enclosure is opened, producing an audible signal after a predetermined time delay for altering a person some distance from the enclosure that the latter has been opened, e.g., by a child. Within the case is a photodetector positioned with respect to an aperture of the case which receives light upon opening of the enclosure. Also within the case is a time delay circuit responsive to the photodetector, a first oscillator controlled by the time delay circuit, an amplifier circuit and a transducer, for providing the audible alerting signal only after the time delay. A frequency control circuit, comprising a lower frequency oscillator, causes an output signal of the first oscillator to change repeatedly between upper and lower frequency limits. The time delay prevents the alerting signal from being given if the enclosure is opened and then closed quickly enough by a person knowing of the device, e.g., the parent of the child. The upper and lower frequency limits are such that the signal can be heard even by persons having frequency impaired hearing.
22 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A portable miniaturized self-contained audible alerting apparatus for being placed in a normally darkened enclosure for audibly alerting a person outside of and a distance from said enclosure that said enclosure is opened, said apparatus comprising a small case having a light-receiving aperture, photodetector means within said case and positioned with respect to said aperture for detecting light received by said aperture and providing an electronic first signal in response to detected light, time delay means within said case, an oscillator controlled by said time delay means for providing a time-delayed electronic second signal of audible character in response to said first signal after a predetermined period following the providing of said first signal by said photodetector means continuously for said predetermined period, frequency control means within said case for causing said audible second signal to change repeatedly between upper and lower frequency limits, amplifier means within said case for effectively amplifying said time-delayed electronic second signal, and transducer means within said case for converting said electronic second signal to an audible alerting signal of sufficient loudness for being heard by said person outside of and at a distance from said enclosure, said case including within it a battery for powering said time delay means, said oscillator, said frequency control means, said amplifier means, and said transducer means, said case being positionable within said enclosure for permitting light from outside said enclosure to be received by said aperture when said enclosure is opened whereby if said enclosure is opened, said person will be alerted after said predetermined period by said audible alerting signal.
Specification