Rescue transmitter apparatus

• US 4,673,936 A
• Filed: 02/24/1983
• Issued: 06/16/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Kotoh, Keigo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tubbesing, T. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US06/469,600
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 343/6.5 R, 343/6.8 R, 455/96, 455/100, 455/89, 455/90, 455/128, 342/42, 342/44, 342/51
• US Class Current: 342/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/06 Antennas attached to or integrated in clock or watch bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0343 to be carried on the body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device

Abstract

A small-size transmitting apparatus for search and rescue operation (SARTR) adapted to be worn by a user for emitting a microwave rescue signal upon a marine accident involving the user. The SARTR includes a power supply, a transmitter unit energizable by the power supply and having a microwave oscillator, a transmitting antenna receiving of a microwave output from the transmitter unit for emitting the microwave rescue signal, a case accommodating the power supply, the transmitter unit, and the transmitting antenna and attachable directly to the user'"'"'s body, or mountable on clothing or the like worn by the user for being carried thereby, and a switch unit mounted in the case for controlling the emission of the microwave rescue signal.

Claims

1. A rescue transmitter apparatus for emitting a microwave rescue signal upon the occurrence of an accident, comprising:

a power supply unit,

a transmitter unit energizable by said, power supply unit and including a microwave oscillator,

a transmitting antenna receptive of a microwave output from said transmitter unit for emitting the microwave rescue signal,

a case accommodating said power supply unit, said transmitter unit, and said transmitting antenna and being of a size so as to be attachable to a human body or mountable on clothing for being carried thereby, and

a switch unit mounted in said case for controlling the emission of said rescue signal,

wherein said transmitter unit and said receiver are constructed as flat boards, and

said apparatus further comprises a flat board microwave absorber sandwiched between said transmitter unit and said transmitting antenna.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising;

a receiving antenna for picking up an interrogating signal, and a receiver for receiving the interrogating signal from the receiving antenna, wherein said transmitter unit is energizable to cause said transmitting antenna to emit said rescue signal for a predetermined interval of time when the interrogating signal is received by said receiver.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rescue transmitter apparatus is directly attached to the human body to thereby improve deterioration in transmitting and receiving efficiency of said antenna due to reduction in conductor area.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said switch unit is actuatable from the exterior of said case.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said switch unit comprises a starter cover mechanically mounted over said receiving antenna for blocking said interrogating signal against receiving by said receiving antenna, said starter cover being removable for initiating emission of the microwave rescue signal by said transmitting antenna.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said switch unit comprises a starter cover mechanically mounted over said receiving antenna for blocking said interrogating signal against receiving by said receiving antenna, said starter cover being removable for initiating emission of the microwave rescue signal by said transmitting antenna.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a timepiece contained in said case.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said case is provided with a wrist strap for direct attachment to the arm of a wearer.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said case comprises a pendant which can hang from the neck of the wearer.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said case is incorporated in a life jacket.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting unit constitutes a microwave unit constructed as a microwave integrated circuit.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transmission antenna and said reception antenna each comprises a slot antenna having a length equal to one-half the wavelength of the microwave signal.

13. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transmitter unit and said receiver are constructed as a microwave integrated circuit, and said transmitting antenna and said receiving antenna each comprises a slot antenna.