Device for detecting and signalling the presence of objects in a closed container and a mailbox containing the same
First Claim
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1. A device for detecting and signalling the presence of an object in a closed container, comprising:
- a housing;
one or more sensors each consisting essentially of an electronic circuit having a detection means and an optical signal triggering means, wherein said one or more sensors are coupled to said housing, wherein said detection means consists of an infrared transmitter which emits an infrared signal and an infrared detector for detecting said infrared signal after said infrared signal is reflected off the object to be detected and wherein said optical signal triggering means consists of an electrical circuit having an amplifying transistor in electrical connection with a capacitor which functions as a charge pump circuit for triggering said optical signalling means to generate a signal;
a power source electrically connected to said one or more sensors; and
an optical signalling means electrically connected to said optical signal triggering means.
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Abstract
A device for detecting and signalling the presence of an object in a closed container, comprising:
a housing;
one or more sensors each comprising an electronic circuit having a detector and an optical signal trigger, wherein the one or more sensors are coupled to the housing;
a power source electrically connected to the one or more sensors; and
an optical signal electrically connected to the optical signal trigger,
and its use in providing an electronic mailbox which allows an observer to detect the presence of mail from a remote location.
65 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A device for detecting and signalling the presence of an object in a closed container, comprising:
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a housing; one or more sensors each consisting essentially of an electronic circuit having a detection means and an optical signal triggering means, wherein said one or more sensors are coupled to said housing, wherein said detection means consists of an infrared transmitter which emits an infrared signal and an infrared detector for detecting said infrared signal after said infrared signal is reflected off the object to be detected and wherein said optical signal triggering means consists of an electrical circuit having an amplifying transistor in electrical connection with a capacitor which functions as a charge pump circuit for triggering said optical signalling means to generate a signal; a power source electrically connected to said one or more sensors; and an optical signalling means electrically connected to said optical signal triggering means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for detecting and signalling the presence of an object in a closed container, comprising:
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a housing; one or more sensors each comprising an electronic circuit having a detection means and an optical signal triggering means, wherein said one or more sensors are coupled to said housing; a power source electrically connected to said one or more sensors; and an optical signalling means electrically connected to said optical triggering means, wherein said optical signalling means comprises a high intensity LED having a shroud for increased security providing a decreased field of detection of less than 10 radial degrees. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification