Electronic missing file locator system

• US 5,450,070 A
• Filed: 04/04/1994
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sheppard Massar, Ted N. Altman
• Original Assignee: Sheppard Massar, Ted N. Altman
• Inventors: Altman, Ted N., Massar, Sheppard
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/222,330
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.49, 340/825.54, 340/825.35, 340/568, 340/571, 340/572
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A file folder locating system which includes a transmitter to selectively transmit packets of radio frequency cycles indicative of the coded address of a particular folder. A transponder, attached to the folder, receives the transmission and responds thereto by producing an audible sound which enables the file to be easily located.

Claims

1. Apparatus for attachment within a file folder having a large mass of sound absorbing material and having a space along an edge portion thereof, without appreciably increasing the thickness of said file folder, said apparatus being responsive to an outside stimulus from a remotely located interrogator so as to aid in locating the file folder if misplaced, said apparatus comprising:

a thin sheet of material conforming substantially to the inside dimensions of one flap of a file folder;

a loop antenna secured to said thin sheet proximate the outer circumference thereof, said antenna having opposite ends;

a battery in wafer form secured to said thin sheet having power output terminals for providing a D.C. operating voltage;

receiver circuitry secured to said thin sheet of material having two signal input terminals connected to said opposite ends of said antenna, two power input terminals connected to said power output terminals of said battery, and signal output terminals;

a sound producing device secured to said sheet and coupled to said output terminals;

said receiver circuitry having signal storage means for storing an address for said file folder and means for activating said sound producing device in response to a signal at its input terminals that represents said address;

the thickness of any one of said receiver circuitry, battery and sound producing device not exceeding 0.15 of an inch; and

said apparatus being attached to said file folder for positioning said sound producing device adjacent said space, and said space providing a low acoustic impedance pathway from said sound producing device to areas outside said file folder.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means in said receiver circuitry for changing the address stored in said storage means in response to coded signals applied to said input terminals.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means in said receiver circuitry responsive to coded interrogation signals for providing output signals representing the address stored in said storage means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

means in said receiver circuitry for changing the address stored in said storage means in response to coded signals applied to said signal input terminals.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheet of material is an integral part of said file folder.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheet of material is adapted for removable attachment to a file folder.

7. Apparatus including receiver means for attachment to a file folder without substantially increasing its thickness, and a transmitter for transmitting an address signal unique to said receiver means, said receiver means being responsive to said address signal for activating a sound producing device means for producing an audible signal to aid in locating the file folder if misplaced, wherein the improvement comprises:

a thin sheet of non-conductive material having the same interior dimensions of a flap of said file folder to which said sheet is adapted to be attached;

a loop antenna secured to said sheet proximate the circumference thereof, said antenna having opposite ends;

a battery in wafer form secured to said sheet, said battery having power output terminals for providing a D.C. operating voltage;

said receiver means including a sheet-like signal receiver secured to said sheet, said receiver having two signal input terminals connected to said opposite ends of said antenna, two power input terminals connected to said power output terminals of said battery secured to said sheet of non-conductive material; and

said sound producing means includes a thin sound producing transducer coupled to said output terminals and secured at one edge of said sheet adjacent a space within said file folder, said space providing a low acoustic impedance pathway from said sound producing transducer to areas outside said file folder.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said receiver means further includes signal storage means for storing an address predetermined for said file folder, and said activating means being responsive to a received signal address identical to the stored address in said signal storage means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means in said receiver means for changing the address stored in said storage means in response to coded signals applied to said antenna.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said sheet of non-conductive material is an integral part of said file folder.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said sheet of non-conductive material is adapted for removable attachment to said file folder.