Multi-hazard alarm system using selectable power-level transmission and localization
First Claim
1. A personal alarm system, comprising:
- a remote unit including radio transmitting means and radio receiving means;
the remote unit transmitting means being able to transmit at more than one power level and defining a higher power level;
a base station including radio transmitting means and radio receiving means;
the remote unit and the base station being in radio communication and defining a separation distance between the remote unit and the base station;
measuring means for determining whether the separation distance exceeds a predetermined limit;
means responsive to the measuring means for causing the remote unit transmitting means to transmit at the higher power level when the separation distance exceeds the limit; and
alarm means for indicating when the separation distance exceeds the limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A personal alarm system includes a monitoring base station and one or more remote sensing units in two-way radio communication. An electronic handshake between the base station and each remote unit is used to assure system reliability. The remote units transmit at selectable power levels. In the absence of an emergency, a remote unit transmits at a power-conserving low power level. Received field strength is measured to determine whether a remote unit has moved beyond a predetermined distance from the base station. If the distance is exceeded, the remote unit transmits at a higher power level. The remote unit includes sensors for common hazards including water emersion, smoke, excessive heat, excessive carbon monoxide concentration, and electrical shock. The base station periodically polls the remote units and displays the status of the environmental sensors. The system is useful in child monitoring, for use with invalids, and with employees involved in activities which expose them to environmental risk. Alternative embodiments include a panic button on the remote unit for summoning help, and an audible beacon on the remote unit which can be activated from the base station and useful for locating strayed children. In another embodiment, the remote unit includes a Global Positioning System receiver providing location information for display by the base station.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A personal alarm system, comprising:
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a remote unit including radio transmitting means and radio receiving means; the remote unit transmitting means being able to transmit at more than one power level and defining a higher power level; a base station including radio transmitting means and radio receiving means; the remote unit and the base station being in radio communication and defining a separation distance between the remote unit and the base station; measuring means for determining whether the separation distance exceeds a predetermined limit; means responsive to the measuring means for causing the remote unit transmitting means to transmit at the higher power level when the separation distance exceeds the limit; and alarm means for indicating when the separation distance exceeds the limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A personal alarm system, comprising:
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a remote unit including remote radio transmitting means and remote radio receiving means; a base station including local radio transmitting means and local radio receiving means; the remote unit and the base station being in radio communication; the remote unit including global positioning system receiver means for providing the location of the remote unit in global positioning system coordinates; the remote unit further including at least one sensor means for detecting a personal hazard, the at least one sensor means providing a first output signal; the remote radio transmitting means connected to receive the global positioning coordinates for radio transmission of the coordinates, and the remote radio transmitting means defining a sensor status and connected to receive the first output signal for radio transmission of the sensor status; the base station including means responsive to global positioning coordinates received by the local radio receiving means for displaying the coordinates; and the base station including means responsive to the sensor status received by the local receiving means for displaying the sensor status, and for giving an alarm, whereby, a detectable emergency will cause the emergency to be identified to a base station operator and the base station will display the coordinates of the transmitting remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A personal alarm system, comprising:
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a remote unit including remote radio transmitting means and remote radio receiving means; a base station including local radio transmitting means and local radio receiving means; the remote unit and the base station being in radio communication; the remote unit including electrical shock sensor means and providing an output signal to the remote ;
radio transmitting means, the sensor including a pair of electrical contacts for connection to the body of a user; andthe remote radio transmitting means being adapted to transmit when the sensor detects an excessive electrical potential between the electrical contacts; the base station including means responsive to the transmission from the remote unit for giving an alarm, whereby an alarm can be given if the electrical shock hazard is detected.
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Specification