Alarm system

• US 5,521,582 A
• Filed: 11/18/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LogicMark LLC (Nxt-Id, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John E. Kingston
• Inventors: Kingston, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/342,427
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/531, 340/691, 340/692, 340/573, 340/534, 455/38.1, 455/38.2, 455/228, 455/89, 379/37-40, 381/111, 381/122, 368/1, 368/10-13
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices

Abstract

A signalling device to be worn on the person includes an emergency button (2) which triggers an internal transmitter to transmit an encoded identification signal followed by audio signals derived from sounds picked up by a microphone (3). The transmitted signals are picked up by a control box (21) containing a radio receiver which encodes the signals and commands an alarm box (24) to send out an audible and/or visual warning. Such warnings alternate with periods in which the alarm box broadcasts sounds picked up by the microphone (3).

Claims

1. An alarm system which includes an alarm signalling device comprising a housing (1) adapted to be worn on the person, the alarm signalling device including:

transmitter means (14) for sending out radio signals,

a microphone (3) for picking up sounds and producing audio signals to modulate said transmitter means,

emergency trigger means (2) for operating the transmitter means (14), and

code generator means (16) for modulating the transmitter means with an encoded identification signal, said transmitter means, said microphone, said trigger means and said code generator means being operatively interconnected, and said transmitter means (14) being constructed to transmit, for an initial period, encoded information from said code generator means (16), and to thereafter switch automatically to transmit said audio signals for a second period.

2. An alarm system according to claim 1, in which said transmitter means (14) is constructed to repeatedly transmit the encoded identification signal during said initial period.

3. An alarm system according to claim 1, including control means (21) which comprises radio receiver means (19) for receiving and demodulating said radio signals sent out by said transmitter means (14), and a recognition circuit (22) for generating an alarm signal when the correct encoded identification signal is received, the alarm signal being arranged to operate audible (26) and/or visual (28) alarm means, and the receiver means (19) being arranged to send said audio signals to loudspeaker means (26).

4. An alarm system according to claim 3, in which said control means is constructed to operate the alarm means for periods which alternate with intermediate periods in which said audio signals drive the loudspeaker means (26).

5. An alarm system according to claim 1, including control means which comprises radio receiver means and a recognition circuit for initiating a telephone call to a remote location via a telephone system when the correct encoded identification signal is received the control means being arranged to feed said audio signals to the remote location via the telephone system.

6. An alarm system according to claim 1, including control means (21) for storing an identification code and including connection means (30) for transferring the identification code to the signalling device, said signalling device including store means (17) for storing the received identification code.

7. An alarm system according to claim 6, in which the control means (21) is arranged to permit the user to enter the identification code into the control means.