Article removal alarm system for use with portable electronic device
First Claim
1. An alarm system for generating an alarm signal upon removal of an article from the vicinity of a base unit, said alarm system comprising:
- a base unit for generating an ultrasonic signal for transmission into said vicinity of said base unit; and
a remote unit accompanying said article, said remote unit including;
a receiver for receiving said ultrasonic signal,a threshold detector for providing a threshold signal upon failure of said receiver to receive said ultrasonic signal at predetermined strength, andmeans for generating an alarm signal in response to said threshold signal.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article removal alarm system includes a base unit for generating an ultrasonic signal for transmission in the vicinity of the base unit. A remote unit accompanying an associated article includes a receiver for receiving the ultrasonic signal. A threshold detector provides a threshold signal upon failure of the receiver to receive the ultrasonic signal at predetermined strength. An alarm unit then generates an alarm signal in response to the threshold signal. In a particular implementation the system enables monitoring of the proximity of a stylus or other input utensil to a responsive user interface of an electronic device.
12 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An alarm system for generating an alarm signal upon removal of an article from the vicinity of a base unit, said alarm system comprising:
-
a base unit for generating an ultrasonic signal for transmission into said vicinity of said base unit; and a remote unit accompanying said article, said remote unit including; a receiver for receiving said ultrasonic signal, a threshold detector for providing a threshold signal upon failure of said receiver to receive said ultrasonic signal at predetermined strength, and means for generating an alarm signal in response to said threshold signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for alarming a remote unit accompanying an article upon removal of the article from the vicinity of a base unit, said method comprising the steps of:
-
generating an ultrasonic signal at said base unit which emanates into the vicinity of said base unit; receiving, at said remote unit, said ultrasonic signal; providing a threshold signal upon failure to receive said ultrasonic signal at predetermined strength; and generating an alarm signal at said remote unit in response to said threshold signal. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. A method for alarming a remote unit accompanying an article upon removal of the article from the vicinity of a base unit, said remote unit including a housing in which is disposed said article, said method comprising the steps of:
-
generating an ultrasonic signal at said base unit which emanates into the vicinity of said base unit; receiving, at said remote unit, said ultrasonic signal; providing a threshold signal upon failure to receive said ultrasonic signal at predetermined strength; and generating an audible alarm signal at said remote unit in response to said threshold signal. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
-
14. In a system including an electronic device having a user interface responsive to a user input utensil, an alarm system for generating an alarm signal upon removal of said user input utensil from the vicinity of said electronic device, said alarm system comprising:
-
means for generating an ultrasonic signal for transmission into the vicinity of said electronic device; and a remote unit accompanying said user input utensil, said remote unit including; a receiver for receiving said ultrasonic signal, a threshold detector for providing a threshold signal upon failure of said receiver to receive said ultrasonic signal at predetermined strength, and means for generating an alarm signal in response to said threshold signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification