Remote controlled system for monitoring the occupancy of an infant bearing device

• US 5,640,145 A
• Filed: 10/11/1994
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JT Posey Company (TIDI Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bed-Check Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Newham, Paul F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/321,244
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/568, 340/571, 340/529, 340/523, 340/667, 340/666, 340/693, 340/565, 340/309.15, 200/85 R, 200/85 A, 368/12, 371/16.3
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A system for monitoring an infant-bearing device includes a microprocessor responsive to a resident program. A first circuit connected to the microprocessor and to a sensor automatically activates operation of the microprocessor to a "monitor" mode upon detection of the infant'"'"'s presence, maintains operation of the microprocessor for a predetermined time period at least equal to a running time of the program and terminates operation of the microprocessor at the expiration of the predetermined time period if termination of the patient'"'"'s presence occurs prior to expiration of the predetermined time period. A second circuit operates the system in response to signals received from a remote control device to deactivate the system from the "monitor" mode. The microprocessor is further responsive to the first circuit to activate the system to the "monitor" mode after deactivation if the sensor subsequently detects termination and resumption of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device. A third circuit connected to the microprocessor provides an audio/alarm upon demand by the microprocessor. The microprocessor is responsive to the first circuit to switch the system from the "monitor" mode to an "alarm" mode and trigger the third circuit to generate an alarm after termination of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device after the system has been activated to the "monitor" mode. The microprocessor is responsive to the first circuit after the sensor detects resumption of the infant'"'"'s presence or to the signals received from the second circuit. Alternatively, resumption of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device will not cease the alarm. The alarm will cease after a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an infant-bearing device having a sensor thereon for detecting the presence of an infant on the device comprising:

a microprocessor responsive to a program resident therein;

first circuit means connected to said microprocessor and to the sensor for automatically activating operation of said microprocessor to a "monitor" mode upon detection by the sensor of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device, for maintaining operation of said microprocessor for a predetermined time period at least equal to a running time of said program and for terminating operation of said microprocessor at the expiration of said predetermined time period after detection by said sensor of termination of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device prior to expiration of said predetermined time period; and

second circuit means connected between said sensor and said microprocessor for operating said system in response to signals received from a remote control device.

2. A system according to claim 1, said microprocessor further being responsive to signals received from said second circuit means to deactivate said system from said monitor "mode after activating of said system to said" monitor mode.

3. A system according to claim 2, said microprocessor further being responsive to said first circuit means to activate said system to said "monitor" mode after said system has been deactivated from said "monitor" mode and subsequent detection by the sensor of termination of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device and resumption of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device.

4. A system according to claim 3 further comprising third circuit means connected to said microprocessor for providing an audio alarm upon demand by said microprocessor in response to said resident program.

5. A system according to claim 4, said microprocessor being responsive to said first circuit means to switch said system from said "monitor" mode to an "alarm" mode and trigger said third circuit means to generate an alarm after said system has been activated to said "monitor" mode and subsequent detection by the sensor of termination of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device.

6. A system according to claim 5, said microprocessor further being responsive to said program to delay switching to said "alarm" mode and generating of said alarm for a predetermined time after detection by the sensor of termination of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device.

7. A system according to claim 5, said microprocessor further being responsive to said first circuit means to switch said system from said "alarm" mode to said "monitor" mode and disarm said third circuit means to cease said alarm after the sensor detects resumption of the infant'"'"'s presence on the device.

8. A system according to claim 5, said microprocessor further being responsive to said signals received from said second circuit means to switch said system from said "alarm" mode to said "monitor" mode and disarm said third circuit means to cease said alarm.

9. A system according to claim 5, said microprocessor further being responsive to said program to switch said system from said "alarm" mode to said "monitor" mode and disarm said third circuit means to cease said alarm after a predetermined period of time.

10. A system according to claim 4, said microprocessor being responsive to said first circuit means to cause said third circuit means to generate a momentary audio alarm when said system is activated to said "monitor" mode.

11. A system according to claim 4, said microprocessor further being responsive to disconnection of said first circuit means from said microprocessor after said system is activated to said "monitor" mode to cause said third circuit means to generate an alarm.

12. A system according to claim 11, said disconnection of said first circuit means occurring upon any one of:

a. the sensor being electrically disconnected from said first circuit means;

b. the sensor being electrically disconnected from said microprocessor; and

c. insufficient voltage supply from a voltage source in said first circuit means to operate said system.