System for locating an object

• US 5,686,891 A
• Filed: 03/08/1996
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Furst Energy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Escobosa, Marcus, Sacca, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US08/614,164
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/539, 340/825.49, 455/231, 455/344, 455/899
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A system for locating an object. The system includes an electronic device, a wireless transmitter for outputting a transmitted signal, and a receiver wherein one of the receiver or the transmitter is mounted within the electronic device and the other is positioned remote therefrom. The receiver comprises a wake up timer circuit for periodically generating a wake up signal, a wireless signal receiver being activated by the receipt of the wake up signal from the wake up timer circuit for generating a detect signal when the wireless signal receiver circuit receives the transmitted signal from the transmitter; and an audible signal generator circuit for generating an audible signal upon receipt of the detect signal from the wireless signal receiver circuit. The wake up timer circuit and the wireless signal receiver circuit are disabled when the audible signal generator circuit generates the audible signal.

Claims

1. A system for locating an object, comprising:

an electronic device;

a wireless transmitter for outputting a transmitted signal positioned remotely from the electronic device; and

a receiver mounted in the electronic device, the receiver comprising;

a wake up timer circuit for periodically generating a wake up signal;

a wireless signal receiver being activated by the receipt of the wake up signal from the wake up timer circuit for generating a detect signal when the wireless signal receiver circuit receives the transmitted signal from the transmitter; and

an audible signal generator circuit for generating an audible signal upon receipt of the detect signal from the wireless signal receiver circuit;

wherein the wake up timer circuit and the wireless signal receiver circuit are disabled when the audible signal generator circuit generates the audible signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting essentially of a television set, a VCR, a video disc player, a cable control box, a CD player, and a radio.

3. A system for locating an object, comprising:

an electronic device;

a wireless transmitter for outputting a transmitted signal mounted within the electronic device; and

a receiver positioned remotely from the electronic device, comprising;

a wake up timer circuit for periodically generating a wake up signal;

a wireless signal receiver being activated by the receipt of the wake up signal from the wake up timer circuit for generating a detect signal when the wireless signal receiver circuit receives the transmitted signal from the transmitter; and

an audible signal generator circuit for generating an audible signal upon receipt of the detect signal from the wireless signal receiver circuit;

wherein the wake up timer circuit and the wireless signal receiver circuit are disabled when the audible signal generator circuit generates the audible signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting essentially of a television set, a VCR, a video disc player, a cable control box, a CD player, and a radio.

5. In a system for locating a lost object comprising a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, a method for conserving power within the receiver comprising the steps of:

causing a wake up timer within the receiver to generate a periodic wake up signal;

activating a receiver circuit within the receiver in response to the wake up signal;

causing the activation of an audible signal generator within the receiver in response to the detection by the receiver circuit of a transmit signal sent by the transmitter;

disabling the wake up timer and the receiver circuit in response to activation of the audible signal generator;

deactivating, after a preset time, the audible signal generator; and

reenabling the wake up timer circuit.