Rescue aiding apparatus and search system

• US 5,754,136 A
• Filed: 09/23/1996
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
• Original Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
• Inventors: Kojima, Kouichi, Abe, Hirohisa, Jikuya, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US08/717,718
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/457, 342/450, 342/419
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 29/021 Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A rescue aiding apparatus carried by a lost person includes a radio receiver for receiving a radio signal, a radio transmitter for transmitting a radio signal, and a power supply for supplying working power. When the radio receiver receives a radio search signal transmitted from a search party, the power supply supplies operating power to the radio transmitter. The apparatus thereby becomes fully operable, and the radio transmitter transmits a radio signal as a response signal for enabling a search for the lost person needing protection. Even when the lost person is unable to make a rescue request, the search party can, on their own will, place the rescue aiding apparatus carried by the lost person in a fully operable state to notify the search party of a current position of the lost person.

Claims

1. A rescue aiding apparatus for aiding in an operation to search a lost person urgently needing protection, comprising:

radio receiving means for receiving a radio signal transmitted as a search signal by a search party; and

radio transmitting means operable in response to said search signal for transmitting a radio signal as a response signal for enabling said operation to search said lost person;

wherein said radio transmitting means includes self-position computing means for deriving data corresponding to a self-position from radio wave signals transmitted from a plurality of radio wave transmitting stations, and position data inclusive signal transmitting means for outputting a radio signal including data indicative of said self-position provided by said self-position computing means.

2. A rescue aiding apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising power supply means for supplying operating power to said radio receiving means and said radio transmitting means, wherein said radio receiving means is operable in response to said search signal for outputting a control signal to said power supply means, and said power supply means, upon receipt of said control signal, supplies operating power to said radio transmitting means.

3. A rescue aiding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said rescue aiding apparatus has an individual ID code allocated thereto, and said search signal transmitted from said search party includes an ID code, said rescue aiding apparatus being operable to transmit said response signal only when said ID code included in said search signal received agrees with said individual ID code allocated.

4. A rescue aiding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of radio wave transmitting stations comprise at least three GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, said self-position computing means determining a self-position of said rescue aiding apparatus from radio wave signals transmitted from said GPS satellites.

5. A rescue aiding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of radio wave transmitting stations are installed at at least three different locations on land or at sea, said self-position computing means determining a self-position of said rescue aiding apparatus from radio wave signals transmitted from said radio wave transmitting stations.

6. A search system using a rescue aiding apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising:

a radio communication station capable of radio communication with said rescue aiding apparatus;

at least three radio wave transmitting stations for transmitting radio waves for use by said rescue aiding apparatus in computing a self-position; and

indicator means for indicating current position information on said lost person to said search party based on said data showing said self-position of said rescue aiding apparatus received at said radio communication station.

7. A search system as defined in claim 6, wherein said indicator means is connected to said radio communication station through a signal circuit.

8. A search system as defined in claim 6, wherein said indicator means includes portable terminal means for indicating said current position information on said lost person to said search party, and converting means for converting said current position information into a format presentable on said terminal means based on said data showing said self-position of said rescue aiding apparatus received at said radio communication station.

9. A search system comprising:

rescue aiding means including a radio receiver for receiving a radio signal transmitted as a search signal by a search party, and a radio transmitter operable in response to said search signal for transmitting a radio signal as a response signal for enabling an operation to search a lost person, said radio transmitter including position data exclusive signal transmitting means for outputting a radio signal without data indicative of a self-position;

a radio communication station for transmitting said search signal to said rescue aiding means;

two receiving means installed at two locations spaced apart from each other, and including directional antennas, respectively; and

indicator means for measuring arrival directions of said response signal at said two locations based on reception by said receiving means of said response signal from said rescue aiding means, and indicating current position information on said lost person to said search party based on said arrival directions and a distance between said two locations.