Battery powered voice transmitter and receiver tuned to an RF frequency by the receiver

• US 5,873,026 A
• Filed: 07/07/1995
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James B. Reames
• Original Assignee: James B. Reames
• Inventors: Reames, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US08/499,453
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/66, 455/68, 455/69, 455/91, 455/95, 455/100, 455/92, 455/115, 455/67.1, 455/67.4, 455/464, 455/88, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519, 455/521, 455/522, 340/573, 340/539, 340/636, 340/870.09, 340/870.16
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC

Abstract

A microprocessor based transmitter and a microprocessor based receiver in which a user interface is located on the receiver. The transmitter has an internal DC digital voltage measuring circuit to determine the voltage level of the battery powering the transmitter. Periodically, the transmitter'"'"'s microprocessor inserts this digitally encoded voltage level in the sub-code area of the digital data being transmitted. The receiver decodes the DC voltage level of the transmitter battery, displays it, and inserts this voltage level in the sub-code area of its digital audio output signal. The voltage level of the transmitter battery is automatically recorded in the sub-code area of the DAT. By observing the DC voltage level, a trained operator can determine when the batteries are nearing the end of their useable life or that the battery voltage level is approaching its cut-off level.

Claims

1. A battery operated transmitter/receiver system for transmitting voice band audio signal comprising in combination;

means to transmit said voice band audio signal as a modulated radio frequency signal;

battery voltage detection means coupled to said battery, said battery voltage detection means generating a signal indicative of the voltage of said battery;

means to encode said signal indicative of the voltage of said battery;

said means to transmit periodically transmitting said signal indicative of the voltage of said battery to said receiver, a recorder connected to said receiver, said recorder recording successive ones of said signals indicating the value of the voltage of said battery power source, whereby said recording can be used to establish a rundown of said battery power source.

2. An audio band modulated RF transmitter/receiver system in which the transmitter is programmable to broadcast at a selected one of a plurality of RF operating frequencies and the receiver is programmable to demodulate a selected one of said plurality of RF operating frequencies, said system comprising in combination:

a receiver physically separated from the transmitter, including a receiver microprocessor, an operator interface coupled to said receiver microprocessor, and an RF demodulation channel coupled to said receiver microprocessor, said receiver microprocessor setting said demodulation channel to demodulate a selected one of a plurality of RF operating frequencies in response to a first input to said receiver microprocessor from said operator interface;

a transmitter physically separated from the receiver including a transmitter microprocessor and an RF modulation channel coupled to said transmitter microprocessor, said transmitter microprocessor setting said modulation channel to a selected one of said plurality of RF operating frequencies in response to a second input from said receiver microprocessor; and

said receiver microprocessor generating said second input in response to said first input to said receiver microprocessor from said operator interface; and

a hard wired connection for coupling said second input from said receiver microprocessor to said transmitter microprocessor, whereby said operator interface establishes an RF operating frequency for both said transmitter and said receiver;

a battery power source for energizing said transmitter, said transmitter further including a voltage detector that monitors the voltage of said battery power source and generates a signal indicating the value of the voltage of said battery power source, said transmitter microprocessor periodically causing said transmitter to transmit said signal indicating the value of the voltage of said battery power source to said receiver, a recorder connected to said receiver, said recorder recording successive ones of said signals indicating the value of the voltage of said battery power source, whereby said recording can be used to establish a rundown of said battery power source.

3. An audio band modulated RF transmitter/receiver system as in claim 2 further including on/off means coupled to said transmitter microprocessor means to cause said microprocessor to turn off said transmitter in response to an off input from said on/off means, said transmitter microprocessor causing said transmitter to transmit a signal encoding said off input in response to said off input prior to turning off said transmitter.

4. An audio band, modulated, RF transmitter/receiver system as in claim 2 wherein said microprocessor periodically activates said transmitter to transmit a short digital test signal.