Lost article detector unit with adaptive actuation signal recognition and visual and/or audible locating signal
First Claim
1. A method of recognizing desired actuation sounds used by a lost article detector unit in deciding whether to activate a locating signal, the method comprising the following steps:
- (i) for a sequence of four actuation sounds definable in terms of an initial pause length P0, a time-length C1 for a first sound in said sequence, a pause length P1 between said first sound and a second sound in said sequence, a time-length C2 for said second sound, a pause length P2 between said second sound and a third sound in said sequence, a time-length C3 for said third sound in said sequence, a pause length P3 between said third sound and a fourth sound in said sequence, a time-length C4 for said fourth sound, and a final pause length P4 following said fourth sound,calculating and storing data for at least said C1, P1, C2, C3, P3, and C4;
(ii) using data selected from said C1, P1, and C2 to discriminate, using at least one predetermined relationship, against data selected from said C3, P3, and C4, to determine whether said sequence represents said desired actuation sounds; and
(iii) if step (ii) is satisfied, causing said detector unit to activate said locating signal, wherein said locating signal includes at least one signal selected from the group consisting of (a) a visual signal, (b) a pre-stored synthesized vocal message, and (c) a prestored synthesized musical passage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lost article detector unit includes a microprocessor programmed to execute adaptive actuation signal recognition that discerns desired activation sounds from noise. Preferably the desired activation sounds include a sequence of four adjacent spaced-apart hand claps made by the same user. A transducer provides amplified sound signals to the microprocessor, which then analyzes and stores pattern information associated with the first clap-pair. Signals from a second clap-pair are then analyzed and compared with stored pattern information from the first clap-pair, using the algorithm. The adaptive use of such pattern information permits imposing timing tolerances that are sufficiently tight to reduce false triggering, without requiring the user to memorize a rigid sequence pattern of clapping. Upon microprocessor-recognition of desired activation sounds, the microprocessor causes the transducer to provide a locating signal that may be visual and/or audible. Audible locating signals may include synthesized human speech (in more than one language and/or voice), songs, music, among other signals. The activation signal permits a user to locate the detector unit and small objects attached thereto.
110 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of recognizing desired actuation sounds used by a lost article detector unit in deciding whether to activate a locating signal, the method comprising the following steps:
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(i) for a sequence of four actuation sounds definable in terms of an initial pause length P0, a time-length C1 for a first sound in said sequence, a pause length P1 between said first sound and a second sound in said sequence, a time-length C2 for said second sound, a pause length P2 between said second sound and a third sound in said sequence, a time-length C3 for said third sound in said sequence, a pause length P3 between said third sound and a fourth sound in said sequence, a time-length C4 for said fourth sound, and a final pause length P4 following said fourth sound, calculating and storing data for at least said C1, P1, C2, C3, P3, and C4; (ii) using data selected from said C1, P1, and C2 to discriminate, using at least one predetermined relationship, against data selected from said C3, P3, and C4, to determine whether said sequence represents said desired actuation sounds; and (iii) if step (ii) is satisfied, causing said detector unit to activate said locating signal, wherein said locating signal includes at least one signal selected from the group consisting of (a) a visual signal, (b) a pre-stored synthesized vocal message, and (c) a prestored synthesized musical passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. For use with a lost article detector unit, a method of recognizing a desired actuating sequence comprising at least an initial pause length P0, a first pair of hand claps having a first clap of time duration C1, a second clap of time duration C2 and an inter-clap period of P1 therebetween, and after a pause P2 a second pair of hand claps having a third clap of time duration C3, a fourth clap of time duration C4, and an inter-clap period of P3 therebetween, and a final pause length P4 following said fourth clap, the method comprising the following steps:
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(i) calculating and storing data for at least said C1, P1, C2, C3, P3 and C4; (ii) using data selected from C1, P1, and C2 to discriminate using at least one predetermined relationship, against data selected from C3, P3, and C4, to determine whether said sequence represents said desired actuation sequence; and (iii) if step (ii) is satisfied, causing said detector unit to activate a locating signal, wherein said locating signal includes at least one signal selected from the group consisting of (a) a visual signal, (b) a pre-stored synthesized speech message, and (c) a prestored synthesized music passage. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. For use with a lost article detector unit, a method of recognizing a desired actuating sequence comprising at least an initial pause length P0, a first pair of hand claps having a first clap of time duration C1, a second clap of time duration C2 and an inter-clap period of P1 therebetween, and after a pause P2 a second pair of hand claps having a third clap of time duration C3, a fourth clap of time duration C4, and an inter-clap period of P3 therebetween, and a final pause length P4 following said fourth clap, the method comprising the following steps:
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(i) at least partially normalizing signal-to-noise ratio of magnitude of signals representing said first clap, said second clap, said third clap, and said fourth clap to magnitude of ambient environmental noise sounds; (ii) calculating and storing data for at least said C1, P1, C2, C3, P3 and C4; (iii) using data selected from C1, P1, and C2 to discriminate using at least one predetermined relationship, against data selected from C3, P3, and C4, to determine whether said sequence represents said desired actuation sequence; and (iv) if step (iii) is satisfied, causing said detector unit to activate a locating signal, wherein said locating signal includes at least one signal selected from the group consisting of (a) a visual signal, (b) an audible signal, (c) a pre-stored synthesized speech message, and (d) a pre-stored synthesized music passage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A lost article detector module, comprising:
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an input transducer that generates an internal signal in response to audible sound; a locator signal generator that generates a locator signal in response to detection by said detector module of a desired actuating sequence of said audible sound, said locator signal generator including at least one of a visual indicator and a sound module unit; a microprocessor unit having an input port coupled to receive said internal signal from said input transducer, and having an output port coupled to an input port of said locator signal generator; said microprocessor unit including at least a clock system, a counter system, an arithmetic-logic system, a persistent read only memory (ROM) system, and a volatile random access memory (RAM) system; said microprocessor unit programmed to execute a routine stored in said ROM to analyze a sequence of sounds and to recognize a desired actuating sequence comprising at least an initial pause length P0, a first pair of sounds having a first sound of time duration C1, a second sound of time duration C2 and an inter-sound period of P1 therebetween, and after a pause P2 a second pair of sounds having a third sound of time duration C3, a fourth sound of time duration C4, an inter-sound period of P3 therebetween, and a final pause length P4 following said fourth sound; said microprocessor unit using said clock system and said counter system to calculate and to store data in said RAM representing at least said C1, P1, C2, C3, P3, and C4; said microprocessor unit using data selected from said C1, P1, and C2 to discriminate, using at least one predetermined relationship, against data selected from said C3, P3, and C4 to determine whether said sequence represents said desired actuating sequence; and if said sequence represents said desired actuating sequence, said microprocessor unit causing said locator signal generator to activate a locating signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A lost article detector module, comprising:
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an input transducer that generates an internal signal in response to audible sound; an amplifier unit, coupled to receive and to amplify said internal signal by a gain that is at least in part proportional to magnitude of ambient noise detected by said input transducer; a locator signal generator that generates a locator signal in response to detection by said detector module of a desired actuating sequence of said audible sound, said locator signal generator including at least one of a visual indicator, a sound beep-generating transducer, and a sound module unit; a microprocessor unit having an input port coupled to receive the amplified signal from said input transducer, and having an output port coupled to an input port of said locator signal generator; said microprocessor unit including at least a clock system, a counter system, an arithmetic-logic system, a persistent read only memory (ROM) system, and a volatile random access memory (RAM) system; said microprocessor unit programmed to execute a routine stored in said ROM to analyze a sequence of sounds and to recognize a desired actuating sequence comprising at least an initial pause length P0, a first pair of sounds having a first sound of time duration C1, a second sound of time duration C2 and an inter-sound period of P1 therebetween, and after a pause P2 a second pair of sounds having a third sound of time duration C3, a fourth sound of time duration C4, an inter-sound period of P3 therebetween, and a final pause length P4 following said fourth sound; said microprocessor unit using said clock system and said counter system to calculate and to store data in said RAM representing at least said C1, P1, C2, C3, P3, and C4; said microprocessor unit using data selected from said C1, P1, and C2 to discriminate, using at least one predetermined relationship, against data selected from said C3, P3, and C4 to determine whether said sequence represents said desired actuating sequence; and if said sequence represents said desired actuating sequence, said microprocessor unit causing said locator signal generator to activate a locating signal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification