Low power child locator system

• US 6,075,442 A
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Welch, Bryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/272,151
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/539, 340/505, 340/574, 343/898, 343/702
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

The low power child locator system consists of a lightweight, low power radio frequency transmitter beacon worn by the child and a radio frequency directional receiver that can be used to direct the user to the radio frequency beacon transmitter. The transmitter can be programmed to generate a unique signal to prevent its output radio signal from being received by another receiver. The transmitter-receiver pair therefore communicates to the exclusion of other transmitters and receivers that are operational in the vicinity of the transmitter-receiver pair. Since the child is assumed to not have traveled a great distance from their original location, the radio frequency directional receiver operates as a simple signal strength indicator, using a plurality of narrow beam antennas to enable the user to vector in on the transmitted signal. Each of the plurality of directional antennas is capable of receiving radio signals of predetermined characteristics exclusively from a narrowly defined region of space which is located proximate to the ground and radially extending outward from the directional antenna. A plurality of indicators, each associated with at least one of the plurality of directional antennas and capable of a variable range of illumination magnitude are used in conjunction with a signal strength detector. The signal strength detector activates the plurality of indicators as a function of the identified strength of the radio signals received from each of the associated plurality of directional antennas to thereby indicate the direction from which the radio signals emanate.

Claims

1. A low power child locator system for identifying a direction from which radio signals of predetermined characteristics emanate comprising:

a plurality of directional antenna means, each directional antenna means capable of receiving said radio signals of predetermined characteristics exclusively from a narrowly defined region of space which is located proximate to the ground and radially extending outward from said directional antenna means;

a plurality of display devices, each associated with at least one of said plurality of directional antenna means and configured to visually display a signal strength of said radio signals of predetermined characteristics received by said associated plurality of directional antenna means;

means for identifying a strength of said radio signals of predetermined characteristics received from each of said plurality of directional antenna means; and

means for activating said plurality of display devices as a function of said identified strength of said radio signals of predetermined characteristics received from each of said associated plurality of directional antenna means.

2. The low power child locator system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of directional antenna means comprises:

a first antenna means having an antenna pattern oriented to point in a forward direction; and

second and third antenna means, each having an antenna pattern oriented to point in a direction laterally to either side of said first antenna means antenna pattern.

3. The low power child locator system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of directional antenna means have antenna patterns having an upper range substantially parallel to the ground when said low power child locator system is held parallel to the ground.

4. The low power child locator system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of display devices are capable of a variable range of illumination magnitude.

5. The low power child locator system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of display devices further comprises:

textual readout means for visually displaying alphanumeric data representative of an identity of a source of said radio signals of predetermined characteristics.

6. The low power child locator system of claim 1 wherein said means for identifying comprises:

signal strength detector means for calculating a strength of said radio signals of predetermined characteristics as received at each of said plurality of antenna means.

7. The low power child locator system of claim 1 wherein said means for activating comprises:

means for differentially illuminating said plurality of illumination means to visually indicate a direction with respect to said low power child locator system from which said radio signals of predetermined characteristics are emanating.

8. The low power child locator system of claim 1 further comprising:

mode switch means for switching between at least two operating frequencies of said radio signals of predetermined characteristics.