Article location system

• US 6,133,832 A
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eileen L. Ballenger, Jeffrey S. Winder
• Original Assignee: Eileen L. Ballenger, Jeffrey S. Winder
• Inventors: Ballenger, Eileen L., Winder, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/176,874
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/825.44, 340/825.34, 340/825.36, 340/825.54
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

An article location system that includes a number of identical receiver tags that are attachable to articles and a transmitter assembly including a transmitter unit that transmits a predetermined coded radio signal to activate each receiver tag. Each receiver tag provides an audible and a visual output when activated. The visual output includes a moving pinpoint output beam generated by a laser diode.

Claims

1. An article location system comprising:

a number of identical receiver tags;

and a transmitter assembly including a transmitter unit that transmits a predetermined coded radio signal to activate each of said number of receiver tags;

each of said number of receiver tags providing an audible output and a visual output when activated;

said visual output including a moving pinpoint output beam generated by a laser diode;

each of said number of identical receive tags including a laser diode movement structure including a piezo crystal positioned between a base substrate and a laser diode support plate upon which said laser diode is mounted; and

a laser diode movement structure drive circuit including said piezo crystal positioned between said base substrate and said laser diode support plate on which said laser diode is mounted such that electrically induced vibrations of said piezo crystal cause said laser diode support plate to vibrate resulting in movement of said pinpoint output beam of the laser diode.

2. An article location system comprising:

a number of identical receiver tags;

and a transmitter assembly including a transmitter unit that transmits a predetermined coded radio signal to activate each of said number of receiver tags;

each of said number of receiver tags providing an audible output and a visual output when activated;

said visual output including a moving pinpoint output beam generated by a laser diode;

said article location further comprising a number of simple receiver tags each including a slim line housing having an exterior clip on one side surface thereof, an adhesive section covered by a peel off cover on an opposite side surface thereof, and a speaker grate provided on one end surface thereof such that said speaker grate is not covered whether said exterior clip or said adhesive section is used to attach a said simple receiver tag to an article;

said slim line housing having a internal compartment formed therein housing an antenna in connection with an input of a radio receiving circuit having an output coupled to a decode/select circuit and an audible alerting device including a speaker;

said decode/select circuit activating said audible alerting device to drive said speaker and provide an audible output in response to detecting a predetermined activation code.

3. An article location system comprising:

a number of identical receiver tags that are attachable to articles; and

a transmitter assembly including a transmitter unit that transmits a predetermined coded radio signal to activate each of said number of receiver tags;

each receiver tag providing an audible and a visual output when activated, said visual output including a moving pinpoint output beam generated by a laser diode;

said transmitter unit including a transmitter housing including a radio transmitter/control circuit having a radio frequency transmitter and being in connection with a main LCD interface display, an alphanumeric keypad, a scroll up button, a scroll down button, a select button, a microphone, a transmitter speaker, and a separate time/date display LCD;

said radio transmitter/control circuit being in connection with said main LCD interface display, said alphanumeric keypad, said scroll-up button, said scroll-down button, said select button, said transmitter microphone, said transmitter speaker, said separate time/date display LCD, and said transmitter antenna;

each of said number of identical receiver tags including a molded plastic tag housing a tag clip, a tag connecting ring, a tag speaker grate, a tag microphone grate, a laser diode window, a record function button, and a play function button;

said molded plastic tag housing further including an internal compartment formed therein for housing a receiver/alerting circuit including a radio receiving circuit and an alerting circuit triggered by an output of said radio receiving circuit;

said radio receiving circuit having a decoding/select circuit tuned to said transmission frequency of said radio frequency transmitter circuit of said radio transmitter/control circuit;

said decoding/select circuit decoding said radio transmissions from said radio frequency transmitter circuit of said radio transmitter/control circuit and activating an alerting circuit activation output when a predetermined signal pattern is decoded;

said alerting circuit activating a tag speaker drive circuit in connection with a tag speaker that can emit a user recorded message or a predetermined alarm sound;

a laser diode drive circuit in connection with a laser diode having a pinpoint output beam aimed through a diode window provided in said plastic tag housing;

a laser diode movement structure including a piezo crystal positioned between a base substrate and a laser diode support plate upon which said laser diode is mounted; and

a laser diode movement structure drive circuit including said piezo crystal positioned between said base substrate and said laser diode support plate on which said laser diode is mounted such that electrically induced vibrations of said piezo crystal cause said laser diode support plate to vibrate resulting in movement of said pinpoint output beam of said laser diode in a manner to aid a person searching for said article to which said receiver tag is attached to visually identify said location of said receiver tag;

said radio receiving circuit being in connection with said receiving antenna;

said decoding/select circuit being in input receiving connection with said receiving circuit output of said receiving circuit;

said alerting circuit being in receiving connection with alerting circuit activation output of said decoding/select circuit;

said audio drive circuit being in input receiving connection with said alerting circuit, said record function button, said play function button and said tag microphone, and in output connection with said tag speaker;

said laser diode drive circuit being in input receiving connection with said alerting circuit and in output connection with said laser diode; and

said laser diode movement structure drive circuit being in driving connection with said piezo crystal of said laser diode movement structure that is positioned between said base substrate and said laser diode support plate.

4. The article location system of claim 3 further comprising:

a number of simple receiver tags each including a slim line housing having an exterior clip on one side surface thereof, an adhesive section covered by a peel off cover on an opposite side surface thereof, and a speaker grate provided on one end surface thereof such that said speaker grate is not covered whether said exterior clip or said adhesive section is used to attach a said simple receiver tag to an article;

said slim line housing having a internal compartment formed therein housing an antenna in connection with an input of a radio receiving circuit having an output coupled to a decode/select circuit and an audible alerting device including a speaker;

said decode/select circuit activating said audible alerting device to drive said speaker and provide an audible output in response to detecting a predetermined activation code.