Luggage locator system
First Claim
1. An object locator system comprising:
- a transmitter unit having a casing housing a transmitter circuit therein for outputting an RF signal, and a pushbutton operable externally of the casing and coupled to the transmitter circuit for sending the RF signal only when the pushbutton is pressed; and
a receiver unit having a casing provided with attachment means for allowing it to be attached to an object, said casing housing a receiver circuit for receiving the RF signal transmitted by the transmitter unit and outputting an activation signal, and a light illumination element that is illuminated in response to the activation signal, wherein said receiver circuit is operative to output the activation signal only so long as the RF signal is received from the transmitter unit, wherein said light illumination element and said attachment means are combined as one element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An object locator system includes a transmitter unit which sends an RF signal upon actuating a pushbutton, and a receiver unit attached to or incorporated into an object for detecting the RF signal and illuminating a light element only for so long as the RF signal is sent by the transmitter unit. This allows the receiver to emit light only when the pushbutton on the transmitter is actuated. When a user scans an area where an object might be found, a visual perception of light flashes being emitted in response to the user'"'"'s pushbutton presses provides a direct visual feedback to make it easy to pick out the flashes in a crowded visual field, and thereby locate the object. Preferably, a light pipe is mounted on an external part of the receiver unit and has a length running at least partially around a perimeter of the receiver unit. The transmitter and receiver units are set by dip switch arrays, or by factory pre-setting, to send and detect a unique coded signal, whereby the receiver unit only responds to the transmitter unit sending the unique coded signal. A second embodiment has the light illumination element and attachment element combined in a single element.
79 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An object locator system comprising:
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a transmitter unit having a casing housing a transmitter circuit therein for outputting an RF signal, and a pushbutton operable externally of the casing and coupled to the transmitter circuit for sending the RF signal only when the pushbutton is pressed; and a receiver unit having a casing provided with attachment means for allowing it to be attached to an object, said casing housing a receiver circuit for receiving the RF signal transmitted by the transmitter unit and outputting an activation signal, and a light illumination element that is illuminated in response to the activation signal, wherein said receiver circuit is operative to output the activation signal only so long as the RF signal is received from the transmitter unit, wherein said light illumination element and said attachment means are combined as one element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of locating an object by RF signal comprising the steps of:
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transmitting from a transmitter unit an RF signal by actuating a pushbutton only for so long as the pushbutton is actuated; receiving at a receiver unit, provided with attachment means for allowing it to be attached to or incorporated into a an object, the RF signal transmitted by the transmitter unit and outputting an activation signal, activating a light illumination element provided with said receiver unit only for so long as the activation signal is generated, whereby, when a user scans an area where an object having the receiver unit attached to it might be found, a visual perception of light flashes being emitted in direct response to the user'"'"'s pushbutton presses provides a direct visual feedback to the user that makes it easy to pick out the flashes in a crowded visual field, and thereby locate the object, wherein said light illumination element and said attachment means are combined as one element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A piece of luggage having four side enclosing panels and a locator system, said system comprising:
a receiver unit having a casing provided with attachment means for allowing it to be incorporated directly into one of the side enclosing panels, said casing housing a receiver circuit for receiving an RF signal transmitted by a transmitter unit and outputting an activation signal, and a light illumination element that is illuminated in response to the activation signal, wherein said receiver circuit is operative to output the activation signal only for so long as the RF signal is received from the transmitter unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification