Water safety portable transmitter and receiver
First Claim
1. A portable water safety monitoring device for use with a receiving station comprising:
- a water sensor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode forming a capacitor, wherein the first and second electrodes are dimensioned to provide a variable capacitance in response to an area of the electrodes exposed to water;
a circuit portion electrically coupled to the water sensor including;
a power sourcea control circuit for detecting the capacitance of the water sensor for determining a presence of water;
a transmitter for generating a signal in response to detection by the control circuit of the presence of water for transmission to the receiving station for generating an alarm; and
,a transmitting antenna for transmitting a signal from the transmitter to the receiving station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a portable water safety monitoring device including a transmitter to be worn on a person, and a base station for monitoring any transmission from the transmitter indicating immersion of the transmitter in water. The device is particularly applicable for monitoring children near a swimming pool or other body of water to prevent drowning accidents. The transmitter is a compact printed circuit board carrying a capacitance water sensor and a sealed circuitry for detecting a change in capacitance and transmitting an alarm signal to the base station. Advantageously, on opposing sides of the printed circuit board large perimeter conductors provide a sensor able to register a varying level of capacitance. This can reduce false alarms due to incidental wetting. As a further advantage, the use of a compact printed circuit board eliminates any exposed leads in the construction, which could be damaged or disconnected by a child deactivating the monitor. A masked encapsulating sealant protects the circuitry from exposure to water while the sensor remains exposed. The design achieves additional compact efficiency by using one of the perimeter conductors as an antenna for transmitting the signal.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A portable water safety monitoring device for use with a receiving station comprising:
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a water sensor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode forming a capacitor, wherein the first and second electrodes are dimensioned to provide a variable capacitance in response to an area of the electrodes exposed to water; a circuit portion electrically coupled to the water sensor including; a power source a control circuit for detecting the capacitance of the water sensor for determining a presence of water; a transmitter for generating a signal in response to detection by the control circuit of the presence of water for transmission to the receiving station for generating an alarm; and
,a transmitting antenna for transmitting a signal from the transmitter to the receiving station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A portable water safety monitoring device comprising:
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a first circuit board area having a first electrode and a second electrode forming a capacitor; a second circuit board area including a second circuit portion having a power source and means for detecting a presence of water on the first circuit board area in dependence upon variations in capacitance between the first and second electrodes, a watertight seal to prevent water contact to the second circuit portion, and a transmitting antenna for transmitting a signal in dependence upon a signal provided within or from the second circuit portion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A portable water safety monitoring device comprising:
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a first circuit board area including a first circuit portion having a power source, a seal comprising a waterproof material applied directly to the first circuit area to seal the first circuit area to prevent water contact to the first circuit portion, a second circuit board area having a second circuit portion including a first trace extending about the circuit board on a first side thereof and a second trace extending about the circuit board on an opposing side thereof, wherein the first and second trace form a capacitor and wherein the first trace also forms a transmitting antenna, wherein the first circuit portion comprises means for detecting a presence of water on the second circuit board area in dependence upon changes in capacitance between the first and second traces.
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Specification