Avalanche victim locating transceiving apparatus

• US 6,167,249 A
• Filed: 01/20/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Backcountry.com Incorporated (Qurate Retail Group (f/k/a Liberty Interactive Corporation))
• Original Assignee: John W. Hereford
• Inventors: Hereford, John W., Bond, Michael X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US09/008,880
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/575, 455/500, 455/90, 455/88, 455/66, 455/67.1, 455/68, 455/70, 340/573, 340/456, 340/457, 343/719, 343/720, 342/22, 342/28, 342/146
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 29/021 Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/043 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/143 by vectorial combination of signals derived from differently oriented antennae
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/74 Multi-channel systems specially adapted for direction-finding, i.e. having a single antenna system capable of giving simultaneous indications of the directions of different signals systems in which the directions of different signals are determined sequentially and displayed simultaneously G01S3/04, G01S3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

A rescue transceiver apparatus for transmitting a signal to and receiving a signal from another rescue transceiver apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing and a radio signal transmitter for the transmission of a radio signal in a transmitting mode with a first predetermined frequency with the radio signal transmitter being mounted within the housing. A receiver is provided for selectively receiving the first predetermined frequency from the radio signal transmitter in a receiving mode. The receiver comprises a first antenna mounted completely within the housing, a second antenna mounted completely within the housing with the second antenna being disposed substantially perpendicular to the first antenna, and a virtual third antenna mounted completely within the housing with the virtual third antenna being derived from phase information generated by the first antenna and the second antenna. The first antenna, the second antenna, and the third virtual third antenna provide three-dimensional vector analysis by the receiver of the predetermined frequency received from the radio transmitter. The apparatus further comprises a microcontroller for controlling the radio signal transmitter and the receiver.

Claims

1. A rescue transceiver apparatus for transmitting a signal to and receiving a signal from a different rescue transceiver apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a radio signal transmitter mounted within said housing for the transmission of a radio signal with a first predetermined frequency of about 457 kilohertz when said apparatus is in a transmit mode;

a receiver mounted within said housing for selectively receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequency from a different rescue transceiver apparatus when said apparatus is in a receiving mode, the receiver comprising;

a first wire-wound loop antenna mounted within the housing;

a second wire-wound loop antenna mounted within the housing, the second wire-wound loop antenna being disposed substantially orthogonal to said first wire-wound loop antenna;

means within said housing for deriving a distance between said receiver and a different rescue transceiver apparatus and for deriving a direction from said receiver to a different rescue transceiver apparatus wherein the derivations of distance and direction are derived only from signals received by said first wire-wound loop antenna and said second wire-wound loop antenna; and

indication means on the housing for displaying information about a different rescue transceiver apparatus;

wherein the indication means includes a distance display for displaying the distance between a different rescue transceiver apparatus in the transmit mode and the apparatus in the receiving mode.

2. A rescue transceiver apparatus for transmitting a signal to and receiving a signal from a different rescue transceiver apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a radio signal transmitter mounted within said housing for the transmission of a radio signal with a first predetermined frequency of about 457 kilohertz when said apparatus is in a transmit mode;

a receiver mounted within said housing for selectively receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequency from a different rescue transceiver apparatus when said apparatus is in a receiving mode, the receiver comprising;

a first wire-wound loop antenna mounted within the housing;

a second wire-wound loop antenna mounted within the housing, the second wire-wound loop antenna being disposed substantially orthogonal to said first wire-wound loop antenna;

means within said housing for deriving a distance between said receiver and a different rescue transceiver apparatus and for deriving a direction from said receiver to a different rescue transceiver apparatus wherein the derivations of distance and direction are derived only from signals received by said first wire-wound loop antenna and said second wire-wound loop antenna;

sound generation means for projecting a sound during the receiving mode, the pitch of the sound changing as said apparatus when in the receiving mode, approaches a different rescue transceiver apparatus that is in the transmitting mode; and

means for muting said sound generation means.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver for selectively receiving a radio signal with a first predetermined frequency from a radio signal transmitter, the receiver comprising;

a first electrically small loop antenna; and

a second electrically small loop antenna disposed substantially orthogonal to said first electrically small loop antenna;

a microcontroller coupled to said receiver for deriving information regarding distance and direction to said radio signal transmitter relative to said apparatus wherein said information is derived only from magnitudes of signals generated by said first electrically small loop antenna in response to receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequence and said second electrically small loop antenna in response to receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequency; and

display means coupled to said microcontroller for displaying information regarding distance and direction from said apparatus to a radio signal transmitter;

wherein said display means includes a plurality of directional indicators coupled to said microcontroller operably controlled by said microcontroller to indicate a most likely direction to a radio transmitter relative to the apparatus;

wherein said plurality of directional indicators comprises;

a center indicator indicative of a radio transmitter being along an extension of a center line axis of said apparatus relative to a present orientation of said apparatus;

at least one right indicator indicative of a radio transmitter being rightward from said centerline axis of said apparatus relative to a present orientation of said apparatus; and

at least one left indicator indicative of a radio transmitter being leftward from said centerline axis of said apparatus relative to a present orientation of said apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of directional indicators is a light emitting diode illuminated to indicate a corresponding direction.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver for selectively receiving a radio signal with a first predetermined frequency from a radio signal transmitter, the receiver comprising;

a first electrically small loop antenna; and

a second electrically small loop antenna disposed substantially orthogonal to said first electrically small loop antenna;

a microcontroller coupled to said receiver for deriving information regarding distance and direction to a radio signal transmitter relative to said apparatus wherein said information is derived only from magnitudes of signals generated by said first electrically small loop antenna in response to receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequency and the second electrically small loop antenna in response to receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequency; and

display means coupled to said microcontroller for displaying information regarding distance and direction from said apparatus to a radio signal transmitter;

wherein said display means includes a digital display coupled to said microcontroller and that is operably controlled by said microcontroller to display digital information relating to a radio transmitter and relating to said apparatus;

wherein said digital display is operably controlled by said microcontroller to display a distance from said apparatus to a radio transmitter.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver for selectively receiving a radio signal with a first predetermined frequency from a radio signal transmitter, the receiver comprising;

a first electrically small loop antenna; and

a second electrically small loop antenna disposed substantially orthogonal to said first electrically small loop antenna;

a microcontroller coupled to said receiver for deriving information regarding distance and direction to a radio signal transmitter relative to said apparatus wherein said information is derived only from magnitudes of signals generated by said first electrically small loop antenna in response to receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequency and said second electrically small loop antenna in response to receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequency;

display means coupled to said microcontroller for displaying information regarding distance and direction from said apparatus to a radio signal transmitter; and

a sound generator coupled to said microcontroller and operably controlled by said microcontroller to alter the pitch of a sound generated by said sound generator in proportion to the distance between said apparatus and a radio transmitter;

wherein said receiver includes a superheterodyne receiver for receiving a first signal with said first predetermined frequency and for mixing said first signal with a local oscillator signal with a second predetermined frequency to generate a first product signal with a first Intermediate Frequency, and

wherein the apparatus further comprises;

a down converter circuit associated with said sound generator for producing a second product signal with a second Intermediate Frequency and having an amplitude proportional to the distance and direction from said apparatus to a radio signal transmitter wherein said second product signal is directly applied to said sound generator to produce an audio signal having an amplitude indicative of said distance and direction from said apparatus to a radio signal transmitter.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver for selectively receiving a radio signal with a first predetermined frequency from a radio signal transmitter, the receiver comprising;

a first electrically small loop antenna; and

a second electrically small loop antenna disposed substantially orthogonal to said first electrically small loop antenna;

a microcontroller coupled to said receiver for deriving information regarding distance and direction to a radio signal transmitter relative to said apparatus wherein said information is derived only from magnitudes of signals generated by said first electrically small loop antenna in response to receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequency and said second electrically small loop antenna in response to receiving a radio signal with said first predetermined frequency; and

display means coupled to said microcontroller for displaying information regarding distance and direction from said apparatus to a radio signal transmitter;

wherein said receiver includes a superheterodyne receiver for receiving a first signal with said first predetermined frequency and for mixing said first signal with a local oscillator signal with a second predetermined frequency to generate a first product signal with a first Intermediate Frequency, and

wherein the apparatus further comprises;

a down converter circuit associated with said microcontroller for producing a second product signal with a second Intermediate Frequency and having an amplitude proportional to the distance and direction from said apparatus to a radio signal transmitter wherein said second product signal is applied to said microcontroller to produce a display indicative of said distance on said display means.

8. An apparatus for use in rescue operations, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a receiver comprising;

a first antenna for receiving a radio signal having a predetermined frequency and in response to the radio signal, producing a first electrical signal;

a second antenna for receiving a radio signal having said predetermined frequency and in response to the radio signal, producing a second electrical signal;

wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are the same type of antenna;

a microcontroller for using information derived from said first electrical signal and said second electrical signal to determine a distance between a source of the radio signal and said housing and a direction of the source of the radio signal relative to said housing; and

an interface for providing a user with an indication of said distance and said direction.

9. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said first antenna and said second antenna are both wire-wound loop antennas.

10. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said first antenna and said second antenna are both wire-wound ferrite antennas.

11. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said first antenna and said second antenna are both tuned to 457 kHz.

12. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said first antenna has a first longitudinal axis;

said second antenna has a second longitudinal axis; and

said first longitudinal axis is at an angle to said second longitudinal axis.

13. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said first antenna has a first longitudinal axis;

said second antenna has a second longitudinal axis; and

said first longitudinal axis is substantially orthogonal to said second longitudinal axis.

14. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said microcontroller uses magnitude information derived from said first electrical signal and said second electrical signal to determine said distance.

15. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said housing has a thickness of less than approximately one inch.

16. An apparatus for use in rescue operations, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a receiver comprising;

a first antenna for receiving a radio signal having a predetermined frequency and in response to the radio signal, producing a first electrical signal;

a second antenna for receiving a radio signal having said predetermined frequency and in response to the radio signal, producing a second electrical signal;

a differential amplifier having a first input for receiving said first electrical signal, a second input for receiving said second electrical signal, and an output for providing a third signal that is representative of the difference in magnitudes between signals received at said first and second inputs;

a microcontroller for using information derived from said first electrical signal, said second electrical signal, and said third electrical signal to determine a distance between a source of the radio signal and said housing and a direction of the source of the radio signal relative to said housing; and

an interface for providing a user with said distance and said direction.

17. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said receiver includes a first switch for selectively providing said first electrical signal to said differential amplifier and a second switch for selectively providing said second electrical signal to said differential amplifier.

18. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said receiver includes means for providing a logarithmic indication of the magnitude of said third electrical signal.

19. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said microcontroller includes means for linearizing said logarithmic indication related to said third electrical signal.

20. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said interface includes a visual interface for providing one of the following;

distance and direction.

21. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said interface include a visual interface for providing both distance and direction.

22. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said interface includes a visual reference relative to which direction information is provided.

23. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

said interface includes a first visual direction indicator that is located to one side of said visual reference and a second visual direction indicator that is located to the opposite side of said visual reference.

24. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said interface includes a visual distance display for displaying a distance from said receiver to the source of the radio signal.

25. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said interface includes an audio speaker for providing audio information indicative of a least one of the following;

(a) a distance between a transmitter and said receiver; and

(b) a direction of a transmitter relative to said receiver.

26. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said interface includes an audio speaker for providing audio information indicative of a distance between the source of the radio signal and said receiver and a direction of a source of the radio signal relative to said receiver.

27. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said interface includes means for adjusting the volume of an audio speaker.

28. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said receiver and said microcontroller are mounted within said housing.