Panic button alarm actuator

• US 6,181,238 B1
• Filed: 03/10/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brent W. Reed, Charles N. Garrett Sr
• Original Assignee: Brent W. Reed, Charles N. Garrett Sr
• Inventors: Reed, Brent W., Garrett, Charles N. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/037,496
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/430, 340/825.69, 340/425.5, 340/528, 340/539, 307/10.2, 307/10.4
• US Class Current: 340/426.17
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics

Abstract

An improved panic button apparatus suitable for use in various vehicle monitoring systems. The apparatus includes a portable transmitter in wireless communication with a receiver located on-board the vehicle. The transmitter includes a manual actuator, typically a button, functioning to selectively input a panic command from a user. The transmitter sends a coded signal to the receiver, preferably in the form of a frequency-varying spread spectrum signal. The particular code of the transmitted signal is decoded by the receiver, which informs the vehicle monitoring and alarm system through an appropriate output signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating a panic command to a vehicle monitoring system, said apparatus comprising:

a portable transmitter including a manual actuator operable to input a panic command from a user, said transmitter comprising a frequency agile radio-frequency source constructed of a variable frequency oscillator generating an analog panic signal under the control of a phased lock loop, said transmitter responsively transmitting said analog panic signal in a predetermined coded format, said predetermined coded format being a frequency-varying spread spectrum signal; and

a receiver located on-board the vehicle, said receiver operative to recognize said panic signal and responsively generate an output signal fed to the vehicle monitoring system.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transmitter functions to transmit at a power level no greater than about 100 mw.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frequency varying spread spectrum signal involves multiple frequency shifts separated by 100-1000 Hz.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frequency varying spread spectrum signal involves no more than sixteen frequency shifts.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said frequency varying spread spectrum signal involves no more than four frequency shifts.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiver confirms presence of said predetermined code in said panic signal utilizing FFT processing techniques.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said phased lock loop comprises a precision crystal reference phased lock loop.

8. An apparatus for communicating a panic command to a vehicle monitoring system, said apparatus comprising:

a portable transmitter including a manual actuator operable to input a panic command from a user, said transmitter comprising a ROM memory capable of digitally controlling at a variable rate, a digital signal through a digital-to-analog converter, said transmitter responsively transmitting an analog panic signal in a predetermined coded format, said predetermined coded format being a frequency-varying spread spectrum signal; and

a receiver located on-board the vehicle, said receiver operative to recognize said panic signal and responsively generate an output signal fed to the vehicle monitoring system.