Water alert system

• US 6,232,883 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uncle Albert's LLC
• Original Assignee: Uncle Albert's LLC
• Inventors: Silva, Kevin DeVere, McQueary, Steven Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/533,273
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/605, 340/618, 340/620, 340/539, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/084 by monitoring physical movement characteristics of the water
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/088 by monitoring a device worn by the person, e.g. a bracelet attached to the swimmer
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

A water activated power supply for signaling a control device of a detection of a body of water or other ionized liquid, and for triggering a bistate device upon the detection of a body of water or other ionized liquid. The water activated power supply comprises a power source, and a buffering circuit. The power source is operable to generate a first electrical power. The buffering circuit includes a buffer operable to provide a second electrical power. The buffering circuit further includes a water activated switch to conduct a portion of the first electrical power to the buffer when a body of water contacts the water activated switch. The buffer provides the second electrical power in response to the portion of the first electrical power. The buffer further isolates the power source from any external load device, e.g. a control device or a bistate device, electrically coupled to the buffering circuit to receive the second electrical power to prevent any increase in the magnitude of the first electrical power. Receipt of the second electrical power by an external load device indicates the detection of the body of water by the buffering circuit.

Claims

1. A water alert device comprising:

a power source operable to provide a first electrical power;

a buffering circuit including

a buffer operable to provide a second electrical power in response to a first portion of said first electrical power, and

a water activated switch operable to conduct said first portion of said first electrical power to said buffer when a body of water contacts said water activated switch; and

a transmitting unit including

an encoder operable to provide a transmission word in response to a first portion of said second electrical power, and

a transmitter operable to provide a transmission signal in response to said transmission word and a second portion of said second electrical power, and

wherein said encoder includes

a first oscillator input pin,

a second oscillator input pin, and

a resistor electrically coupled to said first oscillator input pin and said second oscillator input pin to thereby establish a transmission rate for said transmission word.

2. A water alert system comprising:

a power source operable to provide a first electrical power;

a buffering circuit including

a buffer operable to provide a second electrical power in response to a first portion of said first electrical power, and

a water activated switch operable to conduct said first portion of said first electrical power to said buffer when a body of water contacts said water activated switch;

a transmitting unit operable to provide a transmission signal in response to said second electrical power; and

a receiving unit including

a receiver operable to provide said transmission word in response to said transmission signal, and

a decoder operable to provide a detection signal, said detection signal being in a first logic state in an absence of said transmission word and said detection signal being in a second logic state in response to said transmission word; and

wherein said decoder includes

a first oscillator input pin,

a second oscillator input pin, and

a resistor electrically coupled to said first oscillator input pin and said second oscillator input pin to thereby establish a reception rate for said transmission word.

3. A water alert system comprising:

a power source operable to provide a first electrical power;

a buffering circuit including

a buffer operable to provide a second electrical power in response to a first portion of said first electrical power, and

a water activated switch operable to conduct said first portion of said first electrical power to said buffer when a body of water contacts said water activated switch;

a transmitting unit operable to provide a transmission signal in response to said second electrical power; and

a receiving unit including

a receiver operable to provide said transmission word in response to said transmission signal,

a decoder operable to provide a detection signal, said detection signal being in a first logic state in an absence of said transmission word and said detection signal being in a second logic state in response to said transmission word, and

a bistate device,

wherein said bistate device is in a first state in response to said detection signal being in said first logic state and said bistate device is in a second state in response to said detection signal being in said second logic state,

a transistor electrically coupled to said bistate device; and

a resistor electrically coupled to said transistor and said decoder.

4. A water alert system comprising:

a power source operable to provide a first electrical power;

a buffering circuit including

a buffer operable to provide a second electrical power in response to a first portion of said first electrical power, and

a water activated switch operable to conduct said first portion of said first electrical power to said buffer when a body of water contacts said water activated switch;

a transmitting unit operable to provide a transmission signal in response to said second electrical power; and

a receiving unit including

a receiver operable to provide said transmission word in response to said transmission signal,

a decoder operable to provide a detection signal, said detection signal being in a first logic state in an absence of said transmission word and said detection signal being in a second logic state in response to said transmission word, and

a control device operable to provide a control signal,

wherein said control signal is in a third logic state in response to said detection signal being in said first logic state and said control signal is in a fourth logic state in response to said detection signal being in said second logic state,

a transistor electrically coupled to said control device; and

a resistor electrically coupled to said transistor and said decoder.

5. A water alert system comprising:

a power source operable to provide a first electrical power;

a buffering circuit including

a buffer operable to provide a second electrical power in response to a first portion of said first electrical power, and

a water activated switch operable to conduct said first portion of said first electrical power to said buffer when a body of water contacts said water activated switch;

a transmitting unit including

an encoder operable to provide a transmission word in response to a first portion of said second electrical power, and

a transmitter operable to provide a transmission signal in response to said transmission word and a second portion of said second electrical power; and

a receiving unit including

a receiver operable to provide said transmission word in response to said transmission signal, and

a decoder operable to provide a detection signal, said detection signal being in a first logic state in an absence of said transmission word and said detection signal being in a second logic state in response to said transmission word, and

wherein said encoder includes

a first oscillator input pin,

a second oscillator input pin, and

a resistor electrically coupled to said first oscillator input pin and said second oscillator input pin to thereby establish a transmission rate for said transmission word.

6. A water alert system comprising:

a power source operable to provide a first electrical power;

a buffering circuit including

a buffer operable to provide a second electrical power in response to a first portion of said first electrical power, and

a water activated switch operable to conduct said first portion of said first electrical power to said buffer when a body of water contacts said water activated switch;

a transmitting unit including

an encoder operable to provide a transmission word in response to a first portion of said second electrical power, and

a transmitter operable to provide a transmission signal in response to said transmission word and a second portion of said second electrical power; and

a receiving unit including

a receiver operable to provide said transmission word in response to said transmission signal, and

a decoder operable to provide a detection signal, said detection signal being in a first logic state in an absence of said transmission word and said detection signal being in a second logic state in response to said transmission word, and

wherein said decoder includes

a first oscillator input pin,

a second oscillator input pin, and

a resistor electrically coupled to said first oscillator input pin and said second oscillator input pin to thereby establish a transmission rate for said transmission word.

7. A water alert system comprising:

a power source operable to provide a first electrical power;

a buffering circuit including

a buffer operable to provide a second electrical power in response to a first portion of said first electrical power, and

a water activated switch operable to conduct said first portion of said first electrical power to said buffer when a body of water contacts said water activated switch;

a transmitting unit including

an encoder operable to provide a transmission word in response to a first portion of said second electrical power, and

a transmitter operable to provide a transmission signal in response to said transmission word and a second portion of said second electrical power;

a receiving unit including

a receiver operable to provide said transmission word in response to said transmission signal, and

a decoder operable to provide a detection signal, said detection signal being in a first logic state in an absence of said transmission word and said detection signal being in a second logic state in response to said transmission word,

a bistate device,

wherein said bistate device is in a first state in response to said detection signal being in said first logic state and said bistate device is in a second state in response to said detection signal being in said second logic state,

a transistor electrically coupled to said bistate device; and

a resistor electrically coupled to said transistor and said decoder.

8. A water alert system comprising:

a power source operable to provide a first electrical power;

a buffering circuit including

a buffer operable to provide a second electrical power in response to a first portion of said first electrical power, and

a water activated switch operable to conduct said first portion of said first electrical power to said buffer when a body of water contacts said water activated switch;

a transmitting unit including

an encoder operable to provide a transmission word in response to a first portion of said second electrical power, and

a transmitter operable to provide a transmission signal in response to said transmission word and a second portion of said second electrical power;

a receiving unit including

a receiver operable to provide said transmission word in response to said transmission signal, and

a decoder operable to provide a detection signal, said detection signal being in a first logic state in an absence of said transmission word and said detection signal being in a second logic state in response to said transmission word, and

a control device operable to provide a control signal

wherein said control signal is in a third logic state in response to said detection signal being in said first logic state and said control signal is in a fourth logic state in response to said detection signal being in said second logic state,

a transistor electrically coupled to said control device; and

a resistor electrically coupled to said transistor and said decoder.