Specific location public alert receiver

• US 6,369,707 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dana L. Neer
• Original Assignee: Dana L. Neer
• Inventors: Neer, Dana L.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/854,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20020024437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 340/538, 340/533, 340/539, 340/310.01, 340/286.02
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

Disclosed is a specific location public alert device requiring no specialized installation which may be plugged into any household electrical outlet. The device requires no switch for activation or its alert, which may be a tone, light, or voice, and is activated by an incoming transmission from an authorized transmitting source in the specific area of the device(s), such as cell phone towers, and activates any number of devices within one home or all homes simultaneously. The device may be mobile and removable from the outlet and powered by replaceable or rechargeable batteries at alternate remote locations, such as a cigarette lighter adaptor within a vehicle. The device may be preset to one or more common frequencies determined by the civil authorities from any location worldwide authorizing or transmitting a signal on an emergency frequency from specifically located transmitters in the location or path of the public emergency or warning.

Claims

1. A transmitted signal receiving apparatus for alerting persons of impending danger comprising:

a) a housing including a front and back side;

b) a receiver disposed within the housing for receiving a transmitted signal;

c) the transmitted signal having a warning message imbedded thereupon;

d) an electrical plug projecting from the housing back side and capable of inserting within an AC receptacle of a common power scheme for providing an AC power source to the apparatus;

e) an AC to DC power converter disposed within the housing for converting the AC power source to a DC power source, the DC power source electrically coupled to the receiver;

f) signal converter means disposed within the housing for extracting the imbedded warning message from the transmitted signal, the signal converter means electrically coupled to the DC power source and the receiver; and

g) alerting means disposed proximal to the housing for indicating a perceivable warning in response to the extracted imbedded warning message.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an antennae electrically coupled to the receiver and the DC power source.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transmitted signal is a wireless signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitted signal is chosen from the group including cellular telephone, radio frequencies, Loran, analog cordless telephone, digital enhanced cordless telephone, general public radio service, shared wireless access protocol, high speed circuit switch data, universal mobile telecommunications systems, enhanced data rate for GSM evolution, global positioning satellite and standard satellite signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitted signal is transmitted over a carrier line chosen from the group including utility power, telephone, DSL, cable and fiber optic lines.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alerting means is chosen from the group including an audio speaker and at least one light source.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the audio speaker generates a tone signal in response to the apparatus receiving the transmitted signal imbedded warning message.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the audio speaker generates a digital voice signal in response to the apparatus receiving the transmitted signal imbedded warning message.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein an audio speaker and at least one light source are disposed along the housing front side.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an AC power receptacle disposed along the housing front side and electrically coupled to the electrical plug.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of visual indicators including an apparatus power indicator, an apparatus power reset indicator, a transmitted signal test indicator, and a transmitted signal time sent indicator.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a primary receiving unit having a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter electrically coupled to the signal converter means and the DC power source, the primary receiving unit capable of transmitting the transmitted signal imbedded warning message to at least one secondary apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising battery connection means disposed within the housing, the battery connection means capable of receiving a battery for supplying power to the apparatus when no AC power is supplied to the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a 12 volt connection means for electrically coupling the apparatus to a 12 volt power supply when the apparatus electrical plug is not inserted within the common power scheme AC receptacle.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a) surge protection means disposed within the housing for providing electrical surge protection to the apparatus; and

b) circuit breaker reset means disposed within the housing for providing a circuit breaker reset to the common power scheme.

16. A transmitted signal receiving apparatus for alerting persons within a specific area of an impending danger, the apparatus comprising:

a) a housing including a front and back side;

b) a receiver disposed within the housing for receiving a wireless transmitted signal;

c) the wireless transmitted signal having a warning message imbedded thereupon;

d) an antennae electrically coupled to the receiver;

e) an electrical plug projecting from the housing back side and capable of inserting within an AC receptacle of a common power scheme for providing an AC power source to the apparatus;

f) an AC to DC power converter disposed within the housing for converting the AC power source to a DC power source, the DC power source electrically coupled to the receiver;

g) signal converter means disposed within the housing for extracting the imbedded warning message from the wireless transmitted signal, the signal converter means electrically coupled to the DC power source and the receiver;

g) an audio speaker for providing an audio warning signal relative to the wireless transmitted signal imbedded warning message, the audio speaker electrically coupled to the signal converter means; and

h) at least one light for displaying a visual warning signal relative to the wireless transmitted signal imbedded warning message, the at least one light electrically coupled to the signal converter means.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an AC power receptacle disposed along the housing front side and electrically coupled to the electrical plug.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising battery connection means disposed within the housing and capable of receiving a battery for supplying power to the apparatus when the electrical plug is not inserted within the common power scheme AC receptacle.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a 12 volt connection means for electrically coupling the apparatus to a 12 volt power supply when the apparatus electrical plug is not inserted within the common power scheme AC receptacle.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is a primary receiving unit having a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter electrically coupled to the signal converter means and the DC power source, the primary receiving unit capable of transmitting the wireless transmitted signal imbedded warning message to at least one secondary apparatus along the common power scheme.