Specific location public alert receiver

• US 6,377,172 B1
• Filed: 06/08/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• 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:
  US09/327,520
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/506, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/573.1, 340/691.1, 340/693.1, 340/693.5, 340/693.6, 340/693.11, 340/310.01, 340/321, 340/332, 340/333
• 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 devices that require no specialized installation and may be plugged into any common household electrical outlet which provides power to the device so no switch is required to access power. The device requires no switch for the user to activate the device and its alert which is activated by an incoming transmission from an authorized authority with access to a transmitting source in the specific area of the device(s) such as cell phone towers or transmitting vehicles and activates any number of devices within one home and or all homes simultaneously and the alert may be a tone, light, or voice. The device may be mobile and be able to be removed from the electrical outlet and powered by replaceable or rechargeable batteries at remote locations, cigarette lighter adaptor within a vehicle, or electrical outlet at any location desired. The device may be pre set to one or more predetermined common frequency that may be determined by the civil authorities or the transmission provider. The device may receive such a frequency by a transmitted signal to the devices in any location world wide by means of a locale authority authorizing or transmitting a signal on such an emergency frequency from specifically located transmitters in the specific location or path of the public emergency or as a warning may be dictated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for alerting persons of impending danger, the apparatus capable of receiving a transmitted signal having a warning message imbedded within the transmitted signal and converting the imbedded warning message into a visual and audio signal, the warning message directed to persons within an area of a specific location, the apparatus comprising:

a) a housing having a generally rectangular shape including a front and back side;

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

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

d) 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;

e) 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;

f) an audio speaker for providing an audio warning signal relative to the transmitted signal imbedded warning message;

the audio speaker electrically coupled to the signal converter means; and

g) visual warning indication means for displaying a visual warning signal relative to the transmitted signal imbedded warning message, the visual warning indication means electrically coupled to the signal converter means.

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 phone and 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, cable and fiber optic lines.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visual warning indication means comprises at least one light.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visual warning indication means and the audio speaker are disposed along the housing front side.

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

9. 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.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio speaker generates a tone signal in response to the apparatus receiving the transmitted signal imbedded warning message.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio speaker generates a digital voice signal in response to the apparatus receiving the transmitted signal imbedded warning message.

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. An apparatus for alerting persons of impending danger, the apparatus capable of receiving a wireless transmitted signal having a warning message imbedded within the wireless transmitted signal and converting the imbedded warning message into a visual and audio signal, the warning message directed to persons within an area of a specific location, the apparatus comprising:

a) a housing having a generally rectangular shape including a front and back side;

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

c) an antennae electrically coupled to the receiver;

d) an electrical plug projecting from the housing back side, the electrical plug 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 wireless transmitted signal, the signal converter means electrically coupled to the DC power source;

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, the battery connection means 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.