Device and method for alerting to the need to recover something, identifying it, and determining its location for purposes of recovery

• US 6,545,606 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Skatvold, Arthur R., Piri, John L., Nash, Charles T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/771,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/531, 340/540, 340/573.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/989, 340/993, 340/573.6, 340/636
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/0005 by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat alarms responsive to presence of persons in a body of water in general G08B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons

Abstract

An alerting mechanism is integrated into a physical support device for use in the event of an accident or emergency. The device provides a signal that alerts potential rescuers about emergency events such as man overboard. In one alternative. it uses a pre-programmed code to provide a positive identification of the individual or object involved. In a typical application, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) module is incorporated into a secure pocket of a life vest, the vest having at least one conformable antenna sewn into its upper portion as well as connections from the PLB to the antenna. The alerting mechanism may be used in a cooperative system using special receivers that utilize high temperature superconductor (HTS) RF bandpass filters for minimizing RF interference so that low signal levels may be received reliably. The system may also provide access to a database through common interfaces to wireless communications devices, telephone lines, the Internet, and satellites. The system may also use a programmable electromagnetic element on a plastic card, such as a hotel key card, to establish a secure ID for the user that may be updated periodically, even daily as security requirements dictate. Alternatively, the PLB may be operated at RF frequencies common to guard channels operated by the Coast Guard and civilian agencies such as the Civil Air Patrol. The system may provide information on relative positioning with respect to a rescuer or use GPS resources for absolute positioning.

Claims

1. A recovery system for alerting to an event requiring initiation of recovery efforts, identifying by unique identifier a person or object in need of recovery, providing interim support means for the person or object, and locating the person or object with sufficient accuracy to effect a recovery, comprising:

an attachable apparatus that supports the person or object, wherein said attachable apparatus is suitable for constant wear by the person when engaged in activities that require moderate physical exertion;

a communications device having at least a transmit function, wherein said communications device comprises

a personal locator beacon (PLB) module incorporating at least one RF transmitter that may be manually or automatically activated,

at least one antenna,

a power source,

operable connections between said at least one RF transmitter, said power source, and said at least one antenna,

wherein said at least one RF transmitter that operates with an average power output of less than 15 mW, and

at least one sensor in operable communication with at least said at least one transmitter, wherein said at least one sensor detects the occurrence of a pre-specified event for use in activation of said communications device,

wherein said activation of said communications device pauses during a first period to establish that said pre-specified event has occurred and said at least one sensor activates operation of said communications device upon establishing said occurrence,

wherein, upon said activation, said at least one RF transmitter transmits continually for a second period of between one-half hour and one and one-half hours,

wherein during a third period of one to five hours immediately succeeding said second period, said at least one RF transmitter operates at a duty cycle of between 15% and 35%,

wherein during a fourth period immediately succeeding said third period, said at least one RF transmitter transmits at a duty cycle of between 5% and 15%,

wherein said communications device is suitable for affixing unobtrusively to said attachable device; and

a small, lightweight, low cost receiving sub-system,

wherein said receiving sub-system is monitored at least on a guard channel, and

wherein said receiving sub-system provides a timely indication of a need to initiate a recovery effort.

2. The recovery system of claim 1, wherein

said first period is between 10 and 20 seconds,

said second period is between 50 minutes and 70 minutes,

said third period is between 3.5 hours and 4.5 hours,

wherein during said third period, said at least one RF transmitter operates at a duty cycle between 20% and 30%,

said fourth period first occurring at between 4 hours, 20 minutes and 5 hours, forty minutes,

wherein during said fourth period, said at least one RF transmitter operates at a duty cycle between 8% and 12%, and

wherein said at least one RF transmitter of said communications apparatus may operate for a total period of between 60 hours and 84 hours.

3. A method facilitating recovery of a person or object, comprising:

providing temporary support for the person or the object;

using a communications device, affixed to said temporary support and incorporating at least one transmitter, to transmit an encoded signal at a average power level of less than 15 mW;

alerting resources external to said person or said object to an event requiring initiation of recovery efforts,

wherein said event requiring initiation of recovery efforts involves a person or object being separated from a waterborne vessel and being immersed in water,

wherein said alerting further comprises;

providing at least one sensor as an operable part of said communications device,

wherein said sensor detects the occurrence of a pre-specified event associated with specific environmental characteristics, and

pausing during a first period to establish that said pre-specified event has occurred, and

upon establishing said occurrence, said sensor activates operation of said communications device,

wherein, upon said activation, said at least one transmitter transmits continually for a second period of between one-half hour and one and one-half hours, and

wherein during a third period of one to five hours immediately succeeding said second period, said at least one transmitter operates at a duty cycle of between 15% and 35%, and

wherein during a fourth period immediately succeeding said third period, said at least one transmitter transmits at a duty cycle of between 5% and 15%;

monitoring to recognize said alerting;

identifying, via said encoded signal, the person or object in need of recovery; and

locating the person or object with sufficient accuracy to effect the recovery,

wherein the location of the person or object is as provided in either absolute coordinates or as a position relative to a recovery means.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said alerting further comprises:

said first period of between 10 and 20 seconds,

said second period of between 50 minutes and 70 minutes;

said third period of between 3.5 hours and 4.5 hours,

wherein transmitting during said third period occurs at a duty cycle between 20% and 30%; and

said fourth period first occurring at between 4 hours, 20 minutes and 5 hours, forty minutes,

wherein transmitting during said fourth period is at a duty cycle between 8% and 12%;

wherein said transmitter of said communications apparatus may operate for a total period of between 60 hours and 84 hours.

5. An integral support and alerting system for signaling an event requiring initiation of recovery efforts, identifying by unique identifier a person or object in need of recovery, providing interim support means for the person or object, and providing a signal from which the location of the person or object can be attained with sufficient accuracy to effect a recovery, comprising:

an attachable apparatus that supports the person or object,

wherein said attachable apparatus is suitable for constant wear by the person when engaged in activities that require strenuous physical exertion; and

a communications device, having at least a transmit function, for transmitting at least one signal of less than 15 mW average power to a sensitive receiver system,

wherein said communications device comprises a personal locator beacon (PLB) module incorporating an RF transmitter that may be manually or automatically activated, at least one antenna, a power source, and operable connections between said transmitter, said power source, and said at least one antenna,

wherein said communications device further comprises a sensor in operable communication with at least said transmitter,

wherein said sensor provides an indication of the occurrence of a pre-specified event for use in activating said communications device,

wherein said communications device is affixed unobtrusively to said attachable device, and

wherein, at least parts of said communications device follow the outer contour of said attachable apparatus, conforming smoothly, and freely flexing with said outer contour,

wherein said communications device pauses during a first period to establish that said pre-specified event has occurred and said at least one sensor activates operation of said communications device upon establishing said occurrence,

wherein, upon said activation, said at least one RF transmitter transmits continually for a second period of between one-half hour and one and one-half hours, and

wherein during a third period of one to five hours immediately succeeding said second period, said at least one RF transmitter operates at a duty cycle of between 15% and 35%, and

wherein during a fourth period immediately succeeding said third period, said at least one RF transmitter transmits at a duty cycle of between 5% and 15%,

wherein, upon receipt of said signal by a receiver, said at least one signal is processed, and information relayed, as a timely indication of a need to initiate a recovery effort.

6. The integral support and alerting system of claim 5, wherein

said first period is between 10 and 20 seconds,

said second period is between 50 minutes and 70 minutes,

said third period is between 3.5 hours and 4.5 hours,

wherein during said third period, said at least one RF transmitter operates at a duty cycle between 20% and 30%,

said fourth period first occurring at between 4 hours, 20 minutes and 5 hours, forty minutes,

wherein during said fourth period, said at least one RF transmitter operates at a duty cycle between 8% and 12%, and

wherein said at least one RF transmitter of said communications apparatus may operate for a total period of between 60 hours and 84 hours.