Emergency alarm terminal and emergency alarm system

• US 6,721,553 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshioka, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US09/936,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/572, 455/550, 455/556, 455/456.5, 455/521
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention provides an emergency communication system terminal apparatus and an emergency communication system which can maintain the operation of the emergency communication system terminal apparatus by the supply of power from an auxiliary battery and can continue the supply of power to a microphone module also in the case in which power supply from a main battery is interrupted.

More specifically, in the invention, emergency message communicating means (11) carries out a process for receiving a transmission voice signal from a hands-free device (19) and transmitting the transmission voice signal to a center for controlling an emergency communication system such as an emergency communication center. A power controller (17) carries out a process for generating power to be supplied to a microphone module (6) from power supplied from a main battery (5) when the power is being supplied from the main battery (5). Moreover, the power controller (17) switches power supply from an auxiliary battery (18) in place of the main battery (5) when the power supply from the main battery (5) is interrupted.

Claims

1. An emergency communication system terminal apparatus comprising:

means for implementing hands-free voice talking when giving an emergency communication by inputting a voice signal from a microphone module;

means for generating power to be supplied to the microphone module through power supplied from a main battery provided in a vehicle; and

means for switching power supply to the microphone module to generation from power supplied from an auxiliary battery when power supply is interrupted by a failure of the main battery,

wherein each of a supply source voltage to be supplied to a microphone provided in the microphone module and a reference voice signal voltage to be a reference value of a voice signal is generated by a separate voltage reducing circuit.

2. The emergency communication system terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein conductors dedicated to power supply to the microphone module and a power GND are provided and other conductors are further provided for a microphone voice signal and a microphone voice signal GND.

3. The emergency communication system terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a conductor dedicated to power supply to the microphone module is provided, a vehicle housing is used for a power GND, and other conductors are further provided for a microphone voice signal and a microphone voice signal GND.

4. The emergency communication system terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein conductors dedicated to power supply to the microphone module and a microphone voice signal are provided, and a common conductor is provided for a power GND and a microphone voice signal GND.

5. The emergency communication system terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein conductors dedicated to power supply to the microphone module and a power GND are provided, and a voice signal is synthesized and transmitted to the power GND.

6. An emergency communication system comprising the emergency communication system terminal apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5 and an emergency communication center for generalizing a whole system and receiving an emergency communication transmission signal from the emergency communication system terminal apparatus.

7. The emergency communication system terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means for switching power supply comprises a power controller that turns ON a first switch to supply power from the auxiliary battery to the emergency communication system and turns ON a second switch to supply power from the auxiliary battery to the microphone module when power supply is interrupted by a failure of the main battery.