Light sensing hidden object location system

• US 6,911,909 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chandar, Ravi
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/443,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.6, 340/571, 340/522, 340/555, 340/683, 340/687, 340/5.62, 362/100, 362/155, 362/802
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

An object locating system for automatically locating a hidden or lost wireless object. This is applicable to objects such as remote controls for TVs and VCRs and the like. An ambient light photosensor is located on the object. The object locating system also includes an alarm located on the wireless object, which is electrically connected to the ambient light photosensor. The ambient light photosensor senses ambient lighting conditions. The alarm is actuated when the ambient light photosensor detects ambient light below a predetermined level.

Claims

1. A method for locating a hidden object, the method comprising:

sensing an ambient light level in the near proximity of the object;

determining if the light level is below a predetermined level; and

activating an alarm capable to be coupled to the object, in response to the light level is below the predetermined level, wherein the alarm is activated by an electro-magnetic circuit comprising an electromagnet and an armature capable of being placed in contact with said electromagnet.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensing step comprises sensing an ambient light level at an upper surface of the object.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm is one or more selected from the group consisting of a noisemaker, a light emitter, a vibrator, and a radio signal transmitter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is a remote control device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensing of the ambient light is performed with a photosensor, and the alarm is triggered by the photosensor activating the alarm via the electro-magnetic circuit.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a switch is used to electrically disengage the alarm.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm is activated by an electromagnetic circuit coupled to the object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the armature biased by a spring.

9. A device to aid in locating an object, the device comprising:

an ambient light sensor capable to be coupled to the object; and

an alarm capable to be electrically coupled to the ambient light sensor, wherein the alarm is activated when the ambient light detector senses light at a level below a predetermined level, and wherein the alarm is activated by an electro-magnetic circuit comprising an electromagnet and an armature capable of being placed in contact with said electromagnet.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is divided into parts including a first part and a second part, the first part comprising:

a first power source, a transistor, and the ambient light sensor.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the second part comprises:

a second power source and the alarm.

12. The device of claim 11, the device further comprising:

an electro-magnetic circuit, the electro-magnetic circuit electrically connecting the first part to the second part, the electro-magnetic circuit connected to activate the alarm when the ambient light photosensor senses light at a level below a predetermined level.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising:

a switch in the second part electrically connected to the second power source, for deactivating the locating device.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the alarm is one or more selected from the group consisting of a noisemaker, a light emitter, a vibrator, and a radio signal transmitter.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein the ambient light photosensor is a cadmium sulphide photoresistor.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the alarm is activated by an electromagnetic circuit coupled to the object.

17. The device of claim 9, wherein the armature biased by a spring.

18. A system to aid in locating an object, the system comprising:

an object;

an ambient light sensor capable to be coupled to the object;

an alarm capable to be electrically coupled to the ambient light sensor, wherein the alarm is activated when the ambient light detector senses light at a level below a predetermined level; and

an electro-magnetic circuit configured to activate the alarm, the electro-magnetic circuit comprising an electromagnet and an armature capable of being placed in contact with said electromagnet.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is divided into parts including a first part and a second part, the first part comprising:

a first power source, a transistor, and the ambient light sensor.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the second part comprises:

a second power source and the alarm.

21. The system of claim 20, the system further comprising:

an electro-magnetic relay, the electro-magnetic relay electrically connecting the first part to the second part, the electro-magnetic relay connected to activate the alarm when the ambient light photosensor senses light at a level below a predetermined level.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a switch in the second part electrically connected to the second power source, for deactivating the locating system.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the alarm is one or more selected from the group consisting of a noisemaker, a light emitter, a vibrator, and a radio signal transmitter.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the ambient light photosensor is a cadmium sulphide photosensor.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the alarm is activated by an electromagnetic circuit coupled to the object.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the armature biased by a spring.

27. A method for locating a hidden object, the method comprising:

determining if an ambient light level near a remote control device is below a predetermined level; and

activating an alarm by an electromagnetic circuit capable to be coupled to the remote control device, in response to the ambient light level falling below the predetermined level, wherein the electro-magnetic circuit comprises an electromagnet, and an armature capable of being placed in contact with said electromagnet.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the ambient light level is determined by a photosensor capable to be coupled to the remote control device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the photosensor passes current to activate the electro-magnetic circuit, and wherein the photosensor provides resistance inversely proportional to the determined ambient light level, the resistance changing a value of the current.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the current is amplified by a transistor coupled to the photosensor.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the armature is biased by a spring.

32. An apparatus for locating a hidden device, the apparatus comprising:

a remote control apparatus, comprising;

an electromagnetic circuit comprising an electromagnet, and an armature capable of being placed in contact with said electromagnet;

a photosensor; and

an alarm capable to be coupled to the photosensor and the electromagnetic circuit, and configured to be activated by the electromagnetic circuit if the photosensor senses ambient light at a level below a predetermined level.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the photosensor passes current to activate the electro-magnetic circuit, and wherein the photosensor provides resistance inversely proportional to the sensed ambient light level, the resistance changing a value of the current.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

a transistor coupled to the photosensor and configured to amplify the current.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the armature is biased by a spring.

36. A method for locating a hidden object, the method comprising:

determining if an ambient light level near a remote control device is below a predetermined level; and

activating an alarm by an electromagnetic circuit capable to be coupled to the remote control device, in response to the ambient light level falling below the predetermined level, wherein the electro-magnetic circuit comprises an electromagnet, and an armature biased by a spring and capable of being placed in contact with said electromagnet.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the ambient light level is determined by a photosensor capable to be coupled to the remote control device.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the photosensor passes current to activate the electro-magnetic circuit, and wherein the photosensor provides resistance inversely proportional to the determined ambient light level, the resistance changing a value of the current.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the current is amplified by a transistor coupled to the photosensor.

40. An apparatus for locating a hidden device, the apparatus comprising:

a remote control apparatus, comprising;

an electromagnetic circuit comprising an electromagnet, and an armature biased by a spring and capable of being placed in contact with said electromagnet;

a photosensor; and

an alarm capable to be coupled to the photosensor and the electromagnetic circuit, and configured to be activated by the electromagnetic circuit if the photosensor senses ambient light at a level below a predetermined level.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the photosensor passes current to activate the electro-magnetic circuit, and wherein the photosensor provides resistance inversely proportional to the sensed ambient light level, the resistance changing a value of the current.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

a transistor coupled to the photosensor and configured to amplify the current.