Child monitoring, communication and locating system
First Claim
1. A child monitoring, communication and locating system for use with an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus having a wire defining a periphery of a containment area and a generator to apply an electronic signal to the wire, the wire emitting a first radio frequency signal, said system comprising:
- a control unit comprising;
a control unit microcontroller, said control unit microcontroller being programmable with at least one system input data; and
a control unit transceiver;
at least one child module to be carried by a child, said child module comprising;
a child module microcontroller;
a wire detector for detecting a first radio frequency signal from the wire and for generating wire detection signals in response to the detection of a wire when said wire detector is a predetermined distance from the wire; and
a child module transceiver for electronically connecting said wire detector to said control unit transceiver, said child module microcontroller being programmable with a system input data code corresponding to the system input data programmed into said control unit for establishing a unique radio frequency channel between said child module transceiver and said control unit;
said child module transceiver transmitting an alarm signal on said unique frequency channel to said control unit transceiver in response to said wire detector being a predetermined distance from the wire defining the perimeter of a containment area, said control unit transceiver generating a responsive alarm in response to receiving said alarm signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for containing a child within a defined area, for communicating with the child, and for locating the child if the child leaves the defined area is disclosed. The containment capability of the system is provided by a presently existing electronic pet containment system. The child wears a monitoring module that produces a signal that is transmitted back to a control unit in the possession of the parent, thus warning the parent if the child approaches or crosses the wire defining the boundary of the defined area. The parent can use the control unit transceiver to communicate with the child and the child can communicate with the parent using the transceiver within the monitoring module. If the child leaves the defined area, the control unit has locating capabilities that provide the parent with an indication as to the direction in which the child is moving and the distance between the child and the control unit.
100 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A child monitoring, communication and locating system for use with an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus having a wire defining a periphery of a containment area and a generator to apply an electronic signal to the wire, the wire emitting a first radio frequency signal, said system comprising:
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a control unit comprising; a control unit microcontroller, said control unit microcontroller being programmable with at least one system input data; and a control unit transceiver; at least one child module to be carried by a child, said child module comprising; a child module microcontroller; a wire detector for detecting a first radio frequency signal from the wire and for generating wire detection signals in response to the detection of a wire when said wire detector is a predetermined distance from the wire; and a child module transceiver for electronically connecting said wire detector to said control unit transceiver, said child module microcontroller being programmable with a system input data code corresponding to the system input data programmed into said control unit for establishing a unique radio frequency channel between said child module transceiver and said control unit; said child module transceiver transmitting an alarm signal on said unique frequency channel to said control unit transceiver in response to said wire detector being a predetermined distance from the wire defining the perimeter of a containment area, said control unit transceiver generating a responsive alarm in response to receiving said alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A child monitoring, communication and locating system for use with an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus having a wire defining a periphery of a containment area and a generator to apply an electronic signal to the wire, the wire emitting a first radio frequency signal, said system comprising:
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a control unit comprising; a control unit microcontroller, said control unit microcontroller being programmable with at least one system input data; and a control unit transceiver; at least one child module to be carried by a child, said child module comprising; a child module microcontroller; a wire detector for detecting a first radio frequency signal from the wire and for generating a first wire detection signal in response to detecting a first predetermined distance from the wire and for generating a second wire detection signal in response to detecting a second predetermined distance from the wire; a child module transceiver for electronically connecting said wire detector to said control unit transceiver, said child module microcontroller being programmable with a system input data corresponding to the system input data programmed into said control unit for establishing a unique radio frequency channel between said child module transceiver and said control unit transceiver; said child module transmitting a first alarm signal on said unique frequency channel to said control unit transceiver in response to the first wire detection signal, said control unit transceiver generating a first responsive alarm in response to receiving said first alarm signal, and said child module transmitting a second alarm signal on said unique frequency channel to said control unit transceiver in response to the second wire detection signal, said control unit transceiver generating a second responsive alarm in response to receiving said second alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A child monitoring, communication and locating system for use with an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus having a wire defining a periphery of a containment area and a generator to apply an electronic signal to the wire, the wire emitting a first radio frequency signal, said system comprising:
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a control unit comprising; a control unit microcontroller, said control unit microcontroller being programmable with at least one system input data; and a control unit transceiver; at least one child module to be carried by a child, said child module comprising; a child module microcontroller; a wire detector for detecting a first radio frequency signal from the wire and for generating a first wire detection signal in response to detecting a first predetermined distance from the wire and for generating a second wire detection signal in response to detecting said child module crossing the wire; a child module transceiver for electronically connecting said wire detector to said control unit transceiver, said child module microcontroller being programmable with a system input data corresponding to the system input data programmed into said control unit for establishing a unique radio frequency channel between said child module transceiver and said control unit transceiver; said child module transmitting a first alarm signal on said unique frequency channel to said control unit transceiver in response to the first wire detection signal, said control unit transceiver generating a first responsive alarm in response to receiving said first alarm signal, and said child module transmitting a second alarm signal on said unique frequency to said control unit transceiver in response to the second wire detection signal, said control unit transceiver generating a second responsive alarm in response to receiving said second alarm signal.
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18. A child monitoring, communication and locating system, said system comprising:
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a control unit comprising; a control unit microcontroller, said control unit microcontroller being programmable with at least one system input data; and a control unit transceiver; at least one child module to be carried by a child, said child module comprising; a child module microcontroller; a child module transceiver being electronically connectible with said control unit transceiver for exchanging electronic signals with said control unit transceiver; said child monitoring, communication and locating system further comprising; a motion detector system for generating a motion-stationary electronic signal in response to lack of motion of said child module for a predetermined period of time, and said child module transceiver transmitting said motion-stationary electronic signal from said child module to said control unit transceiver, said control unit transceiver emitting an alarm in response to receiving said motion stationary electronic signal; an audio communication system, said audio communication system comprising; a child module audio input in said child module transceiver for transmitting audio signals from said child module; a control unit audio input in said control unit transceiver for transmitting audio signals from said control unit; a control unit audio output at said control unit for receiving said audio signals from said child module audio input and for emitting output signals; and a child module audio output at said child module for receiving said audio signals from said control unit audio input and for emitting output signals; a directional and distance locating system comprising; a monitoring signal output in said child module transceiver for transmitting monitoring signals; and a movable directional and distance locating signal input in said control unit for moving to receive the maximum strength of said monitoring signals to determine the direction of the child module and distance of the child module according to the strength of the monitoring signals; and a monitoring system for determining if a child module is within a predetermined distance from said control unit, said monitoring system comprising; said monitoring signal output in said child module transceiver for transmitting monitoring signals; and said control unit transceiver for receiving the monitoring signals and generating an alarm if said monitoring signals fall below a predetermined value.
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19. A child monitoring, communication and locating system, said system comprising:
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a control unit comprising; a control unit microcontroller, said control unit microcontroller being programmable with at least one system input data; and a control unit transceiver; at least one child module to be carried by a child, said child module comprising; a child module microcontroller; a child module transceiver being electronically connectible with said control unit transceiver for exchanging electronic signals with said control unit transceiver; said child monitoring, communication and locating system further comprising; a motion detector system for generating a motion-stationary electronic signal in response to lack of motion of said child module for a predetermined period of time, and said child module transceiver transmitting said motion-stationary electronic signal from said child module to said control unit transceiver, said control unit transceiver emitting an alarm in response to receiving said motion stationary electronic signal; an audio communication system, said audio communication system comprising; a child module audio input in said child module transceiver for transmitting audio signals from said child module; a control unit audio input in said control unit transceiver for transmitting audio signals from said control unit; a control unit audio output at said control unit for receiving said audio signals from said child module; and a child module audio output at said child module for receiving said audio signals from said control unit; a directional and distance locating system comprising; a monitoring signal output in said child module transceiver for transmitting monitoring signals; and a movable directional and distance locating signal input in said control unit for moving to receive the maximum strength of said monitoring signals to determine the direction and distance of the child module according to the strength of the monitoring signals; and a wire detection system for detecting a wire defining the perimeter of a containment area, the wire having an electronic signal generated and applied to the wire and emitting a wire radio frequency signal, said wire detection system comprising; a wire detector for detecting the wire radio frequency signal and for generating wire detector signals in response to the detection of a wire; said child module transceiver being electronically connected to said wire detector for transmitting signals corresponding to said wire detection signals to said control unit transceiver, said control unit transceiver generating an alarm signal when said signals corresponding to said wire detection signals exceeds a predetermined minimum.
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20. A child monitoring, communication and locating system, said system comprising:
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a control unit comprising; a control unit microcontroller being programmable with at least one system input data; and a control unit transceiver; at least one child module to be carried by a child, said child module comprising; a child module microcontroller being programmable with a system input data corresponding to the at least one system input data programmed into said control unit microcontroller for establishing a unique radio frequency channel between said child module transceiver and said control unit; a child module transceiver being electronically connectible with said control unit transceiver for exchanging electronic signals with said control unit transceiver; said child monitoring, communication and locating system further comprising; a motion detector system for generating a motion-stationary electronic signal in response to lack of motion of said child module for a predetermined period of time, and said child module transceiver transmitting said motion-stationary electronic signal from said child module to said control unit transceiver, said control unit transceiver emitting an alarm in response to receiving said motion-stationary electronic signal; an audio communication system, said audio communication system comprising; a child module audio input in said child module transceiver for transmitting audio signals from said child module; a control unit audio input in said control unit transceiver for transmitting audio signals from said control unit; a control unit audio output at said control unit for receiving said audio signals from said child module; and a child module audio output at said child module for receiving said audio signals from said control unit; a directional and distance locating system comprising; a monitoring signal output in said child module transceiver for transmitting monitoring signals; and a movable directional and distance locating signal input in said control unit for moving to receive the maximum strength of said monitoring signals to determine the direction and distance of the child module according to the strength of the monitoring signals; and a wire detection system for use with an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus having a wire defining a periphery of a containment area and a generator to apply an electronic signal to the wire, the wire emitting a first radio frequency signal, said wire detection system comprising; a wire detector for detecting a first radio frequency signal from the wire when said wire is a predetermined distance from the wire and for generating wire detection signals in response to the detection of a wire; said child module transceiver electronically connecting said wire detector to said control unit transceiver, and said child module transmitting an alarm signal on said unique frequency channel to said control unit transceiver in response to said wire detector being a predetermined distance from the wire defining the periphery of the containment area, said control unit transceiver generating a responsive alarm in response to receiving said alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification