Personal property alarm system

• US 7,061,378 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zimiti Ltd. (Thruvision Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Zimiti Ltd. (Thruvision Group Plc)
• Inventors: Lawrenson, Frank Ralph, Coxen, Adam Edmund Palmer
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/472,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20040145471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/539.1, 340/825.49, 340/686.6
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a personal property alarm system for monitoring the security of personal property using two-way coded radio signalling. The system comprises an alarm unit to be fixed to an item of property to be protected and a personal unit to be carried by a property owner. The alarm unit and the personal unit each comprise a transceiver to transmit and receive signals between each other. The alarm unit also comprises a motion sensor that is activated by predetermined movement of the property. The personal unit is operable in an alarm mode in which an alarm is activated to alert the property owner. The alarm unit is normally operable in a standby mode and is switched from the standby mode to an emergency mode when the motion sensor is activated. The personal unit alarm mode is activated when its transceiver receives an emergency signal from the alarm unit or when no standby signal has been received from the alarm unit. A personal unit may be tuned to communicate with a plurality of alarm units and/or a plurality of other personal units.

Claims

1. A personal property alarm system comprising an alarm unit to be fixed to an item of property to be protected and a personal unit to be carried by a property owner, the alarm unit and the personal unit each comprising a transceiver to transmit and receive signals between each other, the alarm unit comprising a motion sensor that is activated by predetermined movement of the property;

the alarm unit being operable in an emergency mode and a standby mode;

in the emergency mode the transceiver of the alarm unit sends an emergency signal to the transceiver of the personal unit;

in the standby mode the transceiver of the alarm unit sends a standby signal to the transceiver of the personal unit;

the personal unit is operable in an alarm mode in which an alarm is activated to alert the property owner;

wherein the alarm unit is normally operable in said standby mode and is switched from standby mode to the emergency mode when the motion sensor is activated; and

wherein the personal unit alarm mode is activated when its transceiver receives an emergency signal from the alarm unit or when no standby signal has been received from the alarm unit within a predetermined time period.

2. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the personal unit has a control device which is operable to send a signal to reset the alarm unit from emergency mode to standby mode.

3. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the personal unit has a control device which is operable to send a signal to adjust the sensitivity of the motion sensor by setting the predetermined movement required to activate the motion sensor.

4. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the personal unit has a control device which is operable to send a signal to request a standby signal from the alarm unit.

5. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the personal unit alarm has two states, one for when it receives an emergency signal and one for when it has not received a standby signal.

6. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the standby signal is sent at predetermined time intervals.

7. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the personal unit has a control device which is operable to transmit an off signal to the alarm unit instructing the alarm unit to enter a quiescent mode, wherein the alarm unit does not send a standby signal in the standby mode but is switched from the quiescent mode to the emergency mode when the motion sensor is activated.

8. A personal property alarm system according to claim 2, wherein the control device comprises a switch, a microphone or a combination of these features to enter operating instructions.

9. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm unit is tuned to communicate with a specific personal unit.

10. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of alarm units are tuned to one personal unit.

11. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm comprises an audible tone, a light-emitting display or a means for vibrating the personal unit, or a combination of these features.

12. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the personal unit comprises a received signal strength indicator.

13. A personal property alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the personal unit comprises a directional antenna for detecting the direction from which signals are received from the alarm unit and/or from another personal unit.

14. A personal property alarm system according to any claim 1, wherein the personal unit is tuned to send and receive signals to/from another personal unit.

15. A personal alarm system according to claim 1, where the alarm unit is tuned to a plurality of personal units.

16. A personal property alarm system according to claim 2, wherein the personal unit has a control device which is operable to send a signal to adjust the sensitivity of the motion sensor by setting the predetermined movement required to activate the motion sensor.

17. A personal property alarm system according to claim 16, wherein the the personal unit has a control device which is operable to send a signal to request a standby signal from the alarm unit.

18. A personal property alarm system according to claim 2, wherein the personal unit alarm has two states, one for when it receives an emergency signal and one for when it has not received a standby signal.

19. A personal property alarm system according to claim 18, wherein the standby signal is sent at predetermined time intervals.