Detection warning system for caregivers in a home

• US 7,151,457 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James A. Riley, Tami L. Randall
• Original Assignee: James A. Riley, Tami L. Randall
• Inventors: Riley, James A., Randall, Tami L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees, Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/053,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.07, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/556
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0469 Presence detectors to detect unsafe condition, e.g. infrared sensor, microphone G08B21/0476 takes precedence

Abstract

A detection warning system for caregivers in a home alerting a caregiver when a person exits a room, bed or walk through a doorway. This system comprises of two enclosures and an external reflector. A portable infrared emitter detector enclosure houses an emitter with a narrow, infrared beam, detector and transmitter. A portable receiving enclosure houses a receiver with an adjustable audio alarm. An emitter in the emitter detector enclosure emits an infrared beam to the reflector, which reflects the beam back to the detector. The detector senses when the beam is obstructed from reaching the reflector and energizes the transmitter. The transmitter receives the signal from the transmitter activating the adjustable audio alarm alerting a caregiver.

Claims

1. A detection warning system for caregivers in a home designed and proven to operate independently from external electronics comprising of a portable infrared emitter detector base unit, wherein said portable infrared emitter detector base unit having an emitter detector module, said emitter detector module having an emitter, a portable receiving unit utilizing an electrical wall receptacle and an external reflector, wherein said emitter emitting a narrow infrared beam to an external reflector, said external reflector reflecting said narrow infrared beam back to a detector, said detector containing means for illuminating an alignment light in said portable infrared emitter detector base unit;

and wherein said emitter detector module having a transistor sink output, said transistor sink output is coupled through a capacitor to a transistor within said portable infrared emitter detector base unit.

2. The detection warning system of claim 1 wherein said portable infrared emitter detector base unit having a power input jack, said power input jack providing input from a wall mount transformer, said wall mount transformer converts said electrical wall receptacle voltage to 18 volts direct current to said portable infrared emitter detector base unit.

3. The detection warning system of claim 2 wherein said power input jack providing input from an optional 18 volts direct current battery power pack to said portable infrared emitter detector base unit.

4. The detection warning system of claim 1 wherein said portable infrared emitter detector base unit having a power switch, inline fuse, and power indicator light, said power switch providing activation and deactivation of said 18 volts direct current, said inline fuse providing circuit protection, said power indicator light providing illumination to indicate when power is applied to said portable infrared emitter detector base unit.

5. The detection warning system of claim 1 wherein said portable infrared emitter detector base unit having a voltage regulator, said voltage regulator having capacitors and resistors, said capacitors and resistors regulate and filter said 18 volts direct current to an operating voltage of 12 volts direct current.

6. The detection warning system of claim 1 wherein said portable infrared emitter detector base unit having a lens, changing said lens provides two detection modes, retroreflective and polarized retroreflective.

7. The detection warning system of claim 1 wherein said transistor is held in a nonconductive state through a resistor until receiving a signal from said emitter detector module, said signal rendering said transistor in a conductive state within said portable infrared emitter detector base unit.

8. The detection warning system of claim 7 wherein said transistor sending a negative pulse activating a timer, said timer having a capacitor and resistor providing a delay time to said timer in said portable infrared emitter detector base unit.

9. The detection warning system of claim 8 wherein said timer having an output transistor, said output transistor energizing a relay coil, said relay coil having relay contacts, said relay contacts closing a switch in a transmitter module within said portable infrared emitter detector base unit.

10. The detection warning system of claim 9 wherein said transmitter module sending a transmitted signal to a portable receiving unit, said transmitted signal illuminating a transmit light in said transmitter module in said portable infrared emitter detector base unit.

11. The detection warning system of claim 1 wherein said portable receiving unit having a power input jack, said power input jack providing input from a wall mount transformer, said wall mount transformer converting said electrical wall receptacle voltage to 18 volts direct current to said portable receiving unit.

12. The detection warning system of claim 11 wherein said power input jack providing input from an optional 18 volts direct current battery power pack to said portable receiving unit.

13. The detection warning system of claim 1 wherein said portable receiving unit having a power switch, inline fuse, and power indicator light, said power switch providing activation and deactivation of said 18 volts direct current, said inline fuse providing circuit protection, said power indicator light providing illumination to indicate when power is applied to said portable receiving unit.

14. The detection warning system of claim 1 wherein said portable receiving unit having a voltage regulator, said voltage regulator having capacitors and resistors, said capacitors and resistors regulating and filtering said 18 volts direct current to an operating voltage of 12 volts direct current.

15. The detection warning system of claim 1 wherein said portable receiving unit receiving said transmitted signal from said transmitter module, said transmitted signal closing relay contacts within a receiver module within said portable receiving unit, said relay contacts transferring said operating voltage of 12 volts direct current through resistors to an anode and a gate of a silicon controlled rectifier in said portable receiving unit.

16. The detection warning system of claim 15 wherein said gate of said silicon controlled rectifier receiving said operating voltage of 12 volts direct current shorts said anode to a cathode of said silicon controlled rectifier providing circuit completion to ground of said portable receiving unit.

17. The detection warning system of claim 16 wherein said completed circuit of said portable receiving unit developing a voltage drop across a resistor in series with said anode, said voltage drop across a resistor in series with said anode energizing and sounding an adjustable audio alarm in said portable receiving unit.

18. The detection warning system of claim 16 wherein said silicon controlled rectifier having a push button reset switch in series with said anode, said push button reset switch removing said operating voltage of 12 volts direct current from said anode opening the circuit and silencing said adjustable audio alarm of said portable receiving unit.