Method, apparatus, and system for remote baby monitoring with additional functions

• US 7,408,471 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, Rick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/439,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539, 340/531, 340/407.1, 340/965, 340/825.19, 367/197, 367/198, 367/199, 381/56, 381/57, 381/58, 381/122
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for remote baby monitoring is disclosed. The invention includes a non-audio alert such as a vibrator. In one embodiment the invention includes an intensity adjustment or a sensitivity adjustment.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a remote unit adapted to monitor sounds associated with a baby, the remote unit comprising;

a receiver for receiving an audio signal at a first audio level and generating a second audio level;

a level detector adapted to determine when the first audio level is above the second audio level, the level detector being operatively connected to a vibrating unit and adapted to activate the vibration unit when the first audio level exceeds the second audio level and for as long as the first audio level exceeds the second audio level; and

a transmitter adapted to transduce sound associated with a baby and transmit the transduced sound to the remote unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote unit further comprises a speaker for outputting the audio signal.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user selectable frequency switch and wherein the receiver operates at a user-selectable frequency.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver operates at a frequency at or above approximately 900 megahertz.

5. A new method of baby monitoring comprising:

transducing sound associated with a baby;

transmitting the sound to a remote location;

receiving the sound at the remote location;

selectively activating a vibration unit at the remote based on one or more properties of the sound associated with an environment of the baby.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the property of sound is ambient volume.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the ambient sound volume is in part generated by the baby.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising manually adjusting a level of vibration.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of selectively activating comprises setting a threshold such that the vibration unit is activated when the threshold is exceeded.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the vibration unit remains activated for as long as the threshold is exceeded.