System for locating a plurality of objects
First Claim
1. A wireless object locating system for finding a plurality of objects within a target zone, said wireless object locating system comprising:
- a primary portable controller comprisinga plurality of controls and LEDs disposed on an outer surface thereof,a transceiver,a digital signal processor electrically coupled directly to said transceiver,a memory electrically coupled directly to said digital signal processor, said memory including programmable software instructions that cause said primary controller to emit a plurality of search signals having corresponding unique frequencies respectively, anda frequency synthesizer circuit electrically coupled directly to said digital signal processor; and
a plurality of secondary controllers directly and removably attached to the plurality of objects respectively, each of said secondary controllers comprisinga transceiver having an antenna electrically coupled thereto,a processor operably coupled to said transceiver,a memory electrically coupled directly to said processor, said memory including programmable software instructions that cause said secondary controller to transmit a location signal upon verifying the identity of said corresponding search signal, anda transducer electrically coupled directly to said processor, said transducer emitting an audible and visual signal in response to receiving said search signal;
wherein said primary controller further comprisesmeans for simultaneously locating all of said plurality of secondary controllers such that the user is able to simultaneously and independently locate each of the objects during a single time period, said simultaneous locating means comprisinga point-to-multipoint network interface circuit electrically coupled directly to said frequency synthesizer circuit such that each of said search signals are sequentially transmitting within the target zone without causing interference between each of said search signals; and
an analog to digital converter electrically coupled directly to said transceiver, said converter receiving an analog user input from said controls and converting said analog user input to a digital user input prior to reaching said digital signal processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An object locating system includes a primary portable controller including controls and LEDs, a transceiver, a digital signal processor, and a memory. The memory includes programmable software instructions that cause the primary controller to emit search signals that have corresponding unique frequencies. A phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer circuit is coupled to the signal processor for comparing a feedback frequency of the search signals. Secondary controllers are removably attached to the objects. Each secondary controller includes a transceiver that has an antenna coupled thereto, a processor, and a memory including software instructions that cause the secondary controller to transmit a location signal upon verifying the identity of the corresponding search signal. The primary and each secondary controller memories are EEPROMs. A transducer is coupled to the processor and emits an audible and visual signal in response to receiving the search signal.
23 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A wireless object locating system for finding a plurality of objects within a target zone, said wireless object locating system comprising:
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a primary portable controller comprising a plurality of controls and LEDs disposed on an outer surface thereof, a transceiver, a digital signal processor electrically coupled directly to said transceiver, a memory electrically coupled directly to said digital signal processor, said memory including programmable software instructions that cause said primary controller to emit a plurality of search signals having corresponding unique frequencies respectively, and a frequency synthesizer circuit electrically coupled directly to said digital signal processor; and a plurality of secondary controllers directly and removably attached to the plurality of objects respectively, each of said secondary controllers comprising a transceiver having an antenna electrically coupled thereto, a processor operably coupled to said transceiver, a memory electrically coupled directly to said processor, said memory including programmable software instructions that cause said secondary controller to transmit a location signal upon verifying the identity of said corresponding search signal, and a transducer electrically coupled directly to said processor, said transducer emitting an audible and visual signal in response to receiving said search signal;
wherein said primary controller further comprisesmeans for simultaneously locating all of said plurality of secondary controllers such that the user is able to simultaneously and independently locate each of the objects during a single time period, said simultaneous locating means comprising a point-to-multipoint network interface circuit electrically coupled directly to said frequency synthesizer circuit such that each of said search signals are sequentially transmitting within the target zone without causing interference between each of said search signals; and an analog to digital converter electrically coupled directly to said transceiver, said converter receiving an analog user input from said controls and converting said analog user input to a digital user input prior to reaching said digital signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A wireless object locating system for finding a plurality of objects within a target zone, said wireless object locating system comprising:
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a primary portable controller comprising a plurality of controls and LEDs disposed on an outer surface thereof, a transceiver, a digital signal processor electrically coupled directly to said transceiver, a memory electrically coupled directly to said digital signal processor, said memory including programmable software instructions that cause said primary controller to emit a plurality of search signals having corresponding unique frequencies respectively, and a frequency synthesizer circuit electrically coupled directly to said digital signal processor, wherein said frequency synthesizer circuit is a phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer for comparing a feedback frequency of said search signals; and a plurality of secondary controllers directly and removably attached to the plurality of objects respectively, each of said secondary controllers comprising a transceiver having an antenna electrically coupled thereto, a processor operably coupled to said transceiver, a memory electrically coupled directly to said processor, said memory including programmable software instructions that cause said secondary controller to transmit a location signal upon verifying the identity of said corresponding search signal, and a transducer electrically coupled directly to said processor, said transducer emitting an audible and visual signal in response to receiving said search signal;
wherein said primary controller further comprisesmeans for simultaneously locating all of said plurality of secondary controllers such that the user is able to simultaneously and independently locate each of the objects during a single time period, said simultaneous locating means comprising a point-to-multipoint network interface circuit electrically coupled directly to said frequency synthesizer circuit such that each of said search signals are sequentially transmitting within the target zone without causing interference between each of said search signals; and an analog to digital converter electrically coupled directly to said transceiver, said converter receiving an analog user input from said controls and converting said analog user input to a digital user input prior to reaching said digital signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless object locating system for finding a plurality of objects within a target zone, said wireless object locating system comprising:
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a primary portable controller comprising a plurality of controls and LEDs disposed on an outer surface thereof, a transceiver, a digital signal processor electrically coupled directly to said transceiver, a memory electrically coupled directly to said digital signal processor, said memory including programmable software instructions that cause said primary controller to emit a plurality of search signals having corresponding unique frequencies respectively, and a frequency synthesizer circuit electrically coupled directly to said digital signal processor, wherein said frequency synthesizer circuit is a phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer for comparing a feedback frequency of said search signals; and a plurality of secondary controllers directly and removably attached to the plurality of objects respectively, each of said secondary controllers comprising a transceiver having an antenna electrically coupled thereto, a processor operably coupled to said transceiver, a memory electrically coupled directly to said processor, said memory including programmable software instructions that cause said secondary controller to transmit a location signal upon verifying the identity of said corresponding search signal, wherein said primary controller memory and each of said secondary controller memories are EEPROMs, and a transducer electrically coupled directly to said processor, said transducer emitting an audible and visual signal in response to receiving said search signal;
wherein said primary controller further comprisesmeans for simultaneously locating all of said plurality of secondary controllers such that the user is able to simultaneously and independently locate each of the objects during a single time period, said simultaneous locating means comprising a point-to-multipoint network interface circuit electrically coupled directly to said frequency synthesizer circuit such that each of said search signals are sequentially transmitting within the target zone without causing interference between each of said search signals; and an analog to digital converter electrically coupled directly to said transceiver, said converter receiving an analog user input from said controls and converting said analog user input to a digital user input prior to reaching said digital signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification