Electronic whistle sensor

• US 9,396,628 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D'Angelo, Kevin Peter
• Original Assignee: Tlwam LLC
• Inventors: D'Angelo, Kevin, Fannin, James, Arruda, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghulamali, Qutbuddin
• Application Number:
  US14/583,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20160189490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 570 Days
• Field of Search: 340/322, 340/323.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 5/00 Whistles

Abstract

An improved all electronic sensor to detect when a whistle emits an audio signal. The electronic sensor activates an additional function such as a light, or signaling device to activate remote functions, such as submerged speakers, or time keeping apparatus.

Claims

1. A system that comprises:

a whistle that produces a sound;

a power source;

a detection circuit connected to the power source and physically attached to said whistle, said circuit comprising a MEMS (microelectromechanical system) based accelerometer;

wherein said system is configured such that the accelerometer detects the resonant vibration of the whistle and then causes the detection circuit to produce an electronic signal when the whistle produces a sound.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein said detection circuit further comprises a filter sub-circuit that normalizes and filters the output of the MEMS based accelerometer.

3. The system as in claim 2 wherein said filter sub-circuit is a band-pass filter.

4. The system as in claim 2 wherein said filter sub-circuit is a high-pass filter.

5. The system as in claim 2 that further comprises one or more LEDs connected to the detection circuit,

wherein said system is configured such that the LEDs emit light when the detection circuit indicates that the whistle is emitting a sound.

6. The system as in claim 5 wherein the detection circuit and the LEDs are mounted on the whistle.

7. The system as in claim 2 that further comprises an RF transmission subsystem connected to the detection circuit,

wherein said system is configured such that the RF transmission subsystem transmits an indicative radio signal when the detection circuit indicates that the whistle is emitting a sound.

8. The system as in claim 7 wherein the detection circuit, the RF transmission system, and the power source are mounted on the whistle.

9. The system as in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the RF transmission subsystem is of a Remote Keyless Entry type.

10. The system as in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the RF transmission subsystem is of a Bluetooth type.

11. A device that comprises:

a battery;

a detection circuit connected to the battery, said detection circuit comprising a MEMS based accelerometer;

wherein said device is configured such that when the device is physically attached to a whistle, the accelerometer detects the resonant vibration of the whistle and then causes the detection circuit to produce an electronic signal when the whistle produces a sound.

12. The device as in claim 11 wherein said detection circuit further comprises a filter sub-circuit that that normalizes and filters the output of the MEMS based accelerometer.

13. The device as in claim 12 wherein said filter sub-circuit is a band-pass filter.

14. The device as in claim 12 wherein said filter sub-circuit is a high-pass filter.

15. The device as in claim 12 that further comprises one or more LEDs,

wherein said device is configured such that the LEDs emit light when the detection circuit indicates that the whistle is emitting a sound.

16. The device as in claim 12 that further comprises an RF transmission subsystem,

wherein said device is configured such that the RF transmission subsystem transmits an indicative radio signal when the detection circuit indicates that the whistle is emitting a sound.

17. The device as in claim 16 wherein the RF transmission circuit is of a Remote Keyless Entry type.

18. The device as in claim 16 wherein the RF transmission circuit is of a Bluetooth type.