Device for monitoring and measuring distance

• US 20060176178A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everest A. Wallace, Mark A. Voves, Mark B. Godfrey
• Original Assignee: Everest A. Wallace, Mark A. Voves, Mark B. Godfrey
• Inventors: Voves, Mark A., Godfrey, Mark B., Everest, A. Wallace
• Granted Patent: US 7,385,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child

Abstract

A device for monitoring distances having an interrogator and a transponder in wireless communication with the interrogator, the transponder having a signaling device that is activated based on the distance between the interrogator and transponders. The interrogator sends an encoded signal to the transponder and determines the distance to the transponder based on the delay of the transponder'"'"'s response. The interrogator instructs the transponder to activate a signaling device when the distance exceeds a predetermined setting. The present invention is directed towards applications that require one-foot precision and accuracy.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring distance comprising:

an interrogator;

a transponder in wireless communication with the interrogator, the transponder having a signaling device that is activated based on the distance between the interrogator and transponder.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the signaling device generates a signal selected from the group consisting of a vibration, shock, heat, light, audio, and visual display.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the interrogator sends an encoded signal to the transponder and determines the distance to the transponder based on the phase delay of the transponder'"'"'s response.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the interrogator instructs the transponder to activate the signaling device based on the difference between the distance and a predetermined distance.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the signaling device generates a plurality of signals based on the difference between the distance and the predetermined distance.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first transponder has an input device for setting a predetermined distance.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein a digital spreading sequence is used with the transponder to derive a distance measurement.

7. A device for monitoring distance comprising:

an interrogator having a signaling device;

a transponder in wireless communication with the first interrogator, wherein the signaling device is activated based on the distance between the interrogator and transponder.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the signaling device generates a signal selected from the group consisting of a vibration, shock, heat, light, audio, and visual display.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the interrogator sends an encoded signal to the transponder and determines the distance to the transponder based on the phase delay of the transponder'"'"'s response.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the interrogator activates the signaling device based on the difference between the distance and a predetermined distance.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the signaling device generates a plurality of signals based on the difference between the distance and the predetermined distance.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein the interrogator has an input device for setting a predetermined distance.

14. A device for measuring distance comprising:

an interrogator;

a transponder in wireless communication with the interrogator, wherein a signal is sent between the interrogator and the transponder to determine a distance between the interrogator and the transponder.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the signal is selected from the group consisting of a vibration, shock, heat, light, audio, and visual display.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the interrogator sends an encoded signal to the transponder and determines the distance to the transponder based on the time for the transponder to respond.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the interrogator instructs the transponder to send the signal based on the difference between the determined distance and a predetermined distance.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein a plurality of signals are sent based on the difference between the determined distance and the predetermined distance

19. The device of claim 14 wherein the interrogator has an input device for setting a predetermined distance.

20. The device of claim 14 wherein a digital spreading sequence is used with the transponder to derive a distance measurement.