EMERGENCY DISTRESS SIGNALING SYSTEM

• US 3,723,876 A
• Filed: 06/21/1971
• Issued: 03/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George C. Seaborn Jr
• Original Assignee: George C. Seaborn Jr
• Inventors: Seaborn, George C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leibowitz, Barry L.
• Application Number:
  US05/155,098
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 325/4,6,16,64,111,117,118,361,166,187 343/225,227 340/177,181,224 335/205,54 179/5P,1.1C
• US Class Current: 455/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/012 using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for addition to a conventional dispatched vehicle twoway radio communication system to enable an operator to notify a central dispatcher of an emergency condition arising after the operator leaves the vehicle. The system includes a unit which plugs directly into the microphone input of the conventional system and which is responsive to a signal transmitted from a portable transmitter carried by the operator for playing a prerecorded emergency message through the transmitter of the conventional radio system.

Claims

1. A portable add-on emergency assistance radio signaling system for interconnection into a conventional dispatched vehicle communication system already present in a vehicle, said conventional dispatched vehicle communication system including a vehicle-mounted radio receiver and transmitter having a control head including a detachably connected microphone for communication with a central dispatcher, wherein said portable add-on emergency assistance radio signaling system comprises:

a portable add-on unit for being removably electrically plugged in between said microphone and said control head to enable normal conventional usage of said microphone with said vehiclemounted transmitter;

said add-on unit further including a normally unactuated prerecorded emergency assistance message player having an output connected to the input of said control head;

a portable radiO transmitter adapted for carriage by an operator and having a switch operable to actuate said portable radio transmitter in the event of the operator'"'"''"'"'s need for emergency assistance, said portable radio transmitter generating a signal which is modulated by coded frequency tones;

a radio receiver mounted within said add-on unit receptive to signals transmitted by said portable transmitter and including means for decoding said coded frequency tones; and

means within said add-on unit responsive to reception of a signal from said portable transmitter by said receiver mounted in said portable add-on unit for both actuating said prerecorded emergency assistance message player and for coupling a message signal into said control head to notify the dispatcher of the operator'"'"''"'"'s need for emergency assistance.

2. An add-on emergency assistance radio signaling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said message player actuating means includes:

a timing circuit actuated in response to reception of a transmitted signal by said receiver for energizing said player for a preselected period of time and then deactuating said player.

3. An add-on emergency assistance radio signaling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said message player actuating means includes:

a cycle timing circuit actuated in response to reception of a transmitted signal by said receiver, said circuit cyclically remaining actuated for a first preselected period of time and then deactuated for a second preselected period of time; and

a message timing circuit triggered in response to actuation of said cycle timing circuit and remaining actuated for a third preselected period of time of energizing said message player during the third preselected period and then cyclically repeating each time said cycle time is actuated.

4. An emergency assistance radio signaling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said message player actuating means includes a relay having a normally open contact set, one of said contacts being connected to a power source and the other being connected to the power input of said player, said relay being operated in response to reception of a signal from said portable transmitter by said receiver.

5. An emergency assistance radio signaling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portable radio transmitter comprises:

a radio frequency transmitter including a crystal controlled oscillator for generating a carrier signal for said transmitter;

an encoder for producing a plurality of preselected tones for amplitude modulating the carrier from said transmitter; and

wherein said signal responsive means includes a decoder and gating means responsive to a transmitter carrier signal modulated by said plurality of preselected tones.

6. An emergency assistance radio signaling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portable transmitter also includes:

means for actuating said transmitter upon disorientation of the transmitter body from a predetermined position for a preselected period of time.

7. An emergency assistance radio signaling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portable transmitter also includes:

an actuation switch formed of magnetic material; and

a movable magnet, said actuation switch being closed in response to proximity of said magnet to said switch.