Distance monitor especially for child surveillance

• US 4,785,291 A
• Filed: 03/06/1987
• Issued: 11/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Candy C. Hawthorne
• Original Assignee: Candy C. Hawthorne
• Inventors: Hawthorne, Candy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/022,994
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/539, 340/540, 340/572, 340/691, 340/815.03, 342/125, 342/118
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

Monitoring apparatus including an unmodulated radio-frequency transmitter carried by or affixed to the person to be monitored and receiver/monitor apparatus at a monitoring location for providing quantized visual and audible indicia based on received signal strength. The receiver AGC level, being a function of received signal strength, provides the variable which determines the repetition rate of tone bursts and the number of LED bar visual indicia lighted within an array of such LED bars. The response levels of those indicia are then a function of the distance between transmitter and receiver. Movement of the child (for example) beyond a predetermined range is immediately detected by a person at the receiver location. Circuitry is provided for presetting the maximum allowable range before alarm is instituted.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the position of a person with respect to a monitoring location and for providing at least a visual indication as a function of said position, comprising:

first means including a radio-frequency transmitter associated with said person to be monitored, for radiating radio-frequency waves;

second means including a radio-frequency receiver located at said monitoring location for substantially continuously receiving said radio-frequency waves;

third means within said second means for generating a receiver automatic gain control signal;

a visual distance indicating display comprising N discrete light emitting elements and including circuits for energizing from one to N of said light emitting elements corresponding to the level of said automatic gain control signal at any time, said circuits also being arranged to cause said light emitting elements energized at any one time to flash at a predetermined flash rate as a function of the level of said automatic gain control signal.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which said circuits for energizing said light emitting elements are arranged to effect said flash rate at rate increasing as a function of the number of said light emitting elements energized at any one time.

3. A system according to claim 1 further including a beep tone generator associated with said third means and responsive to said circuits for energizing said light emitting elements to produce a beep repetition rate of said tone generator substantially contemporaneous with said flash rate.

4. A system according to claim 1 in which said light emitting elements are light emitting diodes arranged in a linear array displayed at said monitoring location.