Infrared system for monitoring movement of objects
First Claim
1. An infrared transmitter, which comprises:
- a source of direct current;
an energy storage capacitor connected to said source for producing a voltage to power said transmitter;
a voltage-controlled switch means connected to said capacitor for operation by said voltage; and
an infrared emitter connected to said switch means for receiving power therefrom whereby infrared light is produced from said emitter when said switch means is switched to an on state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring moving objects, such as the flight of honeybees and other insects, using a pulsed laser light source. This system has a self-powered micro-miniaturized transmitting unit powered, in the preferred embodiment, with an array solar cells. This transmitting unit is attached to the object to be monitored. These solar cells provide current to a storage energy capacitor to produce, for example, five volts for the operation of the transmitter. In the simplest embodiment, the voltage on the capacitor operates a pulse generator to provide a pulsed energizing signal to one or more very small laser diodes. The pulsed light is then received at a receiving base station using substantially standard means which converts the light to an electrical signal for processing in a microprocessor to create the information as to the movement of the object. In the case of a unit for monitoring honeybees and other insects, the transmitting unit weighs less than 50 mg, and has a size no larger than 1×3×5 millimeters. Also, the preferred embodiment provides for the coding of the light to uniquely identify the particular transmitting unit that is being monitored. A "wake-up" circuit is provided in the preferred embodiment whereby there is no transmission until the voltage on the capacitor has exceeded a pre-set threshold. Various other uses of the motion-detection system are described.
33 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An infrared transmitter, which comprises:
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a source of direct current; an energy storage capacitor connected to said source for producing a voltage to power said transmitter; a voltage-controlled switch means connected to said capacitor for operation by said voltage; and an infrared emitter connected to said switch means for receiving power therefrom whereby infrared light is produced from said emitter when said switch means is switched to an on state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A self-powered infrared transmitter, which comprises:
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a source of direct current; an energy storage capacitor connected to said source for producing a voltage to power said transmitter; a switch means connected to said capacitor for receiving said voltage therefrom, said switch means operating from said voltage to produce an on and off switched states output; a pulse generator connected to said switch means, said pulse generator producing clocking pulses when said switch states output is on; a multi-bit shift register connected to said pulse generator for clocking therefrom, said shift register producing a series of coded pulses from said clocking pulses when said switched states output is switched on; and two series-connected infrared emitters connected to said shift register for receiving said coded pulses therefrom, said emitters producing radiating infrared light corresponding to said coded pulses. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An infrared transmitter, which comprises:
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a source of direct current; an energy storage capacitor connected to said source for producing a voltage to power said transmitter; a voltage-controlled switch means connected to said capacitor for operation by said voltage; and a pulse generator connected to said switch means for producing an output when said switch means is switched to an on state; and an infrared emitter connected to said pulse generator for receiving power therefrom whereby infrared light is produced by said emitter from said output of said pulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An infrared transmitter, which comprises:
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a source of direct current; an energy storage capacitor connected to said source for producing a voltage to power said transmitter; a voltage-controlled switch means connected to said capacitor for operation by said voltage; a pulse generator connected to said switch means for producing a series of clocking pulses when said switch means is switched to an on state; a multi-bit shift register connected to said pulse generator for clocking thereby, said shift register producing a series of coded pulses when clocked by said clocking pulses; and an infrared emitter connected to said shift register for receiving power therefrom whereby said emitter produces a series of infrared light pulses containing said coding. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An infrared transmitter, which comprises:
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a source of direct current; an energy storage capacitor connected to said source for producing a voltage to power said transmitter; a voltage-controlled switch means connected to said capacitor for operation by said voltage; a shift register connected to said switch means for producing a series of coded pulses when said switching means is switched to an on state; and an infrared emitter connected to said shift register for receiving power therefrom whereby said emitter produces a series of coded infrared light pulses from said coded pulses.
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21. A micro-miniaturized and self-powered infrared transmitter for attachment to objects, which comprises:
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a source of direct current; an energy storage capacitor connected to said source for producing an electrical charge; a switch means connected to said capacitor for receiving a voltage therefrom, said switch means operating from said voltage to produce an on and off switched states output; a relaxation oscillator connected to said switch means, said relaxation oscillator producing clocking pulses when said switched states output is on; a multi-bit shift register connected to said relaxation oscillator for clocking therefrom, said shift register producing a series of coded pulses from said clocking pulses when said switched states output is on; and two series-connected laser diodes connected to said shift register for receiving said coded pulses therefrom, said diodes producing radiating infrared light with a wavelength of about 800-900 nm, said infrared light corresponding to said coded pulses.
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Specification