Baby monitor system

• US 6,043,747 A
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cynthia L. Altenhofen
• Original Assignee: Cynthia L. Altenhofen
• Inventors: Altenhofen, Cynthia L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jama, Isaak R.
• Application Number:
  US08/934,716
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 455/39, 455/128, 455/439, 455/66, 340/825.69, 340/573, 340/539, 340/573.1, 600/534
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function

Abstract

A baby monitor system that includes a parent unit and a baby unit that have a two-way radio frequency communications link established therebetween. The baby monitor system also includes a message storage mechanism that allows a care giver to record a soothing message for playback to the baby in response to activation of a play switch. Use of the recorded message allows the care giver to provide the baby with a soothing message even when the care giver is in an ambient noise environment, such as a shower, that could startle are irritate the baby.

Claims

1. A baby monitor system comprising:

a parent unit; and

a baby unit;

said parent unit including;

a waterproof parent unit housing having a snap closure microphone cover and a waterproof speaker grating;

a parent unit central processing circuit positioned within said waterproof parent unit housing that includes a radio frequency transmitter and receiver circuit including a parent unit antenna, an analog to digital microphone amplification circuit, a digital message memory, a digital to analog converter and a speaker drive circuit;

a parent unit microphone in electrical connection with said parent unit central processing circuit;

a waterproof volume control switch in electrical connection with said parent unit central processing circuit;

a waterproof message record switch in electrical connection with said parent unit central processing circuit;

a waterproof message playback switch in electrical connection with said parent unit central processing circuit;

a waterproof direct talk switch in electrical connection with said parent unit central processing circuit;

a waterproof on/off switch in electrical connection with said parent unit central processing circuit; and

a parent unit speaker in electrical connection with

said parent unit central processing circuit;

said baby unit including;

a baby unit housing including a baby unit speaker grating and a baby unit microphone grating;

a baby unit central processing circuit including a radio frequency transmitter and receiver circuit including a baby unit antenna, an analog to digital microphone amplification circuit, a digital to analog converter and a speaker drive circuit;

a baby unit microphone in electrical connection with said baby unit central processing circuit;

a baby unit volume control switch in electrical connection with said baby unit central processing circuit;

a baby unit on/off switch in electrical connection with said baby unit central processing circuit; and

a baby unit speaker in electrical connection with said baby unit central processing circuit;

said parent unit central processing circuit and said baby unit central processing circuit having a two way radio frequency communication link established therebetween;

said parent unit central processing circuit being responsive to said waterproof message record switch in a manner to digitize a parent unit microphone signal from said parent unit microphone and store said digitized parent unit microphone signal in said digital message memory;

said parent unit central processing circuit being responsive to said waterproof message playback switch in a manner to transmit a radio frequency signal corresponding to said digitized parent unit microphone signal in said digital message memory to said baby unit central processing circuit for playback on said a baby unit speaker;

said parent unit central processing circuit being responsive to said waterproof direct talk switch in a manner to transmit a radio frequency signal corresponding to said parent unit microphone signal to said baby unit central processing circuit for playback on said a baby unit speaker.

2. The baby monitor system of claim 1, wherein:

said baby unit includes a U-shaped support handle.

3. The baby monitor system of claim 1, wherein:

said parent unit includes a U-shaped support handle.

4. The baby monitor system of claim 1 wherein:

said waterproof parent unit housing is of molded elastic construction.

5. The baby monitor system of claim 1 wherein:

said waterproof message record switch is a momentary contact switch;

said waterproof message playback switch is a momentary contact switch; and

said waterproof direct talk switch is a momentary contact switch.

6. The baby monitor system of claim 2, wherein:

said parent unit includes a U-shaped support, handle.

7. The baby monitor system of claim 2 wherein:

said waterproof parent unit housing is of molded plastic construction.

8. The baby monitor system of claim 2 wherein:

said waterproof message record switch is a momentary contact switch;

said waterproof message playback switch is a momentary contact switch; and

said waterproof direct talk switch is a momentary contact switch.

9. The baby monitor system of claim 6 wherein:

said waterproof parent unit housing is of molded plastic construction.

10. The baby monitor system of claim 6 wherein:

said waterproof message record switch is a momentary contact switch;

said waterproof message playback switch is a momentary contact switch; and

said waterproof direct talk switch is a momentary contact switch.

11. The baby monitor system of claim 9, wherein:

said parent unit includes a U-shaped support handle.

12. The baby monitor system of claim 7 wherein:

said waterproof message record switch is a momentary contact switch;

said waterproof message playback switch is a momentary contact switch; and

said waterproof direct talk switch is a momentary contact switch.

13. The baby monitor system of claim 3 wherein:

said waterproof parent unit housing is of molded plastic construction.

14. The baby monitor system of claim 3 wherein:

said waterproof message record switch is a momentary contact switch;

said waterproof message playback switch is a momentary contact switch; and

said waterproof direct talk switch is a momentary contact switch.

15. The baby monitor system of claim 13 wherein:

said waterproof message record switch is a momentary contact switch;

said waterproof message playback switch is a momentary contact switch; and

said waterproof direct talk switch is a momentary contact switch.

16. The baby monitor system of claim 4 wherein:

said waterproof message record switch is a momentary contact switch;

said waterproof message playback switch is a momentary contact switch; and

said waterproof direct talk switch is a momentary contact switch.