GB1595788A

GB1595788A - Warning systems

Info

Publication number: GB1595788A
Application number: GB46512/76A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Barlow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-04-12
Filing date: 1977-12-09
Publication date: 1981-08-19

Description

(54) WARNING SYSTEMS (71) I, WALTER BARLOW, a British Subject of 78 Ridge Crescent, Hawk Green, Marple, Cheshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a warning system, particularly although not exclusively to give remote warning of incapacitation of a person, and is an improvement in or modification of the invention the subject of my earlier Patent Application No.

1,547,364.

Different kinds of warning system for giving remote warning of incapacitation of a person, particularly an elderly person in a domestic environment, have been proposed. One kind involves the provision of a switch or switches which is intended to be operated by the person on becoming incapacitated to actuate a remote alarm. A further kind involves the use of switches, such as door switches which are intended to be operated by the person during normal activitiy of the person, a remote alarm being automatically actuated in the event that a predetermined period of time elapses during which no switch is operated.

These known warning systems however are not wholly satisfactory. With regard to the former kind, the incapacitation of the person may be such as to prevent him from operating the switch; and with regard to the latter kind, the necessary time elapse may mean that a person may remain incapacitated for a long period of time before the alarm is actuated. The known warning systems may also be disadvantageous with regard to poor reliability, inconvenience of installation and false alarms.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved warning system.

According to the present invention therefore a warning system comprising a transmitting device and a separate receiving device capable of receiving signals transmitted by radiation from said transmitting device, said transmitting device incorporating a timing device and a position sensitive switch, said switch being arranged to operate when the transmitting device is tilted in a predetermined manner away from a predetermined vertical disposition thereof, said timing device being arranged to initiate or change transmission of signals by the transmitting device when the said operation of the said switch has been maintained for a predetermined period of time as determined by the timing device, said receiving device incorporating alarm means and being arranged to respond to the aforesaid initiation or change of signal transmission to effect actuation of the alarm means, and said transmitting device with said timing device and said position sensitive switch being in a case adapted to be carried or worn by a person.

With this arrangement it will be appreciated that the encased transmitting device may be carried or worn by a person and warning can be given in a simple and reliable manner when the person becomes incapacitated either deliberately by the person moving the transmitting device in the predetermined manner or automatically when the nature of the incapacitation causes the device to be moved in this way as for example when the person falls over.

Thus it can be ensured that warning can be given of incapacitation of a person, for example of an elderly person in a domestic context, at the time when the person becomes incapacitated.

Whilst reference has been made to incapacitation to elderly people it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to this field of application and the warning device may be used in any suitable context for any suitable purpose. Thus it may be used by people in potentially hazardous circumstances such as mountaineers or security personnel, or it may be used ta protect goods or property by positioning the transmitting device relative to the goods property so as to be moved in the said predetermined manner if any unauthorised attempt is made to remove, damage or enter the goods or property as appropriate.

The transmitting device may take any suitable form but preferably comprises a suitable electronic circuit enclosed in a case of a shape suited to the intended location of same. Thus, where the device is to be carried by a person, the case may comprise a small box with a clip which can fit in a pocket, or an elongated tube or the like also with a clip which can fit like a pen in the person's pocket, or a small case possibly appropriately decorated which can be worn as a pendant, brooch, badge or the like.

With regard to the said position sensitive switch the nature of this will be appropriate to the intended use. Thus the switch may be arranged to respond to sudden movement whilst being unresponsive to gradual movement, and it may be responsive to said tilting of the transmission device in one direction or to any directions away from said vertical disposition. The switch may have parts which move relative to each other as the transmitting device is tilted to make or break an electric circuit when the angle of tilt exceeds a predetermined value.

Thus the switch may have a conductive liquid or fluent mass much as mercury, an aqueous salt solution, finely divided conductive partcles or the like which can move between positions at which electric contacts are and are not bridged thereby.

Alternatively the switch may have a body for example a ball bearing or the like which is free to move towards and away from a position at which it bridges electrical contacts or moves an intermediate bridging element across electrical contacts.

The receiving device may take any suitable form as also may the alarm means.

Preferably however the receiving device comprises an appropriately housed electronic circuit and the alarm means comprises a visual indicator such as a light bulb and/or an audible indicator such as a buzzer, audio tone generator or the like. During said predetermined period of time determined by said timing device or during at least a latter part thereof a warning indication may be given in the vicinity of the transmitting device, for example by actuation of an audible alarm device in the transmitting device, so that the movement of the transmitting device can be corrected. If desired such alarm device or an alternative form of warning indicator in the transmitting device may be actuated whenever the alarm means of the receiving device is actuated.

Preferably also, the transmitting device and/or receiving device may be arranged so that the alarm means once actuated remains actuated even if the movement of the transmitting device is corrected, until a reset mechanism is operated.

In order to protect against failure of the transmitting device, this may be arranged to transmit periodic test signals and the receiving device may be arranged to actuate the alarm means or other warning indicator if one of or a predetermined number of expected such signals are not received by the receiving device. Provision may also be made for giving indication of failure of the receiving device and in the case where the receiving device is mains operated a standby battery supply may be provided for use during power failure.

The transmitting device may be arranged so that it starts transmitting a signal, which may comprise a series of pulses or tones, after movement of the device. Alternatively, the arrangement may be such that a signal is normally transmitted but changes in nature or ceases after said movement.

With this latter arrangement unauthorised interference with the warning device is less easy and such arrangement is therefore better suited to security situations.

As to the mode of transmission between the transistor and receiver this preferably occurs on a suitable V.H.F. or UHF frequency using crystal controlled transmitting and receiving circuits. The transmitting device may have an aerial which conveniently may be part or all of the case thereof. The receiving device may have an external aerial.

Alternatively, of course, it is possible to transmit and receive otherwise than via V.H.F. or UHF radio waves, for example, sonic transmission may be employed.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrams of the receiving device and transmitting device of one form of a warning system according to the invention; and Figs. 3 and 4 show pulse sequences for the warning system and also for a modified version of the warning device system.

The warning system has a transmitting device in the form of a small container enclosing a battery, a position sensitive switch and electronic circuitry.

The position sensitive switch 1 comprises a glass bulb 2 having spaced parallel metal rings 3 at opposite ends thereof. The ~ metal rings 3 are secured to electrical terminals 4 which pass through and are sealed relative to the glass bulb.

The bulb contains a small pool 5 of mercury. In the position shown in the drawing, that is with the bulb arranged so that the two rings 3 are spaced vertically, the mercury 5 rests at the bottom of the bulb 2 and the rings 3 are not conductively linked within the bulb. If the bulb 2 is tilted away from the vertical in any direction the side wall of the bulb 2 will move relative to the mercury and, if the bulb is tilted through a large enough angle, the mercury will form a conductive link between the rings 3.

The electronic circuitry of the transmitting device incorporates a crystal controlled transmitter pulse generator 6 connected to an aerial 7 which aerial may comprise a conductive part of the container or other structure. The function of the pulse generator 6 is described hereinafter.

The switch 1 is connected to the transmitter 6 via a first oscillator 8 and first delay circuit 9 and a second oscillator 10 and second delay circuit 11 the functions of which are also described hereinafter.

The electronic circuitry is powered by a battery. The battery is connected permanently to the circuitry, i.e. no on-off switch- is provided, and such circuitry incorporates appropriate i.c. devices to keep power consumption to a very low level.

When the switch 1 is upright and the mercury does not bridge the rings 3, the two oscillator circuits 8, 10 are deactuated.

No signals are therefore fed to the transmitter 6 except for signals-generated by the pulse generator of the transmitter 6 as will be described later.

When the transmitting device is tilted to cause the mercury to bridge the rings 3 the first delay circuit 9 is actuated. If the device remains tilted causing the delay circuit 9 to remain actuated for a predetermined period of time (say 10 secs) corresponding to the charging of a capacitor, a signal is produced at the output of the delay circuit 9 such as to effect actuation of the first oscillator circuit 8 which circuit produces an audio signal which is fed via an output stage to a small loudspeaker 12 within the container of the transmitting device. An audible warning signal in the form of a continuous tone is therefore produced by the transmitting device whereby warning can be given of the fact that the transmitting device has been tilted so that such tilt can be corrected if it has been effected inadvertently.

The output of the first oscillator 8 is fed to the second delay circuit 11 and a signal is produced at the output of this circuit, if the device remains tilted for a further predetermined period of time (say 10 secs.), such as to effect actuation of the second oscillator circuit 10. The second oscillator circuit 10 when actuated feeds an L.F.

signal in the form of a series of pulses to the transmitter 6 so as to actuate same to transmit a corresponding series of pulses- to the receiving device. At the same time the oscillator 10 modifies the output of the oscillator 8 so that the continuous audible tone changes to an intermittent or pulsed tone.

The operations so far described cease the instant the transmitting device is returned to an upright position; The pulse generator of the transmitter 6 actuates the transmitter to transmit pulses (say every 45 seconds) for test purposes.

The receiver comprises an encased electronic circuit having a suitable external aeriel 13. The circuit includes a crystal controlled receiving circuit 14 tuned to thetransmission frequency of the transmitting device, and an audio frequency oscillator 15 connected to the receiving circuit 14 via a timing circuit 16 and a signal detection circuit 17. The audio frequency oscillator 15 is connected to a loudspeaker 18 within the casing of the receiver and to a display lamb 19 (such as an LED) on the front of the casing. The circuitry is mains operated via a slitable power supply circuit and standby circuitry may be provided to enable the receiver to operate from a battery in the event of mains power failure.

The timing circuit 16 is set to a period longer than the time elapse between the pulses produced by the pulse generator of the transmitter 6. The timing circuit 16 is reset on receiving each pulse and if a pulse is missed due to failure of the transmitting device the timing circuit 16 is not reset and produces an output which actuates the oscillator 15. Once actuated, the oscillator 15 is held actuated until reset by operation of a manual reset button 20 and the oscillator 15 produces an intermittent audible tone in the loudspeaker 18 and at the same time illuminates the lamp.

The signal detection circuit 17 is arranged to actuate the oscillator 15 in like manner to the timing circuit 16 in the event that the transmitter 6 is actuated as hereinbefore described to transmit the series of pulses.

In order to distinguish between acuation by the timing circuit 16 and actuation by the detection circuit 17 a lamp or buzzer or the like may be actuated when the oscillator 15 is actuated by the timing circuit to indicate a transmitter fault.

Fig. 3 shows the pulsed sequences with the arrangement so far described.

Fig. 4 shows the pulse sequences with a modification of the arrangement in which the transmitter transmits continuously in normal conditions and such transmission is interrupted if the transmitting - device is tilted and maintained tilted for a predetermined period of time.

With the arrangement so far described the transmitting device may be carried by an elderly person, for-example in a. pocket of such person and the receiving device may be positioned at an appropriate control location whereby audible and visual warning signals are given at such location in the event that the person falls and is incapacitated. The time delays in the functioning of the transmitting device and the continuous audible tone emitted by the transmitting device act to ensure that false alarms can be eliminated or at least mini miser After the time delays have elapsed and the transmitting device transmits the signal which actuates the receiving device, indication is given of this by the change in the audible tone emitted by the transmitting device from a continuous tone to an intermittent tone.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement so far described can be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive manner, is simple and inexpensive to install (particularly in so far as extensive wiring is not required) and is reliable in use.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. Thus, the warning system may be constructed in any suitable manner and may be used for any suitable purpose. A plurality of transmitting devices may be used with a common receiving device in which case the receiving device may be capable of distinguishing between signals received from the different transmitting device and may have separate indicators corresponding to the different transmitting devices.

Where a transmitting device is used, as described above, which transmits periodic test pulses, or other regular signals, such pulses or signals may be utilised for a purpose or purposes, other than that of checking the functioning of the transmitting device. Thus, for example, such pulses or signals may be used as a security code signal in the context of a security system intended for example to prevent access of unauthorised personnel to a room or location. In this case a receiver may be provided for receiving said pulses or signals in or at the entrance to said room or location and thereby deactuate an appropriate intruder alarm. A person trying to enter said room or location without the appropriate transmitting device will operate the intruder alarm.

Alternatively or additionally said pulses or signals may be used in the context of a monitoring system to monitor the presence of a person at a predetermined location. In this case a receiver may be provided which is capable of receiving said pulses or signals at said location and, for example, giving an alarm indication if the expected pulses or signals are not received.

Where there are a plurality of transmitting devices used with the same receiver, the receiver may be arranged to count the number of pulses or signals in a predetermined time period, such period being less than the time period between pulses or signals from any one transmitting device, whereby it can be determined if the expected pulse or signal from one or more devices is missing. If desired the pulses or signals of different transmitting devices may be identified as by position in a sequence thereof or by duration thereof, or frequency thereof or otherwise, the receiver being capable of distinguishing between the differently identified pulses or signals.With a pulse or signal counting receiver, as in other contexts, it may be necessary or desirable to use a transmitting device which transmits the test pulses or signals on one frequency and the alarm signal on a different frequency whereby disappearance of test pulses or signals due to failure of the transmitting device or movement of the transmitting device from the receiving location can be distinguished, to a certain extent, from loss of said pulses or signals due to an emergency condition.

Also, said test pulses or signals from the transmitting device may be used to actuate a timing clock or the like for example when an employee enters and/or leaves his place of work.

Where said pulses or signals are used to monitor or control passage of personnel through an entrance or the like it will be appreciated that there need be no turnstile or like mechanical gate at the entrance which may be advantageous from a safety point of view.

The receiver alarm system may take any suitable form and is not restricted to visual and/or audible indicators on or in the vicinity of the receiver. For example, the receiver may be connected to an automatic telephone dailling device whereby in the event of an emergency situation, or a possible emergency situation, an appropriate emergency organisation is contacted by telephone, such organisation being given appropriate information and/or instructions from a pre-recorded message. This arrangement is particularly suitable for use by elderly and/or infirm people. The organisation in question may be an ambulance service a taxi service or the like which may be instructed to visit a named elderly or infirm person. Each elderly on infirm person may have his own receiver and dialling device; or a common receiver and dialling device may be provided at an appropriate central location.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A warning system comprising a transmitting device and a separate receiving de

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. may be positioned at an appropriate control location whereby audible and visual warning signals are given at such location in the event that the person falls and is incapacitated. The time delays in the functioning of the transmitting device and the continuous audible tone emitted by the transmitting device act to ensure that false alarms can be eliminated or at least mini miser After the time delays have elapsed and the transmitting device transmits the signal which actuates the receiving device, indication is given of this by the change in the audible tone emitted by the transmitting device from a continuous tone to an intermittent tone. It will be appreciated that the arrangement so far described can be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive manner, is simple and inexpensive to install (particularly in so far as extensive wiring is not required) and is reliable in use. It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. Thus, the warning system may be constructed in any suitable manner and may be used for any suitable purpose. A plurality of transmitting devices may be used with a common receiving device in which case the receiving device may be capable of distinguishing between signals received from the different transmitting device and may have separate indicators corresponding to the different transmitting devices. Where a transmitting device is used, as described above, which transmits periodic test pulses, or other regular signals, such pulses or signals may be utilised for a purpose or purposes, other than that of checking the functioning of the transmitting device. Thus, for example, such pulses or signals may be used as a security code signal in the context of a security system intended for example to prevent access of unauthorised personnel to a room or location. In this case a receiver may be provided for receiving said pulses or signals in or at the entrance to said room or location and thereby deactuate an appropriate intruder alarm. A person trying to enter said room or location without the appropriate transmitting device will operate the intruder alarm. Alternatively or additionally said pulses or signals may be used in the context of a monitoring system to monitor the presence of a person at a predetermined location. In this case a receiver may be provided which is capable of receiving said pulses or signals at said location and, for example, giving an alarm indication if the expected pulses or signals are not received. Where there are a plurality of transmitting devices used with the same receiver, the receiver may be arranged to count the number of pulses or signals in a predetermined time period, such period being less than the time period between pulses or signals from any one transmitting device, whereby it can be determined if the expected pulse or signal from one or more devices is missing. If desired the pulses or signals of different transmitting devices may be identified as by position in a sequence thereof or by duration thereof, or frequency thereof or otherwise, the receiver being capable of distinguishing between the differently identified pulses or signals.With a pulse or signal counting receiver, as in other contexts, it may be necessary or desirable to use a transmitting device which transmits the test pulses or signals on one frequency and the alarm signal on a different frequency whereby disappearance of test pulses or signals due to failure of the transmitting device or movement of the transmitting device from the receiving location can be distinguished, to a certain extent, from loss of said pulses or signals due to an emergency condition. Also, said test pulses or signals from the transmitting device may be used to actuate a timing clock or the like for example when an employee enters and/or leaves his place of work. Where said pulses or signals are used to monitor or control passage of personnel through an entrance or the like it will be appreciated that there need be no turnstile or like mechanical gate at the entrance which may be advantageous from a safety point of view. The receiver alarm system may take any suitable form and is not restricted to visual and/or audible indicators on or in the vicinity of the receiver. For example, the receiver may be connected to an automatic telephone dailling device whereby in the event of an emergency situation, or a possible emergency situation, an appropriate emergency organisation is contacted by telephone, such organisation being given appropriate information and/or instructions from a pre-recorded message. This arrangement is particularly suitable for use by elderly and/or infirm people. The organisation in question may be an ambulance service a taxi service or the like which may be instructed to visit a named elderly or infirm person. Each elderly on infirm person may have his own receiver and dialling device; or a common receiver and dialling device may be provided at an appropriate central location. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A warning system comprising a transmitting device and a separate receiving de

vice capable of receiving signals transmitted by radiation from said transmitting device, said transmitting device incorporating a timing device and a position sensitive switch, said switch being arranged to operate when the transmitting device is tilted in a predetermined manner away from a predetermined vertical disposition thereof, said timing device being arranged to initiate or change transmission of signals by the transmitting device when the said operation of the said switch has been maintained for a predetermined period of time as determined by the timing device, said receiving device incorporating alarm means and being arranged to respond to the aforesaid initiation or change of signal transmission to effect actuation of the alarm means, and said transmitting device with said timing device and said position sensitive switch being in a case adapted to be carried or worn by a person.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said switch can operate when the transmitting device is tilted in said predetermined manner in any direction away from said vertical disposition.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said switch has a liquid or fluent mass adapted to move on tilting of the switch to make or break conduction between electrical contacts.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said liquid or fluent mass is electrically conductive and is adapted to bridge electrically said electrical contacts.

5. A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said switch has a movable solid body adapted to move on tilting of the switch to make or break conduction between electrical contacts.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said solid body is electrically conductive and is adapted to bridge electrically said electrical contacts.

7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said alarm means is adapted to produce a visible and/or audible alarm indication locally of the receiving device.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said alarm means is adapted to produce a visible and/or audible alarm indication remote from the receiving device.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said alarm means is connected to an automatic telephone dialling device.

10. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, including a visual and/or audible warning device in the transmitting device arranged to give warning in the vicinity of the transmitting device when the said transmitting device is tilted in said predetermined manner.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the warning device is arranged to produce a first warning signal during said predetermined period of time and a second different warning signal when said signal transmission is initiated or changed.

12. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said transmitting device is arranged to transmit test signals at intervals and said receiving device is adapted to receive said signals and to respond to an interruption in the transmission of the signals to effect actuation of said alarm means.

13. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.