GB2276478A

GB2276478A - Electronic alarm/finder

Info

Publication number: GB2276478A
Application number: GB9305957A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Martin Dance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-23
Filing date: 1993-03-23
Publication date: 1994-09-28
Also published as: GB9305957D0

Abstract

The alarm finder comprises a wireless transmitter and receiver (A) carried by person doing the finding and wireless transmitter and receiver (B) attached to the item to be found. Normally (B) would transmit a signal which is "seen" by (A). When the signal received by (A) indicates that (A) and (B) are more than a predetermined distance apart, device (A) indicates an alarm situation. At this time the person carrying (A) has the option of transmitting a signal to (8) which would cause an alarm to be indicated at (B). Example of use: The target application would include, although not exclusively, the scenario of mother and child, where the mother carries device (A) and the child has device (B) attached. If the child wanders off, the mother is alerted and can cause an alarm to sound on the device attached to the child.

Description

ELECTRONIC FINDER This invention relates to an electronic finder. a device utilising electronic wireless transmission techniques to find a lost item.

The problem of finding lost things is well known. The problem becomes more serious when the lost item is a person or child. While children will often 'run off' in play, the recent murder of a child which was lost in a shopping centre, highlights the problem. The invention relates to the use of wireless transmitters and receivers in such a way as to alert and either prevent loss or to take action in the circumstance of a loss or imminent loss.

Existing devices to prevent a child. for example, wandering off, have taken the form of glorified 'dog leads'. These are sometimes difficult to use and may get tangled with persons or animals.

For the purposes of the following description, 'F' will refer to the person doing the finding and 'L' will relate to the item one wishes to find.

According to the present invention there is provided a miniature transmitter which is attached to item 'L'. A receiver is then used by 'F', to detect the status of 'L'. Additionally, a receiver is incorporated into the device attached to 'L' and a transmitter incorporated in the device carried by 'F' to enhance the functionality as described later.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which : Figure 1 shows a diagrammatical representation of the invention being used in a particular scenario of mother and child.

Figure 2 illustrates what happens when the child 'wanders' more than the preset distance specified.

Figure 3 shows the likely action following the warning signal and the result probuced by the action taken Figure 4 shows a close up of a typical housing for the device that is used by person 'F' Figure 5 shows a close up a typical way of attaching the device to item 'L' Referring to the drawing, the invention of the particular version described comprises, a wireless transmitter and receiver attached to item 'L'. in this case a child and a wireless transmitter and receiver carried by person 'F' in this case the mother, The transmitter attached to child ('L') emits a signal which is 'seen' by the receiver carried by the mother ('F'). Whilst the signal is being received of a sufficient strength or frequency as expected by the receiver, a 'normal' indication is given by the device carried by the mother.Should the child move further than a pre-set distance from the mother, the signal strength or frequency seen by the receiver 'F' will naturally alter. This change will be indicated by the receiver 'F' to the mother by means of but not exclusively, an audible and/or visual warning indicator.

At this point the mother has the option of simply looking for the child or taking the following action using the enhancements included in the device. An enhancement is described below which is included at this stage to illustrate how useful the invention is in practice. This also follows the sequence of illustrations..

At any time but most likely when the wandering of the child has caused the device to indicate a situation other than normal, the mother may instruct the device 'F' to transmit a signal which is of sufficient strength to be 'seen' by the receiver part of 'L' worn by the child, over a suitably long distance to be useful.

This signal, once 'seen' would indicate an alarm by use of, but not exclusively, a loud audible warning. This could then be heard by the mother and the child found.

Claims

1 An electronic finder comprising a wireless transmitter and receiver attached to the item to be found and a transmitter and receiver carried or worn by the person doing the finding. The receiver 'sees' the signal from the transmitter and when the strength or frequency of the signal indicates that the item with the transmitter attached is within a pre-defined distance, the receiver indicates to the finder a 'normal' status. When the transmitter moves away, the strength or frequency will change in relation to the receiver. When this happens, the receiver will indicate to the finder and alarm situation. At this time action can be taken by the person doing the finding by sending a signal to the item to be found which would then indicate an alarm situation.

2 An electronic finder as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the addition of a loud audible warning indicator is made to the device attached to the item to be found, which would give off a noticeable sound by way of an alarm as defined by Claim 1.

3 An electronic finder as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the addition of a further indicator is added to the receiver carried by the person doing the finding such that the direction of the item to be found could be shown, allowing the finder the knowledge to proceed in that direction to find the item.

4 An electronic finder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the uniqueness of the wireless signal being sent and 'seen' between transmitter and receiver is ensured by sending a signal which indicates a numeric code which is unique to every set of devices.

5 An electronic finder as claimed in any preceding claim except 5 wherein the uniqueness of the wireless signal being sent and 'seen' between transmitter and receiver is ensured by sending a signal which indicates a numeric code which is set up by the user of the device. Thereby enabling, if required, further transmitters or receivers to be used within the same search scenario. eg: two finders, one item two be found or conversely one finder and two items to be found.