GB2550623A

GB2550623A - An emergency position transmitter and operating Method thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2550623A
Application number: GB1613249.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Choi Byeongdo; Jang Suk-Hyun
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-18
Filing date: 2016-08-01
Publication date: 2017-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-01
Also published as: KR101815643B1; GB2550623B; KR20170130251A; GB201613249D0

Abstract

An emergency position transmitter comprises: a power supply unit 10, an input unit 20 having an SOS setting, a sensor unit 30 including a moisture or salinity sensor 31, an RF communication unit 50, a GPS receiving unit 40, a satellite transmitting unit 60, a memory unit 70 and a control unit 90. The control unit is maintained in a standby mode when the power is on and wakes up the GPS receiving unit at a predetermined standby interval. The received GPS positional data is stored in the memory unit. The control unit is switched to an SOS mode when the input unit is either input with an SOS or receives a signal from the sensing unit. An emergency signal that includes the positional data is generated. The RF communication and satellite transmitting units are actuated and transmit the emergency signal, with the satellite transmission interval being longer than the RF transmission interval. In SOS mode, the GPS receiving unit is awakened at an interval shorter than the standby interval. The control unit is switched to a power saving mode when the the sensor signal is sustained and the GPS signal strength is equal to or less than a set value. The RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit are turned off and the sensor and the GPS receiving unit wakes up at an interval longer than the SOS mode interval.

Description

[Description] [Invention Title] AN EMERGENCY POSITION TRANSMITTER AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF [Technical Field]

The present invention relates to an emergency position transmitter and an operating method thereof. Particularly, the present invention relates to an emergency position transmitter transmitting an RF signal and a satellite signal as an emergency signal and an operating method thereof [BACKGROUND ART]

At present, a fishing boat transmitting device (V-PASS) which can send an emergency signal in a cost accident is installed at a fishing boat and a VHF-DSC radio set is obligatorily installed. However, when the fishing boat turns over or sinks, the communication equipments just announce a final sinking point due to communication interruption and there is no method that will verify a position of a survivor which is pushed and drifted by a sea current. Further, a communication distance with a land communication station is limited, and as a result, when a fishing operation is performed offshore, even reporting the accident may be difficult.

As described above, the reason for marine human damage when the fishing boat turns over or sink is that it is difficult to determine the position of the survivor which is swept away to a sea current with a high flow velocity by search with naked eyes. When weather conditions are bad like night or fog which is short-sighted, there are a lot of cases in which the search is further difficult, and as a result, an hypothermia accident or disappearance is caused. When the survivor meets with a disaster on the sea in a ship accident or marine leisure activity in addition to the fishing boat, in particular, at night. an identification distance of a searchlight is short as hundreds of meters and it is difficult to determine the position of the survivor due to bad weather or movement of the seat current, and as a result, it is very difficult to increase rescue rate for a drowning accident or search missing people.

As a result, administration personnel and vessel and airplane cost, and the like required for missing people are excessively consumed in addition to loss of lives, therefore, a more scientific survivor search and rescue method is acutely required, which can rescue lives at a golden time by improving the visual search scheme in the marine accident. Even in a lake or river which is lonesome in addition to the ocean, similarly, even when people fall into water and lost while boating, fishing, and the like, a method in which a scientific rescue is required rather than the visual search. A lot of personal emergency rescue devices of which location can be tracked by using a GPS have been developed in order to solve a difficulty in determining the position in marine salvage, and the like.

However, since a general GPS receiving system receives a satellite signal every several seconds at present, and as a result, GPS reception standby power is significantly much consumed in an emergency rescue terminal. As a result, when a lot of time is consumed until the emergency rescue due to the difficulty in rescue of the marine accident, the emergency rescue terminal cannot have a sufficient residual battery quantity.

[Prior Art Document] [Patent Document] (Patent Document 0001) Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1135148 (registered on April 3, 2012) [Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

When an emergency accident occurs on the water such as the sea, and the like, in a portable terminal such as an emergency position transmitter, an inverse proportional relationship between a problem of a signal cover area depending on transmission of a short-range RF signal and battery power depending on addition of another wireless communication scheme for signal cover extension is shown.

As a result, a technology is required, which can reduce power consumption simultaneously while increasing a transmission cover area of an emergency signal in an emergency rescue portable terminal such as the emergency position transmitter.

The present invention is contrived to solve the aforementioned problem and intends to propose an emergency position transmitter and an operating method thereof which can transmit an RF signal and a satellite signal as an emergency signal and reduce power consumption.

[Technical Solution]

In order to achieve the object, according to an aspect of the present invention, proposed is an emergency position transmitter including: a power supply unit; an input unit receiving power and SOS setting; a sensor unit including a first sensor sensing moisture or salinity; an RF communication unit transmitting an emergency signal through RF communication; a GPS receiving unit receiving a GPS signal; a memory unit storing positional data calculated from the GPS signal; and a control unit, and further including: an emergency position transmitter further comprising: a satellite transmitting unit transmitting the emergency signal through satellite communication, wherein the control unit is maintained in a standby mode when power is on and wakes up the GPS receiving unit at a predetermined standby interval, and stores or updates and stores the positional data in the memory unit as receiving the GPS signal, is switched to an SOS mode when the input unit is input with the SOS or it is determined that an emergency occurs according to a sensing signal of the sensor unit in the standby mode, generates the emergency signal including the positional data, actuates the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit at a predetermined first RF transmission interval and at a first satellite transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval, respectively, and wakes up the GPS receiving unit at an SOS mode interval shorter than the standby interval to store or update the positional data in the memory unit, and switches the SOS mode to the power saving mode when a flooding determination state depending on a signal of the first sensor is continued and a GPS signal strength of a set value or less is continued in the SOS mode, turns off operations of the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit, and wakes up the first sensor and the GPS receiving unit at a power saving mode interval longer than the SOS mode interval.

In this case, in one example, the emergency position transmitter may further include a sound wave transmitting unit generating an emergency sound wave signal and outputting the generated emergency sound wave signal underwater, wherein the control unit may transmit the emergency sound wave signal underwater by actuating the sound wave transmitting unit at a predetermined interval in the power saving mode.

Further, in one example, the control unit may be switched to a floating state mode when the GPS signal strength of the GPS receiving unit which wakes up is equal to or more than the set value in the power saving mode, turn off the sensor unit, wake up the GPS receiving unit at a predetermined floating mode interval, and actuate the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit at a second RF transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval and a second satellite transmission interval longer than the first satellite transmission interval, respectively to transmit the emergency signal in the floating state mode.

In this case, in another example, the control unit may set a transmission period of the emergency signal depending on the second RF transmission interval and the second satellite transmission interval as a first floating mode in the floating state mode, switch the first floating mode to a second floating mode when the first floating mode passes a predetermined time, wake up the GPS receiving unit at a second floating mode interval longer than the floating mode interval, and actuates the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit at a third RF transmission interval longer than the second RF transmission interval and a third satellite transmission interval longer than the second satellite transmission interval, respectively to transmit the emergency signal.

Further, in one example, the control unit may wake up by the trigger operation by the SOS input in the input unit in a power off mode and switch the power off mode to the SOS mode.

In another example, the sensor unit may further include an acceleration sensor, and the control unit may switch the standby mode to the SOS mode by determining that the emergency occurs when a sensing result of the first sensor of the first sensor, a sensing result of the acceleration sensor, or and the sensing results of the first sensor and the acceleration sensor are equal to or more than a set range value in the standby mode and turn off an operation of the acceleration sensor until canceling the SOS mode depending on SOS cancellation input in the input unit after switching the standby mode to the SOS mode.

Further, according to one example, the memory unit may further store registration information set and registered in addition to the positional data and the control unit may further include the registration information or the registration information and emergency time information in addition to the positional data.

In another example, the RF communication unit may receive an external signal through the RF communication, the external signal is a response signal to the emergency signal transmitted through the RF communication unit or an external emergency reception signal, the control unit stores the external signal in the memory unit when the external signal is the response signal, generate and transmit an additional emergency signal including additional information not included in the emergency signal and broadcast the emergency reception signal and controls a wireless routing function to be performed when the external signal is the emergency reception signal, and the additional information may include at least some of the set and registered registration information, movement information after the emergency, emergency time information, and emergency determination information.

Further, in one example, the RF communication unit may be configured to include an active RFID module.

Next, in order to achieve the object, according to another aspect of the present invention, proposed is an operating method of an emergency position transmitter including a power supply unit; an input unit receiving power and SOS setting; a sensor unit including an input unit receiving power and SOS setting, a sensor unit including a first sensor sensing moisture or salinity, an RF communication unit transmitting an emergency signal through RF communication, a GPS receiving unit receiving a GPS signal, and a satellite transmitting unit transmitting the emergency signal through satellite communication, including: a standby step in which a standby mode is maintained when power is on, the GPS receiving unit wakes up at a predetermined standby interval, positional data is stored or updated according to the received GPS signal, and it is determined whether an emergency occurs according to a sensing signal of the sensor unit; an SOS step in which the standby mode is switched to an SOS mode to be maintained when the input unit is input with the SOS or it is determined that the emergency occurs by determining whether the emergency occurs in the standby mode, the emergency signal including the positional data is generated, the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit are actuated at a predetermined first RF transmission interval and at a first satellite transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval, respectively, the emergency signal is transmitted, the GPS receiving unit wakes up at an SOS mode interval shorter than the standby interval to store or update the positional data; and a power saving mode in which the SOS mode is switched to a power saving mode when a flooding determination state depending on a signal of the first sensor is continued and a GPS signal strength of a set value or less is continued in the SOS step, operations of the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit are turned off, and the first sensor and the GPS receiving unit wake up at a power saving mode interval longer than the SOS mode interval.

In this case, in one example, in the power saving step, the emergency position transmitter may generate an emergency sound wave signal and transmit the generated emergency sound wave signal underwater at a predetermined interval.

Further, in one example, the operating method may further include a floating state step in which the power saving mode is switched to a floating state mode when the GPS signal strength of the GPS receiving unit which wakes up is equal to or more than the set value in the power saving mode, the sensor unit is turned off, the GPS receiving unit wakes up at a predetermined floating mode interval, and the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit are actuated at a second RF transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval and a second satellite transmission interval longer than the first satellite transmission interval, respectively, and the emergency signal is transmitted.

In this case, in another example, the floating state step may include a first floating mode step in which the GPS receiving unit wakes up at the floating mode interval and the emergency signal is transmitted at the second RF transmission interval and the second satellite transmission interval, and a second floating mode step in which the first floating mode is switched to a second floating mode when the first floating mode passes a predetermined time, the GPS receiving unit wakes up at a second floating mode interval longer than the floating mode interval, and the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit are actuated at a third RF transmission interval longer than the second RF transmission interval and a third satellite transmission interval longer than the second satellite transmission interval, respectively, and the emergency signal is transmitted.

In another example, switching to SOS mode by the SOS input by the input unit in the SOS step may be performed while the emergency position transmitter wakes by a trigger operation by the SOS input in the input unit in a power off mode or performed according to the SOS input in the input unit in the standby step and switching to the SOS mode according to the emergency determination in the SOS step may be performed by determining that the emergency occurs when a sensing result of the first sensor, a sensing result of an acceleration sensor additionally provided in the sensor unit, or the sensing results of the first sensor and the acceleration sensor are equal to or more than a set range value in the standby step.

[Advantageous Effects]

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the RF signal and a satellite signal can be transmitted as the emergency signal and the power consumption can be reduced. As a result, the emergency rescue is facilitated and on the other hand, the power consumption of the transmitter is minimized to transmit the emergency signal for a long time.

According to various embodiments of the present invention it is apparent that various effects which are directly mentioned can be derived by those skilled in the art from various components according to embodiments of the present invention.

[Description of Drawings] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an emergency position transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an emergency position transmitter according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram schematically illustrating an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an operating method of an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an operating method of an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an operating method of an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an operating method of an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an exterior of the emergency position transmitter according to one example.

[Best Mode]

Embodiments of the present invention for achieving the above object will be described with the accompanying drawings. In the present description, like reference numeral refer to like elements and additional description can be omitted in order to promote appreciation of the present invention by those skilled in the art.

In the present specification, when a connection, association, or layout relationship of one component and another component is described, as long as there is a limitation called ‘direct’, as well as a form of ‘direct connection, association, or layout’, both components may be connected, associated, and laid out with a third component is interposed therebetween. Further, in the present specification, when terms indicating a direction and/or a position are described, the terms are relative concepts determined based on a criterion and in this case, the criterion can be sufficiently appreciated from by being directly described or from components indicating the direction and/or the position and the relationship of the related components even though the terms are not directly described.

Although a singular expression is disclosed in the present specification, if the singular expression is not interpreted to be contrary to, clearly different from, or contradictory to the concept of the invention, it should be noted that the singular expression can be used as a concept representing all of a plurality of components. In the present specification, disclosures including ‘including’, ‘having’, ‘comprising”, 'configured to include', and the like should be appreciated that there is a possibility that one or more other components or a combination thereof will be present or added.

[Emergency position transmitter]

First, an emergency position transmitter according to another aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings. In this case, like reference numerals illustrated in each drawing refer to like elements and it should be appreciated that reference numerals not illustrated in a described drawing refer to like reference numerals and like elements illustrated in another drawing. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an emergency position transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an emergency position transmitter according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram schematically illustrating an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. FIG 8 schematically illustrates an exterior of the emergency position transmitter according to one example. FIGS. 4 to 7 schematically illustrate an operating method of an emergency position transmitter according to another aspect of the present invention and since FIGS. 4 to 7 are also applied to an operation of the emergency position transmitter according to one example, one embodiment of the present invention can be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the emergency position transmitter according to one example includes a power supply unit 10, an input unit 20, a sensor unit 30, an RF communication unit 50, a GPS receiving unit 40, a memory unit 70, and a control unit 90. In this case, the emergency position transmitter may further include a satellite transmitting unit 60. Further, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the emergency position transmitter according to one example may further include a sound wave transmitting unit 80.

First, in brief, the power supply unit 10 supplies power. The input unit 20 is input with power setting and further, input with SOS setting. For example, the input unit 20 may include a power on/off button and an SOS button. The sensor unit 30 includes a first sensor 31. In this case, the first sensor 31 senses moisture or salinity. The RF communication unit 50 transmits an emergency signal through RF communication according to control. The GPS receiving unit 40 receives and processes a GPS signal. The memory unit 70 stores or update and stores positional data calculated from the GPS signal according to the control. Further, the satellite transmitting unit 60 transmits the emergency signal through satellite communication according to the control.

Moreover, the control unit 90 controls the respective components according to a standby mode, an SOS mode, and a power saving mode. In this case, the control unit 90 maintains the standby mode when the power is on, wakes up the GPS receiving unit 40 every set standby interval, and stores or updates and stores the positional data in the memory unit 70 while receiving the GPS signal. Further, the control unit 90 is switched to the SOS mode when the input unit 20 is input with the SOS or it is determined that the emergency occurs according to a sensing signal of the sensor unit 30 in the standby mode. In the SOS mode, the control unit 90 generates the emergency signal including the positional data and actuates the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 at a first RF transmission interval and at a first satellite transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval, respectively to transmit the emergency signal. Moreover, in the SOS mode, the control unit 90 wakes up the GPS receiving unit 40 in an SOS mode interval shorter than a standby interval and updates and stores the positional data calculated from the GPS signal in the memory 70. Further, the control unit 90 switches the SOS mode to the power saving mode when a flooding determination state depending on a signal of the first sensor 31 is continued and a GPS signal strength of a set value or less is continued in the SOS mode. In the power saving mode, the control unit 90 turns off operations of the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 and wakes up the first sensor 31 and the GPS receiving unit 40 at a power saving mode interval longer than the SOS mode interval.

The respective components will be described in more detail. In this case, the components are described in detail in the order of the power supply unit 10, the input unit 20, the sensor unit 30, the memory unit 70, the RF communication unit 50, the GPS receiving unit 40, the satellite transmitting unit 60, the sound wave transmitting unit 80, and the control unit 90. In this case, according to one example of the present invention, the emergency position transmitter may include a power supply unit 10, an input unit 20, a sensor unit 30, an RF communication unit 50, a GPS receiving unit 40, a memory unit 70, and a control unit 90 as basic components.

Power supply unit 10

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the power supply unit 10 supplies the power. In this case, the power may be supplied to the respective components in which the power is required in the power supply unit according to the control by the control unit 90 except for a case in which the power is constantly supplied.

For example, the power supply unit 10 may include a chargeable battery. The battery of the power supply unit 10 may be wired-charged through an exposed charging terminal or wirelessly charged without a charging terminal. For example, when the charging terminal is provided, the charging terminal is exposed to a case.

Input unit 20

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and/or 8, the input unit 20 is input with the power setting and further, input with the SOS setting. For example, the input unit 20 may include a power on/oflf button 22 and SOS buttons 21a and 21b. The power is supplied to the required components in the power supply unit 10 as power on setting is input in the input unit 20. For example, the power on/off button may be two buttons or one button. When the power on/off button 22 is one button, for example, the power button is pressed long in a power on state to turn off the power.

For example, referring to FIG. 8, the SOS buttons 21a and 21b are also provided as two buttons, and as a result, an SOS setting button 21a and an SOS release button 21b may be provide or although not illustrated, the SOS button may be constituted only by one button. When the number of SOS buttons is one, the SOS may be input in the case of pressing the SOS button short and SOS release setting may be input in the case of pressing the SOS button long. Alternatively, the SOS release setting may be input by varying the number of times by a scheme such as pressing one SOS button continuously twice within a set time, and the like. For example, in this case, the control unit 90 determines an input signal by the SOS button in the input unit 20 to determine whether the corresponding signal is an SOS setting request signal or an SOS release request signal.

Further, in one example, the control unit 90 wakes up by a trigger operation by the SOS input in the input unit 20 even in a power off state, and as a result, the control unit 90 may switch the power off state to the SOS mode. For example, the SOS setting button is pressed long for the set time in the power off state and the trigger operation by the SOS input is performed, and as a result, a power off mode may be immediately switched to the SOS mode. For example, a piezoelectric sensor (not illustrated) is provided below the SOS setting button and the SOS setting button is pressed in the power off state, and as a result, a signal generated by the piezoelectric sensor is received in a trigger circuit to trigger-operate and the power is supplied to the control unit 90 and the control unit 90 wakes up and SOS mode switching may be performed in the control unit 90.

Sensor unit 30

The sensor unit 30 includes a first sensor 31. In this case, the first sensor 31 senses moisture or salinity. The first sensor 31 may be a moisture sensor or when the emergency signal transmitter is used by employing a marine emergency person, the first sensor 31 may be a salt sensor sensing salt or salinity. Since the first sensor 31 needs to sense the moisture or salinity, a sensor terminal may be exposed. For example, the sensor terminal of the first sensor 31 is exposed to the outside of a waterproof case. Further, referring to FIG. 2, in one example, the sensor unit 30 may further include an acceleration sensor 33. For example, the acceleration sensor 33 senses a gravity acceleration in a base 3-axis direction to sense the acceleration of an object. As a result, when a user having the emergency position transmitter leaves a shape or rocks on the seashore to fall into water such as sea, river, lake, and the like, the emergency may be verified or determined from the sensed acceleration value. Further, in addition to the case where the user falls into the water, even in a case where a falling accident of a holder of the emergency position transmitter, and the like occurs on the ship, the acceleration of the object may be sensed by the acceleration sensor 33.

Memory unit 70

The memory unit 70 stores or update and stores positional data calculated from the GPS signal according to the control. The positional data may be stored together with time information at a corresponding position. The positional data may be updated and stored with respect to latest positional data.

For example, in one example, not the latest positional data but the existing positional data may be stored in the memory unit 70 within a set time or the number of times range. The control unit 90 reads the positional data stored in the memory unit 70, e.g., the latest positional data to be included in the emergency signal at the time of generating the emergency signal. For example, the memory unit 70 may store sensing data sensed by the sensor unit 30, e g., the first sensor 31 according to the control by the control unit 90. For example, the memory unit 70 may store satellite information which communicates in the satellite transmitting unit 60 according to the control by the control unit 90 and the control unit 90 may allow the satellite communication to be more easily performed by reading the satellite information stored in the memory 70 according to the wake-up operation of the satellite transmitting unit 60.

Further, in one example, the memory unit 70 may further store registration information which is configured and registered in addition to the positional data. For example, the configured registration information stored in the memory unit 70 may include an emergency position transmitter ID or/and a user ID. For example, when the registration information includes a unique ID of the emergency position transmitter, the emergency position transmitter is made to be registered in a ship manager or a related institute in the case of for example, a departure or boarding the ship to identify the user by matching the holder. For example, when the user (holder) ID is included in the registration information except for the emergency position transmitter, in the case where a storage device of the memory unit 70 is detachable by releasing a memory cover of the emergency position transmitter, the user ID may be input by connecting the detached storage device to a PC, and the like or the registration information including the user Π), and the like may be configured, stored, or updated in the memory unit 70 through RF reception in the RF communication unit 50 of the emergency position transmitter. For example, when the registration information is configured, registered, updated, and the like through the RF communication with the RF communication unit 50 of the emergency position transmitter, the registration may be configured, registered, updated, and the like through a specific application installed in a mobile terminal, and the like.

For example, when the registration information is stored in the memory unit 70 in addition to the positional data, the control unit 90 may generate the emergency signal including the positional data and the registration information at the time of generating the emergency signal.

Further, in one example, when the existing positional data is stored in the memory unit 70 in addition to the latest positional data, for example, the control unit 90 may calculate a route and calculated movement route information may also be stored in the memory unit 70. In this case, the movement route may be updated by updating the positional data. For example, the movement route may be stored together with time information. RF communication unit 50

The RF communication unit 50 transmits an emergency signal through RF communication according to control. The RF communication unit 50 includes an RF communication module for RF transmission. For example, the RF communication module may be an RFID module for low power communication or other short-range communication modules such as a Bluetooth module, and the like. Among the RFID modules, an active RFID module may have a transmission distance of approximately 100 m or more. The Bluetooth module may transmit a signal up to approximately 100 m outdoors. For example, in one example, the RF communication module may be the active RFID module.

For example, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in one example, the RF communication unit 50 may receive an external signal through the RF communication. That is, the RF communication unit 50 may be constituted by an RF transmission part and an RF reception part and receive the external signal through the RF reception part. In this case, the external signal received through the RF reception part may be a response signal to the emergency signal transmitted through the RF communication unit 50, e.g., the RF transmission part or an external emergency reception signal.

For example, referring to FIG. 3, the RF communication unit 50 may be constituted by the RF transmission part transmitting a radio signal to the outside and the RF reception part receiving the radio signal from the outside. For example, the RF transmission part may be constituted by an RF transmitting module 51, a power amplifier 52, a low pass filter (LPF) 53, and an RF transmitting antenna 54 in order. The RF transmitting module 51 receives the emergency signal from the control unit 90 and signal-processes and outputs the received emergency signal and the power amplifier 52 receives the signal-processed emergency signal from an RF transmitter and amplifies and outputs the received emergency signal. The LPF 53 removes a high-frequency signal included in the signal amplified by the power amplifier 52, e.g., a spurious component. Net, the RF reception part may be constituted by an RF receiving antenna 58, a band pass filter (BPF) 57, a low noise amplifier 56, and an RF receiving module 55 in order. When an RF signal is received by the RF receiving antenna 58, the received RF signal is filtered by the band pass filter (BPF) 57, amplified by the low noise amplifier 56, and signal-processed by the RF receiving module 55. A constitution of the RF communication unit 50 of FIG. 3 is exemplary and the constitution of the RF communication unit 50 is not limited thereto. GPS receiving unit 40

The GPS receiving unit 40 receives and processes a GPS signal. The GPS receiving unit 40 signal-processes the GPS signal received through a GPS antenna 46. For example, the GPS receiving unit 40 includes a GPS module 41 mounted thereon to process the received GPS signal. In this case, the control unit 90 calculates position coordinate data from the signal-processed GPS signal or receives the calculated position coordinate data from the GPS module and stores or updates and stores the position coordinate data in the memory unit 70. When the GPS receiving unit 40 receives a satellite signal at an interval of several seconds, in general, 1 to 2 seconds, power consumption is large, and as a result, the control unit 90 controls a wake-up time interval of the GPS receiving unit 40 according to a set mode to reduce the power consumption of the emergency position transmitter.

For example, referring to FIG. 3, the GPS receiving unit 40 may be constituted by a GPS antenna 46, a band pass filter 43, a low noise amplifier 42, and a GPS module 41 in order. In FIG. 3, it is illustrated that the GPS antenna 46 serves as the satellite transmitting antenna 46. In this case, a switch 44 may be provided between the band pass filter 43 and the GPS-satellite transmitting antenna 46 and a low pass filter (LPF) 45 may be further provided between the switch 44 and the GPS-satellite transmitting antenna 46. The signal received through the GPS-satellite transmitting antenna 46 is filtered by the band pass filter 43 by switching through the LPF 45. For example, in this case, the band pass filter 43 may be a SAW filter having excellent filtering performance. The GPS signal filtered by the band pass filter 43 is amplified by the low noise amplifier 42 and signal-processed by the GPS module 41.

Satellite transmitting unit 60

The satellite transmitting unit 60 transmits the emergency signal through satellite communication according to the control. When the emergency signal is transmitted only by the RF communication, a smooth emergency rescue request is difficult in the case where the RF transmission in the RF communication unit 50 has a limit in transmission distance. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the satellite transmitting unit 60 is provided to transmit the emergency signal through the satellite communication to perform more smooth emergency rescue request. In this case, the emergency signal may be transmitted through the satellite transmitting unit 60 at a predetermined interval in terms of the power consumption and cost. The control unit 90 controls the wake-up operation interval of the satellite transmitting unit 60 according to the set mode to reduce the power consumption.

For example, referring to FIG. 3, the satellite transmitting unit 60 may be constituted by a satellite transmitting module 61, a power amplifier 62, a low pass filter 45, and the satellite antenna 46 and in FIG. 3, it is illustrated that the satellite antenna 46 serves as the GPS antenna 46. For example, when the antenna 46 is used in two ways, the switch 44 may be provided between the power amplifier 62 and the low pass filter 45. A satellite emergency signal generated by the control unit 90 and signal-processed by the satellite transmitting module 61 is amplified by the power amplifier 62 and filtered by the low pass filter 45 which is switching connected and transmitted through the In FIG. 3, since the GSP receiving unit 40 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 serve as the antenna 60, the control unit 90 may control the respective wake-up time interval and simultaneously, control the switch 44 and performs both reception of the GPS signal and satellite transmission of the emergency signal.

Sound wave transmitting unit 80

For example, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in one example, the emergency position transmitter may further include a sound wave transmitting unit 80. A sound wave transmitter generates an emergency sound wave signal and outputs the generated emergency sound wave signal underwater. For example, the sound wave transmitter may be controlled to operate constantly or not to operate constantly at a predetermined time interval. For example, in order to minimize the power consumption, the sound wave generator may be controlled to operate when being switched to the power saving mode. In this case, the control unit 90 may transmit the emergency sound wave signal underwater by actuating the sound wave transmitting unit 80 at a predetermined interval in the power saving mode.

The sound wave transmitting unit 80 is provided to transmit a sound wave signal for emergency rescue, and as a result, the sound wave signal may be easily received by a fish detector or sonar equipment widely used in a general fishing boat, and the like even though the holder of the emergency position transmitter is submerged underwater.

Control unit 90

Next, the control unit 90 will be described in detail. The control unit 90 controls the respective components according to the standby mode, the SOS mode, and the power saving mode. The controls of the standby mode, the SOS mode, and the power saving mode by the control unit 90 will be sequentially described and according to the embodiment, an added floating state mode will also be described. In this case, FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrating a schematic flow of an operating method of the emergency position transmitter may be referred.

First, an operation or a control operation in the standby mode by the control unit 90 will be described. The control unit 90 maintains the standby mode during power-on and wakes up the GPS receiving unit at a predetermined standby interval. The standby mode is a state in which the power is on and the SOS is not automatically or manually set. In this case, the control unit 90 stores or updates and stores the positional data in the memory unit 70 as the wake-up GPS receiving receives the GPS signal. Updating and storing the positional data is associated with the latest positional data. For example, the control unit 90 may update and store the latest positional data and store the positional data in the memory unit 70 within a set time or/and the number of times range. The control unit 90 may store or/and update the positional data together time information depending on the position at the time of storing or/and updating the positional data. For example, the control unit 90 may calculate the route by reading multiple positional data stored in the memory unit 70 and store the calculated movement route information in the memory unit 70.

For example, according to the embodiment, in the standby mode, the control unit 90 may control the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 to be maintained in an off state or activate the reception part of the RF communication unit 50 and maintain the transmission part and the satellite transmitting unit 60 in the off state. Further, the control unit 90 may control the sensor unit 30 to wake up at a predetermined interval or operate constantly in the standby mode according to the embodiment.

For example, when the reception part of the RF communication unit 50 is activated in the standby mode, the external signal may be received through the RF communication. In this case, the received external signal may be an emergency reception signal which is the emergency signal from the outside. For example, in this case, the control unit 90 may perform wireless routing with respect to the emergency reception signal received from the outside. That is, the control unit 90 may control the received emergency reception signal to be broadcasted through the RF communication unit 50 and a wireless routing function to be performed. For example, even when the wireless routing may be performed in the control unit 90, the wireless routing function may be suppressed in not the standby mode but the SOS mode and the floating state mode.

Next, the control in the SOS mode or the control operation in the SOS mode by the control unit 90 will be described. The control unit 90 receives the SOS input mode in the input unit 20 or is switched to the SOS mode when it is determined that the emergency occurs according to the sensing signal of the sensor unit 30 in the standby mode. That is, switching to the SOS mode includes two cases of following the SOS setting input or automatic switching by sensor sensing. First, the case of the SOS input in the input unit 20 will be described. When the SOS setting is input from the input unit 20, for example, by pressing the SOS button, the control unit 90 determines and controls the case as the SOS mode. For example, referring to the operations illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, in one example, switching to the SOS mode by the SOS input in the input unit 20 may be divided into switching in a power on state and switching in a power off state. For example, the SOS button is initially pressed in the power on state, and as a result, the signal is transferred to the control unit 90 and the standby mode in the power on state is switched to the SOS mode in the control unit 90. Meanwhile, referring to the operation illustrated in FIG. 5, when switching the power off mode to the SOS mode is described, the control unit 90 may wake up by the trigger operation by the SOS input in the input unit 20 in the power off mode and be switched to the SOS mode. For example, a pressure sensor is provided below the SOS button and as the SOS button is pressed in the power off state, a current signal is generated in the pressure sensor, for example, a trigger circuit is operated to wake up the control unit 90. The control unit 90 which wakes up by the trigger operation is switched to the SOS mode to control power supply to the GPS receiving unit 40, the RF communication unit 50, the satellite transmitting unit 60, and the like and allow the GPS receiving unit 40, the RF communication unit 50, the satellite transmitting unit 60, and the like to operate. For example, the trigger operation by pressing the SOS button in the power off mode may be performed by pressing the SOS button for a predetermined time or more.

Next, the case of automatically switching to the SOS mode by the sensor sensing will be described. The control unit 90 receiving a sensing result from the sensor unit 30 in the standby mode determines the sensing result and automatically switches the power off mode to the SOS mode when the sensing result is determined as the emergency according to a result of the determination. In this case, when the sensed result value is equal to or more than or more than a predetermined value, the control unit 90 may determine the case as the emergency. For example, when the first sensor 31 senses the moisture, the control unit 90 aggregates a sensing amount, a sensing continuation time, or both the sensing amount and the sensing continuation time to determine the case as a drowning (a state in which the holder falls in water) of the holder of the emergency position transmitter, in order to prevent misdetection due to rain or waves. For example, when a sensing result of the predetermined value or more is received or maintained for 3 seconds in the first sensor 31, the control unit 90 may determine the case as the drowning state (flooding state) and is not limited thereto. When the first sensor 31 senses the salt or salinity, the control unit 90 aggregates the sensing amount, the sensing continuation time, or both the sensing amount and the sensing continuation time to determine whether the holder falls in the sea.

For example, in one example, when the sensing result of the first sensor 31, a sensing result of the acceleration sensor 33, or the sensing results of the first sensor 31 and the acceleration sensor 33 are equal to or more than a predetermined range value, the control unit 90 determines the case as the emergency to switch the standby mode to the SOS mode. In the case of sensing by the acceleration sensor 33, for example, in the case where the sensed result value is equal to or more than or more than the predetermined value, the control unit 90 may determine an emergency state such as falling the holder underwater from the ship, the rock on the seashore, and the like or falling in a structure such as the ship, or the like.

In one example, the control unit 90 may turn off the operation of the acceleration sensor 33 until SOS mode cancellation by SOS cancellation input in the input unit 20 after switching the standby mode to the SOS mode. After the standby mode is switched to the SOS mode, since the sensing result of the acceleration sensor 33 is not required, the operation of the acceleration sensor 33 needs to be turned off in order to reduce the power consumption. In this case, when the standby mode is wrongly switched to the SOS mode, the SOS mode may be cancelled and operation off control of the acceleration sensor 33 may be cancelled. For example, the SOS mode may be cancelled by the SOS cancellation input in the input unit 20. The SOS cancellation may be input by for example, pressing the SOS button for a predetermined time or more or pressing the SOS button consecutively several times within the predetermined time. Continuously, the operation of the SOS mode will be described. In the SOS mode, the control unit 90 may generate the emergency signal including the positional data and transmit the emergency signal to the outside through the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60. When the control unit 90 generates the emergency signal including the positional data, the control unit 90 may generate the emergency signal by reading the latest positional data stored in the memory unit 70 at the time of immediately generating the emergency signal with switching to the SOS mode or in one example, the control unit 90 obtains the latest positional data from the signal received fro the GPS receiving unit 40 by waking up the GPS receiving unit 40 with switching to the SOS mode to generate the emergency signal. In this case, the control unit 90 may generate the emergency signal including initial emergency time information together with the positional data. That is, when update information of the positional data is included in the emergency signal, the initial emergency time information may also be included in the emergency signal. In this case, the initial emergency time information may be a time at the time of initially generating the emergency signal or time information at a position of the positional data included in the initial emergency signal. For example, in one example, the control unit 90 may generate the emergency signal further including the registration information or emergency time information in addition to the positional data, and the like. In this case, the registration information is stored in the memory unit 70. For example, the registration information may include user identification information or/and identification information of the emergency position transmitter itself

When the control unit 90 controls transmission of the emergency signal, the control unit 90 may transmit the emergency signal by operating the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 at a first RF transmission interval and a first satellite transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval, respectively. Since satellite transmission is disadvantageous in terms of the power consumption and the cost, a satellite transmission interval may be longer than an RF transmission interval through the RF communication unit 50. For example, an RF transmission period may be an interval of 30 seconds and a satellite transmission period may be an interval of 5 minutes and are not limited thereto.

For example, in one example, in the SOS mode, controlling an emergency signal transmission interval by the control unit 90 may be performed by being divided into two steps. For example, when the case in which the emergency signal transmission interval control is controlled by being divided into two steps, the SOS mode may be divided into an SOS initial mode and an SOS continuation mode. The SOS initial mode is a mode performed when the control unit 90 receives an initial SOS input from the input unit 20 or initially determines that the emergency occurs according to the sensing signal of the sensor unit 30 in the standby mode. In this case, the initial SOS input and the initial emergency determination mean a start within a range until the SOS mode is cancelled or the SOS mode is switched to another mode. When the SOS initial mode is progressed for a predetermined time and thereafter, the predetermined time elapsed while the SOS initial mode is not switched to another mode or the SOS mode is not cancelled, the SOS initial mode may be switched to the SOS continuation mode. For example, when the predetermined time elapsed in the SOS initial mode, the control unit 90 may operate the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 at a fourth RF transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval and a fourth satellite transmission interval longer than the first satellite transmission interval, respectively and transmit the emergency signal. For example, the control unit 90 may switch the SOS initial mode to the SOS continuation mode after the predetermined time, for example, 3 hours elapsed. In this case, the predetermined time of the SOS initial mode may be predetermined or changed and input by inputting a predetermined value. In this case, the changed predetermined value may be input in the same manner as or similarly to a process of setting the registration information in the memory unit 70. The SOS initial mode and the SOS continuation mode are divided to be switched to the SOS continuation mode after the predetermined time, thereby extending a use time of the emergency position transmitter. For example, in the SOS initial mode, after the control unit 90 switches the SOS initial mode to the SOS continuation mode while controlling the RF transmission period as an interval of 30 seconds and the satellite transmission period as an interval of 5 minutes, the control unit 90 may control the RF transmission period as the interval of 5 minutes and the satellite transmission period as an interval of 1 hour and the present invention is not limited thereto.

Further, when the control or operation in the SOS mode is continuously described, in the SOS mode, the control unit 90 wakes up the GPS receiving unit 40 at an SOS mode interval shorter than a standby mode and stores or/and updates the positioned data calculated from the GPS signal received from the wake-up GSP receiving unit 40. For example, the control unit 90 may switch the standby mode to the SOS mode and wake up the GPS receiving unit 40 and change an operation period to the SOS mode interval. Alternatively, after the control unit 90 switches the standby mode to the SOS mode, the control unit 90 may change the operation period from an oncoming period.

Further, in one example, when the RF communication unit 50 receives the external signal through the RF communication, for example, when the external signal is received as a response signal to the emergency signal transmitted through the RF communication unit 50 in the SOS mode, the control unit 90 may generate an additional emergency signal. In this case, the additional emergency signal is an emergency signal stored in the memory unit 70 and including additional information which is not included in the initial or previous emergency signal. In this case, the additional information may include at least some of the registration information set and registered in the memory unit 70, movement information after the emergency, emergency time information, and emergency determination information. The movement information after the emergency is information which the control unit 90 calculates and stores or updates and stores from the positional data stored in the memory unit 70.

Next, the operation in the power saving mode or the control operation in the power saving mode by the control unit 90 will be described. The control unit 90 switches the SOS mode to the power saving mode when the flooding determination state depending on the signal of the first sensor 31 is continued and the GPS signal strength of a set value or less is continued in the SOS mode. In this case, in the power saving mode, the control unit 90 turns off the operations of the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60. That is, the power saving mode is a mode performed when the holder of the emergency position transmitter is submerged underwater. When the survivor falls underwater, the survivor sinks while losing his/her consciousness and the survivor may die later and the power consumption needs to be efficient or reduced for rescue underwater or later body recovery. That is, the RF communication and the satellite communication are not achieved underwater and GPS receiving is difficult, and as a result, it is necessary to provide against a later situation by making the power consumption be efficient.

In the case of switching to the power saving mode, the control unit 90 may switch the SOS mode to the power saving mode when the flooding determination state depending on the signal of the first sensor 31 is continued for a predetermined time and the GPS signal strength of a set value or less is continued for the predetermined time. For example, the control unit 90 may switch the SOS mode to the power saving mode when the flooding state according to the sensing result determination of the first sensor 31 and the state in which the GPS receiving strength is equal to or less than the set range for 5 minutes and the present invention is not limited thereto.

Further, in the power saving mode, the control unit 90 may wake up the first sensor 31 and the GPS receiving unit 40 at a power saving mode longer than the SOS mode interval. For example, the control unit 90 may control the operations of the first sensor 31 and the GPS receiving unit 40 at the period of 5 minutes in the power saving mode and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In this case, in one example, the control unit 90 may transmit the emergency sound wave signal underwater by actuating the sound wave transmitting unit 80 at a predetermined interval. For example, the control unit 90 may transmit the sound wave signal of 4.8 kHz by actuating the sound wave transmitting unit 80 at the period of 5 minutes and the present invention is not limited thereto.

Continuously, referring to the operations illustrated in FIGS. 6 and/or 7, the operation in the floating state mode or the control operation in the floating state mode by the control unit 90 will be described. In one example, the control unit 90 switches the SOS mode to the floating state mode when the GPS signal strength of the wake-up GPS receiving unit 40 is equal to or more than the predetermined value in the power saving mode. The floating state mode represents, for example, a state in which the holder of the emergency position transmitter, which is submerged underwater floats after a predetermined time elapsed after death. In the floating state mode, the control unit 90 may turn off the sensor unit 30 and wake up the GPS receiving unit 40 at the set floating mode interval. In the floating state mode, hereafter, the control unit 90 may reduce the power consumption by turning off the operation of the sensor unit 30 in order to cope with the situation such as the body recovery, and the like and extend the wake-up operation period of the GPS receiving unit 40 longer than the SOS mode interval in the SOS mode, the power saving mode interval in the power saving mode, or the standby mode interval in the standby mode.

Further, in the floating state mode, the control unit 90 may operate the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 at a second RF transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval and a second satellite transmission interval longer than the first satellite transmission interval, respectively and transmit the emergency signal. For example, the control unit 90 may control the RF transmission period at the interval of 5 minutes and the satellite transmission period at the interval of 1 hour and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In this case, referring to the operation illustrated in FIG. 7, in another example, the control unit 90 may divide and set the floating state mode to a first floating mode and a second floating mode. The floating state mode may be divided into two or more. The control unit 90 may set a case in which the power saving mode is switched to the floating state mode to the first floating mode. That is, in the first floating mode, the transmission period is determined similarly to transmission of the emergency signal depending on the second RF transmission interval and the second satellite transmission interval in the aforementioned floating state mode. In this case, the period of the first floating mode, that is, a transmission period of the emergency signal depending on the second RF transmission interval and the second satellite transmission interval is determined according to the setting. For example, the control unit 90 may set the first floating mode for 3 hours after switching to the floating state mode and perform RF transmission at the period of 5 minutes and satellite transmission at the period of 1 hour with respect to the emergency signal. The GPS receiving period in the first floating mode follows the aforementioned floating state mode.

When the first floating mode passes a predetermined time, the control unit 90 sets the first floating mode or switches the first floating mode to the second floating mode and wakes up the GPS receiving unit 40 at a second floating mode interval longer than the floating mode interval. Further, the control unit 90 may operate the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 at a third RF transmission interval longer than the second RF transmission interval and a third satellite transmission interval longer than the second satellite transmission interval, respectively and transmit the emergency signal. For example, the control unit 90 may control the emergency signal through the RF transmission at the period of 30 minutes and the satellite transmission at the period of 3 hours and the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, when the floating state mode is additionally divided in addition to the first floating mode and the second floating mode, in the case where the second floating mode is continued for, for example, 6 hours, the floating state mode may be set to a third floating mode and the present invention is not limited thereto. In the third floating mode, the emergency signal transmission period may be set to be longer than the second floating mode.

Case and others

For example, referring to FIG. 8, the emergency position transmitter according to one example includes a case 5 and in this case, waterproofing may be maintained in flooding by the case 5 of the emergency position transmitter. In this case, the sensor terminal is exposed onto the case, and as a result, the first sensor 31 senses moisture or salinity. For example, even when a charging terminal is provided in the power supply unit 10 of the emergency position transmitter, the charging terminal may be exposed onto the case and charging may be performed.

Although not illustrated, in another example, the emergency position transmitter may include a buoyancy power case (not illustrated). In this case, the buoyancy power case may be a separate case from the case 5 or the case 5 itself The buoyancy power case may not be submerged in water and com up to the surface of the water, for example, when the emergency position transmitter is separated from a drowning person or the emergency position transmitter breaks away to an accommodation space of a life vest. For example, the buoyancy power case may be a case of the emergency position transmitter itself which comes up to the surface of the water in flooding or a separate case covering the emergency position transmitter product. When the buoyancy power case is the case itself, an air pocket, and the like are provided in the buoyancy power case to maintain buoyancy power. As a result, a problem may be solved, in which as the emergency position transmitter sinks under the water, wireless transmission using the GPS may not be performed or as the emergency position transmitter is swept away by the sea current under the water, position tracking is difficult.

Further, for example, the emergency position transmitter may be accommodated in the accommodation space of the life vest. In this case, a line having a predetermined length may be provided, which connects the accommodation space of the life vest and the emergency position transmitter. When the emergency position transmitter includes the buoyancy power case, the transmitter in the buoyancy power case or the buoyancy power case itself and the accommodation space may be connected to each other by the line. Alternatively, the emergency position transmitter or the buoyancy power case covering the emergency position transmitter may be connected to not the life vest but a part of a body of a user or worn clothes or worn apparatuses of the body of the user by the line. As described above, when the emergency position transmitter or the buoyancy case covering the emergency position transmitter is connected and used by the line, and as a result, the user falls in the water, the emergency position transmitter says around the user when breaking away from the user (drowning person) due to carelessness or shock, thereby easily tracking the emergency position.

Referring to FIG. 8, in one example, the emergency position transmitter may further include an LED display unit 25 displaying an operation state. The LED display unit 25 may display the operation state of the transmitter, for example, the SOS mode or display at least some of the standby mode or the power on state, the RF communication state, the satellite communication state, and the like in addition to the SOS mode.

[Operating method of emergency position transmitter]

Next, an operating method of the emergency position transmitter according to another aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings. In this case, since the operating method of the emergency position transmitter relates to the operation of the emergency position transmitter according to the present invention, it should be noted that embodiments of the emergency position transmitter and FIGS. 1 to 3 may be referred in detailed description of the embodiments and duplicated description may be omitted. FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an operating method of an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an operating method of an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an operating method of an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an operating method of an emergency position transmitter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0100]

First, the emergency position transmitter which performs the operating method according to one example of the present invention will be simply described. In this case, FIGS. 1 to 3 may be referred. The emergency position transmitter which performs the operating method according to one example includes an input unit 20 receiving power and SOS setting, a sensor unit 30 including a first sensor 31 sensing moisture or salinity, an RF communication unit 50 transmitting an emergency signal through RF communication, a GPS receiving unit 40 receiving a GPS signal, and a satellite transmitting unit 60 transmitting the emergency signal through satellite communication. Of course, the emergency position transmitter includes even a power supply unit 10.

In this case, referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the operating method of the emergency position transmitter according to one example may be configured to include a standby step (SlOO), an SOS step (S300 and S300’), and a power saving mode (S500 and S500’). Further, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the operating method of the emergency position transmitter according to one example may further include a floating state step (S700 and S700’). The respective steps will be sequentially described.

Standby step

In the standby step (SlOO), the emergency position transmitter is maintained in a standby mode when power is on. In this case, the GPS receiving unit 40 wakes up at a predetermined standby interval and the GPS receiving unit 40 receive the GPS signal.

The positional data is stored or/and updated according to the received GPS signal. Further, the emergency position transmitter may determine whether an emergency occurs according to a sensing signal of the sensor unit 30. In this step, more detailed description will be made with reference to the standby mode control of the emergency position transmitter according to the embodiment of the present invention. SOS step

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, in the SOS step (S300 and S300’), the standby step is switched to the SOS mode to be maintained in SOS input in the input unit 20 or in emergency determination in the standby step (SIOO) (S310). Entrance into the SOS step (S300), that is, switching to the SOS mode may be achieved by two methods. One is a method by the SOS setting input in the input unit 20 and the other one is a case in which it is determined that the emergency occurs by determining whether the emergency occurs in the standby step (SIOO). More detailed description of the entrance into the SOS step (S300) and the operation in the SOS step (S300) will be made with the description of the SOS mode control of the emergency position transmitter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in detail, the switching to the SOS mode by the SOS input by the input unit 20 in the SOS step (S300’) may be performed while the emergency position transmitter wakes up by a trigger operation by the SOS input in the input unit 20 (S313) or according to the SOS input by the input unit 20 in the standby step (SIOO) (S312). Further, referring to FIG. 5, the switching to the SOS mode according to the emergency determination in the SOS step (S300’) may be performed by determining that the emergency occurs when a sensing result of the first sensor 31, a sensing result of an acceleration sensor 33 additionally provided in the sensor unit 30, or the sensing results of the first sensor 31 and the acceleration sensor 33 are equal to or more than a predetermined range value in the standby step (SlOO) (S311).

[0108]

Continuously, referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, in the SOS step (S300 and S300’), the emergency position transmitter generates the emergency signal including the positional data (S300). The RF communication unit 50 operates at a predetermined first RF transmission interval and the satellite transmitting unit 60 operates at a first satellite transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval and the emergency signal is transmitted (S330). Although not illustrated, in one example, the SOS step (S300) may include an SOS initial step and an SOS continuation step. In the SOS initial step, the emergency position transmitter generates the emergency signal including the positional data as described above and the RF communication unit 50 operates at the predetermined first RF transmission interval and the satellite transmitting unit 60 operates at a first satellite transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval and the emergency signal is transmitted. In the SOS continuation step, the emergency position transmitter generates the emergency signal including the positional data as described above and the RF communication unit 50 may operate at a fourth RF transmission interval longer than the predetermined first RF transmission interval and the satellite transmitting unit 60 may operate at a fourth satellite transmission interval longer than the first satellite transmission interval and the emergency signal may be transmitted. More detailed description will be made with reference to the description of the generation and transmission of the emergency signal in the SOS mode of the emergency position transmitter according to the embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, in the SOS step (S300 and S300’), the GPS receiving unit 40 wakes up and receives the GPS signal at an SOS mode interval shorter than a standby interval and in this case, the positional is stored or/and updated (S350).

Power saving step

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, in the power saving step (S500 and S500’), the emergency position transmitter is switched to the power saving mode to be maintained in the flooding determination state depending on the signal of the first sensor 31 and when the GPS signal strength of a set value or less is continued in the SOS step (S300 and S300’) (S510). More detailed description will be made with reference to the description of the switching to the power saving mode and the operation in the power saving mode in the emergency position transmitter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, the operations of the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 are turned off and the first sensor 31 and the GPS receiving unit 40 wake up at a power saving mode interval longer than the SOS mode interval.

Further, referring to FIG. 5, when one example is described, in the power saving step (S500’), the emergency position transmitter may generate the emergency sound wave signal and transmit the generated emergency sound wave signal into the water at a predetermined interval (S550).

Floating state step

Next, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the operating method of the emergency position transmitter according to one example may further include a floating state step (S700 and S700’). In this case, more detailed description which is not described below will be made with reference to the description of the switching to the floating state mode and the operation in the floating state mode in the emergency position transmitter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the floating state step (S700), the emergency position transmitter is switched to the floating state mode to be maintained when the GPS signal strength of the GPS receiving unit 40 which wakes up is equal to or more than the set value in the power saving step (S500) (S701). In the floating state mode, the control unit 90 may turn off the sensor unit 30 and wake up the GPS receiving unit 40 at the set floating mode interval. Further, in the floating state step (S700), the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 may operate at a second RF transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval and a second satellite transmission interval longer than the first satellite transmission interval, respectively and the emergency signal may be transmitted (S710).

In addition, referring to FIG. 7, in another example, the floating state step (S700’) may include a first floating mode step (S710) and a second floating mode step (S730). In the first floating mode step (S710), the GPS receiving unit 40 wakes up at a floating mode interval. Further, in the first floating mode step (S710), the emergency signal is transmitted at the second RF transmission interval and the second satellite transmission interval. Next, in the second floating mode step (S730), the first floating mode step is switched to the first floating mode step (S710) to be maintained after a predetermined time elapsed. In the second floating mode step (S730), the GPS receiving unit 40 wakes up at a second floating mode interval longer than the floating mode interval. Further, in the second floating mode step (S730), the RF communication unit 50 and the satellite transmitting unit 60 may operate at a third RF transmission interval longer than the second RF transmission interval and a third satellite transmission interval longer than the second satellite transmission interval, respectively and the emergency signal may be transmitted.

Hereinabove, the aforementioned embodiments and the accompanying drawings do not limit the scope of the present invention but are exemplarily described in order to assist appreciation of the present invention by those skilled in the art. Further, embodiments by various combinations of the components can be apparently implemented those skilled in the art from the detailed descriptions. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in a modified form within the range without departing from essential characteristics of the present invention, the scope of the present invention should be interpreted according to the invention disclosed in claims, and the scope of the present invention includes various changes, substitutions, and equivalents by those skilled in the art.

[Explanation of Reference Numerals] 10: Power supply unit 20: Input unit 30: Sensor unit 31: First sensor 40: GPS receiving unit 41: GPS module 42, 56: Low noise amplifier 43, 57: Band pass filter 44: Switch 45, 53: Low pass filter 46: Antenna 50: RF communication unit 51: RF transmitting module 52, 62: Power amplifier 54: RF transmitting antenna 55: RF receiving module 58: RF receiving antenna 60: Satellite transmitting unit 61: Satellite transmitting module 70: Memory unit 80: Sound wave transmitting unit 90: Control unit

Claims

What we claim is:

1. An emergency position transmitter comprising: a power supply unit; an input unit receiving power and SOS setting; a sensor unit including a first sensor sensing moisture or salinity; an RF communication unit transmitting an emergency signal through RF communication; a GPS receiving unit receiving a GPS signal; a memory unit storing positional data calculated from the GPS signal; and a control unit, the emergency position transmitter further comprising: a satellite transmitting unit transmitting the emergency signal through satellite communication, wherein the control unit is maintained in a standby mode when power is on and wakes up the GPS receiving unit at a predetermined standby interval, and stores or updates and stores the positional data in the memory unit as receiving the GPS signal, is switched to an SOS mode when the input unit is input with the SOS or it is determined that an emergency occurs according to a sensing signal of the sensor unit in the standby mode, generates the emergency signal including the positional data, actuates the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit at a predetermined first RF transmission interval and at a first satellite transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval, respectively, and wakes up the GPS receiving unit at an SOS mode interval shorter than the standby interval to store or update the positional data in the memory unit, and switches the SOS mode to the power saving mode when a flooding determination state depending on a signal of the first sensor is continued and a GPS signal strength of a set value or less is continued in the SOS mode, turns off operations of the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit, and wakes up the first sensor and the GPS receiving unit at a power saving mode interval longer than the SOS mode interval.

2. The emergency position transmitter of claim 1, further comprising: a sound wave transmitting unit generating an emergency sound wave signal and outputting the generated emergency sound wave signal underwater, wherein the control unit transmits the emergency sound wave signal underwater by actuating the sound wave transmitting unit at a predetermined interval in the power saving mode.

3. The emergency position transmitter of claim 1, wherein the control unit is switched to a floating state mode when the GPS signal strength of the GPS receiving unit which wakes up is equal to or more than the set value in the power saving mode, turns off the sensor unit, wakes up the GPS receiving unit at a predetermined floating mode interval, and actuates the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit at a second RF transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval and a second satellite transmission interval longer than the first satellite transmission interval, respectively to transmit the emergency signal in the floating state mode.

4. The emergency position transmitter of claim 3, wherein the control unit sets a transmission period of the emergency signal depending on the second RF transmission interval and the second satellite transmission interval as a first floating mode in the floating state mode, switches the first floating mode to a second floating mode when the first floating mode passes a predetermined time, wakes up the GPS receiving unit at a second floating mode interval longer than the floating mode interval, and actuates the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit at a third RF transmission interval longer than the second RF transmission interval and a third satellite transmission interval longer than the second satellite transmission interval, respectively to transmit the emergency signal.

5. The emergency position transmitter of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit wakes up by the trigger operation by the SOS input in the input unit in a power off mode and switches the power off mode to the SOS mode.

6. The emergency position transmitter of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor unit further includes an acceleration sensor, and the control unit switches the standby mode to the SOS mode by determining that the emergency occurs when a sensing result of the first sensor of the first sensor, a sensing result of the acceleration sensor, or and the sensing results of the first sensor and the acceleration sensor are equal to or more than a set range value in the standby mode and turns off an operation of the acceleration sensor until canceling the SOS mode depending on SOS cancellation input in the input unit after switching the standby mode to the SOS mode.

7. The emergency position transmitter of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the memory unit further stores registration information set and registered in addition to the positional data and the control unit further includes the registration information or the registration information and emergency time information in addition to the positional data.

8. The emergency position transmitter of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the RF communication unit receives an external signal through the RF communication. the external signal is a response signal to the emergency signal transmitted through the RF communication unit or an external emergency reception signal, the control unit stores the external signal in the memory unit when the external signal is the response signal, generates and transmits an additional emergency signal including additional information not included in the emergency signal and broadcasts the emergency reception signal and controls a wireless routing function to be performed when the external signal is the emergency reception signal, and the additional information includes at least some of the set and registered registration information, movement information after the emergency, emergency time information, and emergency determination information.

9. The emergency position transmitter of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the RF communication unit is configured to include an active RFID module.

10. An operating method of an emergency position transmitter including an input unit receiving power and SOS setting, a sensor unit including a first sensor sensing moisture or salinity, an RF communication unit transmitting an emergency signal through RF communication, a GPS receiving unit receiving a GPS signal, and a satellite transmitting unit transmitting the emergency signal through satellite communication, the method comprising: a standby step in which a standby mode is maintained when power is on, the GPS receiving unit wakes up at a predetermined standby interval, positional data is stored or updated according to the received GPS signal, and it is determined whether an emergency occurs according to a sensing signal of the sensor unit; an SOS step in which the standby mode is switched to an SOS mode to be maintained when the input unit is input with the SOS or it is determined that the emergency occurs by determining whether the emergency occurs in the standby mode, the emergency signal including the positional data is generated, the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit are actuated at a predetermined first RF transmission interval and at a first satellite transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval, respectively, the emergency signal is transmitted, the GPS receiving unit wakes up at an SOS mode interval shorter than the standby interval to store or update the positional data; and a power saving mode in which the SOS mode is switched to a power saving mode when a Hooding determination state depending on a signal of the first sensor is continued and a GPS signal strength of a set value or less is continued in the SOS step, operations of the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit are turned off, and the first sensor and the GPS receiving unit wake up at a power saving mode interval longer than the SOS mode interval.

11. The operating method of the emergency position transmitter of claim 10, wherein in the power saving step, the emergency position transmitter generates an emergency sound wave signal and transmits the generated emergency sound wave signal underwater at a predetermined interval.

12. The operating method of the emergency position transmitter of claim 10, further comprising: a floating state step in which the power saving mode is switched to a floating state mode when the GPS signal strength of the GPS receiving unit which wakes up is equal to or more than the set value in the power saving mode, the sensor unit is turned off, the GPS receiving unit wakes up at a predetermined floating mode interval, and the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit are actuated at a second RF transmission interval longer than the first RF transmission interval and a second satellite transmission interval longer than the first satellite transmission interval, respectively, and the emergency signal is transmitted.

13. The operating method of the emergency position transmitter of claim 12, wherein the floating state step includes, a first floating mode step in which the GPS receiving unit wakes up at the floating mode interval and the emergency signal is transmitted at the second RF transmission interval and the second satellite transmission interval, and a second floating mode step in which the first floating mode is switched to a second floating mode when the first floating mode passes a predetermined time, the GPS receiving unit wakes up at a second floating mode interval longer than the floating mode interval, and the RF communication unit and the satellite transmitting unit are actuated at a third RF transmission interval longer than the second RF transmission interval and a third satellite transmission interval longer than the second satellite transmission interval, respectively, and the emergency signal is transmitted.

14. The operating method of the emergency position transmitter of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein switching to SOS mode by the SOS input by the input unit in the SOS step is performed while the emergency position transmitter wakes by a trigger operation by the SOS input in the input unit in a power off mode or performed according to the SOS input in the input unit in the standby step and switching to the SOS mode according to the emergency determination in the SOS step is performed by determining that the emergency occurs when a sensing result of the first sensor, a sensing result of an acceleration sensor additionally provided in the sensor unit, or the sensing results of the first sensor and the acceleration sensor are equal to or more than a set range value in the standby step.