GB2320598A

GB2320598A - Signal sending and receiving system

Info

Publication number: GB2320598A
Application number: GB9626146A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Henry Butler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-12-17
Filing date: 1996-12-17
Publication date: 1998-06-24
Also published as: GB9626146D0

Abstract

A signal sender and receiver arrangement comprises a transmitter of low power signals, and a receiver responsive to the signals transmitted to activate a visible or audible output, the receiver being adapted to be attached to or worn about the person of the recipient. The signals transmitted may be radio, microwave, sonic or the like. Such transmitters are currently readily available and are used mainly to activate car locks/alarm systems. They are thus inexpensive and are small, often doubling as a key fob. The receiver may be located in a watch, locket, brooch, bracelet or may simply be carried in a pocket. The apparatus may be used by parents to summon children.

Description

SIGNAL SENDING AND RECEIVING SYSTEM This invention relates to a signal sending and receiving system and in particular relates to such a system adapted for calling a child or animal.

Electronic pagers are available which can receive a signal transmitted to them using the telephone system. Such pagers are increasingly sophisticated and now can display various messages as well as simply alerting the recipient to the fact that a call is waiting or to call into to base. However they suffer from the drawback that they must be used in conjunction with the telephone system (thus incurring call charges) and that as well as initial cost for buying the pager there is usually an ongoing rental for the provision of the necessary infra-structure. Such devices are therefore largely limited to business applications.

The invention seeks to provide a simple and inexpensive signal sender/receiver arrangement which is adapted for calling children or indeed animals, alerting them to the fact that they are wanted back home.

According to the present invention there is provided a signal sender and receiver arrangement which comprises a transmitter of low power signals, and a receiver responsive to the signals transmitted, the receiver being provided with a visible or audible output and the receiver being adapted to be attached to or worn about the person of the recipient.

While the term "low power" has been used to distinguish the transmitter envisaged from national network systems, it is expected that the transmitter would have a range of 200 metres or more. The signals transmitted may be radio, microwave, sonic or the like. Such transmitters are currently readily available and are used mainly to activate car locks/alarm systems. They are thus inexpensive and are small, often doubling as a key fob. Such a transmitter is ideally suited to the system of the invention.

The receiver will comprise circuitry sensitive to the signal sent out by the transmitter. On receiving a signal from the transmitter the circuitry, at its simplest, will act as a switch turning on an audible or visible warning. A bell, buzzer, beeper, flashing light, or some combination of the foregoing may be employed.

The receiver is preferably adapted to be worn by the recipient.

The receiver may be located in a locket, brooch, bracelet or may simply be carried in a pocket. Preferably, the receiver is combined with a watch, for example a digital watch, which will appeal to children, and may be powered by the watch battery.

In use, a child or children will be given receivers to wear, for example as mentioned above in the form of wrist watches containing the receivers. When the children are out playing or at neighbours' houses, the parent can call them home, for example at meal time, simply by activating the transmitter which, as mentioned above may be similar to a car "zapper" and may be carried on a key fob. On activating the transmitter the audible or visible warning in the receiver is actuated informing the child that he or she is wanted back home.

The arrangement can also be used to stop children wandering too far away in a public place such as a park or shopping mall. If the child is, for instance, getting too far ahead of its parent the latter can activate the transmitter thereby calling the child back without shouting or running after him.

In an alternative form, the system may be used in reverse, i.e.

by the child having the transmitter in order to call its parent in the event of danger.

The system of the invention is equally applicable to animals, especially animals such as dogs which can be trained. In this case, the receiver may be located for example in a collar and the dog trained to return to its home when the warning audible signal is sounded.

The transmitters may operate at a variety of different frequencies and/or may be coded. The receivers are naturally complementary and thus the pair may be made unique or nearly so. This prevents accidental recalls of children or animals other than the ones desired.

The system of the invention can therefore be sold as a set comprising a transmitter e.g. in the form of a key fob, and a receiver e.g. in the form of a digital watch. The watch may be made attractive to children being brightly coloured and/or being "themed" with one or other of the many characters used for character merchandising. Each pair would operate on a unique frequency and/or code. Alternatively, a single transmitter can be provided with two or more receivers so that a whole family can be called with a single transmitter.

The system of the invention provides a simple and inexpensive method of calling or "paging" a child or animal involving a low initial cost and no ongoing rental or telephone call charges.

Claims

1. A signal sender and receiver arrangement which comprises a transmitter of low power signals, and a receiver responsive to the signals transmitted, the receiver being provided with a visible or audible output and the receiver being adapted to be attached to or worn about the person of the recipient.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 whereinn the transmitter has a range of 200 metres or more.

3. An apparatus as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 in which the signals transmitted are radio, microwave, or sonic.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the receiver comprises circuitry sensitive to the signal sent out by the transmitter.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the receiver, on receiving a signal from the transmitter the circuitry acts as a switch turning on an audible or visible warning.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the warning comprises a bell, buzzer, beeper, flashing light, or some combination of the foregoing.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any of cliams 1 to 6 wherein the receiver is adapted to be worn or carried by the recipient.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the receiver is located in a locket, brooch, bracelet or is combined with a battery powered watch and is powered by the watch battery.

9. An apparatus as cliamed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the transmitter operates at a variety of different frequencies and/or is coded.

10. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore particularly described.