Abstract:
A system for containing a child within a defined area, for communicating with the child, and for locating the child if the child leaves the defined area is disclosed. The containment capability of the system is provided by a presently existing electronic pet containment system. The child wears a monitoring module that produces a signal that is transmitted back to a control unit in the possession of the parent, thus warning the parent if the child approaches or crosses the wire defining the boundary of the defined area. The parent can use the control unit transceiver to communicate with the child and the child can communicate with the parent using the transceiver within the monitoring module. If the child leaves the defined area, the control unit has locating capabilities that provide the parent with an indication as to the direction in which the child is moving and the distance between the child and the control unit.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates, in general, to a child containment, communication and locating system and, more particularly, to such a system wherein the child containment capability is provided by a presently existing pet containment system.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002]     Numerous systems relating to containing, communicating with and locating children are presently available. Such systems, however, typically do not include all of the aforementioned capabilities. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,338 (Antenore) discloses a perimeter alarm apparatus including a loop of wire that is placed within the ground so as to define the area in which the child is to be contained and electrical circuitry connected to the loop to detect the absence of a signal imposed on the loop. A sending unit is worn by the child and produces a signal that is imposed on the loop. If the child is within the defined area, the sending unit induces a signal on the loop. When the child moves beyond the loop by a pre-determined distance, no signal is imposed on the loop and an alarm is sounded. In the aforementioned patent, the signal is imposed on the loop by a sending unit worn by the child, rather than by a radio frequency transmitter under the control of the child&#39;s parent. In addition, means for communicating with the child or for determining the location of the child if the child leaves the defined area is not provided under the aforementioned patent.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,460 (Sallen, et. al.) discloses a distance determination and alarm system comprised of a plurality of transceiver units, one transceiver unit being in the possession of the parent and the other transceiver unit being worn by the child. The system produces an alarm when the transceiver unit worn by the child is more than a predetermined distance away from the transceiver unit in the possession of the parent. The distance is determined by the difference in the phase of a reference signal that is transmitted on a radio frequency signal by the parent&#39;s transceiver unit, then received and retransmitted by the child&#39;s transceiver unit, and then received again by the parent&#39;s transceiver unit. This patent does not include any means for containing the child within a pre-determined area and/or means for communicating with the child or locating the child.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,163 (Perez, et. al.) discloses a child locating device consisting of two transceiver units. The child&#39;s transceiver unit generates a signal that is received by the parent&#39;s transceiver unit. If the signal generated by the child&#39;s transceiver unit becomes weak as the result of the child exceeding a pre-determined distance from the parent&#39;s transceiver unit, an alarm is sounded by the parent&#39;s transceiver unit to alert the parent that the child has wandered away. The parent&#39;s transceiver unit also has a direction indicator function to assist in locating the child. This patent, however, makes no provision for containing the child within a pre-determined area.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,812,056 (Law) discloses a wireless child monitoring and locating device consisting of a transmitter worn by the child and a receiver in the possession of the parent. The parent&#39;s receiving unit is capable of detecting when the child strays beyond a pre-determined distance from the parent. This patent makes no reference to means for containing the child within a pre-determined area and/or means for communicating with the child or for locating the child if the child leaves a pre-determined area.  
         [0006]     In view of the foregoing, it has become desirable to develop a system for containing a child within a defined area, communicating with that child when the child is within the defined area or outside the defined area, and for locating the child when the child has strayed from the defined area, using a wire loop located in the ground.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention solves the problems associated with the prior art systems for containing a child within a defined area, communicating with and/or locating a child, and other problems by providing a system that includes means for containing a child within a defined area, for communicating with the child and for locating the child if the child leaves the defined area. Utilizing a presently existing electronic pet containment system provides the containment capability of the system. Such a containment system utilizes a wire that is placed within the ground and on which a signal is applied thereto. The child wears a child monitoring module through which communication with a control unit can be maintained via radio frequency links. The control unit, which is typically in the possession of the child&#39;s parent, emits an audible alarm thus warning the parent that the child is approaching the wire. A similar audible alarm is also provided to the child by the monitoring unit. The parent can then use the transceiver associated with the control unit to communicate with the child and the child can communicate with the parent by using the transceiver in the child monitoring module. If the child crosses the wire defining the boundary of area, the audible alarm associated with the control unit changes pitch indicating to the parent that the child has crossed the established boundary. If the child crosses the established boundary and if the radio frequency capability of the control unit has been exceeded, the system includes an auxiliary power unit to increase the level of the radio frequency signal to and from the child monitoring module. The system also includes directional and distance locating capabilities to provide an indication to the parent as to the direction in which the child is moving and the distance between the child and the control unit. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is schematic diagram of the child containment, communication and locating system of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a child monitoring module utilized by the child containment, communication and locating system of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the repeater utilized by the child containment, communication and locating system of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the control unit utilized by the child containment, communication and locating system of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the auxiliary power unit utilized by the child containment, communication and locating system of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the battery charger utilized by the child containment, communication and locating system of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]     Referring now to the drawings where the illustrations are for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention described herein,  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the child containment, communication and locating system  10  of the present invention. The system  10  is comprised of one or more child monitoring modules  12 , a repeater  14 , a control unit  16 , an auxiliary power unit  18  and a battery charger  20 . The child monitoring module  12  is worn by the child whose movements are being monitored within an area determined by the wire defining the periphery of a dog containment area. The module  12  transmits signals or selected data on a radio frequency band to the repeater  14 , the control unit  16  and to the auxiliary power unit  18 . The repeater  14  receives and retransmits signals or selected data from the child monitoring modules  12  to extend the range of the modules  12  and to fill gaps in the radio frequency reception area. The control unit  16  receives data from either the modules  12  or the repeater  14  and controls the operation of the system  10 . The auxiliary power unit  18  receives signals or selected data from the repeater  14  and extends the detection range of the modules  12 . The battery charger  20  provides controlled recharging of the batteries within the modules  12  and within the control unit  16 .  
         [0015]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a schematic diagram of a child monitoring module  12  is shown. The module  12  includes a microcontroller  30 , a wire detector  32 , a radio frequency link  34 , a microphone audio input  36 , a speaker audio output  38 , a motion detector  40  and a panic switch  42 . The wire detector  32  is connected to an input to the microcontroller  30  and detects existing signal from the wire defining the periphery of the dog containment area. The radio frequency link  34  is comprised of a transceiver that permits the module  12  to communicate with the control unit  16  using a radio frequency band. The microphone  36  provides an audio input to the microcontroller  30 . The speaker  38  provides an audio output from the microcontroller  30 . The motion detector  40  detects movement by the child and is connected to an input to the microcontroller  30 . The panic switch  42  can be actuated by the child and is connected to an input to the microcontroller  30  and notifies the person monitoring the child, such as the child&#39;s mother, to communicate with the module  12  worn by the child. The battery charger  20  is connectable to an input to the microcontroller  30  to recharge the batteries within the module  12 .  
         [0016]     A schematic diagram of the repeater  14  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The repeater  14  is comprised of a microcontroller  50 , a radio frequency link  52  and a power supply  54 . The repeater  14  receives and retransmits signals or selected data from the modules  12 , extending the range of the modules  12  and filling the gaps in the radio frequency reception area. The radio frequency link  52  comprises a transceiver that communicates with the child monitoring module  12  using the radio frequency band. The power supply  54  receives power from a 110 volt AC source and includes an adapter that converts the AC power to DC power to recharge the batteries within the repeater  14 .  
         [0017]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a schematic diagram of the control unit  16  is shown. The control unit  16  includes a microcontroller  60 , a display  62 , a keyboard  64 , a radio frequency link  66 , a microphone audio input  68 , an attention alarm  70  and a speaker audio output  72 . The display  62  is comprised of a two line, 16 character liquid crystal display and is used to display the operating functions of the system  10 . The keyboard  64  is utilized to input data into the system  10  and to control the operation of same. The radio frequency link  66  is comprised of a transceiver that communicates with the child monitoring module  12  using the radio frequency band. The microphone  68  is connected to an input to the microcontroller  60 . The attention alarm  70  and the speaker  72  are connected to outputs of the microcontroller  60 . The battery charger  20  is connected to an input to the microcontroller  60  and is utilized to recharge the batteries within same.  
         [0018]     A schematic diagram of the auxiliary power unit  18  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The auxiliary power unit  18  is comprised of a microcontroller  80 , a display  82 , a keyboard  84 , a radio frequency link  86 , a microphone audio input  88  and a speaker audio output  90 . The display  82  is comprised of a screen and is used to display the operating functions of the system  10  and the location of the child wearing the child monitoring module  12 . The keyboard  84  is used to input data into the system  10  and to control the operation of same. The radio frequency link  86  is comprised of a transceiver which communicates with the child monitoring module  12  using the radio frequency band and which extends the range of the system  10  for several miles. The microphone  88  is connected to an input to the microcontroller  80 . The speaker  90  is connected to an output of the microcontroller  80 . The battery charger  20  is connectable to an input to the microcontroller  80  and is used to recharge the batteries within same.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a schematic diagram of the battery charger  20  is illustrated. The battery charger  20  is comprised of a microcontroller  100 , a power supply  102  and an auxiliary alarm  104 . The power supply  102  provides power to the microcontroller  100 . The auxiliary alarm  104  provides an additional alarm for the system  10 . Charging jacks are provided on the charger  20  permitting the recharging of up to four (4) child monitoring modules  12  and the control unit  16 . Light emitting diodes (not shown) are provided on the charger  20  to indicate the charging status of each module  12  that is connected to the charger  20 .  
         [0020]     The control unit  16  is typically located within a residence that has a pet containment system associated therewith. The pet containment system includes a generator that produces the signals that are applied to the wire that defines the periphery of the pet containment area. As previously indicated, the child monitoring module  12  is worn by the child whose movements are being monitored within the area determined by the wire defining the periphery of the pet containment area.  
         [0021]     To operate the system  10  of the present invention, the control unit  16  and one or more child monitoring modules  12  are initially charged by the charger  20 . After charging has been completed, using the keyboard  64  associated with the control unit  16 , the control unit  16  is programmed to insure the accessibility of each of the child monitoring modules  12 . The input data that is programmed into the control unit  16  may include the name, address, and telephone number of the child who will wear the child monitoring module  12  and a unique digital identifier code for the module  12 . Assuming that two (2) child monitoring modules  12  are involved for discussion purposes, the control unit  16  would be programmed for each of the two modules  12  and programs same. After programming has been completed, the first child monitoring module  12  is attached to the first child and the second child monitoring module  12  is attached to the second child whose movements are being monitored within an area determined by the wire defining the periphery of a dog containment area. If the mother of the children wearing the modules  16  would like to talk to the first child, the mother presses the voice command button associated with the control unit  16  and speaks to the first child via the microphone  68  in the control unit  16 . The transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  66  in the control unit  16  transmits the mother&#39;s message to the first child via the radio frequency link  34  and the speaker  38  in the first child&#39;s module  12 . When the mother has completed her message to the first child, the first child can respond to the mother via the microphone  36  in its module  12 . The transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  34  in the module  12  transmits the first child&#39;s message to the mother via the radio frequency link  66  and the speaker  72  associated with the control unit  16 . If the mother would like to listen to either of the children, the mother accesses the child monitoring module  16  worn by that child and presses the voice command button on the control unit  16 . As long as the voice command button is depressed, the child&#39;s voice will be transmitted via the microphone  36  in its module  12 . Here again, the transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  34  in the child&#39;s module  12  transmits the child&#39;s voice to the mother via the radio frequency link  66  and the speaker  72  associated with the control unit  16 .  
         [0022]     If one of the children decides to remove its child monitoring module  12 , the motion detector  40  associated with the module  12  detects that no motion is occurring to the module  12  and causes the transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  34  in the module  12  to transmit a signal via radio frequency link  66  to control unit  16  activating the attention alarm  70  in the control unit  16 . The mother in this instance can investigate why the child has removed its module  12  and take appropriate corrective action. After taking such action, the mother then resets attention alarm  70  associated with control unit  16 . If one of the children seeks the mother&#39;s attention, the child pushes the panic switch  42  associated with its module  12  causing the transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  34  in the module  12  to transmit a signal via radio frequency link  66  to the control unit  16  causing the attention alarm  70  in the control unit  16  to again be activated. In this case, the mother would take the appropriate action and then reset the attention alarm  70  associated with control unit  16 .  
         [0023]     If the child decides to leave the area typically defined by the wire associated with the pet containment system, the wire detector  32  associated with its module  12  detects that the child is approaching the wire and causes the transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  34  in the module  12  to transmit a signal via radio frequency link  66  to control unit  16  activating attention alarm  70  in the control unit  16 . In this instance, the mother can then investigate the location of the child and take appropriate action. After the mother has taken appropriate action, the mother then resets the attention alarm  70  associated with the control unit  16 . If the child crosses the wire defining the confined area before the mother takes appropriate action, the attention alarm  70  associated with the control unit  16  changes pitch indicating to the mother that the child has crossed the established boundary. The mother, in this instance, can then press the voice command button associated with the control unit  16  and speak to the child via the microphone  68  in the control unit  16 . The transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  66  in the control unit  16  transmits the mother&#39;s message to the child via radio frequency link  34  and the speaker  38  in the module  12  worn by the child. If the child ignores the voice messages of the mother, the mother can activate the directional and distance location capabilities of the control unit  16 . Using the directional and location capabilities of the control unit  16 , the mother can then locate the child.  
         [0024]     If the child has crossed the wire defining the confined area and if the radio frequency capability of the control unit  16  has been exceeded, i.e., communication has been lost between the control unit  16  and the child monitoring module  12 , the transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  66  in the control unit  16  causes the activation of auxiliary power unit  18  via radio frequency link  86  associated with auxiliary power unit  18 . The auxiliary power unit  18  increases the level of the radio frequency signal to and from the child monitoring module  12 . The mother can then call the police for assistance. Through directional and distance locating methods, the police will then attempt to locate the child using the signal transmitted by the auxiliary power unit  18  and received from the child monitoring unit  12 .  
         [0025]     If the police cannot locate the child through directional and distance locating methods, System Omni can be activated to scan a larger geographical area. System Omni can determine the location of an individual by coordinates and such information is then transmitted to the police who can determine the individual&#39;s location. If the police cannot locate the child, all System Omni units in the surrounding areas can be utilized to locate the child. In this instance, any control unit  16  within the radio frequency range of the child monitoring module  12  can intercept the signal from the module  12 , along with the child&#39;s telephone number and the unique digital identifier code that has been assigned to the child, permitting communication to the police of the child&#39;s approximate location. In this manner, the child can be located.  
         [0026]     It should be noted that if the battery power level within the child monitoring module  12  drops to a predetermined level, the control unit  16  is notified of same by the transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  34  in the module  12  and the radio frequency link  66  in the control unit  16 . In this situation, voice communication between the module  12  and the control unit  16  ceases. If the power level of the module  12  drops further, the transceiver comprising the radio frequency link  34  in the module  12  produces a signal which is transmitted via the radio frequency link  34  to the control unit  16  via radio frequency link  66  causing the control unit  16  to sound an alarm. In this instance, the control unit  16  cannot be reset until the child monitoring module  12  has been recharged.  
         [0027]     Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing. It is understood that all such modifications and improvements have not been included herein for the sake of conciseness and readability, but are properly within the scope of the following claims.