Abstract:
A wireless communication system includes a hand-held transmitter for selectively transmitting at least one wireless signal, and a remote receiver unit including a remote receiver mounted to a strap and receiving the wireless signal. The remote receiver includes a sound generator which is actuated and volume adjusted using the hand-held transmitter, dependent on the wireless signal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a communication system for paging, locating and/or communicating with an object, and, more particularly, to such a communication system used with people. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Wireless communication systems including a hand-held transmitter and a remote receiver unit are used with animals to train or control the behavior of the animal. For example, a dog training system may include a hand-held transmitter which sends a wireless encoded signal to a remote receiver mounted to a strap which is worn around the neck of the dog. The hand-held transmitter may include multiple buttons, and depending upon which button is depressed by a user, an electrical stimulation with a corresponding amplitude and/or frequency is applied to the skin of the animal. 
         [0005]    It is also known to use a tracking system including a hand-held receiver (or transceiver) and a remote unit in the form of a strap mounted transmitter. The remote unit transmits a wireless signal to the hand-held receiver and based on GPS or other known techniques, a location of the remote unit can be established. Tracking systems may also be used for other applications, such as the tracking of Alzheimer&#39;s patients, prisoners on minimum detention, etc. 
         [0006]    Parents typically desire to know the location of their children at any given time. However, it may also be desirable to provide children with a sense of independence by allowing them to wander away from the direct supervision of the parents. Moreover, it is possible in a crowded environment that a child may simply become separated from the parents. Further, it may be desirable to allow the child to play at a location remote from the parents, while at the same time tracking or communicating with the child. 
         [0007]    What is needed in the art is a wireless communication system which allows a child to be tracked, paged or otherwise communicated with, while at the same time having improved security features not allowing the remote receiver unit to be removed or tampered with. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a wireless communication system including a hand-held transmitter and a remote receiver unit, with the remote receiver unit turned ON/OFF by the hand-held transmitter, and sound(s) generated by the remote receiver unit being actuated and volume adjusted by the hand-held transmitter. 
         [0009]    The invention in one form is directed to a wireless communication system including a hand-held transmitter for selectively transmitting at least one wireless signal, and a remote receiver unit including a remote receiver mounted to a strap. The remote receiver receives the wireless signal. The remote receiver includes a siren remotely actuated by the hand-held transmitter. The siren has a volume level which is remotely controlled by the hand-held transmitter. 
         [0010]    The invention in another form is directed to a method of wireless communication between a hand-held transmitter and a remote receiver unit. The method includes the steps of: transmitting at least one wireless signal from the hand-held transmitter to the remote receiver unit; actuating a siren on the remote receiver unit, dependent on the wireless signal; and controlling a volume level of the siren, dependent on the wireless signal. 
         [0011]    The invention in yet another form is directed to a wireless communication system including a hand-held transmitter for selectively transmitting at least one wireless signal, and a remote receiver unit including a remote receiver mounted to a strap and receiving the wireless signal. The remote receiver includes a sound generator which is actuated and volume adjusted using the hand-held transmitter, dependent on the wireless signal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a communication system of the present invention, including a hand-held transmitter and remote receiver unit; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the electrical circuitry which may be used with the hand-held transmitter of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the electrical circuitry which may be used with the remote receiver unit of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of a communication system  10  of the present invention, including a hand-held transmitter  12  and remote receiver unit  14 . 
         [0018]    Hand-held transmitter  12  generally includes a housing  16  supporting a number of external user interfaces and internal electrical circuitry, each described in more detail below. More particularly, housing  16  carries external user interfaces including an ON/OFF switch  18 , antenna  20 , remote unit volume control turn dial  22 , beep and/or vibrator button  24 , siren ON/OFF button  26 , light button  28 , remote unit ON/OFF button  30 , microphone  32 , speaker  34  and visual display  36 . In the event that hand-held transmitter  12  is equipped with optional global positioning satellite (GPS) circuitry, hand-held transmitter  12  may also include associated visual displays  38  and  40 . 
         [0019]    Likewise, remote receiver unit  14  includes external features as well as internal electrical circuitry, each described in more detail below. More particularly, housing  50  is mounted to a strap  52 . Housing  50  carries an ON/OFF key switch  54 , light  56 , microphone  58  and speaker  60 . 
         [0020]    Strap  52  includes a tamper-resistant feature  62  and a lock  64 . Lock  64  can be of any suitable configuration and preferably allows strap  52  to be adjustably coupled around the object to be tracked or otherwise communicated with, such as an arm or leg of a child. Lock  62  can be configured, e.g., as a key lock or the like. Tamper-resistant feature  62  inhibits strap  52  from being cut or otherwise removed from the object to be tracked or otherwise communicated with. In the illustrated embodiment, tamper-resistant feature  62  is in the form of a steel mesh which is embedded within strap  52 . Tamper-resistant feature  62  could be differently configured, such as a steel wire or cable embedded within or attached to strap  52 . Alternatively, tamper-resistant feature  62  could consist of the type of material from which strap  52  is constructed, such as a strap constructed from Kevlar®. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a block diagram of an embodiment of the electrical circuitry which may be used with hand-held transmitter  12  of  FIG. 1 . Microprocessor  70  controls all functions which are input from the remote function buttons  22 - 30  and outputs an ID code signal. Microprocessor  70  also has a power ON/OFF function. Microprocessor  70  recognizes and processes the frequency signal and operates a display  36  and a radio frequency (RF) control  72 , which controls an RF oscillator/modulator  74  and an RF amplifier  76  when a button  22 - 30  is actuated. In an optional 2-way system, microprocessor  70  processes the data received from remote receiver unit  14 . For instance, microprocessor  70  can compute a distance between hand-held transmitter  12  and remote receiver unit  14  based on position data from an optional GPS module  78  onboard hand-held transmitter  12  and an optional GPS module  80  ( FIG. 3 ) onboard remote receiver unit  14 . 
         [0022]    Remote unit volume control turn dial  22  uses a potentiometer as a “volume” (magnitude) control which allows precise control or gradual change of the volume (dB) level of the corresponding siren activated at remote receiver unit  14 . 
         [0023]    Display  36  can be of any suitable type configuration, such as an LCD display. Display  36  can display, e.g., the level set by the volume control turn dial  22 , and a residual battery capacity of hand-held transmitter  12 . In an optional two-way system incorporating GPS, optional displays  38  and  40  can display a residual battery capacity of remote receiver unit  14 , a direction and distance of remote receiver unit  14  from hand-held transmitter  12 , a moving speed of remote receiver unit  14 , etc. 
         [0024]    RF oscillator/Modulator  74  uses FM (Frequency Modulation), and a modulation-allowable VCXO is applied to give RF oscillation and modulation at the same time. The RF output from the oscillator/modulator  74  is low, so RF amplifier  76  amplifies the output RF such that a following RF output  82  can be operated. RF output  82  amplifies the RF such that the hand-held transmitter  12  and remote receiver unit  14  are within a reachable distance. Low-pass filter  84  blocks high frequencies in the RF signal other than fundamental waves. Antenna  20  transmits RF composed of fundamental waves, which has passed through low-pass filter  84 . In the optional two-way system, antenna  20  receives RF signals transmitted from remote receiver unit  14 . 
         [0025]    Regulator and power switch  86  has a constant-voltage IC function that is operated in association with microprocessor  70 . If the ON/OFF switch of hand-held transmitter  12  is moved to the ON position, the power is turned ON. Conversely, if the ON/OFF switch of hand-held transmitter is moved to the OFF position, the power is turned OFF. Battery  88  may be of any suitable type, and preferably is a rechargeable battery. When configured as a rechargeable battery, a charger  90  may be used to keep battery  88  in a charged state. A two-way receiver (transceiver)  92  receives information from remote receiver unit  14 , and provides corresponding data to microprocessor  70 . 
         [0026]    If any one of turn dial  22  or buttons  24 - 30  are depressed, corresponding data and ID codes set by an ID code setting device are provided to RF oscillator/modulator  74 . RF oscillator/modulator  74  generates RF signals that are amplified at RF amplifier  76  and RF output terminal  82 , filtered at low-pass filter  84  to remove harmonics, and then emitted through antenna  20  as RF waves. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a block diagram of an embodiment of the electrical circuitry which may be used with remote receiver unit  14  of  FIG. 1 . An antenna  100  receives an RF signal transmitted from hand-held transmitter  12 . When configured as a two-way system, antenna  100  transmits an RF signal to hand-held transmitter  12 . Antenna  100  is preferably configured as an internal (built-in) antenna, but could also be configured as an external antenna providing an increased operating range. 
         [0028]    High-frequency Amplifier  102  amplifies weak RF signals received at antenna  100 . An oscillator (OSC,  104 ) oscillates in itself to give a secondary intermediate frequency. Mixer  106  mixes the RF signal supplied from high-frequency amplifier  102  with the signal supplied from OSC  104  to make an intermediate frequency that is a secondary frequency. An intermediate-frequency amplifier  108  amplifies the intermediate frequencies made at the mixer  106 . Filter  110  filters the intermediate frequencies made at the mixer  106  to remove noise. Detector  112  detects function signals and ID signals sent from the hand-held transmitter  12 . Microprocessor  114  includes a low-frequency amplifier which amplifies analog signals detected by detector  112 . If the received signal is identical to an ID code already stored in memory, a signal from any one of the user inputs selected from turn dial  22  and buttons  24 - 30  of hand-held transmitter  12  is output. In an optional two-way system, microprocessor  114  processes information associated with remote receiver unit  14  and provides the information to a two-way receiver (transceiver)  116 , which in turn transmits the information to hand-held transmitter  12 . 
         [0029]    Regulator  118  has a constant-voltage IC function that is operated in association with the microprocessor  114 . Regulator  118  receives an input signal from keyed ON/OFF switch  54  corresponding to an ON or OFF state of remote receiver unit  14 . If the keyed ON/OFF switch  54  is moved to the ON position, the power is turned ON. Conversely, if the keyed ON/OFF switch  54  is moved to the OFF position, the power is turned OFF. Battery  120  may be of any suitable type, and preferably is a rechargeable battery. When configured as a rechargeable battery, a charger  122  may be used to keep battery  120  in a charged state. 
         [0030]    An optional GPS module  80  obtains reference signals from at least three satellites to provide microprocessor  114  with position data of remote receiver unit  14 . 
         [0031]    In the event that remote receiver unit  14  is attached to an animal, such as a human, possible outputs from remote receiver unit  14  which may be perceived at the transmitter and/or receiver unit locations include a vibrator  124  (driven by a vibrator driver  126 ), a light  56  (such as an LED, driven by a light driver  128 ), and a speaker  60  (which can be used to produce the sounds of a siren, buzzer, beeper and/or speech). 
         [0032]    In the embodiment of remote receiver unit  14  described above, speaker  60  defines a sound generator which can produce any of a number of desired sounds, as described above. However, it is also possible to include a sound generator of a different specific type, such as a buzzer and/or beeper. 
         [0033]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.