Patent AU-2019203235-A1 (AU)
Title: Monitoring and alert system and method for sensorially perceptible devices
Inventor: LEARY ANDREW
IPC: B60R22/48
Filed: 2019-05-08
Abstract: The present invention provides a monitoring and alert system for retro-fitting to latching mechanisms including: a master control unit to be located proximate to an operator of the system, comprising: a user interface having: input means to enable an operator to arm the system and then allow it to operate with minimal interaction of the operator; and output means for alerting the operator as to the status of the system in relation to a plurality of prescribed conditions; master processing means to provide the functionality of the master control unit; master power supply means for providing local power to the master control unit; and slave power supply monitoring means to monitor the level of local power supplied to the master control unit and indicate when this is below a prescribed threshold for reliable operation thereof; one or more slave units each being fixedly attached to a discrete latching mechanism for detecting the latching status thereof, each slave unit comprising: sensing means to detect whether the latching mechanism is in a latched state or an unlatched state, slave processing means to provide the functionality of the slave unit; slave power supply means for providing local power to the slave unit; and slave power supply monitoring means to monitor the level of local power supplied to the slave unit and indicate when this is below a prescribed threshold for reliable operation thereof; communication means comprising a master transceiver forming part of the master control unit and a slave transceiver forming part of each slave unit for wirelessly communicating periodically status and alert signals between the master control unit and each of the slave units; wherein the master processing means and the slave processing means are designed to invoke various initialising processes for the master control unit and each of the slave units during a start-up mode involving interaction with the operator via the user interface, these initialising processes including identifying the latching status of each of the slave units; and wherein during a running mode: the master processing means is designed to invoke: a system state process to ascertain the latest latching status of each of the slave units whilst ensuring minimal power consumption by the master control unit; a power state process to check with the slave power supply monitoring means that the local power level is not below the prescribed threshold; a user interface process to process input signals from the input means and update the output means to convey the latest latching and power state status to the operator; and the slave -2 processing means is designed to invoke a slave unit status routine to transmit a power alert signal if the slave power supply monitoring means indicates that the local power is below the prescribed threshold, and the latching status of the slave unit, whilst ensuring minimal power consumption by the slave unit. Battery Monitoring Microcontroller 0 Transceiver Circuit Enabling Circuit 77 19,21 2a 23, 25, 27 89 User Interface Battery Monitoring )Microcontroller :0 Transceiver Circuit 61-1\ 73 Fig 19