Patent Publication Number: US-2005116839-A1

Title: System for communicating environmental conditions of a vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/503,341, filed 17 Sep. 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to a system whereby a transmitter located on a boat sends a first signal to a land based receiving unit, which calls a designated phone number.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      While docked and unmanned, boats sink for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons include failure of underwater fittings, rain and snow, failure of fittings above the waterline, and poor docking arrangements. Other damage can occur from fire, theft, breakage, or intrusion. This causes further damage to the boat, equipment, and the environment. Sometimes the boat is a total loss. For each boat that sinks while manned at sea, it is estimated that four unmanned boats sink while docked. While docked, even a very slow leak can sink a boat. Early warning can prevent most boats from sinking.  
      Many problems in unattended boats or vehicles are unnoticed until the owner or other personnel is present, which may be weeks or months after any damage begins. This is a long enough time period in which extensive damage can occur. Damage that could have been prevented by early detection of the problem and the communication of the presence of the problem to the owner, or other personnel capable of preventing further damage, or correcting the problem.  
      There exists a need to quickly warn an unmanned boat owner that the boat is in danger. The boat owner can then take some action to mitigate any boat damage or to otherwise remedy the problem. The boat owner can contact an appropriate marina employee, salvage company, or other similar personnel.  
      Multiple embodiments of the system are disclosed herein. It will be understood that other objects and purposes of the invention, and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention solves the problems of unmanned boat sinking. Use of the applicant&#39;s invention enables the boat owner to be notified of a boat in danger. The boat owner can then mitigate any potential problem.  
      The system comprises components including (1) a remote transmitter having a sensor that activates transmission of a first signal to a land-based station, (2) the land-based station sends a second signal via a cellular or plain old telephone system (POTS) telephone lines for communication to a telephone. After the boat caretaker answers the phone, the phone is used to send a confirmation signal back to the land-based station so that the land-based station is turned off.  
      The remote transmitter is powered by its own battery that also signals the land-based station to alert the boat caretaker, so that the battery can be replaced. Alternatively they can be solar powered, powered by fuel cells, or plugged into a standard electrical outlet. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of the remote transmitter.  
       FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of the land-based station.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic of the system. 
    
    
      Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the system and designated parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives, and similar words.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a remote transmitter  10  is illustrated. The remote transmitter  10  is securely mounted on a boat. The remote transmitter  10  comprises a housing. In one embodiment the housing is impermeable to water. The remote transmitter  10  comprises an environmental or system sensor that interprets conditions or alerts on the boat by use of sensors. The conditions include flooding, intrusion, motion, heat, smoke, high water, low voltage, battery power, level or position of the boat, and depth of the boat. Different or additional sensors can be utilized. The remote transmitter  10  is powered by its own battery. Other power options include the use of solar power, or the remote transmitter  10  can be wired to the boat&#39;s power system. Another embodiment uses the boat&#39;s own power with a battery backup.  
      The remote transmitter  10  receives a sensor signal from a sender or sensor mounted within the boat or vehicle. The sensor or sender is triggered by adverse conditions such as changes in environmental conditions, such as, but not limited to, heat, smoke, intrusion, high water, or low voltage. The remote transmitter  10  receives a sensor signal from the sensor or sender, and transmits a first signal including a unique identifier to the land-based station  20 , which is mounted away from the boat or vehicle. The land-based station  20  can be positioned in a marina, office, or home.  
      The remote transmitter  10  first signal is sent via a transmitter antenna  80 , to a land-based station  20 . The transmitter antenna  80  uses radio frequency (RF). Another embodiment has the antenna disposed within the housing  12 . In a further embodiment, the antenna  80  does not use RF, but other means to send a signal, such as infrared, laser, or cellular technology.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the land-based station  20  is illustrated. The land-based station  20  has a transceiver unit that receives the first signal from the remote transmitter  10 , and the land-based station  20  sends a second signal to a land line telephone  100  via plain old telephone system (POTS). In another embodiment the land-based station  20  sends a second signal via cellular technology. The land-based station  20  is disposed in a marina or a house.  
      The land-based station  20  comprises a housing having a front face  22 . The front face  22  has a keypad  50  disposed thereon whereby the user can program the land-based station  20 . The keypad has the same numbering system as a standard telephone. The front face  22  also has a screen  60  whereby the user can view information. The screen is also used for verification of manually entered information. This information includes those numbers entered by the keypad  50  or other status information. In a separate embodiment, no keypad  50  exists, and a touch-screen is used as the interface for receiving or programming, and also for display. The front face  22  also has indicator lights  70  to designate “on” and the alert or tocsin status. The alert status exists, and thus the light is on when the land-based station  20  is sending the second signal to the telephone  100 .  
      A base antenna  30  extends from the land-based station  20 . The base antenna  30  is used to receive the first signal from the remote transmitter  10 , thus also uses radio frequency (RF). However, in a separate embodiment, the base antenna  30  does not use RF, but other signal means, such as laser, infrared, or cellular technology. The land-based station  20  also has a telephone line  40 . The second signal is sent via the telephone line  40  or via the antenna  30 .  
      In a further embodiment the base antenna  30  is used to receive the first signal, whether it be by laser, infrared, cellular, or other technology, and send the second signal via cellular technology. In a further embodiment, whether the second signal is sent via the telephone line  40  or the antenna  30  is determined by a pre-set switch on the housing of the land-based station  20   
      In a further embodiment, a sensor within the land-based station  20  determines whether the second signal is sent via the telephone line  40  or the antenna  30 , based on the cellular phone reception that the land-based station utilizes in this embodiment.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , a schematic showing the remote transmitter  10  disposed on a boat, a land-based station  20  located in a marina, and a telephone  100   
      In a further embodiment, the land-based station  20  incorporates LED&#39;s as the indicator lights  70 .  
      Other embodiments of the keypad  50  have more or less buttons.  
      The land-based station  20  is designed to be placed on a desk, and plugged into an electrical outlet. In a further embodiment, it is battery powered. In yet a further embodiment, it is powered by the electrical outlet, with battery backup.  
      On a bottom face of the land-based station  20  are rubber standoffs so the land based station does not move easily once positioned on a surface such as a counter or table.  
      The antennas  80 ,  30  are connected within the housing  12 ,  24 , respectively to the applicable component, such as a transceiver.  
      In a further embodiment the land-based station  20  can receive first signals from several different remote transmitters  10 . Each remote transmitter  10  has a distinct identifier.  
      The operation of the system is as follows. The land-based station  20  can be manually programmed by the touchpad  70 , with a list of telephone or pager numbers of designated contact personnel. In a separate embodiment the programming can be performed on a computer such as a PC, whereby the land-based station can have a USB port for connection with a PC. The list of contact numbers is retained by the land-based station  20  until manually changed by the end-user. In a separate embodiment, the numbers can be changed remotely, by calling the land-based station  20  via a phone, or via a PC. Once a certain condition is detected, the first signal is sent by the remote transmitter  10  to the land-based station  20 . Then the land-based station  20  calls a predesignated phone number. If there is no answer after a certain number of rings, or within a certain time period, or if the phone is answered, but a correct confirmation code or PIN number is not entered, then, if programmed into the land-based station, a second phone number is dialed. This succession can continue for any quantity of phone numbers, and then it would start from the beginning again.  
      Once the phone  100  is answered, the land-based station  20  conveys a pre-recorded message, or a particular sound or sounds. Then the person who answered manually enters the correct confirmation code or PIN number by pressing the keys on the phone, then the land-based station  20  stops dialing the predesignated phone numbers that were programmed for that particular remote transmitter  10 . The entry of the confirmation code or PIN number verifies that the personnel who answered the call received the message and understand the alert call. The personnel can then take appropriate action to mitigate or eliminate any problem.  
      Although the system is used primarily for boats, it can also be utilized by recreational vehicles and other novel uses.  
      This system can be made and used as a single use unit for home users with a single boat. Also the land-based station  20  can be made and used as a unit capable of responding to signals from multiple remote transmitters  10 , as in the case of marinas or recreational vehicle parks. For example, if a different remote transmitter  10 ′ also sends a different first signal to the same land-based station  20 , then the land-based station also calls a predesignated phone number, or phone numbers. This way, one marina can have one land-based station  20  on site, and service several boats, each boat with a different remote transmitter  10 . Each remote transmitter  10  would have a different identifier in this embodiment.