Abstract:
The present invention discloses a system and method for monitoring a child in a remote location by providing a monitoring system comprising two units which transmit audio signals from the child&#39;s location to the parent&#39;s location and the system vibrates when the audio signals reach a threshold level.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to monitor systems and more particularly to child monitor systems having a vibration element.  
           [0003]    2. Background  
           [0004]    When parents have a young child they typically wish to monitor the child at all times. In fact, parents want to monitor their child even when they cannot occupy the same room as the child. Child monitors, also known as nursery monitors or baby monitors, make this possible.  
           [0005]    Traditional child monitors allow parents to monitor the activities of a child located in another part of a house by transmitting sounds associated with the child to the parents. These sounds could include the child&#39;s breathing or general sounds associated with play. The child monitors typically consist of two units, one acting as a transmitter and the other a receiver. In operation, the parents place the transmitter in relative proximity to the child and keep the receiver in close proximity to themselves. The transmitter unit receives sounds associated with the child and transmits these sounds to the receiving unit, which outputs these sounds to the parent. These sounds allow the parent to monitor the child and the parents act accordingly should the child need attention.  
           [0006]    These traditional child monitors have a drawback, however, in that that the feature that makes them most useful has a limitation. Traditional child monitors allow parents to monitor their child by transmitting sounds associated with the child. However, outputting the sounds produced by the child can be inappropriate in certain circumstances or at times the sounds are simply inaudible and therefore ineffective. For example, outputting these sounds may be inappropriate or ineffective when the parent talks on the telephone or when a visitor is present. The parent, however, will decrease the usefulness of the device should he or she significantly decrease the volume of the monitor to remedy this problem. Alternatively, engaging in an activity that itself generates a significant amount of noise such as vacuuming or operating a dishwasher or washer/dryer, for example, makes sounds transmitted by a child monitor inaudible, also rendering it ineffective.  
           [0007]    Consequently, a need exists for an improved child monitor system which allows parents to monitor their child using audible signals as well as alternative stimulation to alert parents that their child may need attention.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    Embodiments disclosed herein address the above stated need by providing a system and method for monitoring a child in a remote location by providing a monitoring system comprising two units, one of which transmits audio signals from the child&#39;s location and the other of which receives the transmitted signals at the parent&#39;s location and which vibrates when the audio signals reach a threshold level. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a monitor system of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 depicts an operating mode of the monitor system of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another example embodiment of the monitor system of FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a schematic view yet another example embodiment of the monitor system of FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for monitoring a child in a remote location according to an example embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of the monitor system of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 7 and 8 are frontal and side views of the local unit of the monitor system of FIG. 6.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 9 and 10 are frontal and side views of the remote unit of the monitor system of FIG. 6. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    Overview  
         [0018]    The present invention relates generally to child monitoring systems. According to various example embodiments of the present invention, a monitoring system is disclosed which transmits audible signals and includes a vibration element sensitive to audible signal levels.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a monitoring system  100  according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Monitoring system  100  includes a local unit  102  and a remote unit  104 . Local unit  102  includes a receiver  110 , an audio output transducer  114 , and a vibration element  112 . Remote unit  104  includes a transmitter  108  and an audio input transducer  106 .  
         [0020]    Transmitter  108  and receiver  110  represent any transceiver hardware, software, or combination of hardware or software that transmit signals from one device to another either wirelessly or via a wired connection. Audio output transducer  114  and audio input transducer  106  represent any devices including speakers and microphones for outputting and receiving audio signals. Vibration element  112  represents any device which produces vibratory motion.  
         [0021]    The operation of monitor system  100  is shown in FIG. 2. Audio input transducer  106  of remote unit  104  receives an audio input signal  202 . Audio input transducer  106  converts audio input signal  202  into an audio signal  204 . Transmitter  108  then transmits audio signal  204  to receiver  110  of local unit  102 . Audio output transducer then converts audio signal  204  into an audio output signal  206 . Should audio signal  204  exceed a threshold signal value vibration element  112  will activate, which causes local unit  102  to vibrate. Consequently, monitor system  100  provides both an audio output and a vibratory response to the user.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 schematically illustrates another example embodiment of monitor system  100  of the present invention. In this embodiment, monitor system  100  includes a vibration termination switch  302  and a mode selector  304 . Vibration termination switch  302  and mode selector  304  represent any hardware, software, or combination of hardware and software which act as a switch.  
         [0023]    In this configuration, the operation of monitor system  100  is similar to that described in connection with FIG. 2, however vibration termination switch  302  and mode selector  304  provide additional functionality. Specifically, should vibration element  112  be activated, the user may choose to stop the operation of this element by using vibration termination switch  302 . In addition, this configuration allows the user to select between multiple operating modes. The user may choose to operate monitor system  100  in “audio only” mode by disabling the vibration element altogether, in which case, the user may use mode selector  304  to have monitor system  100  output only audio signals with no vibration. Alternatively, again by using mode selector  304 , the user may choose to operate monitor system  100  in sound and vibration mode to both output audio signals and vibrate should the audio signals reach a certain level. Alternatively, the user may choose to operate monitor system  100  in vibration only mode in which case monitor system  100  will not output audio signals but will vibrate should those signals reach a threshold level.  
         [0024]    In addition to the various additional features made possible by the example embodiment of the present invention described above, FIG. 4 depicts yet another example embodiment of the present invention. This example embodiment of monitor system  100  includes a threshold level selector  402  and a display  404 . Threshold level selector  402  represents any hardware, software, or combination of hardware and software which acts as a signal-level selection device. Display  404  represents any suitable display hardware, including any combination or configuration of LEDs or other light emitting sources.  
         [0025]    The operation of the monitor system  100  shown in FIG. 4 is similar to that described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 but with additional functionality. Specifically, threshold level selector  402  allows the user to select the level of the audio signal at which vibration element  112  will operate. Also, display  404 , in an example embodiment, consists of several LEDs, which activate at successively higher levels of the audio signal. For example, display  404  consists of 6 LEDs, the first LED is activated when the audio signal is at its lowest level and all 6 are activated when the signal is at its highest level. In one embodiment of the present invention, using threshold level selector  402 , the user may set monitor system  100  to vibrate when the third LED is activated, for example.  
         [0026]    The artisan will recognize that the additional elements described in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be implemented in any combination without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the monitoring system may be used to monitor children, but may also be used in any situations in which sound is generated. For example, the monitoring system could be used to monitor the ill and elderly, pets, or cars entering or exiting a driveway, for example. Monitor system  100  may also transmit video signals as well as audio signals without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a flowchart  500  that describes the operation of an example embodiment of the present invention. In operation  502 , remote unit  104  is in a location remote from local unit  102 . FIGS. 1, 2, and  3  depict remote unit  104  and local unit  102  and their respective components in various configurations.  
         [0028]    In operation  504 , acoustic sound is received at remote unit  104 . As shown in FIG. 2, audio input transducer  106  of remote unit  104  receives audio input signal  202 .  
         [0029]    In operation  506 , a signal representing the acoustic sound is transmitted from remote unit  104  to local unit  102 . As shown in FIG. 2, audio input transducer  106  of remote unit  104  receives audio input signal  202  and converts it to input signal  204  which transmitter  108  transmits to receiver  110  of local unit  102 .  
         [0030]    In operation  508 , vibration element  112  is activated when input signal  204  is above a threshold level. As shown in FIG. 2, vibration element  112  will activate should input signal  204  exceed a threshold level causing local unit  102  to vibrate.  
         [0031]    In operation  510 , the vibration element is terminated after it has been activated. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, after vibration element  112  has been activated, the user may terminate its operation using vibration termination switch  302 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary implementation of the monitor system  100 , illustrated schematically above, of the present invention. This example embodiment includes local unit  102 , and remote unit  104 . Local unit  102  includes an audio output transducer  144 , which is implemented as a speaker (1″/5 cm) located behind the perforated front face of the housing of local unit  104 , and, as shown in FIG. 7, several visual displays and user controls. The displays include a POWER ON/LOW BATTERY LED  708 , and a sound level indicator or display  706  implemented as a series of LEDs. The user controls include an ON/OFF VOLUME switch  702 , an A/B channel select switch  704 , mode selector  304  and vibration termination switch  302 . Local unit  102  also includes a clip  802 , as shown in FIG. 8, such that local unit  102  may be worn on the person of the user.  
         [0033]    Local unit  102  also includes a vibration element that, when activated, causes local unit  102  to vibrate. The vibration element includes a small motor driving a shaft with an eccentrically mounted weight.  
         [0034]    Power to the electronic components of local unit  102  is supplied by a main power supply which, in this example embodiment, consists of three rechargeable AAA batteries housed in a battery compartment located in the rear housing of local unit  102 , but may be any other suitable AC or DC power supply.  
         [0035]    Remote unit  104  includes audio input transducer  106 , which is implemented as a condenser microphone mounted on the front face of the housing of remote unit  104 , AC power adapter  602 , and as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a POWER ON LED  900 , A/B channel select  1002 , and ON/OFF switch  1004 .  
         [0036]    Power to the electronic components of remote unit  104  is provided by AC power adapter  602 , however internal DC power (such as batteries) could also be used.  
         [0037]    The transmitter and receiver circuitry used in the local and remote units may be any standard circuitry as could be readily selected by the artisan. One suitable implementation is a 49 MHz system available from Excel Engineering, Ltd. of Japan. Many other systems (including for example, 900 MHz systems) are available from various suppliers.  
         [0038]    In operation, to monitor a child for example, the user places remote unit  104  in relative proximity to the child and the user either places local unit  102  in the room with the user or wears local unit  102  on his or her person using clip  802 . Audio input transducer  106  of remote unit  104  receives audible inputs associated with the child and transmits them to local unit  102 . Local unit  102  will then output these sounds via audio output transducer  114  such that the user may be aware of the audible activities of the child. LED display  706  includes six LEDs, which illuminate in succession depending on the audio signal level. In this example embodiment, the single LED to the lower left of LED display  706  illuminates when the audio signal is at its lowest level, and all six illuminate when the audio signal is at its greatest level. In addition, should the sounds exceed a threshold level, local unit  102  will vibrate thus providing an alternate way of alerting the user to activities of the child. In an example embodiment, when the audio signal level is such that LEDs one through three are illuminated and remain so for three seconds, local unit  102  will vibrate. This example embodiment allows the user a choice of receiving both audio output and vibration or, alternatively, vibration only by using volume control  702  to decrease the volume completely, thus muting the audio output.  
         [0039]    Once local unit  102  begins to vibrate, the user may choose to terminate the vibration by depressing vibration termination switch  302 , which, when done, disables the vibration element for one minute in this example embodiment. Also, the user may use mode selector  304  to eliminate the vibration option altogether. By doing this, the unit will then operate as a traditional child monitor by only providing audio output (in addition to the visual LED display in this example embodiment).  
         [0040]    In an alternative implementation, the function of mode selector  304  and vibration termination switch  302  can be combined. Thus, a single switch could be used to enable or disable the vibration function (and if enabled, the user could terminate vibration once started by changing the switch to the disable position.  
         [0041]    The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.