Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – With particular coupling link
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-06
2004-12-07
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2636)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
With particular coupling link
C340S539140, C340S545400, C340S573100, C340S010100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06828908
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to locator devices and, more specifically, to a locator device having a biocompatible transponder that is subcutaneously implanted in a human or animal to selectively transmit positional data to a remote locator device in the event that the subject is lost, missing or in need of being monitored. Furthermore, the transponder has a renewable power source that utilizes the host organism to supply a recharge thereto thereby negating the need for the periodic removal thereof. The renewable power source is preferably a piezoelectric battery that utilizes the piezo effect—a material's capacity to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy—to maintain a fully charged battery until needed and to effectively recharge it thereafter. Each transponder is set to it's own specific frequency and is activated when the user seeking the subject inserts the subjects PIN into the locator unit thereby sending out the appropriate signal to activate the implanted transponder which then returns the signal thus enabling the locator unit to define the precise location of the subject. A voice activation feature similar to voice dialing in cellular telephones could be included in the transponder and would allow the user to unilaterally activate the transponder by stating a predetermined password.
An alternate renewable power source that harnesses and stores energy available from the host organism is a bioelectric transponder battery that uses the considerable amount of electricity in the human body involving regulatory, metabolic and healing processes such as that generated by the nervous system and transferred by neurotransmitters. The bioelectric battery has contacts that act as neurotransmitter receptors to scavenge electricity from areas with high concentrations of action potential where synaptic and/or neuromuscular transmission occur which could also include the heart and spinal cord.
Certain applications of the present invention may require more frequent usage than other applications thereby using more electricity than could be restored by the microamperage of the trickle charge supplied to the bioelectric battery by the host organism's nervous system. For instance, a government agent or soldier in the field may require frequent monitoring as opposed to a child or fireman that would only have the transponder activated in emergency situations, therefore an external charger is also available to rapid charge the bioelectric battery by passing an electrical current through the body in a similar manner to that of the bioelectric therapy that is frequently used in holistic and conventional medicine. One embodiment of the bioelectric battery charger plugs into a standard DC outlet and has a step down transformer that produces a high frequency low voltage electric current and has two leads extending therefrom that are placed in contact with the epidermal tissue of opposing limbs of the implanted subject so the current could pass therethrough. High frequency current is used because it penetrates all body tissues whereas low frequency current flows primarily through extracellular fluids.
Thermal batteries that recharge by using the heat generated by a human body are currently in development for pacemakers and other like applications and could provide another viable option of harnessing the potential energy of the human body.
The present invention has many applications in military and civilian life that vary from allowing government agencies to monitor and track EMS workers, troops, commandos, intelligence agents and other such field operatives to parents who want to monitor their children or insure a quick recovery in case of kidnapping or abduction. The present invention provides an undetectable GPS location means that cannot be removed from the monitored subject like similar locator devices that are integral with clothes and jewelry and the like. Moreover, the piezoelectric battery that powers the transponder converts the kinetic energy created by the muscular contraction and extension of the host organism to electrical energy that is stored therein to provide a continuous charge thereto thus avoiding the necessity of having to invasively remove the implant to access the battery for recharging or replacement purposes.
An alternate embodiment of the present invention is a GPS locator device having a transponder that may be worn as jewelry or integrated within the clothing of the subject to be monitored. This noninvasive locator system could be part of the uniforms used by police or firemen so they could be readily located when on duty. A child could wear the transponder as a bracelet, necklace or other like ornamental device. Furthermore, a speaker/microphone could be provided to allow for voice activation and instantaneous two-way communication with a central office.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There are other GPS locator devices. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 3,588,858 issued to Demuth on Jun. 28, 1971.
Another patent was issued to Pollack on Aug. 8, 1989 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,328. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,785 was issued to Lemelson et al. on Mar. 24, 1998 and still yet another was issued on Nov. 17, 1998 to Revell et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,237.
Another patent was issued to Norris on Sep. 14, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,959. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,622 was issued to Levine on Mar. 7, 2000. Another was issued to Lopes on Jan. 2, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,494 and still yet another was issued on May 29, 2001 to Glen as U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,705.
Another patent was issued to Elliot on Jun. 5, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,039. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,280 was issued to Stingone Jr. on Jul. 17, 2001. Another was issued to Dymek et al. on Jul. 31, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,798 and still yet another was issued on Aug. 21, 2001 to Underwood as 6,278,370. A patent was issued to Thornblad as U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,289 on Sep. 4, 2001. On Jul. 16, 1998 a patent was issued to Grunchi et al. as German Patent No. DE 197 00 614 A1 and on Sep. 23, 1987 O'Brien was issued UK Patent No. GB 2 188028 A. French Patent No. FR 2 692 777 was issued on Dec. 31 1993 to Cussett et al.
A safety alarm system designed for use by individuals working alone consisting of a radio transmitter which is activated by a position sensitive switch and a radio receiver which activates an alarm means which indicates that the person has been injured or otherwise incapacitated. The switch is selected to activate at any position which a person would normally assume if he were injured or incapacitated, such as a prone position. The transmitter can also be equipped with a manual switch in combination with a position-sensitive switch so that it can also be used as an alarm system even when the individual is not incapacitated.
An animal monitoring telltale device including a receiver attached to the animal and a transmitting device inserted in the animal subcutaneously or in a cavity at a location indicative of the deep body temperature of the animal. The implanted transmitter will send a signal to the proximately located receiver indicative of a monitored condition in the animal. In addition, the signal is encoded with an identification signal providing ownership information and theft protection. The receiver is preferably secured to an ear tag which tag includes a light or other visual signal indicative of a predetermined value of the measured condition. The receiver may also be operatively connected to a re-transmitter for re-transmitting a higher power signal to a remote monitoring location.
A system and method are provided for communicating between a person, object, and/or vehicle carried transceiver and a monitor station to locate and track the movement of the same for security or anti-crime purposes. A portable computing and communication device carried by a person or located (hidden) in an object generates and transmits via radio signals a plurality of codes when remotely activated. One (or more) code(s)
Hofsass Jeffery
Kroll Michael I.
Previl Daniel
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