Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – With particular coupling link
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-11
2002-04-09
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
With particular coupling link
Reexamination Certificate
active
06369707
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to public warning of impending danger. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus capable of receiving a transmitted signal having a warning message embedded thereon and converting the warning message into an audio and/or visual warning signal for a person in a specific area.
2. Description of Prior Art
The prior art related to this invention is known to be general public warning systems that alert an entire community, although in many applications, the entire community is notified of the possible most hazardous locations. These warnings are produced in the following manners:
(1) a hand held radio, although economical to purchase, it must be turned on to warn the user;
(2) an electric radio design that may be activated by means of the broadcast system or in association with the National Weather Service; these radios may be activated when the on/off switch is in the off position, however they are much more costly, and therefore, limit the user's ability to purchase, and also limiting the number of radios one can afford, thereby restricting the area of a building or location the warning may be received by persons in the threat of danger; and
(3) community sirens, which may alert the community along with the television, computer, and similar warning systems.
The major problems associated with these systems are that they alert an entire large area, much of which is not affected by the hazard. This results in the community becoming complacent of the repeated warnings that seldom develop near them, resulting in persons ignoring the warnings. Also, in many cases, some people do not have a television or radio on, particularly, during the night-time hours, or may be watching or playing with a video movie or game, and therefore, do not receive the warning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention teaches a means of alerting persons of impending danger as related to civil defense, National Weather Service Warning, and any general threat to the public. This alert in one embodiment is a receiver that is economical enough to install in a substantial number of locations within a home or building, and that may plug into any standard electrical outlet and have a low power usage back up source.
This invention also teaches activating the receivers directly in the path, in the immediate area, or in a potential area as may be required by receiving a transmission from cellular communication towers, for example, or other similar means directly in the areas required.
The present invention assists in minimizing the complacency that accumulates in communities where general alerts are issued and seldom affect the entire alerted community. It also provides an economical and practical means of alerting persons, especially children and the elderly, that may be utilizing a television for video movies or games, and/or not have any notification means turned on or tuned in as would be required to receive an alert, to be alerted any time of the day or night, even if the parents are not available to provide directive procedures or precautions as required. This device can also be used for alerting persons that may be deaf or possess other handicaps by flashing lights or any variety of signaling means.
The invention renders a design and means economical enough to be afforded by any persons and/or supplied by civil entities where automatic activated radio receivers or other known means are too expensive for mass populations.
The invention can alternately be used as a means of alerting a user of a mobile cellular or digital phone that may be driving into an area of danger. Further, one or more of the household devices may be taken to sporting, camping, family outings or functions, and may be powered by a replaceable or rechargeable battery or any means of connecting to a vehicle. The invention can also be adapted for connection to a telephone or any desired circuitry entering a building, etc., that may be activated by any utility such as a telephone, cable or satellite television, computer, electrical power utilities, or any entities that have means to activate the invention by electrical pulsing, reverse 911 calling, computer activation transmitting, or any known means that may activate the invention related to the method of means available to a particular utility or entity.
The object of the invention is for use as a primary receiver that may transmit to any number of secondary receivers with less costly circuitry, yet can provide an alert signal to persons in the area. The invention can be utilized as a surge protector, or a circuit breaker means that has a proper functioning indicator and testing means, and may have the circuit monitored by the alert signaling entity by means of signaling the user of a non-active device or means of resetting the circuit breaker manually or by means from the alerting entity.
In the preferred embodiment, the system or device is installed by means of plugging into an electrical outlet, and or can be jointly or independently battery powered, and is activated by means of current cellular phone technology or other current means that is capable of transmitting any desired signal or transmission known, or those emerging compatible types of technology that can be adapted to this device, and transmitted from locally placed transmission or cell phone towers, or any other antennas or compatible transmitting systems. Also, the warning signal may be transmitted on specific frequencies for specific areas or warning requirements or any similar means rendering the same results. Types of wireless signals include, but are not limited to, cellular telephone, radio frequencies, Loran, analog cordless telephone, digital enhanced cordless telephone, general public radio service, shared wireless access protocol, high sped circuit switch data, universal mobile telecommunications, enhanced data rate for GSM evolution, global positioning satellite and standard satellite signals. Types of carrier line signals include, but are not limited to, utility power lines, telephone lines, DSL, cable and fiber optic lines.
When a warning is desired to be transmitted to a specific area regardless of size, the proper authorities cause the system to transmit a signal to the devices desired, and the device warns or alerts any persons within its range by means of a tone, voice, light or any other desired means. The system may include a primary receiving unit or device that may activate additional devices within its range, and that these secondary devices may be manufactured as a less expensive version from the primary unit. This device will enable persons that are not currently watching television, radio, or may be traveling, on camping trips, at sporting events, etc., to be alerted in the case of any civil emergency in their specific area, unlike weather radios which may be of an inexpensive design which are required to be turned on to receive an alert, or an expensive design that may costly, resulting in them being unavailable to many consumers or limited in the number per household, etc., that may leave a number of persons in the household beyond the reach, or unable to take advantage of the warning transmitted, without alerting an entire county or large area causing complacency or unnecessary concern to those persons not affected. Also, as described herein, the present invention will have advantages over local sirens, conventional radio systems or telephone systems by being located in the home, office, camper, or any other location that persons may be in, and unable to hear a distant siren or receive a warning by any other means. No radio, telephone, or electrical service need be required, depending on the type of device selected and covered in the description of this invention.
The device could be taken out of a wall electrical outlet and taken anywhere. In this embodiment, the unit could have a snap on cover for the back, and a handle that could double as a brace to standing the unit in a nearly upright position. The rechargeable ba
Larson James E.
Larson & Larson P.A.
Pope Daryl
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