Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:
The present disclosure is for a child monitor system that employs at least one parent unit that can monitor more than one child unit at the same time. The disclosed child monitor system employs a parent unit configured to sequentially announce or indicate the transmitted audio from a plurality of transmitters or child units. The monitor system disclosed herein can automatically monitor the audio from each child unit in turn. In one example, the time spent monitoring each child unit can be independently adjusted for each child unit by the user of the system. In another example, the volume of the transmitted audio of each of the child units can be independently adjusted. The disclosed system in one example can be adjusted so that the time spent monitoring a selected one of the child units can be significantly longer in duration than the time spent monitoring the other child units. The disclosed system in one example can be adjusted so that the volume of the audio signal transmitted from one of the child units can be adjusted much higher or lower than the volume of the other child units transmitting.
Turning now to the drawings,
As is known in the art, a docking station 26 can be provided for the parent units 22 and be configured to plug into an AC wall jack. The parent unit can be configured to rest in the docking station to recharge its batteries and operate on AC power. In one example, the docking station 26 can be configured to receive either of the parent units. Alternatively, multiple docking stations 26 can be provided with a system having two or more parent units 22, one docking station for each of the multiple parent units 22.
A battery indicator light 32 is provided on the other side of each of the parent units 22 and is operatively connected to the batteries of the unit. This side of each of the parent units 22 also has a DC adapter jack 34 with a rubber cover that covers the opening. An AC adapter 36 can be provided with the system, or two adapters can be provided if two parent units come with the system. In this example, each parent unit can thus be powered using an ordinary AC source either via the AC adapter 36 and adapter jack 34; or via the docking station 26. Alternatively, the system can be provided with a DC battery source for each of the parent units 22, such as a rechargeable battery pack 38, so that the parent units can run on DC power alone, if desired.
In one example, the battery indicator light 32 can illuminate in more than one color and, in one example, can illuminate green either when recharging or when being operated remotely on DC power while having a good battery charge. The light 32 can illuminate red when the batteries 38 are low to indicate to a user that the batteries should be recharged or replaced, if not rechargeable. The indicator 32 can be provided as a dual-color light-emitting diode (LED) or other type of indicator. Alternatively, two separate green, red, or other color lights could be provided on the units instead to perform these functions. As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, many other examples can employ different configurations and constructions relative to the docking station, the shells and shapes of the parent units 22, and the types, arrangement, and functions of the buttons, switches, lights, and the like of the parent units 22.
As shown in
The above-described features of the parent units 22 and the child units 24 are similar to features found in other child monitor systems. Additionally, the parent units 22 can be provided with a belt clip 50, shown in
As shown in
In the disclosed example, the parent units or receivers 22 have an array of elongate shapes 60 on the front surface of the unit shell. One or more of these shapes 60 can be open to a speaker (not shown) provided within the unit shell to permit sound from the speaker to readily emanate from the shell. Similarly, each of the child units or transmitters 24 in the disclosed example has an array of elongate shapes 62 on the front surface of the unit shell that surround the power LED 54. One or more of these shapes 62 can also be open through the child unit shell and located adjacent to a microphone disposed within the unit so that the unit can pick up sounds in the environment in which the unit placed. The speaker in the parent units emit audible sound in one example so that a parent can hear the audio signals picked up and transmitted by a child unit 24. As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the size, shape, color, intensity, position, and the like of the power LED on the child unit and the number, shape, arrangement, orientation, and the like of the various shapes and openings 60 and 62 in the unit can vary considerably and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The disclosed invention is not intended to be limited to any particular design details of these features. The various non-open shapes 60 and 62 can be for decorative purposes and can vary as desired.
As shown in
However, in each example, a single connection light 66 (shown in
The above-described parent units 22 and child units 24 and their various buttons, lights, switches, and accessories are generally incorporated into each of the more detailed descriptions provided herein using the above reference numbers. A number of features of the present invention are described below with reference to the system 20 described above and shown in
The child units can be configured to have a preset RF channel at the factory, whereby each of the units 24 could be set to operate at a different frequency. Alternatively, the transmitter 74 of each child unit can be manufactured to operate within a range of selectable frequencies, and the frequency selection process and/or mechanism can be such that both child units can not possibly transmit at the same frequency during use at the same time. In this example, each child unit 24 is provided with such a transmitter 74. A user can depress the channel selection button 42 to operate an RF channel control device 76. The parent unit 22 can be configured to initially scan all of the available channels for one child unit until it locks onto the correct channel for that unit, and then do the same for each additional child unit. The channel or transmit frequency for each child unit can be stored and recalled by the parent unit to allow for fast switching between child units. Each child unit 24 can be placed in a different room to monitor and pick up sound or audio through its own microphone 70. Each unit can then transmit at the selected channel or frequency an RF signal representative of the monitored audio. The disclosed system 20 can also be provided with more than two child units, as desired. Each unit can be constructed similar to the other units and can be fabricated so that the child units can transmit at different RF or other signal frequencies.
In the illustrated example, the parent unit 22 is provided with two distinct receivers 80A and 80B, each dedicated to receive the signals transmitted by a particular one of the child units 24. Thus, the parent unit can simultaneously receive the signals from both child unit transmitters 74. Three or more distinct receivers could be provided in the parent unit 22 corresponding to the number of child units 24, if the system 20 is provided with more than two child units. The receivers 80A and 80B can be configured to search for and lock onto the respective child units as noted above, if the child units 24 are provided with a channel selection mode. The receivers 80A and 80B can also be configured to convert the RF or other electronic signal format from the child units 24 into audio signals. The two audio signals could also be added together or combined and played or emitted by the speaker simultaneously, or the parent unit could play or emit each audio signal separately for a period of time.
In another example, the parent unit can be provided with only a single receiver, eliminating one of the receivers 80A or 80B. In this example, each child unit can transmit on a different channel and each can transmit continuously. The parent unit in this example can first scan all available channels until locating the transmission channel for the first child unit. When located, the channel for the first child unit can be stored by the parent unit for later retrieval. The parent unit can then scan all available channels to locate the transmission channel for the second child unit and store that channel for later retrieval. The parent unit can then set the receiver channel to the transmission channel of the first child unit for a period of time. The parent unit can subsequently set the receiver channel to the transmission channel for the second child unit for a period of time, and then repeatedly cycle among each of the child unit transmission channels. The receiver channel adjustment between the child unit channels is very fast, on the order of milliseconds. The user would not notice any delay as the parent unit cycles continuously between the child unit channels.
In still another example, a parent unit 22 could again be provided with only a single receiver, and yet still listen to two child units that transmit on the same frequency or channel. This can be accomplished by having the child units alternate their transmissions. With both child units transmitting on the same channel or frequency, the child units can not transmit at the same time or the transmissions will be corrupted. One will transmit for a short time and then stop. Then the other will transmit for a short time and then stop. This is known as Time Division Multiplexing. In one example, this can be accomplished by each child unit also having a receiver and listening to see if another child unit is transmitting. In such an example, the child unit only transmits when it detects or determines no other child units are transmitting. With this type of single receiver arrangement, the time durations that each child unit is to be monitored can be programmed within the parent unit, as discussed below, to achieve the function of cycling sequentially or hopping periodically among these separate child units.
Another way to accomplish this would be to include a transmitter in the parent units. In such an example, once the parent unit receives a transmission from a child unit, it can send a command for the next child unit to transmit. In this type of alternative single receiver arrangement, the time durations that each child unit transmits could again be programmable or adjustable within the parent unit, as discussed below, to achieve the function of cycling or listening sequentially or hopping continuously among the separate child units. There are a number of alternative options by which the monitoring time can be set with these types of Time Division Multiplexing systems. If the parent unit does not have a transmitter, the user can set the transmission time on each child unit. Alternatively, each child can be configured to transmit its data for a very short time, on the order of milliseconds. The parent unit would receive an essentially continuous stream of data from each child unit. The parent unit can then be programmed to choose which data stream to use and can cycle among the child unit data streams. If the parent unit does have a transmitter, the parent unit can be configured to send a command to the child units to set the transmission time for each unit. Such a command can be transmitted only when the user adjusts the monitoring times.
In a further example, a continuous transmission frequency hopping system could be employed in the child units. In such an example, each child unit can transmit continuously but use frequency hopping. In another words, the child unit transmission would pseudorandomly change frequency after a given period of time. Because the channel hopping sequence would be pseudorandom, the probability that each child unit would transmit over the same frequency at the same time would be significantly low. The parent unit can then employ one, two, or more receivers. The parent unit can continually scan all of the available child unit channels and receive a signal and emit the requisite parental notifications for a predetermined duration each time it locks onto a channel or frequency being transmitted by a child unit. The time that such a child unit would transmit on each channel before hopping to the next channel would be very short, again on the order of milliseconds. The receiver must hop channels at the same time as the transmitter in order to receive the data correctly. The pseudorandom channel hopping sequence would be predetermined or preprogrammed. Thus, the receiver would always know what channel to hop to next. The parent unit could have one receiver or multiple receivers. With one receiver, the parent unit can follow the hopping sequence for the first child unit for a period of time and then follow the hopping sequence for the second child unit for a period of time. With multiple parent unit receivers, each receiver can follow the hopping sequence for each child unit independently. The parent unit can then be configured or programmed to determine which audio data to send to the speaker.
The parent unit 22 in the disclosed example has a speaker amplifier 82, which can be employed to amplify the audio signals received and then deliver the signals to a speaker 84. The speaker 84 can emit audible sounds representative of the audio monitored by the units. The light bar region 64 can be connected and operable to indicate which child unit 24 is being monitored at any given time. The light bar region 64 can also be operable to identify the child unit 24 responsible for sound currently being emitted from the parent unit speaker 84, as well as to indicate the intensity or volume level of the monitored sound. As discussed below, the light bar region can be configured in a number of different manners and yet perform these and/or other functions as well.
In this example, the parent unit 22 has a microprocessor module 86 that differentiates or distinguishes between the signals transmitted by the two child units 24. The microprocessor module 86 can then process those signals from each receiver 80A and 80B. In this example, the microprocessor module 86 is configured to continuously and sequentially hop or cycle repeatedly between the multiple receivers, in this case the two receivers 80A and 80B. The processor can be programmed to listen to the frequency or channel of the first receiver 80A for a period of time, then listen to the channel or frequency of the second receiver 80B, and then continuously repeat the cycle. For systems with more than two child units, the parent unit will sequentially cycle between the frequencies or channels of each child unit and then repeat the cycle.
In this disclosed example, the time period or “listening” duration Δt during which the parent unit 22 listens for each child unit 24 can be independently adjusted by the user. Thus, the microprocessor 86 can be configured to permit altering the Δt for each unit separately. To accomplish this, the parent unit 22 can be provided with a separate time adjust button 88 (see
The procedures and components used to adjust the Δt for each child unit 24 can also vary considerably and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In one example, a user can first select which child unit to adjust by setting to the selected child unit a room select switch 90 provided on the parent unit shell. The user can then depress the time adjust button 88. In one example, the button 88 can be configured so that it must be depressed while the adjustment procedure is carried out. Alternatively, the microprocessor module 86 and the button 88 can be coordinated to permit a window of time in which to carry out an adjustment after first depressing and releasing the button. If no room select switch 90 is present, the button 88 and microprocessor module 86 can alternatively be configured to scroll the available child units, depending upon how many times the button is depressed and/or according to a particular sequence of depressing the button or other components on the unit 22. Alternatively or additionally, the microprocessor module 86 can be configured to emit a signal from the parent unit speaker 84, such as a series of beeps, to identify to a user which child unit is currently selected or ready for adjustment. A series of beeps or other sounds and/or the volume of the sounds emitted from the speaker 84 can also be used to provide an indication as to the current Δt selected for a given child unit 24. In another example, the light bar 64 can be configured and utilized to provide various Δt notification functions, as described below.
In such an example, the light bar region 64 can be configured as shown on the parent unit 22 in
In the example shown in
In another example shown in
During a time adjust sequence, the light bars 100 and 102 can be employed to show the selected Δt for the corresponding child unit 24. In this example, each light 100A-100E and 102A-102E in each light bar 100 and 102 is associated with a different Δt option. As shown in
In the example shown in
Another alternative example of a light bar region 64 is shown in
Yet another alternative example of a light bar region 64 is shown in
The LCD screen 120 in the example of
In another example of the present invention, the monitor system can be configured to permit independent and separate volume level adjustment at the parent unit for each child unit. This feature can be incorporated in a system in conjunction with the “listening” time adjust feature or independent of such a feature. One example of this aspect of the present invention is discussed herein with respect to the previous figures and reference numbers.
In one example, the microprocessor module can be coupled with the volume adjustment switch 30 on the parent unit 22. The processor can be programmed to permit adjustment of the volume level for each of the child units 24 independently. As with the “listening” time or Δt adjustment noted above, the particular sequence and components used to accomplish this feature can vary and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The speaker 84 can be incorporated with this adjustment process as can the various buttons and switches on the units.
In one example, a user can set the room selection switch 90 on the parent unit 22 to a selected one of the child units 24. By doing so, the appropriate light indicators can illuminate during the adjustment procedure, depending on which type of light bar region 64 is employed. For the light bar region of
The microprocessor module 86 can be programmed to store the selected volume levels for each child unit 24. After a particular adjustment process, the processor can also be configured to emit a predetermined light and/or sound indicator that a volume level has been stored. For example, during adjustment, if no buttons are depressed for a predetermined period of time, such as two seconds, the parent unit can emit a series of beeps to indicate that the selected volume level has been stored by the processor. A similar stored value indicator can be emitted upon completion of the above-described “listening” time or Δt adjustment procedure as well.
In each of the monitor system examples disclosed herein, it is possible to employ multiple parent units 22 as shown in
Although certain multi-child monitor systems and features have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
This patent is related to and claims priority benefit of prior filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/789,700, which was filed on Apr. 5, 2006.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60789700 | Apr 2006 | US |