Patent Application
20070052535
It is a fairly common occurrence to misplace an electronic gadget such as a cordless phone, a cellular phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). Several alternative methods are available to locate such a misplaced object.
For example, a misplaced cordless phone may be located by activating a “handset locator” button in the base station unit thereby causing the cordless phone to generate an audible beep that can be used to locate the cordless phone. Unfortunately, this locator method is ineffective when the battery inside the cordless phone has been discharged to a level where the electronic circuitry contained in the cordless phone is no longer functional.
As a further example, a misplaced cellular phone can be located by using another phone to place a call to the cellular phone. The ensuing ringing signal can then be used to locate the cellular phone. Unfortunately, this locator method proves ineffective when the cellular phone has been switched off.
As yet another example, a misplaced object may be located by utilizing a locator system having a signaling device that is attached to an external surface of the object. One such commercially-available locator system offered by Sharper Image TM, uses a hand-held wireless unit containing a number of buttons together with a corresponding number of electronic discs. The electronic discs are attached to several objects that are likely to be misplaced. When any one of the several objects is misplaced, a button on the hand-held wireless unit is depressed. This button corresponds to the electronic disc attached to the misplaced object. Upon button depression, the electronic disc emits an audible signal together with a flashing light, to enable location of the misplaced object. This method of locating an object suffers from several handicaps. For instance, the electronic disc may be dislodged from the object during normal usage of the object. Furthermore, from an aesthetic point of view, an object such as a cellular phone or a PDA loses some visual appeal when an unsightly electronic disc is attached to it.
Based on the above-mentioned handicaps of existing object locator systems, an unaddressed need exists in the industry to overcome such deficiencies and inadequacies.
An object locator system in accordance with the invention includes an activator unit and an object incorporating an embedded signal generator to generate a signal that provides location information of the object. A power switch of the object is settable to a first position where a power source of the object is coupled to an electronic load, and to a second position where the power source is coupled to the embedded signal generator.
Clearly, some alternative embodiments may exhibit advantages and features in addition to, or in lieu of, those mentioned above. It is intended that all such alternative embodiments be included within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The various embodiments in accordance with the invention generally describe systems, methods, and networks related to an object locator system. The object locator system includes an activator unit and an object containing an embedded signal generator. In a first exemplary embodiment, power is provided to the embedded signal generator when a power switch of the object is set to an “off” position. In a second exemplary embodiment, the object further includes a power monitor that is used to monitor the provided power when the power switch is in the “off” position. If the provided power drops below a certain threshold, the power monitor disconnects power to all components except the embedded signal generator. These and other exemplary embodiments are described below in further detail.
Electronic load 115 represents components of object 110 that are powered from power source 130. These components are generally operative to implementing various functions of object 110. For example, when object 110 is a digital camera, electronic load 115 represents components used for various functions associated with capturing and processing an image. Such components include for example, a printed circuit board (PCB) containing integrated circuits and other electronic components, a flash unit, a lens-control motor, and an image-display screen.
Power source 130 is used to provide power to various components contained in object 110. In one exemplary embodiment, power source 130 is a battery. In other exemplary embodiments, power source 130 is a battery bank, an AC-to-AC power supply, an AC-to-DC power supply, or a DC-to-DC power supply. Power source 130 is electrically coupled to power switch 125, which in turn is electrically coupled to electronic load 115 and embedded signal generator 120.
Power switch 125 is an “on-off” switch of object 110. For example, when object 110 is a cellular phone, power switch 125 is a switch that is used to turn on or turn off the cellular phone. Power switch 125 may be implemented using various devices such as a toggle switch, a rocker switch, a membrane switch, a slide switch, and a soft-switch that is displayed upon a display screen. Power switch 125 may be further implemented as a multi-position switch, which includes, for example, a “standby” position.
When power switch 125 is set to an “on” position, power from power source 130 is coupled to electronic load 115, thereby placing object 110 in a primary mode of operation. For example, when object 110 is a cellular phone and power switch 125 is set to an “on” position, the cellular phone is operative to carry out normal phone operations such as receiving calls and sending calls.
When power switch 125 is set to the “off” position, power source 130 is electrically decoupled from electronic load 115 and is electrically coupled to embedded signal generator 120 instead. Under this condition, object 110 is in an “off” state where primary functions of object 110 cannot be carried out. For example, when object 110 is a cellular phone and power switch 125 is set to an “off” position, the cellular phone cannot be used for receiving and sending calls. However, in this condition, power from power source 130 has been provided to embedded signal generator 120. Consequently, the RF receiver contained in embedded signal generator 120 is energized and is in condition to receive an RF signal transmitted by activator unit 105.
Furthermore, in one exemplary embodiment, when power switch 125 is in the “off” position, power source 130 provides power solely to embedded signal generator 120 and does not provide power to any other component in object 110.
Some elements of embedded signal generator are shown in
Electronic load 115 shows some exemplary elements. Integrated circuit (IC) 210, light-emitting diode (LED) 220, and transistor 230 may be mounted on a PCB located inside the object. Bulb 215 may be part of a front panel display, such as a status indicator or a panel illuminating element. Motor 225 may be a part of an electromechanical system, such as a lens-focusing system that is operated using power from power source 130.
When power switch 125 is set to the “on” position, power from power source 130 is electrically coupled to electronic load 115 and electrically decoupled from embedded signal generator 120. This condition corresponds to a condition where the on-off switch of the cordless telephone handset is set to the “on” to make a phone call.
Turning to a condition where the on-off switch of the cordless telephone handset is set to the “off” position, i.e. where power switch 125 of
Power monitor 310 is configured to detect a drop in power level below a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment, this is carried out by configuring power monitor 310 to measure current carried through link 325. The drop in power level below the predetermined threshold is indicated by the current level exceeding a pre-determined current amplitude.
In a second embodiment, power monitor 310 is configured to measure a voltage level present on link 305. The drop in power level below the predetermined threshold is indicated by the voltage level falling below a pre-determined voltage amplitude.
As one example, this pre-determined threshold corresponds to a voltage below which the display of the cordless telephone handset becomes inoperative. When this happens in a conventional system, the cordless telephone handset, which may include a handset locator circuit, becomes completely inoperative.
On the other hand, in accordance with this invention, upon detection of this threshold power level, power monitor 310 generates a control signal to operate switch 320 to move the switch wiper from contact position 335 to contact position 330. When in contact position 330, electrical power from link 305 is decoupled from link 325. However, embedded signal generator 120 remains operational via link 305, and is operative to provide location information upon receiving an RF signal from the activator unit (not shown).
Switch 405 is a two-position switch such as an electromechanical relay or a solid-state switch, which is operated using a control signal generated by RF receiver 205. This control signal is provided to switch 405 via link 430.
When power switch 125 is set to the “off” position, power is provided to RF receiver 205 via link 450. However, switch 405 is set to a default condition where the switch wiper is positioned to couple link 450 to contact position 415. Consequently, power is decoupled from RF transmitter 420 and auxiliary circuitry 425, leading to minimized power consumption in embedded signal generator 120. In an alternative embodiment, where a transmitter is optional, RF transmitter 420 is omitted from embedded signal generator 120, leading to a further reduction in power consumption
Upon receiving a signal from an activator unit (not shown), RF receiver 205 provides a control signal to switch 405. The control signal causes the switch wiper of switch 405 to be moved to contact position 410, thereby providing power to auxiliary circuitry 425 and RF transmitter 420. Auxiliary circuitry 425 is operated to generate a locator signal.
In one embodiment, switch 405 remains in this position thereafter. In an alternative embodiment, after a suitable delay, RF receiver 205 provides a second control signal via link 430 to operate switch 405 to revert to coupling link 450 to contact position 415.
In one of several functional modes, RF transmitter 420 is used to transmit an RF signal for locating a second object other than the object in which object locator circuitry 400 is incorporated. This aspect will be described below in further detail using
Code generator 520 is used to generate a coded RF signal that is provided to RF transmitter 525 for wireless transmission. The coded RF signal is unique for each of the devices that are selectable using object selector 515. Consequently, a first coded RF signal is transmitted when the PDA is selected using object selector 515, and a different coded signal is transmitted when the cellular phone is selected, for example.
In this exemplary embodiment, activator unit 105 is a portable device, such as a hand-held unit, and power source 505 is a battery. In an alternative embodiment, activator unit 105 is a non-portable unit, such as a desktop unit powered by an AC power source.
This is carried out by using activator unit 919, which contains object locator circuitry as described above. Using this circuitry, the object selector (not shown) is used to select a cellular phone. Activator unit 919 communicates with RF transmitter 917, which transmits an RF signal. The RF signal is received by RF receiver 908 of cellular phone 905. Upon receiving this RF signal, embedded signal generator 906 generates an object locator signal such as an audible beep or a flashing display. The object locator signal is used to locate the misplaced cellular phone 905.
Reciprocally, cellular phone 905 may be used to locate PDA 915. This is carried out by selecting the PDA on the object selector of activator unit 909. Activator unit 909 communicates with RF transmitter 907, which transmits an RF signal. The RF signal is received by RF receiver 918 of PDA 915. Upon receiving this RF signal, embedded signal generator 916 generates an object locator signal such as an audible beep or a flashing display. The object locator signal is used to locate the misplaced PDA 915.
In a first embodiment, embedded signal generator of any individual object of object locator network 900 is coupled to a power source contained in the individual object only when the power switch of the individual object is set to an “off” position. In a second embodiment, the embedded signal generator of any individual object of object locator network 900 is powered only when the power switch of the individual object is set to an “on” position. In a third embodiment, the power switch of any individual object of object locator network 900 is excluded from the object locator system inside the individual object, and the embedded signal generator remains operational irrespective of the setting of the power switch.
In block 1015, power is provided to the embedded signal generator when a power switch of the object is set to an “off” position. This step enables the embedded signal generator to be operative to generate an object locator signal that provides location information of the object when the object is misplaced.
In block 1020, power is electrically decoupled from at least a portion of the electronic load contained in the object when the power switch of the object is set to the “off” position. In an alternative embodiment, power is electrically decoupled from the entire electronic load contained in the object when the power switch of the object is set to the “off” position. Under this condition, only the embedded signal generator is provided power.
The above-described embodiments are merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made without departing substantially from the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are included herein within the scope of this disclosure.
