US20040113794A1 - Self-locating personal alarm system equipped parachute - Google Patents

Abstract

A parachute equipped with a self-locating personal alarm system remote unit includes a navigational receiver providing navigational information, a radio transmitter connected for transmitting the navigational information, and a circuit for activating the radio transmitter. In one embodiment the transmission of navigational information is voice activated. In another embodiment, the transmission is activated by depressing a panic button, while in a third embodiment, the transmission is activated by deployment of the parachute. In other specific embodiments, the radio transmitter is part of a wireless telephone permitting two-way voice communication, while the navigational information is provided by a GPS receiver and defines a location of the parachute. In yet other specific embodiments, the navigational information is an intermediate form and is transmitted to a base station where the computation of the parachute location is completed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY
• This patent application is a refile of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/010,971, filed Dec. 4 , 2001, now abandoned, and is now a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/216,033, filed Aug. 10, 2002, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/728,167, filed Dec. 1, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,889, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/325,030, filed Jun. 3, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,390, which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/849,998, filed Jul. 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,130, which was a National Stage entry from International patent application Ser. No. PCT/US96/17473, filed Oct. 28, 1996, which was co-pending with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/547,026, filed Oct. 23, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,770, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/330,901, filed Oct. 27, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,365. This patent application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/330,901. This patent application incorporates by reference the full disclosure of each patent application listed above. Each application and patent is assigned to the same entity.[0001]
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The invention relates to personal alarm systems, and in particular to personal alarm systems that provide user location when a parachute is deployed.[0002]
BACKGROUND ART
• U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,461,365, 5,650,770, 5,963,130, 6,198,390 and 6,518,889 disclose self-locating personal alarm systems and remote units having a variety of configurations. They do not disclose a parachute equipped with a self-locating personal alarm system remote unit. It would be useful to have such a combination.[0003]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention combines a navigational receiver and a radio transmitter with a parachute. The navigational receiver provides navigational information and the radio transmitter can be activated by voice, panic button, or simply by deploying the parachute. The electronics are self-contained, including batteries, and fit easily within the parachute harness worn by the aviator. When activated, the radio transmitter transmits navigational information for use in locating the aviator.[0004]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a pictorial and block diagram illustrating a self-locating personal alarm system remote unit equipped parachute according to one aspect of the present invention.[0005]
• FIG. 2 is a partial block diagram illustrating use of a wireless telephone to provide a radio transmitter for the remote unit equipped parachute of FIG. 1.[0006]
• FIG. 3 is a partial block diagram that illustrates an embodiment that activates transmission of navigational information by initiating a phone call to an emergency telephone number.[0007]
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates a self-locating personal alarm system in which the transmitted navigational information is in an intermediate form, and a base station completes a computation of the parachute location.[0008]
• FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a self-locating personal alarm system remote unit equipped parachute including a radio receiver permitting a two-way voice communication.[0009]
• FIG. 6A is a front view of a parachute harness pocket for holding a self-locating personal alarm system remote unit.[0010]
• FIG. 6B is a side view of the parachute harness pocket of FIG. 6A.[0011]
• FIG. 7 is a partial block diagram illustrating a map display feature of another embodiment of the invention.[0012]
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• This disclosure incorporates by reference the full disclosures of US Patents and co-pending US Patent Applications set forth above. In particular, portions of U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,390 describe a personal alarm system remote unit having a GPS receiver providing a remote unit location, a radio transmitter connected for transmitting the remote unit location, a panic button connected for causing the radio transmitter to transmit the remote unit location, and a waterproof vest containing the GPS receiver, the radio transmitter, panic button (and power source such as batteries). The combination defines a “man-over-board vest.” U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,889 describes several voice-activated embodiments of the self-locating personal alarm system and personal alarm system remote unit.[0013]
• FIG. 1 is a pictorial and block diagram illustrating a self-locating personal alarm system remote unit equipped parachute according to one aspect of the present invention. The remote unit equipped parachute is designated generally by the[0014]reference numeral100, and includes aparachute102, a self-locating personal alarm systemremote unit104 incorporated into a parachute harness (not shown), self-contained batteries (not shown), anavigational receiver106 providingnavigational information108 to aradio transmitter110.
• The[0015]present invention100 combines anavigational receiver106 with aradio transmitter110 connected for transmitting navigational information when activated112 byvoice114,panic button116, orchute deployment118. In a specific embodiment the chute is deployed automatically by any of a variety of known methods. A variety of navigational receivers are contemplated, and include but are not limited to the standard GPS receiver. In one embodiment the navigational information is presented as geo-coordinates defining the aviator's location. In an alternative embodiment the navigational information is an intermediate form not fully expressed as geo-coordinates nor actual location, and is transmitted to a base station for completion of the conversion to a specific location of the aviator.
• In another specific embodiment, the radio transmitter function is provided by alternatively, one of a wireless, cellular, satellite telephone permitting two-way voice communication between the aviator and others.[0016]
• In various specific embodiments, the navigational receiver is compatible with one of a geo-synchronous satellite global navigation system, the infrastructure-based TDOA and RSSI systems, the SATNAV system, and the LORAN system. The preferred embodiment is that the[0017]navigational receiver106 is compatible with the U.S. GPS system.
• FIG. 2 is a partial block diagram that illustrates the use of a wireless phone within a personal alarm system remote unit equipped parachute according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. The personal alarm system remote unit is designated generally by the[0018]reference numeral200, and includes awireless phone202, awireless phone antenna204,navigational information206, and an Activate-Transmit signal208.
• The[0019]wireless phone202 typically includes elements necessary for two-way radio communication (full-duplex mode), such as a microphone and a speaker.
• When the Activate-Transmit[0020]signal208 becomes active, thewireless phone202 transmits thenavigational information206.
• FIG. 3 is a partial block diagram illustrating the wireless phone of FIG. 2 and including a circuit that automatically dials “911” for transmitting the navigational information. The wireless phone is designated by the[0021]reference numeral300, while the circuit that automatically dials “911” is designated by thereference numeral302. When the Activate-Transmitsignal304 becomes active, thecircuit302 automatically dials the dedicated public safety help telephone number “911” viaconnection306 with thewireless phone300. Once the telephone connection with the 911 service is established, thewireless phone300 transmits the navigational information. Recently, additional public safety help telephone numbers have been contemplated and, in some cases, assigned. A person having an ordinary level of skill in the relevant arts will appreciate that (1) the use of these additional telephone numbers is also contemplated by the present invention, and (2) a typical wireless phone includes a keypad permitting a user to place a call in the normal manner, including a call placed to a dedicated public safety help telephone number.
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a personal alarm system according to another aspect of the present invention. The personal alarm system is designated generally by the[0022]reference numeral400 and includes aremote unit402 and abase station404. In practice, theremote unit402 is located within the harness of a parachute (not shown) and includes self-contained batteries (not shown).
• The[0023]remote unit402 includes anavigational receiver406, ademodulator circuit408, a precise time-of-day circuit410, a voice-activateddetector circuit412, amicrophone414, aradio transmitter415, anavigational receiver antenna416, and aradio transmitter antenna418.
• The navigational receiver provides modulated[0024]navigational information430 to thedemodulator circuit408. Thedemodulator circuit408 “demodulates” the modulatednavigational information430 and provides demodulatednavigational information432 to theradio transmitter415. The precise time-of-day circuit410 provides a precise time-of-day signal434 to the radio transmitter.
• The[0025]microphone414 is connected to the voice-activateddetector circuit412 permitting thedetector circuit412 to activate anoutput signal436 when a predetermined distress phrase is detected, for example “HELP!”
• The[0026]radio transmitter415 is connected to transmit the demodulatednavigational information432 and the precise time-of-day information434 when the voice-activatedoutput signal436 becomes active.
• The[0027]base station404 includes anantenna420, aradio receiver422,circuits424 for computing the remote unit location, adisplay426, and analarm428.
• Radio transmissions from the[0028]remote unit402 are received via theantenna420 and converted by the radio receiver into demodulatednavigational information438, and precise time-of-day information440. These are intermediate signals that must be manipulated to determine a precise location of the transmittingremote unit402. Thecircuits424 receive the demodulated navigational information and the precise time-of-day information and compute aglobal location444 for the transmittingremote unit402. The computed global location (in appropriate coordinates) is displayed on thedisplay426. Thealarm428 is activated by areceiver output signal442 when a radio transmission from the remote unit is received.
• FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates another embodiment of a personal alarm system remote unit for use with a parachute. The remote unit is designated generally by the[0029]reference numeral500 and includes anavigational antenna516, anavigational receiver502, amicrophone510, a voice-activateddetector504, aradio transmitter506, aradio antenna518, aradio receiver508, and aspeaker512.
• The[0030]navigational receiver502 receives navigational information via thenavigational antenna516 and provides alocation520 of the remote unit in appropriate coordinates.
• The[0031]microphone510 and the voice-activateddetector504 are connected to provide a TransmitLocation signal528 that becomes active when thedetector504 recognizes an audible, predetermined distress phrase such as “HELP!” Theradio transmitter506 is connected with the TransmitLocation signal528, and with the remoteunit location information520 so that the location information is transmitted when thesignal528 becomes active. Thus, in normal use, theremote unit500 transmits its own location (in appropriate coordinates) when an audible, predetermined distress phrase is detected. The predetermined distress phrase is preset to a specific language. In another embodiment, the predetermined distress phrase is programmed into a programmable storage unit (not illustrated) that is connected with the voice-activateddetector504.
• The[0032]remote unit500 includes aswitch514 that connects themicrophone510 with theradio transmitter506 for transmitting one-half of a two-way radio communication. Theswitch514 also is connected to generate a Transmit Voice signal526 that becomes active when theswitch514 is operated. Theradio transmitter506 is connected with the Transmit Voice signal528 so that when the switch is operated, the microphone is connected for voice transmission in a push-to-talk arrangement (half-duplex mode), and the radio transmitter transmits the voice viaradio antenna518. The other half of the two-way radio communication is received by theradio antenna518, then converted to audible sound by theradio receiver508 and thespeaker512.
• FIG. 6A is a front view of a parachute harness pocket for holding a self-locating personal alarm system remote unit. The parachute harness and pocket are designated generally by the[0033]reference numeral600, and include a parachute harness (partial)602, apocket604, and apocket cover606. Thepocket604 is attached to the harness by sewing, gluing, or other appropriate means. Thepocket cover606 opens to permit insertion of a self-contained, self-locating personal alarm system remote unit, such as illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 6B is a side view of the parachute harness pocket of FIG. 6A showing that the[0034]remote unit104 of FIG. 1 is placed inside (indicated generally by the numeral608) thepocket604.
• Other types of fastening devices and arrangements that permit a self-contained, self-locating personal alarm system remote unit to be attached to the parachute harness will be known to those having an ordinary level of skill in the art. One feature of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B is that the remote unit may be easily removed after a parachute descent.[0035]
• Another important aspect of a self-contained, self-locating personal alarm system remote unit suitable for use with the present invention is that the remote unit be shock and water resistant (not illustrated).[0036]
• Finally, FIG. 7 is a partial block diagram that illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in which the remote unit includes a display for displaying the remote unit location in an appropriate coordinate system, such as a geo-coordinate system. The embodiment is designated generally by the[0037]reference numeral700, and includes anavigational receiver702, outputting remoteunit location information704, alocation display706, remote unit locationnavigational information708, and aradio transmitter710.
• In use the[0038]navigational information708 is connected to the radio transmitter for transmission to a base station such as shown in FIG. 4. The remoteunit location information704 is displayed via thelocation display706, which in a particular embodiment is a standard liquid crystal display device.
• While the invention has been described in relation to the embodiments shown in the accompanying Drawing figures, other embodiments, alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the Specification be exemplary only, and that the true scope and spirit of the invention be indicated by the following Claims.[0039]

Claims (18)

1. A personal alarm system remote unit equipped parachute, comprising:

a navigational receiver providing navigational information relating to the remote unit location;

a radio transmitter connected for transmitting the navigational information;

means for activating a transmission of the navigational information; and

a parachute containing the navigational receiver, the radio transmitter, and the transmission activating means.

2. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, wherein the transmission of navigational information is voice activated.

3. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, wherein the transmission of navigational information is activated by pressing a panic button.

4. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, wherein the transmission of navigational information is activated by deployment of the parachute.

5. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, wherein the navigational receiver is a wireless assisted GPS receiver.

6. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, wherein the navigational receiver is a hybrid GPS receiver.

7. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, wherein the navigational receiver is a GPS receiver.

8. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 7, wherein the navigational receiver provides demodulated GPS data and the radio transmitter transmits the demodulated GPS data and precise time-of-day information.

9. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 7, wherein the navigational receiver provides calculated time delay of arrival location information, permitting the radio transmitter to transmit a location of the remote unit equipped parachute.

10. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, wherein the radio transmitter is one of a cellular telephone, a PCS telephone, a satellite telephone and a wireless telephone.

11. A base station for receiving navigational information from an alarm system remote unit equipped parachute, and for displaying the parachute location.

12. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, wherein the alarm system remote unit is detachable from the parachute harness.

13. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, further including a GPS location display on the remote unit.

14. The alarm system remote unit equipped parachute ofclaim 1, wherein the alarm system remote unit is shock and water resistant.

15. A parachute for use with a self-locating personal alarm system remote unit, comprising:

a parachute having a harness;

the harness including means for attaching a self-contained self-locating personal alarm system remote unit; and

means for activating a held/attached remote unit when the parachute is deployed.

16. The parachute according toclaim 15, wherein the attaching means is a pocket disposed on the harness, and a self-contained self-locating personal alarm system remote unit is placed within the pocket.

17. The parachute according toclaim 15, wherein the attaching means is a fastener disposed on the harness, and wherein a self-contained self-locating personal alarm system remote unit is equipped with a compatible fastener for attaching to the harness.

18. A self-contained, self-locating alarm system remote unit for use with a parachute having means for activating the remote unit when the parachute is deployed.

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