US005402104A
`United States Patent 15
`Patent Number:
`[11]
`[45]
`LaRosa
`Date of Patent:
`
`5,402,104
`Mar, 28, 1995
`
`AUNAA
`
`[54]
`
`SCANNING EXCESSIVE SEPARATION
`ALARM
`
`Primary Examiner—Glen Swann
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Michael 1. Kroll
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor:
`
`Lazaro LaRosa, 2775 Milburn Ave.,
`Baldwin, N.Y. 11510
`
`[21]
`
`[22]
`
`[51]
`[52]
`
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`Appl. No.: 73,691
`Filed:
`Jun, 9, 1993
`Tint, C16 ooiccccscsccssssecsssssneusssseseasessensene GO8B 13/22
`U.S. Che ccececsscssccsscceseesesseuseesssee 340/539; 340/568;
`340/571
`Field of Search oo..ccsecscsccccssseee 340/539, 568, 573
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,549,169 10/1985 Moura et al. ween 340/539
`4,675,656 6/1987 Narcisse .......-ssscscsesersesreees 340/539
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`An asset protection transponder, which may be at-
`tached to a set of keys, a car, a brief case, or even a
`person, transmits a response signal when queried by a
`transponder-pager worn by the user. The transponder-
`pager transmits a query signal automatically at appro-
`priate intervals. Each asset protection transponderis on
`a different frequency and tone encodersetting. The
`transponder-pager provides both an audible and visible
`alarm that tells the user which asset is out of range. A
`test circuit lets the user poll each of the asset protection
`transducers to makecertain thatit is still within range.
`
`6 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`\A«
`
`il TRANSMITTER
`
`T/R SWITCH
`
`58
`TRANSPONDER
`LOGEC
`
`60
`
`DISPLAY
`LOGIC
`
`Cc
`BRIEFCASE
`20 FEET *
`
` 32
`
`DISPLAY
`
`62
`
`SPEECH
`SYNTHESIZER
`
`al 1|Jorcrcase”
`
`60
`
`SPEAKER
`
`Google EX1016 Page 0001
`
`SAMSUNG 1016
`
`|
`
`
`
`
`50
`
`TONE
`ENCODER/ DECODER
`
`52
`
`SCANNING
`LOGIC
`
`ay
`Age
`{36
`
`—3 6
`sas
`TEST 34
`
`64
`
`42
`oa—_—
`|i}ON/OFF
`
`SCANNING
`PAGER
`
`SAMSUNG 1016
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar, 28, 1995
`
`Sheet 1 of 2
`
`5,402,104
`
`
`
`BRIEFCASE!
`oe EET +
`THE
`36
`
` !
`
`FREQUENCY
`
`
`
`SF*sc.3
`SETTING
`(MINIATURE TRANSMITTER)
`te
`
`28
`14
`|ae
`
`
`24
`
`TONE
`ENCODER/DECODER
`
`29
`
`TRANSPONDER
`LOGIC
`
`Google EX1016 Page 0002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 28, 1995
`
`Sheet 2 of 2
`
`5,402,104
`
`A
`
`|
`
`46
`
`TRANSMITTER
`
`\A_50
`
`T/R SWITCH
`
`54
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LOGICi
`
`
`RECEIVER
`W/
`THRESHOLD
`LOGIC
`
` TONE
`ENCODER/ DECODER
`
`TRANSPONDER
`
`LOGIC
`
`SCANNING
`
`—3"3
`TEST\34
`
`+
`ABE. D
`I
`
`64
`
`vA
`—~ |! pi
`
`42
`
`ON/OFF
`
`SCANNING
`PAGER
`
`32
`
`62
`
`60
`
`DISPLAY
`LOGIC
`
`C
`BRIEFCASE
`
`
`
`20 FEET +
`
`DISPLAY
`
`SPEECH
`
`SYNTHESIZER
`
`a 1 |Ponercase
`
`40
`
`SPEAKER
`
`Google EX1016 Page 0003
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,402, 104
`
`SCANNING EXCESSIVE SEPARATION ALARM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Theinstant invention relates generally to the field of
`security equipment, and, in particular, to devices that
`protect personal assets from being stolen or inadver-
`tently left behind. At present there are devices that
`protect major assets such as automobiles from being
`driven away without authorization, but there is nothing
`to prevent an individual from losing valuables such as a
`wallet, attache case, purse, or car keys, in addition to
`the car itself. Although not an asset as such, there are
`not even devices that protect individuals from becom-
`ing separated. For example, a very young child can be
`tethered to its parent but there is nothing to prevent
`slightly older untethered children from getting lost or
`kidnapped.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`10
`
`20
`
`It is, therefore, a primary object of the present inven-
`tion to provide an asset protection alarm where small
`automatic transmitter/receivers, herein called transpon-
`ders, can be attached to any object or person of interest,
`so that an accessory transponder-pager, worn or carried
`by a user, will report when the object or person in issue
`is separated by a distance greater than some predefined
`distance.
`Anotherobject is to provide an asset protection alarm
`where each ofthe asset protection transponders can be
`differentiated from one another by manually setting
`each transponderto a slightly different frequency.
`Another object is to provide an asset protection alarm
`where the transponder-pager can sound an audible,
`speech synthesized, alarm that tells the user which of
`the assets is now out of range.
`A further object is to provide an asset protection
`alarm where a display screen indicates which asset is
`out of range by presenting a video display.
`A still further object is to provide an asset protection
`alarm where the maximum permissible distance for each
`asset is set and stored in the transponder-pager.
`A yet further object is to provide an asset protection
`alarm where the user can manually poll each asset pro-
`tection transponder to makecertain that it is positively
`still within range.
`Further objects of the invention will appear as the
`description proceeds.
`To the accomplishment of the above and related
`objects, this invention may be embodied in the form
`illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention
`being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are
`illustrative only and that changes may be madein the
`specific construction illustrated and described within
`the scope of the appended claims.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`FIGURES
`
`45
`
`The figures in the drawings are briefly described as
`follows:
`FIG.1 is a perspective view of one of a multiplicity
`of miniature asset protection transponders shown at-
`tached to a key ring with keys attached thereto.
`FIG.2 is a perspective view of the transponder-pager
`shown worn on a user’s belt.
`FIG.3 is an electronic block diagram of the miniature
`asset protection transponder.
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`FIG.4 is an electronic block diagram of the transpon-
`der-pager.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG.1 illustrates the miniature asset protection tran-
`sponder 10 with its on-off switch 14 and frequency
`selector switch 16 which is typically recessed and set
`using a screwdriver. It is attached to a key ring by key
`ting attachment ear 12.
`FIG.2 illustrates the transponder-pager 30 shown
`attached to a belt using attachment clip 44. The tran-
`sponder-pager is equipped with an on-off switch 42, a
`sliding sensitivity potentiometer 38, a frequency selec-
`tor switch 36, and a test button 34, as well as a speaker
`40 and a display 32. The operation of these will be ex-
`plained below.
`In operation, the asset control alarm invention can
`best be understood by considering its four basic opera-
`tional modes:
`1. transmission by transponder-pager of query signal
`2. reception by asset transponder of query signal
`3. transmission by asset transponder of responsesig-
`nal
`4. reception by transponder-pager of response signal
`1. Transmission by transponder of query signal. Refer
`to FIGS. 2 and 4. The scanning logic circuit 52 auto-
`matically selects a frequency on which transmitter 46
`will transmit a query signal via T/R switch 54 to an-
`tenna 56. The transmitter signal is encoded by tone
`encoder/decoder 50 so that other transmitters and re-
`ceiver operating in close proximity do not cause or
`receive interference. The transponderlogic 58 controls
`transmit/receive functions. Battery 64 supplies power
`when connected via on/off switch 42.
`2. Reception by asset transponder of query signal.
`Refer to FIGS. 1 and 3. The querysignal is received by
`antenna 27 and is transferred to the input of receiver 20
`via T/R switch 26. Receiver 20 will only respond to this
`signal if its encoding matches the decoding provided by
`tone encoder/decoder 24 and if the signal it receives
`matches the frequency set by frequency control switch
`16. Note that each of frequencies A,B,C, and D are
`unique to each of four asset transponders. Battery 28
`supplies power when connected via on/off switch 14.
`3. Transmission by asset transponder of response
`signal. Refer to FIGS. 1 and 3. Transponder logic 29
`senses that a response signal needs to be sent. So it
`causes transmitter 18 to output a signal whose fre-
`quencyis that set by frequency control switch 16. This
`signal is transferred to antenna 27 via T/R switch 26.
`4. Reception by transponder-pagerof response signal.
`Refer to FIGS. 2 and 4. The response signal from any of
`the asset transducers is sensed by antenna 56 and is
`transferred to receiver 48 via T/R switch 54 whose
`operation is controlled by transponderlogic circuit 58.
`This signal will only be detectedif it is on the frequency
`automatically set by scanning logic circuit 52 andif is
`encoded in such a manner that is matched by en-
`coder/decoder 50. In addition, receiver 48 has a thresh-
`old circuit such that there is only a receiver outputif the
`signal falls below a threshold set by sensitivity threshold
`potentiometer 38. Each of the channels represented by
`frequencies A,B,C and D can haveits sensitivity thresh-
`old individually set. In this manner the maximum per-
`missible distance for any of the asset protection tran-
`sponders maybe set. Once a signal falls below its preset
`threshold the user is alerted in two ways: audibly and
`Google EX1016 Page 0004
`
`

`

`3,402, 104
`
`3
`visually. The alarm output of receiver 48 causes speech
`synthesizer circuit 62 to output a voice through speaker
`40 that says which asset is out of range. Likewise, the
`alarm output causes display logic circuit 60 to display
`an alphanumeric output on display 32 that includes the
`name of the asset, the maximum permissible distance,
`and the alias (ie. “C” for “Briefcase’’).
`It should be noted that the transponder methodology
`permits small lightweight batteries to be used with rea-
`sonable battery life because most of the time the power
`consuming transmitter portions of the asset protection
`transpondersare turned off and the receiver sections are
`in a low-powerstandby mode.
`The user must be able to verify at any time that the
`asset under watchisstill present and within range. This
`is accomplished by setting frequency control switch 36
`to a particular frequency corresponding to a particular
`asset and depressing test button 34. If there is no return
`signal, then the alarm will be activated as described
`above.
`While certain novel features of this invention have
`been shown and described and are pointed out in the
`annexedclaims, it will be understood that various omis-
`sions, substitutions and changes in the forms and the
`details of the device illustrated and in its operation can
`be made by those skilled in the art without departing
`from the spirit of the invention.
`Whatis claimedis:
`1. An asset protection alarm comprising;
`one or more miniature asset protection transponders
`that are attached to assets that are to be protected;
`and
`a transponder-pagerthat is in radio communication
`with said miniature asset protection transponders
`such that if thedistance between anyofsaid asset
`protection transponders and said transponder-
`pager exceeds somepreset limit, said pager causes
`an alarm to sound,said transponder-pager compris-
`ing;
`a transmitter;
`a receiver;
`an antenna;
`a transmit/receive switch;
`a transponderlogic circuit; and
`a scanning logic circuit and alarm means; such that
`whensaid transponder-pagerinitiates a query of all
`assets, Said transmitter outputs a signal whosefre-
`
`4
`quency is determined by said scanning logic cir-
`cuit, wherein said transmitter output signal is con-
`ducted to said antenna via said transmit/receive
`switch, and wherein if a response signal from an
`asset protection transponderis received,said signal
`incident uponsaid antennais directed by said trans-
`mit/receive switch to said receiver by instructions
`generated by said transponder
`logic circuit,
`wherein the frequency of said receiver is always
`the same as the frequency ofsaid transmitter, such
`that if one asset protection transponderis assigned
`to each of said frequencies, then said receiver will
`receive a distinguishable signal from each of said
`asset protection transponders(if each of said asset
`protection transponders is within range).
`2. An asset protection alarm, as recited in claim 1,
`further comprising an encoder/decoderthat causes said
`receiver to only respondto a particular encoded incom-
`ing signal, and also causes said transmitter to output an
`encodedsignal, thereby allowing said asset protection
`transponder to only communicate with a similarly en-
`coded transponder-pager.
`3. An asset protection alarm, as recited in claim 2,
`wherein said alarm means comprise a threshold logic
`circuit, a sensitivity control, and electronic notification
`means, wherein said threshold logic circuit allows said
`receiver’s sensitivity to be set by means of said sensitiv-
`ity control.
`4. An asset protection alarm, as recited in claim 3,
`wherein said electronic notification means is a video
`display comprising display logic and an electronic al-
`phanumeric display.
`5. An asset protection alarm, as recited in claim 3,
`wherein said electronic notification means is a speech
`synthesizer and a speaker.
`6. An asset protection alarm, as recited in claim 2,
`wherein the communication between said asset protec-
`tion transponders and said transponder-pager may be
`verified by means of a test circuit comprising a fre-
`quencyselection switch and a test button, whereby said
`frequency selector switch may be manually set to a
`frequency corresponding to one ofsaid asset protection
`transponders and then said test button may be depressed
`causing the transmitter of said transponder-pager to
`initiate a transponder sequence with a selected asset
`protection transponder.*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`45
`
`30
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Google EX1016 Page 0005
`
`