Radio beacon with a GPS interface for automatically activated EPIRBs
US6388617B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 14, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 1, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B2213/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An emergency position information radio beacon utilized in conjunction with a global positioning system that receives latitude and longitude information continuously in which the GPS data is periodically transferred into the EPIRB before activation in order to preserve battery power in the EPIRB. The EPIRB includes a first micro controller that is connected by an electro/optical data input to the GPS with the first micro controller being a very low power drain. Periodically, such as every 10 minutes, latitude and longitude information is transferred from the GPS into the EPIRB memory after which the EPIRB memory and system is maintained in a sleep mode with no power consumption. This insures that the EPIRB has geographical position information data before activation that can be transmitted with the emergency signal to search and rescue at the same time preserving the battery power of the EPIRB which is utilized only during the emergency period. The system is power off 99.99% of the time preserving the EPIRB battery.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.