Patent · US Active

Emergency beacon with encoded warning

US8154444B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by

5References

12Claims

0Family size

Assignee

ACR ELECTRONICS, INC. · US

Inventors

Wolf A. Edward · Fort Lauderdale, US
Mark S. Clark · Shelby Charter Township, US

Key dates

Filing date	Feb 27, 2009
Grant date	Apr 10, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Nov 20, 2029

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01S19/17
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A personal locator beacon (PLB) that is used to transmit a radio frequency emergency distress signal. The PLB contains a GPS receiver to determine the exact global positioning coordinates of the beacon. The transmitted distress signal contains a security message that is represented through at least one bit. This bit is embedded into the standard bit string that is transmitted and can warn of impending danger at the beacon location, such as a hostage situation. The beacon is triggered through different varieties of user interfaces that utilize assorted combinations of actuators and numeric keypads. Another bit can also be embedded into the standard bit stream to represent whether or not the beacon is used by the military.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.