PASS-Tracker: apparatus and method for identifying and locating distressed firefighters
US9024748B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2012 |
| Grant date | May 5, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B13/1609
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
According to one aspect of the invention, the PASS-Tracker is a hand-held device that improves the ability of a rescuer to quickly locate a distressed firefighter by two processes: (1) detecting and recognizing the acoustic alarm sound from a PASS device in Alarm Mode, and (2) providing an indication to rescue personnel of the shortest path to the victim. The invention does not require a pre-installed infrastructure in a particular building; rather the device can be used in an ad hoc fashion at any fire scene. The PASS-Tracker utilizes a plurality of small microphones to detect the acoustic signal from the PASS device. Internal electronics in the PASS-Tracker measure the time-of-arrival (TOA) of the leading edge of the acoustic wave at each microphone and calculate and display the angle-of-arrival (AOA) of the wave.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.