← Back to Patent Explorer
US4236068A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Personal identification and signaling system

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-03-29
•
Granted: 1980-11-25
•
Expires: 1999-03-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A personal identifier comprising a portable device for generating a signal identifying the user. This identifier may be reprogrammed periodically by the user for protecting against unauthorized use or for sending special information. In addition the identifier can be energized to radiate a uniquely coded high energy signal to indicate the user needs emergency assistance and also includes a loudspeaker for transmitting the signal to a telephone receiver to allow communicating through the telephone system.

Inventors

  • 👤 Charles A. Walton

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 17:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/0701; G06K19/0702; G06K19/0704; G06K19/0723; G06K19/077; G06K19/07749; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28; G08; G08B; G08B25/00; G08B25/01; G08B25/016

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim 75 words
A portable identification system comprising, in combination: a housing; a primary signal generator in said housing, for generating a primary frequency signal; means to generate a plurality of secondary signals from said primary signal; first switching means on said housing for transmitting said secondary signals in a predetermined sequence to generate an identification signal; and means energizeable to alter the sequence said secondary signals are transmitted thereby to change the characteristics of said identification signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 75 words
A portable identification system comprising, in combination: a housing; a primary signal generator in said housing, for generating a primary frequency signal; means to generate a plurality of secondary signals from said primary signal; first switching means on said housing for transmitting said secondary signals in a predetermined sequence to generate an identification signal; and means energizeable to alter the sequence said secondary signals are transmitted thereby to change the characteristics of said identification signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 1 wherein said secondary signals are of a different frequency than said primary frequency signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means energizeable to alter the sequence of said secondary signals is energized by a second switching means on said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 3 in which said altered sequence is stored in circuits internal to the identifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 4 in which said storage circuits are of the type which store the altered sequence even though the main power of the unit is turned off.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 3 in which said altered sequence is automatically transmitted upon command by an external radio signal, without need to operate said first switching means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 6 in which said external radio signal is replaced by an audio signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 1 wherein some of the secondary signals indicate the initiation and cessation of transmission of the identification signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 1 with means to generate an emergency signal in an emergency situation including a third switching means actuable for initiating said emergency signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 9 wherein said emergency signal includes a specially modified code to indicate said emergency situation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 9 with means to automatically increase the power level, in response to actuation of said third switching means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 9 with means to automatically change the repetition rate of transmission in response to actuation of said third switching means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 9 with means including an alternate antenna connected to transmit in response to said third switching means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 33 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 1 with means to transmit the predetermined sequence by audio sounds to a telephone, including a fourth switching means actuable to energize said transmit means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 23 words
A portable identification system as defined in claim 1 including display devices connected to report the internal condition and activity of said identifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 87 words
An identification system comprising, in combination: a portable identifier for generating a primary signal; means to generate a plurality of secondary signals from said primary signal; first switching means for transmitting said secondary signals in a predetermined sequence to generate an identification signal; means energizeable to alter the sequence said secondary signals are transmitted thereby to change the characteristics of said identification signal; a receiving station including means to receive said identification signal; and means including an internal memory with prerecorded signals to identify said identification signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 87 words
An identification system comprising, in combination: a portable identifier for generating a primary signal; means to generate a plurality of secondary signals from said primary signal; first switching means for transmitting said secondary signals in a predetermined sequence to generate an identification signal; means energizeable to alter the sequence said secondary signals are transmitted thereby to change the characteristics of said identification signal; a receiving station including means to receive said identification signal; and means including an internal memory with prerecorded signals to identify said identification signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 46 words
A receiving station as defined in claim 16 in which said receiving station includes means to change the prerecorded signals in said internal memory to recognize identification signals altered by energization of said energizeable means to modify the sequence of said secondary signals in said identifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 34 words
An identification system as defined in claim 17 in which said receiving station emits a first recognition signal when an identification signal is received and second recognition signal when the identification signal is identified.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 22 words
An identification system as defined in claim 16 wherein said receiving station includes means to signal that said identification signal is identified.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 32 words
An identification system as defined in claim 19 in which said identifier includes a visual display, and means to indicate on the display that said receiving station has identified said identification signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 24 words
An identification system as defined in claim 16 wherein said identifier includes means for generating an emergency signal indicating the user needs emergency assistance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 31 words
An identification system as defined in claim 21 in which said receiving station includes means to recognize said emergency signal and to emit appropriate signals when an emergency signal is identified.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 19 words
An identification system as defined in claim 16 wherein said identifier includes means to generate and transmit audio signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 25 words
An identification system as defined in claim 23 in which the receiving station includes means to receive and identify audio signals from said portable identifier.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 29 words
An identification system as defined in claim 16 including means connected to a telephone to receive identification signals from said identifier and transmit said identification signals through telephone lines.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 30 words
An identification system as defined in claim 25 wherein said means connected to the telephone includes means for automatically dialing a preselected number in response to receiving said identification signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3299424A Cited
US3438489A Cited
US3755803A Cited
US3679874A Cited
US3665448A Cited
US3752960A Cited
US3832530A Cited
US3906460A Cited
US3816708A Cited
US3828337A Cited
US3929277A Cited
US4025791A Cited
US4047156A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-11-25 1984-05-26 1984-11-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-11-25 1988-05-26 1988-11-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-11-25 1992-05-26 1992-11-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag