Signalling apparatus for hearing impaired persons

Claim 1

A system useful by hearing impaired persons for monitoring a predetermined set of events to nonaudibly signal the occurrence of one of said events, said system comprising: a first transmitter module including means responsive to the occurrence of a monitored event for producing an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by an identification signal of frequency F1 and a common signal of frequency F C ; a second transmitter module including means responsive to the occurrence of a monitored event for producing an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by and identification signal of frequency F2 and a common signal of frequency F C ; a receiver module packaged in a pocket sized unit which can be readily carried by a hearing impaired person, said receiver module including first and second visual signalling means and analog circuit means responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by signals of frequencies F1 and F C for activating said first visual signalling means and responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by signals of frequencies F2 and F C for activating said second visual signalling means; said analog circuit means including RF detecting means and modulating signal decoding means, said decoding means including a signal F C decoder circuit, a signal F1 decoder circuit, and a signal F2 decoder circuit; battery means mounted in said receiver module package for supplying electric energy; means connecting said battery means to substantially continually power said RF detecting means and said signal F C decoder circuit while in a standby state; means for activating said signal F C decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal of frequency F C ; switch means responsive to the activation of said signal F C decoder circuit for connecting said battery means to power said signal F1 and F2 decoder circuits; means for activating said signal F1 decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal F1 to illuminate said first visual signalling means; and means for activating said signal F2 decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal F2 to illuminate said second visual signalling means.

Claim 2

A system useful by hearing impaired persons for monitoring a predetermined set of events to nonaudibly signal the occurrence of one of said events, said system comprising: a first transmitter module including means responsive to the occurrence of a monitored event for producing an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by an identification signal of frequency F1 and a common signal of frequency F C ; a second transmitter module including means responsive to the occurrence of a monitored event for producing an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by and identification signal of frequency F2 and a common signal of frequency F C ; a receiver module packaged in a pocket sized unit which can be readily carried by a hearing impaired person, said receiver module including first and second visual signalling means and analog circuit means responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by signals of frequencies F1 and F C for activating said first visual signalling means and responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by signals of frequencies F2 and F C for activating said second visual signalling means; said analog circuit means including RF detecting means and modulating signal decoding means, said decoding means including a signal F C decoder circuit, a signal F1 decoder circuit, and a signal F2 decoder circuit; battery means mounted in said receiver module package for supplying electric energy; means connecting said battery means to substantially continually power said RF detecting means and said signal F C decoder circuit while in a standby state; means for activating said signal F C decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal of frequency F C ; switch means responsive to the activation of said signal F C decoder circuit for connecting said battery means to power said signal F1 and F2 decoder circuits; means for activating said signal F1 decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal F1 to illuminate said first visual signalling means; and means for activating said signal F2 decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal F2 to illuminate said second visual signalling means.

Claim 8

A system useful by hearing impaired persons for monitoring a predetermined set of events to nonaudibly signal the occurrence of one of said events, said system comprising: a first transmitter module including means responsive to the occurrence of a monitored event for producing an RF carrier signal modulated by an identification signal of frequency F1 and a common signal of frequency F C ; a second transmitter module including means responsive to the occurrence of a monitored event for producing an RF carrier signal modulated by an identification signal of frequency F2 and a common signal of frequency F C ; said RF carrier signals produced by said first and second transmitter modules being of the same frequency F R ; a receiver module packaged in a pocket sized unit which can be readily carried by a hearing impaired person, said receiver module including first and second visual signalling means and analog circuit means responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by signals of frequencies F1 and F C for activating said first visual signalling means and responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by signals of frequencies F2 and F C for activating said second visual signalling means; said analog circuit means including RF detecting means and modulating signal decoding means, said decoding means including a signal F C decoder circuit, a signal F1 decoder circuit, and a signal F2 decoder circuit; battery means mounted in said receiver module package for supplying electric energy; connecting means connecting said battery means to substantially continually power said RF detecting means and said signal F C decoder circuit while in standby state; means for activating said signal F C decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal of frequency F C ; switch means responsive to the activation of said signal F C c decoder circuit for connecting said battery means to power said signal F1 and F2 decoder circuits; means for activating said signal F1 decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal F1 to illuminate said first visual signalling means; and means for activating said signal F2 decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal F2 to illuminate said first visual signalling means; said RF detecting means including RF amplifier means having signal input and output terminals and power supply terminals; said connecting means including second switch means for connecting said battery means to said RF amplifier means power supply terminals; means for periodically closing said second switch means; said RF detecting means further including detector circuit means having signal input and output terminals; and means connecting said RF amplifier means signal output terminal to said detector circuit means signal input terminal; and feedback means connecting said detector circuit means signal output terminal to said second switch means for closing said second switch means.

Claim 9

A system useful by hearing impaired persons for monitoring a predetermined set of events to nonaudibly signal the occurrence of one of said events, said system comprising: a first transmitter module including means responsive to the occurrence of a monitored event for producing an RF carrier signal modulated by an identification signal of frequency F1 and a common signal of frequency F C ; a second transmitter module including means responsive to the occurrence of a monitored event for producing an RF carrier signal modulated by an identification signal of frequency F2 and a common signal of frequency F C ; said RF carrier signals produced by said first and second transmitter modules being of the same frequency F R ; a receiver module packaged in a pocket sized unit which can be readily carried by a hearing impaired person, said receiver module including first and second visual signalling means and analog circuit means responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by signals of frequencies F1 and F C for activating said first visual signalling means and responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by signals of frequencies F2 and F C for activating said second visual signalling means; said analog circuit means including RF detecting means and modulating signal decoding means, said decoding means including a signal F C decoder circuit, a signal F1 decoder circuit, and a signal F2 decoder circuit; battery means mounted in said receiver module package for supplying electric energy; connecting means connecting said battery means to substantially continually power said RF detecting means and said signal F C decoder circuit while in standby state; means for activating said signal F C decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal of frequency F C ; switch means responsive to the activation of said signal F C c decoder circuit for connecting said battery means to power said signal F1 and F2 decoder circuits; means for activating said signal F1 decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal F1 to illuminate said first visual signalling means; and means for activating said signal F2 decoder circuit responsive to an RF carrier signal of frequency F R modulated by said signal F2 to illuminate said first visual signalling means; said RF detecting means including RF amplifier means having signal input and output terminals and power supply terminals; said connecting means including second switch means for connecting said battery means to said RF amplifier means power supply terminals; means for periodically closing said second switch means; said RF detecting means further including detector circuit means having signal input and output terminals; and means connecting said RF amplifier means signal output terminal to said detector circuit means signal input terminal; and feedback means connecting said detector circuit means signal output terminal to said second switch means for closing said second switch means.

Claim 11

A system for a hearing impaired person for nonaudibly signalling the occurrence of one or more monitored events comprising: at least one transmitter module including a monitoring section and a transmitting section; said transmitting section including means selectively actuatable to transmit an RF carrier signal modulated by first and second frequency tones; said monitoring section including means responsive to the occurrence of one of said monitored events for actuating said transmitting section; a receiver module packaged in a pocket sized unit which can be readily carried by a hearing impaired person, said receiver module including a detecting section and a decoding section; said detecting section including means responsive to said signal transmitted by said transmitting section for separating said first and second frequency tones from said RF carrier signal; said decoding section including a first decoder circuit responsive to said first frequency tone for providing an output signal and a second decoder circuit responsive to said second frequency tone for providing an output signal; battery means mounted in said receiver module package; means directly connecting said battery means to said first decoder circuit for substantially continually supplying operating electric power thereto while in a standby state; switch means responsive to said first decoder circuit output signal for connecting said battery means to said second decoder circuit for supplying operating electric power thereto; and means responsive to said second decoder circuit output signal for producing a tactile signal perceptible by said hearing impaired person.

Claim 12

A system for a hearing impaired person for nonaudibly signalling the occurrence of one or more monitored events comprising: at least one transmitter module including a monitoring section and a transmitting section; said transmitting section including means selectively actuatable to transmit an RF carrier signal modulated by first and second frequency tones; said monitoring section including means responsive to the occurrence of one of said monitored events for actuating said transmitting section; a receiver module packaged in a pocket sized unit which can be readily carried by a hearing impaired person, said receiver module including a detecting section and a decoding section; said detecting section including means responsive to said signal transmitted by said transmitting section for separating said first and second frequency tones from said RF carrier signal; said decoding section including a first decoder circuit responsive to said first frequency tone for providing an output signal and a second decoder circuit responsive to said second frequency tone for providing an output signal; battery means mounted in said receiver module package; means directly connecting said battery means to said first decoder circuit for substantially continually supplying operating electric power thereto while in a standby state; switch means responsive to said first decoder circuit output signal for connecting said battery means to said second decoder circuit for supplying operating electric power thereto; and means responsive to said second decoder circuit output signal for producing a tactile signal perceptible by said hearing impaired person.