U.S. patent application number 10/223009 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-03 for baby monitor and method for monitoring sounds and selectively controlling audio devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.. Invention is credited to Cuijpers, Maurice, Van Ee, Jan.
Application Number | 20030122676 10/223009 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24884612 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030122676 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cuijpers, Maurice ; et
al. |
July 3, 2003 |
Baby monitor and method for monitoring sounds and selectively
controlling audio devices
Abstract
The present invention discloses a baby monitor system that
incorporates into a receiver of the baby monitor circuitry that can
remotely control an electric or electronic device when the output
sound level of the receiver reaches a reference level. The control
can be by infrared, radio frequency or hardwire transmission of a
volume control command to the electric or electronic device. By
incorporating this control system into the baby monitor, a parent
is ensured to hear sounds of a baby.
Inventors: |
Cuijpers, Maurice; (San
Jose, CA) ; Van Ee, Jan; (Cupertino, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS
1000 WEST MAUDE AVENUE
SUNNYVALE
CA
94085-2810
US
|
Assignee: |
KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS
N.V.
|
Family ID: |
24884612 |
Appl. No.: |
10/223009 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10223009 |
Aug 16, 2002 |
|
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09718051 |
Nov 20, 2000 |
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6462664 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/573.1 ;
340/531 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H03G 3/32 20130101; H03G
1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/573.1 ;
340/531 |
International
Class: |
G08B 023/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A monitor system, comprising: a sound detector, a transmitter
coupled to said sound detector for transmitting a signal upon said
detector detecting a sound; and a control device that receives said
signal and supplies a control signal to at least one device remote
from the control device.
2. A monitor system as in claim 1, wherein a network is interposed
between the transmitter and the control device.
3. The monitor system as in claim 2, wherein the network is the
Internet.
4. A method of monitoring a location, comprising the steps of:
detecting a sound; transmitting a signal upon detecting said sound;
and controlling at least one device via said transmitted
signal.
5. A method of enabling a user to monitor a location, comprising
the steps of: detecting a sound; transmitting to said user a signal
upon detecting said sound; and controlling at least one device via
said transmitted signal.
6. Software for a home network for processing an audio signal
received from a sound detector, and controlling at least one device
remote from the home network.
7. A baby monitor, comprising: a transmitter having a sound
detecting device for detecting sound and transmitting the detected
sound; and a receiver having a speaker for receiving the detected
sound and outputting the detected sound, and means for controlling
a volume level of at least one device remote from said receiver
having at least one speaker.
8. A baby monitoring system comprising: a transmitter having a
sound-detecting device and an antenna, the transmitter detecting
sound and transmitting the detected sound through the antenna; and
a receiver having an antenna for receiving the detected sound,
comprising: means for comparing a level of the detected sound to a
reference level; and means for controlling at least one device
remote from the receiver when the level of the detected sound is
greater than the reference level.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for controlling
decreases the volume of the at least one device.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for controlling mutes
the volume of the at least one device.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for controlling
disconnects the power to the at least one device.
12. A baby monitor, comprising: a sound-detecting device; a
transmitter connected to the sound-detecting device for
transmitting a detected sound; a receiver for receiving the
detected sound; a speaker connected to the receiver for outputting
the detected sound; a central processing unit (CPU) connected to
the receiver for comparing the level of the detected sound to a
reference level; and a second transmitter connected to the CPU for
transmitting a control command to at least one device remote from
the receiver.
13. The baby monitor of claim 12, wherein the control command is
one of a command to decrease volume, mute volume and disconnect
power.
14. The baby monitor of claim 13, wherein the second transmitter is
one of an infrared transmitter, a radio frequency transmitter and a
hardwire connection.
15. A method of programming a baby monitor, comprising the steps
of: transmitting a command signal from a remote control of a remote
device; receiving the command signal from the remote control; and
storing the command signal in a memory.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the command signal is
transmitted by one of an infrared transmission, a radio frequency
transmission and a hardwire connection transmission.
17. A method of monitoring a baby, comprising the steps of:
detecting a sound from a baby; transmitting the sound from a
transmitter to a receiver; outputting the sound from the receiver;
comparing the level of the sound to a reference level; transmitting
from the receiver at least one command to at least one device
remote from the receiver; receiving the at least one transmitted
command at the at least one device remote from the receiver; and
performing the command.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of storing
the reference level in a memory of the receiver.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the storing step further
comprises the steps of: transmitting from a remote control of one
of the at least one device remote from the receiver a command
signal; receiving at the receiver the command signal; and storing
the command signal in a memory.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the command signal is
transmitted by one of an infrared transmission, a radio frequency
transmission and a hardwire connection transmission.
21. A baby monitor, comprising: a transmitter having a sound
detecting device for detecting sound and transmitting the detected
sound, and the detected sound transmitted in a signal formatted to
be received by a receiver for receiving the detected sound and
outputting the detected sound, having a speaker and means for
controlling a volume level of at least one device remote from said
receiver having at least one speaker.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a baby monitor, and more
particularly to a baby monitor capable of controlling other
devices. The baby monitor is capable of muting a television or
other electronic device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Baby monitors are well known. A standard baby monitor
consists of a transmitter and a receiver, each of which can be
powered by a battery or an A/C current source (usually with an
inline transformer). The transmitter contains a microphone or other
sound detecting device and is placed in a location near a baby. The
receiver contains a speaker and placed in a location near a parent.
A sound (e.g. a stirring or crying baby) detected by the
transmitter is transmitted to the receiver for output to the parent
to hear and respond to accordingly.
[0005] Several versions of this standard model exist. One includes
a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), which light in series
to indicate the level of the sound received by the receiver. This
acts as a visual alert for the parent in that as the sound level
increases the number of LEDs that light also increases. As an added
alert the color of the subsequently lit or higher sound-level LEDs
is a different color from the lower sound-level LEDs (usually red
and green, respectively). This visual alert is useful in an
environment where there are other noises that may cause the
receiver output to go unheard by the parent. These other noises can
be sound from a television, radio, stereo, or other electronic
device, that outputs the sound from a speaker. These external
noises can also be from noise-making electric appliances, for
example, an electric mixer, a blender, a washing machine, or the
like.
[0006] In either of the above models, if the external noises are
greater that the output of the baby monitor receiver, the sounds of
the baby can go unheard by the parent. And a problem with the LED
model in particular arises when external noises are present and the
receiver is out of the line-of-sight of the parent. In this case,
along with the sound going unheard, the visual alert goes unseen.
Thus, in either case the baby could be crying and the parent would
be unaware of this potentially dangerous situation.
[0007] The present invention solves this long-standing problem and
provides a baby monitor that can insure that the parent hears the
sounds under a variety of external noise conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a baby
monitor receiver that can control the volume level of other
electronic devices.
[0009] It is another aspect of the present invention to incorporate
into the receiver of the baby monitor a control circuit that
detects the sound level and, upon reaching a predetermined or
user-set level, decreases or mutes the volume of another electronic
device.
[0010] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to control
any electric noise-making device by incorporating an A/C control
module into the present invention.
[0011] These and other aspects of the present invention can be
achieved by incorporating into a receiver of a baby monitor a
system that can remotely control an electric or electronic device
when the output sound level of the receiver reaches a reference
level. The control can be by infrared, radio frequency or hardwire
transmission of a volume control command to the electric or
electronic device. By incorporating this control system into the
baby monitor, a parent is ensured to hear sounds of a baby.
[0012] More generally the invention comprises a monitor system,
comprising a sound detector, a transmitter coupled to the sound
detector for transmitting a signal upon said detector detecting a
sound, and a control device that receives the signal and supplies a
control signal to at least one device remote from the control
device. A network can be interposed between the transmitter and the
control device, wherein the network can be the Internet.
[0013] The invention also comprises a method of monitoring a
location, comprising the steps of detecting a sound, transmitting a
signal upon detecting said sound, and controlling at least one
device via said transmitted signal.
[0014] The invention also comprises a method of enabling a user to
monitor a location. By detecting a sound, transmitting to said user
a signal upon detecting said sound, and controlling at least one
device via said transmitted signal, the user can monitor a
location.
[0015] The invention further comprises software for a home network
for processing an audio signal received from a sound detector, and
controlling at least one device remote from the home network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a front view of a baby monitor receiver according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of the baby monitor receiver depicted
in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a baby monitor system according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the baby monitor receiver
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 5 is an operational flow chart of the baby monitor
receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0022] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the following description, well-known functions or constructions
are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention
in unnecessary detail.
[0023] As depicted in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the baby
monitor receiver 100 comprises a main body 104 and an antenna 105.
Incorporated into the main body 104 is a speaker grating 101 to
allow the sound output from an internal speaker (not shown) to pass
through the main body 104. An ON/OFF-volume variable resistor dial
102 is located the side of the main body 104 to control the power
to and the volume of the receiver. A power indicator light 106 is
positioned on the front of the main body 104 to indicate a "power
on" state of the receiver 100. An infrared (IR) window 103 is
located on the front of main body 104 to allow IR signals to be
transmitted to and from the internal circuitry of the receiver (not
shown).
[0024] FIG. 2 is a side view of the baby monitor receiver 100 of
FIG. 1. Depicted in FIG. 2 is slide switch 201. Slide switch 201 is
preferably a two-position slide switch. A first position of the
slide switch 201 places the monitor into a normal operating mode
and a second position of the slide switch 201 places the monitor
into a learn mode. When in the learn mode the monitor, according to
one embodiment of the present invention, can be programmed to
control a particular electric or electronic device, as described
below.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a baby monitor system according
to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the
system allows a parent 313 to monitor a baby 303, and comprises a
transmitter 300, the receiver 100, and a remote device to be
controlled, shown here as television 310, the operation of which is
as follows. The transmitter 300 comprises a sound grating 301 to
allow sound to pass through transmitter main body 304 to a
microphone or other sound-detecting device (not shown) inside the
transmitter 300, an ON/OFF switch 302 to control the power to the
transmitter, an antenna 305, and a power indicator light 306. When
the baby 303 makes sounds 307 the microphone (not shown) inside the
transmitter 300 detects the sound 307 and transmits it out through
antenna 305. Receiver 100 receives the sound through antenna 105
where it is processed. The sound 308 is output through the speaker
(not shown) inside the receiver 100 through the speaker grating
101. If noise 309 output from the television 310 is at a level
higher than the sound 308 output from the receiver 100, the parent
313 will not hear it and will be unaware of the cry of the baby
303.
[0026] The received sound is also processed by control circuitry
internal to the receiver 100, described in detail below with
respect to FIG. 4. Upon detecting a sound level greater than a
stored reference level, the receiver 100 transmits an IR command
signal through window 103. The IR command is received by television
310 through IR window 311, where the internal circuitry of the
television 310 processes the command signal and mutes the sound 309
coming from speaker 312 of television 310, thus alerting parent 313
and allowing parent 313 to hear the output sound 308 of the
receiver 100.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the baby monitor receiver 100
according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 4 the baby monitor receiver comprises the antenna 105
connected to an RF receiver 402. The transmitter 300 (not shown)
detects sound 307 and transmits the sound to the baby monitor
receiver 100. A signal transmitted from the transmitter 300 is
received by the antenna 105 and processed by the RF receiver 402.
The RF receiver is connected to a speaker 404. The sound 309 is
output through speaker 404.
[0028] The signal received at antenna 105 is also forwarded to
control circuitry 403. When the slide switch 201 is in the normal
operating mode (e.g. position 1), a central processing unit (CPU)
407 of the control circuitry 403 compares the level of the received
signal with a reference level stored in a memory unit 408, which
can be preset or user-set. If the received signal is less than the
reference level the control circuitry 403 does nothing and
continues to monitor the received signals, while the sound 309 is
output through speaker 404. If the received signal is greater than
the reference level, the CPU 403 sends a mute command signal stored
in memory unit 408 to command circuitry 409, which operates an IR
emitter 405, which in turn outputs the IR signal to an electronic
device such as a radio, stereo, etc., or the television 310 of FIG.
4.
[0029] In the preferred embodiment, which uses IR technology to
transmit the mute command, line-of-sight is maintained between the
transmitter and electronic device. In another embodiment, an RF
signal could be used to transmit the mute command, thus eliminating
the line-of-site limitation. And in yet another embodiment the
transmitter can be hardwired to the electronic device or even
incorporated into the electronic device itself.
[0030] Also, the command signal does not have to be limited to a
mute command, as it can be any number of other commands, for
example, an "off" command, a particular volume level command, or
other command to decrease or eliminate the output sound from the
device. The invention can also be incorporated into a separate
electronic device that is placed in-line with an A/C current for an
electric appliance. The baby monitor receiver would transmit an
"off" command and upon receipt of the "off" command the electronic
device would disconnect power to the appliance, eliminating the
noise generated thereby.
[0031] Referring again to FIG. 4., when slide switch 201 is in the
learn mode (e.g. position 2), the control circuitry 403 enters into
a learn mode to store or program a mute command code particular to
the electronic device sought to be controlled. The control
circuitry 403 contains the memory unit 408 to store one or more
commands depending on the particular embodiment of the present
invention. The memory unit 408 can be preprogramned to control a
particular electronic device, an embodiment which would not require
the slide switch 201 as no learn mode would be required by the
user. The memory unit 408 can also be user-programmable to allow
for the storage of one or more commands and to control one or more
devices.
[0032] When the slide switch 201 is moved from position 1 to
position 2 the monitor 100 enters into the learn mode. The CPU 407
activates learning circuitry 410 to receive a command input through
an IR detector 406. The command to be stored or learned is input by
pointing an IR emitter of a remote control of a remote device (not
shown) at the IR detector 406 and pressing a button on the remote
control corresponding to the command the user desires to store in
the monitor. The CPU 407 accepts the command signal from the
learning circuitry 410 and stores the command in the memory unit
408. Various additional programming methods are well known in the
art and are not included herein.
[0033] FIG. 5 is an operational flow chart of the baby monitor
receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. When
the power of the baby monitor receiver 100 is turned on, the CPU
407 in step 501 checks to determine if the receiver is in normal
operating mode. If the receiver 100 is in normal operating mode,
the system in step 502 waits for a signal to be received from the
transmitter 300. If no signal is received, the system returns to
the start to wait for a received signal. If a signal is received,
the system in step 503 outputs the sound through the speaker 404
and the CPU 407 compares the level of the received signal with the
reference level stored in memory unit 408. Then in step 504 the CPU
407 determines if the level of the received signal is greater than
the reference level. If the level of the received signal is not
greater than the reference level, the system returns to step 501.
If the level of the received signal is greater than the reference
level, the control circuitry 403 in step 505 transmits the stored
IR mute command through the command circuitry 409 and IR emitter
405 and returns to step 501.
[0034] If in step 501 the CPU 407 determines that the receiver is
not in the normal operating mode, the CPU 407 enters in step 506
into the learn mode to store the user-entered commands. In step 507
the CPU 407 activates the IR detector 406. The system then in step
508 checks if an IR signal command is received and if so, the
system in step 509 stores the IR signal command in the memory unit
408 and returns to step 501. If no signal command is received in
step 508, the system returns to step 501.
[0035] Several variations to the above-described system can be
implemented that are also included within the scope of the
invention. First, the above system can be used to monitor people
and things other than a baby. The invention can be utilized to
monitor a person who is sick or infirm. Also, the system can be
readily modified to monitor an animal or any object where an alert
to the user is desired when a sound is produced.
[0036] Another modification to the invention relates to the
transmitter. Where in the above-described embodiment the receiver
compares the received sound to the stored reference signal, the
transmitter can perform the comparison and transmit the control
signal itself, directly to the controlled device or to a receiver
for further transmission. Also, the signal (the sound signal and/or
the central signal) can be transmitted via a computer network
(including a home computer network), the Internet, etc., which may
be interposed at any point between the receiver and the controlled
device. Software can be used in a network, for example, to perform
the audio and/or signal processing of the transmitter and/or
receiver and direct them accordingly.
[0037] As for the controlled device itself, the invention is not
limited to reducing or muting its volume. For example, when a user
is located in a noisy environment, the system can detect the noise
level in the environment and amplify a audio signal accordingly,
for example the ringing of a telephone, such that the user can hear
the audio signal regardless of the noise level in the
environment.
[0038] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *