U.S. patent application number 11/499987 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for probe, particularly for locating trapped victims, as well as a search system for trapped victims.
Invention is credited to Markus Eck, Rudolf Sackl, Michael Schober.
Application Number | 20060254821 11/499987 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37192259 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060254821 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schober; Michael ; et
al. |
November 16, 2006 |
Probe, particularly for locating trapped victims, as well as a
search system for trapped victims
Abstract
A probe, particularly for locating trapped victims in
avalanches, includes a receiver tuned to the transmitting frequency
of transmitting units and with at least one antenna. The receiver
is provided with a circuit for level evaluation of the received
signals whereby the circuit indicates any surpassing of the signal
level while approaching the vicinity of the transmitting unit to
make probing easier for the rescuer, to reduce the time needed for
this purpose, and to offer significant assistance in the
interpretation of different objects detected by means of the
probe.
Inventors: |
Schober; Michael; (Leibnitz,
AT) ; Sackl; Rudolf; (Deutschlandsberg, AT) ;
Eck; Markus; (Leibnitz, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC
FRANKLIN SQUARE, THIRD FLOOR WEST
1300 I STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
37192259 |
Appl. No.: |
11/499987 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
175/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 29/021
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
175/045 |
International
Class: |
E21B 47/02 20060101
E21B047/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 1, 2006 |
AT |
GM 438/2006 |
Claims
1. A probe, particularly for locating trapped victims in
avalanches, for example, having a receiver tuned to the
transmitting frequency of transmitting units and having at least
one antenna, characterized in that the receiver is provided with a
circuit for level evaluation of the received signals whereby said
circuit indicates any surpassing of the signal level while
approaching the vicinity of the transmitting unit.
2. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the level evaluation
circuit can be set at least for two different sensitivity
values.
3. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is integrated
with one or each antenna within the probe tip.
4. A probe according to claim 3, wherein an optical or acoustical
indicator is provided on the probe tip and whereby data
transmission is provided through physical lines between the
receiver and the indicator.
5. A probe according to claim 4, wherein the line for data
transmission is formed by the tensioning cable of the probe.
6. A probe according to claim 1, wherein a transmitting unit is
integrated in the probe emitting signals with greatly limited
range.
7. A probe according to claim 6, wherein the range of the
transmitter signal corresponds essentially to the area near the
transmitting unit as indicated by the level evaluation circuit.
8. A probe according to claim 6, wherein the transmitter and the
receiver are combined and both are using at least one antenna of
the probe.
9. A search system for trapped victims comprising at least one
transmitting unit and a probe according to claim 1, wherein said
transmitting unit is provided with a receiving circuit for the
signal emitting from the probe having a greatly limited range and
whereby said receiving circuit can temporarily turn the transmitter
off during reception of said signal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a probe, particularly for locating
trapped victims in avalanches, for example, having a receiver tuned
to the transmitting frequency of transmitting units and having at
least one antenna. The invention relates also to a search system
for trapped victims comprising at least one transmitting unit and a
probe of the aforementioned type.
[0003] 2. The Prior Art
[0004] The search for trapped victims, particularly in avalanches,
has been considerably improved in recent years through the
employment of modern locating devices for avalanche victims. All
such devices are based on the European standards EN 300718, which
describe in standard terms the transmitted signals in addition to
the basic product requirements.
[0005] The total rescue time (time of accident until time of
successful rescue of the trapped victim) essentially extends over
the time of locating (search after initial notification, general
search, particular search and point locating), over the time of
probing (determination of the most possible position of the trapped
victim by means of a probe to be carried by the person), and over
the time needed to free the victim by means of a shovel. A shovel
and probe are currently components of the recommended--and
practically required--emergency equipment. While the necessary
locating time has been continually improved through modern search
devices, the time necessary for shoveling and freeing of the
trapped victim cannot be considerably influenced. This time depends
essentially on the depth of debris, snow characteristic
(compactness), suitability of the shovels, as well as the physical
condition of the rescuer(s).
[0006] However, not much time has to be used basically for probing,
which means, for confirmation of findings and the best possible
determination of position and buried depth of the victim. This
determination becomes difficult depending on the slope angle and
the condition of the snow as well as the buried depth and it must
be performed systematically. Often times, rescuer just "poke
around" without coordination because of the stressful situation and
valuable time is wasted.
[0007] Devices with a plurality of antennas arranged at right
angles to one another have been developed to make locating easier
for the rescuers in stressful situations--even without training.
The incoming direction of the transmitted signal can be determined
by switching from one antenna to the others. In general, all
avalanche victim location devices must meet the European standards
EN 300718. Such a device is exemplary described in AT 6120 U2. In
addition, avalanche victim location systems have been proposed in
the past which use a probe as disclosed in EP 1163933 B1. A
receiver is therein attached to the upper end of the avalanche
probe, possibly detachable, so that it can also be employed
separately from the probe. A galvanic insulated antenna is fastened
at the lower free end of the probe whereby its signal is
transmitted through a high frequency line leading to the receiver
extending inside or outside of the probe. However, this solution is
neither suitable nor can it be realized mechanically to be
meaningful.
[0008] It is therefore the object of the present invention to
provide a probe and a victim locating device that makes probing
easier for the rescuer, reducing the time needed for this purpose,
and which offers significant assistance in the interpretation of
different objects detected by means of the probe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] For the achievement of this object, the probe is
characterized according to the invention in that the receiver is
provided with a circuit for level evaluation of the received
signals whereby said circuit indicates any surpassing of the signal
level while approaching the vicinity of the transmitting unit. The
probe is thereby able to receive signals in the vicinity of the
transmitter carried on the trapped victim and to indicate such an
event as a hit. Errors in interpretation of objects detected with
the probe can be mostly eliminated thereby.
[0010] It is advantageously proposed thereby that the level
evaluation circuit can be set at least for two different
sensitivity values. The receiving areas can be changed thereby in
several steps and the probing accuracy can be increased more and
more until the probe tip is in the immediate vicinity of the
transmitter carried on the trapped victim during an indicated find.
The rescuer obtains information through identification of different
receiving areas which indicates how far he is away in approximate
measurements from the actual target, which means the trapped
victim.
[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,
the receiver is integrated with one or each antenna within the
probe tip to avoid an analog high frequency transmission over the
length of the probe which would be difficult to realize. Processing
of signals occurs already in the immediate vicinity of the
antenna(s) and only a digital signal will have to be transmitted
for the indication of a hit.
[0012] One embodiment of the invention is optimal for
identification by the rescuer and it applies also to the simple and
reliable signal transmission whereby an optical or acoustical
indicator is provided on the probe tip and whereby data
transmission is provided through physical lines between the
receiver and the indicator.
[0013] The line for data transmission is thereby formed
advantageously by the tensioning cable of the probe.
[0014] According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the
probe is characterized in that a transmitting unit is integrated in
the probe emitting signals with greatly limited range. The
transmission of this so-called covering signal (Decksignal) is
initiated preferably by means of a manual actuation device.
Transmitters especially designed for this purpose (avalanche victim
locating devices or LVS devices) can be temporarily turned off as
long as another probe disposed in the immediate vicinity is
transmitting this covering signal so that other rescuers are not
distracted in their search for other trapped victims. The
transmitter is again activated upon extraction or by removal of the
probe by other means or by manually turning off the covering
signal.
[0015] It is preferably proposed that the range of the transmitter
signal corresponds essentially to the area near the transmitting
unit as indicated by the level evaluation circuit.
[0016] Optimal use of the existing components and the smallest
structural dimensions can be achieved if the transmitter and the
receiver are combined and both are using at least one antenna of
the probe.
[0017] For the achievement of the aforementioned object there is
provided a search system for trapped victims characterized
according to the invention in that the transmitter is provided with
a receiving circuit for the signal emitting from the probe having a
greatly limited range and whereby said receiving circuit can
temporarily turn the transmitter off during reception of said
signal. The problem involving multiple trapped victims is
eliminated through such a system whereby the transmitter of a
detected victim, who was found by probing, does no longer distract
other rescuers.
[0018] Additional aspects of the invention are explained in more
detail in the following description with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE
[0019] The FIGURE schematically depicts a probe according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] The FIGURE shows an embodiment of the probe S of the
invention comprising electronics 1 installed in the lower probe
tip. The electronics include the receiver for signals emitting from
traditional transmitting devices (avalanche victim locating
devices) which are carried along by skiers, hikers, mountain
climbers, etc. The receiving unit includes again one to two
antennas, preferably oriented orthogonal to one another, a
receiving circuit, and also a level evaluation circuit for the
incoming signal. The distance from the probe tip to the
transmitting unit can be determined from the level of the received
signal based on the standardized transmitting level of the
transmitting unit.
[0021] Several threshold values for the receiving level are set in
the electronics 1, which can be switched from one to the other so
that switching between different ranges can occur in this manner.
The electronics 1 can thereby determine whether the probe tip is
located in the vicinity of a transmitting unit whereby this area
can be defined in different ways. The rescuer obtains thereby
significant assistance in the interpretation of different objects
"detected" by means of the probe. Especially, inexperienced
rescuers can reliably differentiate between presumed victims and
actually trapped victims. The rescuer also obtains information
about the distance to the actual target by identifying different
receiving areas.
[0022] A digital signal is transmitted to an optical display device
and/or an acoustic indicator 3 at the upper end of the probe S when
a transmitted signal is received in the vicinity of the probe tip
whereby said signal is transmitted through a line, preferably the
tensioning cable 2 of the assembled probe consisting of a plurality
of components arranged one behind the other. The electronics 1 and
the indicator 3 may emit different signals depending on the set
distance or the determined distance from the transmitter.
[0023] An advantageous embodiment of the invention proposes further
that the electronics 1 comprise additionally a transmitter emitting
a low level radio signal, a so-called covering signal. The
transmitter uses preferably one antenna or several antennas of the
receiving unit and the transmitter can be turned on and off,
preferably manually. This covering signal can interpret
transmitting units prepared especially for this purpose and it can
be adjusted in such a manner that the transmitters can be
temporarily turned off as long as the probe sends these covering
signals in the immediate vicinity. The transmitting unit is again
activated during the extraction of the probe and/or after turning
off the covering signal.
* * * * *