US 4,903,243 A · Marine transponder system

Abstract

A marine transponder system which is selectively activated to produce a predetermined signal pattern of light/sound/radio transmissions for maritime devices and structures such as navigational aids, mooring, docking or slip facilities and/or EPIRBs and other emergency signalling devices. A remote transmitter is used to broadcast an uncoded or coded signal at a predetermined frequency to activate the marine transponder system. The transponder system includes an RF receiver tuned to the predetermined frequency, and optionally a decoder unit for verifying the coded signal. Upon receipt of the transmitted frequency signal, the transponder system causes an omni-directional light/sound/radio source to be energized to produce the predetermined signal pattern. The marine transponder system may be an add-on adapted for integration with existing navigational buoys, a standalone buoy, a package configured for mounting on a dock, pier or boat, or a package adapted to be mounted on a life vest/preserver. This system permits quick and positive user identification and location of a desired, unknown locus and avoids continuous power usage.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A marine transponder system activated in response to a transponder activating signal broadcast by a remote transmitter, comprising:

receiver means tuned for receiving and processing the transponder activating signal transmitted by operator activation of the remote transmitter;
means for recognizing that the transponder activating signal has been received and for providing a control signal in response thereto;
a housing for said receiver means and said recognizing means, said housing configured for use in a marine environment;
signaling means for providing a predetermined recognizable signal to alert the remote transmitter to the presence and relative location of said marine transponder system;
and
timing/control means disposed in said housing and coupled to said signaling means and operative in response to said control signal for causing said signaling means to be energized for a predetermined period of time to provide said predetermined recognizable signal.

3 more elements

A marine transponder system having a coded address activated in response to a coded transponder activating signal broadcast on a predetermined frequency by a remote transmitter, comprising:

housing means for packaging said marine transponder system in a usable configuration to function in a marine environment;
receiver means tuned to the predetermined frequency for receiving and processing the coded transponder activating signal transmitted on the predetermined frequency by the remote transmitter to provide coded information of the coded transponder activating signal as an output signal;
decoding means for comparing said coded information output signal with said address code of said marine transponder system and for providing a control signal when said coded information output signal corresponds to said address code of said marine transponder system;
signal means for providing a predetermined signal output in a predetermined pattern to alert the remote transmitter to the presence and location of said maritime transponder system;
and
timing/control means coupled to said signaling means and operative in response to said control signal for causing said signaling means to be energized for a predetermined period of time to provide said predetermined recognizable signal.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Marine transponder system

Life of this patent

Marine transponder system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22