Emergency locator system

An emergency locator beacon (ELB) device comprising:

• a memory having a unit identification stored therein,
• a controller coupled to the memory, which controls operation of the ELB device;
• a voice synthesizer coupled to the controller which translates the unit identification stored in the memory into a voice unit identification message;
• an ELB antenna,
• a transmitter coupled to the controller and the voice synthesizer, wherein the transmitter selectively broadcasts, via the ELB antenna, a locator beam signal, an audio modulated digital version of the unit identification, and the voice unit identification message;
• a receiver coupled to the controller and the ELB antenna which, in conjunction with the transmitter, provides a two-way voice communication capability between the ELB device and a remote transceiver;
• a microphone coupled to the transmitter which enables a user of the ELB device to send an outgoing voice message;
• a speaker coupled to the receiver, which enables the user of the ELB device to listen to an incoming voice message;
• a transmission activation mechanism coupled to the controller which enables the user to activate the microphone for transmission of the outgoing voice message;
• and
• an inhibit signal generator coupled to the controller and the transmitter which generates a sub-audible tone, wherein the sub-audible tone inhibits direct communication with a second ELB device.

An emergency locator beacon (ELB) device comprising:

• a memory having a unit identification stored therein;
• a controller coupled to the memory, which controls operation of the ELB device;
• a voice synthesizer coupled to the controller, which translates the unit identification stored in the memory into a voice unit identification message;
• a transceiver coupled to the controller and the voice synthesizer which transmits a locator beam signal and the unit identification, and also provides a two-way voice communication capability between the ELB device and a remote transceiver;
• a microphone coupled to the transceiver, which enables a user of the ELB device to send an outgoing voice message;
• a speaker coupled to the transceiver which enables a user of the ELB device to listen to an incoming voice message;
• a push-to-talk button coupled to the controller which enables the user to activate the microphone and the speaker for message transmission and reception, wherein the selective broadcast is a plurality of cycles, with each of the cycles comprising:
• transmission of the locator beam signal for a first predefined period of time, followed by a transmission of the audio modulated digital version of the unit identification, followed by a transmission of the voice unit identification message, followed by a transmission of a receive mode notification message, followed by a switch from a transmit mode to a receive mode for a second predefined period of time.

A method for transmitting an emergency locator beacon (ELB) signal from an originating ELB transmitter to a remote receiver, wherein the transmission also includes a unit identification of the originating ELB transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:

• activating the originating ELB transmitter;
• reading a unit identification from a memory;
• translating the unit identification from the memory into an audio modulated digital version of the unit identification via a CPU, and translating the unit identification from the memory into a voice unit identification message via a voice synthesizer;
• transmitting the ELB signal, the audio modulated digital version of the unit identification, and the voice unit identification message to the remote receiver in a continuous, cyclic manner via a transmitter;
• and
• switching the transceiver to a receive mode of a predetermined time length between the transmission cycles.

A method for transmitting an emergency signal from an originating emergency locator beacon (ELB) device to a remote receiver, wherein the transmission includes a locator beam signal and unit identification information, and further includes a two-way voice communication between the ELB device and the remote receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

• activating the originating ELB device;
• reading a unit identification from a memory;
• translating the unit identification from the memory into an audio modulated digital version of the unit identification via a CPU, and translating the unit identification from the memory into a voice unit identification message via a voice synthesizer;
• and
• transmitting the ELB signal, the audio modulated digital version of the unit identification, and the voice unit identification message to the remote receiver in a continuous, cyclic manner via a transceiver;
• switching the transceiver to a receive mode of a predetermined time length between the transmission cycles, wherein an operator at the remote receiver can transmit a voice message to the ELB device, and a user of the ELB device responds to the operator by activating a push-to-talk button and delivering the voice message.