Radio beacon with a GPS interface for automatically activated EPIRBs

An emergency position information radio beacon having a global positioning system data interface comprising:

• a waterproof housing;
• radio frequency transmitter and frequency generating circuit mounted within said housing;
• radio frequency antenna connected to said housing and electrically connected to said transmitting signal circuit;
• a battery power supply;
• an electrical switch connected to said battery;
• a first low power, low clock rate micro controller mounted in said housing and including a global positioning system data input interface connected to said housing and to said first micro controller;
• said first micro controller connected to said battery, said battery providing power at all times to said first micro controller;
• means for continually periodically transferring geographical position data from a global positioning system to the radio beacon memory before the beacon is activated;
• means for activating the beacon in an emergency situation;
• said first micro controller includes firmware that provides a periodic sleep mode and a periodic awake mode such that the power is off more than 98 percent of the time;
• means for listening for and storing latitude and longitude position data from said global positioning system data interface in said first microprocessor for a predetermined periodic short period of time to obtain position information on a periodic basis that is stored in said first micro controller;
• and
• means for not listening for and not storing position data in said first micro processor for a predetermined periodic long time period, much longer than the time for listening for and storing said position data, in order to save battery power whereby said periodic awake mode and said periodic sleep mode is such that the power is off during the periodic sleep mode more than ninety-eight percent of the time while still providing periodic latitude and longitude input data to said system at a predetermined schedule.