Other

Summit Industries, Inc.

Summit Safety, Inc.

Zachary S Haase

Wayne C Haase

Paul M Chizinski

Donald B Bruck

Malcolm S MacGregor

According to one aspect of the invention, the PASS-Tracker is a hand-held device that improves the ability of a rescuer to quickly locate a distressed firefighter by two processes: (1) detecting and recognizing the acoustic alarm sound from a PASS device in Alarm Mode, and (2) providing an indication to rescue personnel of the shortest path to the victim. The invention does not require a pre-installed infrastructure in a particular building; rather the device can be used in an ad hoc fashion at any fire scene. The PASS-Tracker utilizes a plurality of small microphones to detect the acoustic signal from the PASS device. Internal electronics in the PASS-Tracker measure the time-of-arrival (TOA) of the leading edge of the acoustic wave at each microphone and calculate and display the angle-of-arrival (AOA) of the wave.

PASS-Tracker: apparatus and method for identifying and locating distressed firefighters

An ultrasonic signal is used to link a beacon unit to a tracker unit to provide a tracking and navigation system for firefighters to use in a smoke filled environment at the scene of a fire. The beacon unit transmits an omnidirectional ultrasonic signal. The tracker unit, using a directional ultrasonic receiver provides a display or other indication of the signal strength of the received ultrasonic signal to allow the direction to the beacon unit to be determined. The ultrasonic signal provided by the beacon unit may be pulse modulated to include digitally encoded data that may be used to identify particular individuals, objects, materials, dangers, or exits. In addition, the tracker unit may be provided with a transmitter and the beacon unit provided with a receiver such that audio communication may be established therebetween.

Tracking, safety and navigation system for firefighters

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Sterling, MA, United States of America

Zachary S Haase