Master signal transmitter with allied servant receiver to receive a directed signal from the transmitter

Abstract

A device for locating an object, which includes a master transmitter with at least one servant receiver. A signal from the master transmitter unit activates the servant receiver unit, which then turns itself on. The servant receiver unit has both sound and light output to attract the attention of a user. The servant receiver unit is placed on an object like luggage, a remote control, a personal data assistant, or the like. When the user has misplaced the valuable object, the master transmitter unit is used to activate the servant unit whose light and sound makes it possible to locate the lost object. Because the servant receiver unit is not turned on until it receives the signal from the master transmitter unit, it draws negligible current from a battery. This means that batteries need not be replaced in the servant receiver unit whose effective life will be close to the shelf life of the batteries. When the batteries finally stop working, the servant receiver unit is discarded and a replacement servant receiver unit is obtained. The master transmitter unit may use a single radio frequency signal, dual radio frequency signal, an amplitude modulated radio frequency signals, an ultrasonic signal, or an infrared signal. Appropriate choice of materials, along with appropriate design, allows the master transmitter unit and servant receiver unit, when using radio frequency, to comply with FCC rules while still being effective to distances of 50 feet.