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An emergency position indicating radio beacon, sized for mounting on a life vest or the like, that includes a water-activated switch that automatically activates the transmitter when the water-activated switch is mounted in water. The water-activated switching circuitry includes an insulated electri

An emergency position indicating radio beacon, sized for mounting on a life vest or the like, that includes a water-activated switch that automatically activates the transmitter when the water-activated switch is mounted in water. The water-activated switching circuitry includes an insulated electrical paddle that separates the exposed electrical contacts a predetermined distance to insure that the device will not be inadvertently activated by moisture, but that it must be immersed in water for proper contact. The system also includes a memory circuit and power amplification.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An emergency position indicating radio beacon for personal use and for attachment to personal floatation devices, comprising:a waterproof housing arranged to be worn by a user or attached to a personal floatation device;an electrical power supply mounted within said housi

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An emergency position indicating radio beacon for personal use and for attachment to personal floatation devices, comprising:a waterproof housing arranged to be worn by a user or attached to a personal floatation device;an electrical power supply mounted within said housing;circuit means mounted inside said housing for generating radio frequency signals for broadcast;an antenna connected to said housing exterior and electrically connected to said circuit means for broadcasting and transmitting said radio frequency signals from said antenna as a radio beacon;a manually actuated electrical switch having an on and an off mode for connecting said power supply to said radio frequency generating circuit means;a water-activated electrical switch connected to said circuit means, said water-activated electrical switch being remotely disposed from said waterproof housing, said water-activated switch being tethered to said housing by electrical conductors, whereby whenever said water-activated switch is immersed in water and said manually activated switch is in an on mode, said radio beacon will transmit radio frequency signals; andmemory circuit means connected to said water-activated switch for activating said radio frequency circuit means for a predetermined period of time whenever said water-activated switch is removed from said water immersion to provide uninterrupted radio frequency signal transmissions while said emergency position indicating radio beacon is in use;said water activated switch includes:an essentially planar electrically insulated barrier having a pair of recessed grooves separated from each other by a first predetermined distance, said grooves offset from each other by a second predetermined distance, said grooves essentially parallel to each other, said first predetermined distance equal to the separation between said parallel grooves, said grooves positioned on opposite surfaces of said electrically insulated barrier, said second predetermined distance defined by a predetermined thickness of said electrically insulated barrier; andfirst and second electrical conductors, each connected at one end to said radio frequency transmitting circuitry and said power supply, and at the opposite end, each connected within said separated grooves mounted in said electrically insulated barrier, said conductors including an insulating means covering said wire conductors up to near the ends of the conductors, said conductors having an exposed electrical portion mounted within said grooves, said conductive wire ends strategically spaced apart by said first and said second predetermined distances to require immersion in an ionizing liquid to complete circuit contact across said electrical conductor ends.