초록 ▼

In one aspect of the invention, a dual-mode infrared/radio frequency (IR/RF) transmitter is secured within a wristband worn by the mother and within an ankle and/or wristband worn by the infant. In a matching mode of operation, IR signals are received by infrared receivers located within the various

In one aspect of the invention, a dual-mode infrared/radio frequency (IR/RF) transmitter is secured within a wristband worn by the mother and within an ankle and/or wristband worn by the infant. In a matching mode of operation, IR signals are received by infrared receivers located within the various rooms of the hospital to precisely and automatically determine by proximity that mother and infant arc correctly united. In a presence detecting mode, RF signals from the infant's badge are detected by RF receivers located throughout the maternity ward of the hospital or throughout the hospital generally. It a security mode, RF receivers located proximate exits of either of the maternity ward and/or the hospital detect RF signals from the ankle and provide a signal to generate an alarm.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An exit security system comprising:a plurality of exit sensors distributed at least within an exit area associated with an exit of a hospital, at least one of the exit sensors being operable to transmit an activation signal having an exit parameter, the exit parameter including an associated exit

1. An exit security system comprising:a plurality of exit sensors distributed at least within an exit area associated with an exit of a hospital, at least one of the exit sensors being operable to transmit an activation signal having an exit parameter, the exit parameter including an associated exit identification code;an infant badge adapted to be secured to a newborn infant, the infant badge comprising:a receiver adapted to receive the activation signal; anda transmitter adapted to transmit an exit alarm indication (EAI) signal through a radiant energy transmission in response to the activation signal, the exit alarm indication (EAI) signal including the exit identification code and an infant badge identification code;a plurality of exit readers distributed within the hospital, at least one of the exit readers being operable to receive the exit alarm indication (EAI) signal, the at least one of the exit readers being further operable to activate an exit indicator associated with the exit identification code, wherein the exit indicator is adapted to indicate that the infant badge associated with the infant badge identification code is proximate to the exit associated with the exit identification code. 2. The exit security system of claim 1, wherein the activation signal includes a low frequency signal. 3. The exit security system of claim 1, wherein the exit parameter includes an exit alarm indication code. 4. The exit security system of claim 1, wherein the exit alarm indication (EAI) signal includes an exit alarm indication code. 5. The exit security system of claim 1, wherein the radiant energy transmission includes one of a radio frequency transmission and an infrared transmission. 6. The exit security system of claim 1, wherein the exit indicator includes one of a display device and an audio device. 7. The exit security system of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a two-channel-low-frequency receiver. 8. The exit security system of claim 1, wherein the infant badge includes two coil antennas that are perpendicular to each other. 9. The exit security system of claim 1 further comprising a network adapter adapted to couple an exit sensor and an electronic network. 10. In a security system having a plurality of exit areas, wherein each exit area is associated with an exit, a method for monitoring a plurality of infant badges comprising the steps of:receiving by an infant badge of the plurality of infant badges at an exit area an activation signal having an exit parameter, the exit parameter including an exit identification code associated the exit associated with the exit area; andtransmitting from the infant badge an exit alarm indication signal through a radiant energy transmission in response to the activation signal, wherein the exit alarm indication signal includes an infant badge identification code associated with the infant badge and the exit parameter including the exit identification code. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the exit parameter includes an exit alarm indication code. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the exit identification code includes one of a numeric code, an alphabetic code, and an alpha-numeric code. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the infant badge identification code includes one of a numeric code, an alphabetic code, and an alpha-numeric code. 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the activation signal includes a low frequency signal. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the radiant energy transmission includes one of a radio frequency transmission and an infrared transmission. 16. An exit security system comprising:a plurality of exit sensors distributed at least within an exit area associated with an exit of a hospital, at least one of the exit sensors being operable to transmit an activation signal having an exit parameter, the exit parameter including an exit identification code;an infant badge secured to a newborn infant, the infant badge comprising:a receiver configured to rec eive the activation signal; anda transmitter configured to transmit an exit alarm indication (EAI) signal through a radiant energy transmission in response to the activation signal, the EAI signal having an infant badge identification code corresponding to the infant badge and the exit identification code;a plurality of exit readers distributed within the hospital, at least one of the exit readers being configured to receive the EAI signal; anda central server configured to determine whether the newborn infant has authorization to leave the hospital, the central server being configured to activate an exit indicator in response to receipt of the EAI signal including the infant badge identification code and the exit identification code. 17. In a security system having a plurality of exit areas, wherein each exit area is associated with an exit of a hospital, and wherein an infant badge is secured onto a newborn infant, a method for monitoring the infant badge comprising the steps of:receiving an activation signal within the infant badge in response to the infant badge being within one of the plurality of exit areas, the activation signal having an exit identification code;transmitting an exit alarm indication (EAI) signal through a radiant energy transmission from the infant badge in response to the activation signal, the EAI signal having an infant badge identification code associated with the infant badge and the exit identification code; anddetermining at a central server whether the newborn infant is authorized to leave the hospital through the exit associated with the exit identification code.