A lost item finding system including at least two nearly identical
locators. Either one can be used to find the other and whatever items are
attached to it. The available locator broadcast to the lost one an
acoustic search signal including a sequence of tones having predetermined
frequency differences between them. The lost locator determines the
baseline frequency and then identifies whether the signal conforms to the
predetermined tone sequence and then transmits a beacon signal that can be
perceived by the user as he searches for the lost item. The beacon signal
may include both an audible signal and a flashing light emitting diode.
Advantageously, both the transmission and reception of the audio signal is
accomplished with one piezoelectric transducer, and the efficiency of the
transducer is increased by forming a resonant cavity having a cap both
protecting the piezoelectric transducer and forming an annular side port.