Environmental condition detector with audible alarm and voice identifier

• US 20030179090A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary Jay Morris
• Original Assignee: Gary Jay Morris
• Inventors: Morris, Gary Jay
• Granted Patent: US 6,784,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

Due to the presence of various environmental condition detectors in the home and businesses such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors. natural gas detectors, etc., each having individual but similar sounding alarm patterns, it can be difficult for occupants of such dwellings to immediately determine the specific type of environmental condition that exists during an alarm condition. The present invention comprises an environmental condition detector using both tonal pattern alarms and pre-recorded voice messages to indicate information about the environmental condition being sensed. Single-station battery-powered and 120VAC detectors are described as are multiple-station interconnected 120VAC powered detectors. The pre-recorded voice messages describe the type of environmental condition detected or the location of the environmental condition detector sensing the condition. or both. in addition to the tonal pattern alarm. Provisions are made for multi-lingual pre-recorded voice messages.

Claims

1. An environmental condition detector using pre-recorded voice messages to indicate the specific type of environmental condition detected in a dwelling comprising:

(a) sensor means for detecting the presence of an environmental condition in said dwelling,

(b) electronic means for activation of an alarm having a prescribed audible tonal pattern for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition,

(c) electronic means for playing of pre-recorded voice messages that verbally describe the type of environmental condition detected for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition such that said pre-recorded voice messages are emitted during periods of silence in said prescribed audible tonal pattern emitted simultaneously with said pre-recorded voice messages.

(d) a power source selected from the group consisting of a battery, standard 120VAC power. and standard 120VAC with a battery back-up power supply.

7. The environmental condition detector of claim 1 wherein said sensor means comprises a type selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector type, a carbon monoxide detector type. a natural gas detector type, a propane detector type. and any multiple combination of these environmental condition detector types.

13. The environmental condition detector of claim 1 wherein said electronic means to play said pre-recorded voice messages has further means to provide for the selection of language type presentation of said pre-recorded voice messages.

2. An environmental condition detector using pre-recorded voice messages to indicate the specific location of the environmental condition detected in a dwelling comprising:

(a) sensor means for detecting the presence of an environmental condition in said dwelling,

(b) electronic means for activation of an audible alarm having a prescribed audible tonal pattern for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition,

(c) selectable coding means to define the installation location, within said dwelling, of said environmental condition detector,

(d) electronic means for playing of pre-recorded voice messages that verbally describe the location within said dwelling, of said environmental condition detector sensing said environmental condition for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition such that said pre-recorded voice messages are emitted during periods of silence in said prescribed audible tonal pattern emitted simultaneously with said prerecorded voice messages,

(e) a power source selected from the group consisting of a battery, standard 120VAC power, and standard 120VAC with a battery back-up power supply.

8. The environmental condition detector of claim 2 wherein said sensor means comprises a type selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector type. a carbon monoxide detector type, a natural gas detector type, a propane detector type. and any multiple combination of these environmental condition detector types.

14. The environmental condition detector of claim 2. wherein said electronic means to play said pre-recorded voice messages has further means to provide for the selection of language type presentation of said pre-recorded voice messages.

3. An environmental condition detector using pre-recorded voice messages to indicate the specific location and the specific type of the environmental condition detected in a dwelling comprising:

(a) sensor means for detecting the presence of an environmental condition in said dwelling,

(b) electronic means for activation of an audible alarm having a prescribed audible tonal pattern for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition,

(c) electronic means for playing pre-recorded voice messages that verbally describe the type of environmental condition detected for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition such that said pre-recorded voice messages are emitted during periods of silence in said prescribed audible tonal pattern emitted simultaneously with said pre-recorded voice messages,

(d) selectable coding means to define the installation location. within said dwelling, of said environmental condition detector,

(e) electronic means for playing pre-recorded voice messages that verbally describe the location, within said dwelling, of said environmental condition detector sensing said environmental condition for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition such that said pre-recorded voice messages are emitted during periods of silence in said prescribed audible tonal pattern emitted simultaneously with said pre-recorded voice messages,

(f) a power source selected from the group consisting of a battery, standard 120VAC power, and standard 120VAC with a battery back-up power supply.

9. The environmental condition detector of claim 3 wherein said sensor means comprises a type selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector type, a carbon monoxide detector type, a natural gas detector type, a propane detector type. and any multiple combination of these environmental condition detector types.

15. The environmental condition detector of claim 3 wherein said electronic means to play said pre-recorded voice messages has further means to provide for the selection of language type presentation of said pre-recorded voice messages.

4. An environmental condition detection system using pre-recorded voice messages to indicate the specific type of an environmental condition detected in a dwelling comprising:

(a) a minimum of two environmental condition detectors, each detector comprising sensor means for detecting the presence of an environmental condition in said dwelling,

(b) each environmental condition detector comprising electronic means for activation of an audible alarm having a prescribed audible tonal pattern for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition,

(c) each environmental condition detector comprising electronic means for playing of pre-recorded voice messages that verbally describe the type of said environmental condition detected for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition such that said pre-recorded voice messages are emitted during periods of silence in said prescribed audible tonal alarm emitted simultaneously with said pre-recorded voice messages,

(d) each environmental condition detector comprising direct hardwire interconnection means for electrically linking a plurality of like environmental condition detectors such that the detection of said environmental condition by one detector causes all other hardwired interconnected detectors to emit the same tonal pattern alarm and same pre-recorded voice messages emitted by said environmental condition detector sensing said environmental condition,

(e) each environmental condition detector comprising a power source selected from the group consisting of standard 120VAC power and standard 120VAC power with a battery back-up power supply.

10. The environmental condition detector of claim 4 wherein said sensor means comprises a type selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector type. a carbon monoxide detector type, a natural gas detector type, a propane detector type, and any multiple combination of these environmental condition detector types.

16. The environmental condition detector of claim 4 wherein said electronic means to play said pre-recorded voice messages has further means to provide for the selection of language type presentation of said pre-recorded voice messages.

5. An environmental condition detection system using pre-recorded voice messages to indicate the specific location of an environmental condition detected in a dwelling comprising:

(a) a minimum of two environmental condition detectors, each detector comprising sensor means for detecting the presence of an environmental condition in said dwelling,

(b) each environmental condition detector comprising electronic means for activation of an audible alarm having a prescribed audible tonal pattern for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition,

(c) each environmental condition detector comprising selectable coding means to define the installation location, within said dwelling, of said environmental condition detector,

(d) each environmental condition detector comprising electronic means for playing of pre-recorded voice messages that verbally describe the location, within said dwelling, of said environmental condition detector sensing said environmental condition for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition such that said pre-recorded voice messages are emitted during periods of silence in said prescribed audible tonal pattern emitted simultaneously with said pre-recorded voice messages,

(e) each environmental condition detector comprising direct hardwire interconnection means for electrically linking a plurality of like environmental condition detectors such that the detection of said environmental condition by one detector causes all other hardwired interconnected detectors to emit the same tonal pattern alarm and same pre-recorded voice messages emitted by said environmental condition detector sensing said environmental condition,

(f) each environmental condition detector comprising a power source selected from the group consisting of standard 120VAC power and standard 120VAC power with a battery back-up power supply.

11. The environmental condition detector of claim 5 wherein said sensor means comprises a type selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector type, a carbon monoxide detector type, a natural gas detector type, a propane detector type, and any multiple combination of these environmental condition detector types.

17. The environmental condition detector of claim 5 wherein said electronic means to play said pre-recorded voice messages has further means to provide for the selection of language type presentation of said pre-recorded voice messages.

6. An environmental condition detection system using pre-recorded voice messages to indicate the specific location and specific type of the environmental condition detected in a dwelling comprising:

(a) a minimum of two environmental condition detectors, each detector comprising sensor means for detecting the presence of an environmental condition in said dwelling,

(b) each environmental condition detector comprising electronic means for activation of an audible alarm having a prescribed audible tonal pattern for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition,

(c) each environmental condition detector comprising selectable coding means to define the installation location, within said dwelling, of said environmental condition detector,

(d) each environmental condition detector comprising electronic means for playing of pre-recorded voice messages that verbally describe the location, within said dwelling, of said environmental condition detector sensing said environmental condition for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition such that said pre-recorded voice messages are emitted during periods of silence in said prescribed audible tonal pattern emitted simultaneously with said pre-recorded voice messages,

(e) each environmental condition detector comprising electronic means for playing of pre-recorded voice messages that verbally describe the type of environmental condition detected for the duration of the detection of said environmental condition such that said pre-recorded voice messages are emitted during periods of silence in said prescribed audible tonal pattern simultaneously with said pre-recorded voice messages,

(f) each environmental condition detector comprising direct hardwire interconnection means for electrically linking a plurality of like environmental condition detectors such that the detection of said environmental condition by one detector causes all other hardwired interconnected detectors to emit the same tonal pattern alarm and same pre-recorded voice messages emitted by said environmental condition detector sensing said environmental condition,

(g) each environmental condition detector comprising a power source selected from the group consisting of standard 120VAC power and standard 120VAC power with a battery back-up power supply.

12. The environmental condition detector of claim 6 wherein said sensor means comprises a type selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector type. a carbon monoxide detector type, a natural gas detector type, a propane detector type, and any multiple combination of these environmental condition detector types.

18. The environmental condition detector of claim 6 wherein said electronic means to play said pre-recorded voice messages has further means to provide for the selection of language type presentation of said pre-recorded voice messages.

19. A method for providing environmental condition detection for a dwelling comprising:

(a) providing an environmental condition detection system to a dwelling, said dwelling comprising one or more distinctive regions selected from the group consisting of rooms, floor levels, areas, closets, attics, basements, passages. hallways, stairways. crawlspaces. garages, and any multiple combination thereof,

(b) setting a selectable coding means to define the detector installation location, within said dwelling, for each detector comprising said environmental condition detection system to cause the detector sensing an environmental condition to play a pre-recorded voice message, which verbally describes said detector installation location of said detector sensing an environmental condition, during the periods of silence in a prescribed audible tonal pattern alarm emitted by said detector sensing an environmental condition simultaneously with said pre-recorded voice message for the duration of said environmental condition,

(c) interconnecting a minimum of two environmental condition detectors forming said environmental condition detection system such that the tonal pattern alarm and pre-recorded voice messages emitted by one environmental condition detector sensing an environmental condition causes all other interconnected detectors to emit the same tonal pattern alarm and pre-recorded voice message as those emitted by said environmental condition detector sensing said environmental condition.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said method comprises playing a pre-recorded voice message that verbally describes the type of environmental condition detected for the duration of the detection of the said environmental condition such that said pre-recorded voice message is emitted during periods of silence in said prescribed audible tonal pattern alarm emitted simultaneously.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said method comprises providing an environmental condition detector type selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector type. a carbon monoxide detector type, a natural gas detector type, a propane detector type. and any multiple combination of these environmental condition detector types.