Building alarm system with synchronized strobes
First Claim
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1. A method for synchronizing a plurality of alarm units, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) sending a synchronization signal to the plurality of alarm units; and
b) triggering the plurality of alarm units in accordance with said received synchronization signal.
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Abstract
In a building fire alarm system, the light strobes of a network of strobes are synchronized to flash simultaneously. Each strobe has a charging circuit to charge a capacitor which discharges through a flash tube. Once a capacitor is charged, the charging circuit is disabled. A synchronization pulse is applied through common power lines to trigger discharge of each strobe capacitor through the flash tube followed by recharging of the capacitor.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for synchronizing a plurality of alarm units, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) sending a synchronization signal to the plurality of alarm units; and
b) triggering the plurality of alarm units in accordance with said received synchronization signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating an alarm unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a synchronization signal from a synchronization control circuit; and
b) activating a visual signaling element of the alarm unit in accordance with said received synchronization signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a synchronization unit to send a synchronization signal to a plurality of alarm units, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing the plurality of alarm units with direct connection to a power source during a supervision condition; and
b) sending a synchronization signal from the synchronization unit to the plurality of alarm units during an alarm condition. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An alarm system comprising:
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a first synchronization control circuit for sending a synchronization signal to a plurality of alarm units; and
a plurality of alarm units for receiving said first synchronization signal to indicate an alarm condition, wherein said plurality of alarm units are activated in accordance with said received synchronization signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A synchronization control circuit comprising:
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first input terminals;
output terminals;
a switch, coupled between said first input terminals and said output terminals, for passing a supply voltage to a plurality of alarm units; and
a controller, coupled to said switch, for detecting an alarm condition, where upon detection of said alarm condition, said controller controls said switch to generate a synchronization signal for said plurality of alarm units. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An alarm unit comprising:
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a signaling device; and
a controller, coupled to said signaling device, for detecting a synchronization signal to activate said signaling device. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification