System and method for setting parameters from control panel

• US 20060125650A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Fisler, Charles F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/04 using a single signalling line, e.g. in a closed loop
• 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

Parameters defining operational characteristics of audible, visual or audible/visual alarm indicating output devices, can be transmitted to the respective devices from common output control circuitry to avoid having to set up the devices electromechanically in the field upon installation, or upon replacement for maintenance purposes. The downloaded parameters can be stored locally at the respective device and can include prerecorded verbal messages, horn or chime output volumes, tonal patterns and repetition rates. Candela settings for strobes can also be downloaded from the control circuitry.

Claims

1. An output device for an alarm system comprising:

control circuitry, including a programmable element;

control software for the element, the software receives and stores at least one of an audible output specifying indicium or an illumination output specifying indicium from a displaced source; and

input circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, the input circuitry responsive to input signals which include address indicia and a representation of the audible specifying indicia, couples the indicia to the control software when the address indicia corresponds to a predetermined address.

2. An output device as in claim 1 which includes an audio transducer coupled to the control circuitry.

3. An output device as in claim 2 where the control circuitry and software electrically drive the audio transducer in accordance with the audible specifying indicia.

4. An output device as in claim 3 where the audio transducer comprises a verbal output transducer, and the indicia comprises a predetermined verbal output message.

5. An output device as in claim 1 which includes software which receives and stores visual output specifying indicia.

6. An output device as in claim 5 which includes a visual output transducer coupled to the control circuitry.

7. An output device as in claim 6 where the visual output specifying indicia comprises an ouput light intensity specifying parameter.

8. An output device as in claim 4 which includes software which receives and stores visual output specifying indicia.

9. An output device as in claim 8 which includes a visual output transducer coupled to the control circuitry.

10. An output device as in claim 9 which includes a visual output transducer coupled to the control circuitry.

11. An output device as in claim 1 which includes an address defining element.

12. An output device as in claim 11 where the address defining element is manually settable.

13. An output device as in claim 10 which includes an address defining element.

14. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of addressable alarm indicating output devices, each device having an address;

coupling the devices to a displaced source of electrical signals;

establishing a plurality of indicia, the indicia including information associated with respective members of the plurality of devices;

transmitting the information to the respective members of the plurality; and

storing the information at the respective members of the plurality.

15. A method as in claim 14 which includes determining addresses associated with the members of the plurality.

16. A method as in claim 15 which includes associating addresses with respective information,

17. A method as in claim 16 which includes transmitting the addresses and associated information to each of the output devices.

18. A method as in claim 17 which includes storing information at the respective output devices where at least one of the transmitted addresses corresponds to the address of the respective device.

19. A method as in claim 18 where providing includes providing a plurality of audible and visual output devices.

20. A method as in claim 19 where establishing includes establishing a plurality audible and visual parameters for respective audible and visual output devices.

21. A method as in claim 20 where transmitting includes transmitting the audible and visual parameters to the respective output devices.

22. A method as in claim 21 which includes using the downloaded parameters in producing respective audible and visual outputs at respective ones of the devices.

23. A method as in claim 22 which includes decoupling at least one of the devices from the source and replacing it.

24. A method as in claim 23 where replacing comprises replacing with a different device.

25. A method as in claim 24 which includes associating an address with the different device.

26. A method as in claim 25 which includes transmitting at least one parameter to the different device.

27. A method as in claim 26 which includes producing at least one of an audible output or a visual output in accordance with the at least one parameter.