Method and apparatus for providing graduated annunciation of an impending alarm in a security system

• US 20060227001A1
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Security Systems Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bosch Security Systems Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Petricoin, Dennis, Caler, Dennis M., Hayden, Craig A., Markham, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,264,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.400
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A method of operating a security system includes sensing a security breach, and providing an indication to a user that an alarm signal will be issued in response to the sensing of the security breach. The indication perceptibly changes with time.

Claims

1. A method of operating a security system, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing a security breach; and

providing an indication to a user that an alarm signal will be issued in response to said sensing step, the indication perceptibly changing with time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication comprises a visual indication.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the visual indication comprises a spatial representation of at least one of:

a period of time elapsed since said sensing step; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the changing of the indication comprises a changing of a color of the visual indication.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication comprises an audio indication.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the audio indication includes spoken words beginning at least one of:

a period of time after said sensing step; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the audio indication includes a sound pulse beginning at least one of:

a period of time after said sensing step; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.

8. A security system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense a security breach and transmit a detection signal dependent thereon; and

an indicating device configured to provide an indication to a user that an alarm signal will be issued in response to the detection signal, the indication perceptibly changing with time.

9. The security system of claim 8 wherein the indication comprises a visual indication.

10. The security system of claim 9 wherein the visual indication comprises a spatial representation of at least one of:

a period of time elapsed since the sensing of the security breach; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.

11. The security system of claim 9 wherein the changing of the indication comprises a changing of a color of the visual indication.

12. The security system of claim 8 wherein the indication comprises an audio indication.

13. The security system of claim 12 wherein the audio indication includes spoken words beginning at least one of:

a period of time after the sensing of the security breach; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.

14. The security system of claim 12 wherein the audio indication includes a sound pulse beginning at least one of:

a period of time after the sensing of the security breach; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.

15. A method of operating a security system, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing a security breach; and

providing an indication to a user that an alarm signal will be issued in response to said sensing step, the indication perceptibly changing with time to thereby indicate to the user at least one of;

a period of time elapsed since said sensing step; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the indication comprises a visual indication.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the visual indication comprises a spatial representation of at least one of:

a period of time elapsed since said sensing step; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the changing of the indication comprises a changing of a color of the visual indication.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the indication comprises an audio indication.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the audio indication includes spoken words beginning at least one of:

a period of time after said sensing step; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the audio indication includes a sound pulse beginning at least one of:

a period of time after said sensing step; and

a period of time before the alarm signal will be issued.