NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100033319A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Edwards, Scott R., Pattok, Greg R., DeWarrd, Michael B., Franz, Sue F., Stirling, Christopher D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• 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

A notification system and method of visual notification of different types of events by flashing different colors is provided, wherein the notification system includes a master controller and a notification device. The master controller is configured to communicate at least one signal. The notification device includes an enclosure accepting a plurality of conductors providing both signaling and electrical power to the notification device, and at least one strobe drive circuit configured to supply an electrical signal for periodically flashing at least one strobe. The notification device further includes a strobe system configured to flash at least one strobe, such that the strobe system flashes one of at least two different colors, and a control logic configured to determine which color of the at least two different colors to flash at least one strobe based upon the signal received from at least one of the plurality of conductors.

Claims

1. A notification device comprising:

an enclosure accepting a plurality of conductors that supply both a signal and electrical power;

at least one strobe drive circuit configured to supply an electrical signal for periodically flashing at least one strobe;

a strobe system in communication with said strobe drive circuit, said strobe system configured to flash said at least one strobe, such that said strobe system flashes one of at least two different colors; and

a controller in communication with at least one of said two conductors, wherein said controller is configured to determine which color of said at least two different colors to flash said at least one strobe based upon said signal received from at least one of said plurality of conductors.

2. The notification device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said notification devices connected in parallel with said plurality of conductors.

3. The notification device of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to generate a control signal for controlling flashing of said at least one strobe in said strobe system.

4. The notification device of claim 3, wherein said strobe system is further configured to receive said control signal for controlling flashing of said at least one strobe.

5. The notification device of claim 3, wherein said at least one strobe drive circuit is further configured to receive said control signal for controlling flashing of said at least one strobe.

6. The notification device of claim 1, wherein said at least one strobe comprises a first set of at least one LED and a second set of at least one LED, and each of said at least two different colors is determined by a ratio of electrical power supplied to said first set of at least one LED and said second set of at least one LED.

7. The notification device of claim 1, wherein said at least two different colors comprise white and amber.

8. The notification device of claim 1, wherein said received electrical signal comprises a sequence of digital pulses.

9. The notification device of claim 8, wherein said sequence of digital pulses comprises commands to control an audible device.

10. The notification device of claim 8, wherein said controller is configured to determine which one of said at least two different colors is to be illuminated based upon a duration of at least one pulse in said sequence of digital pulses.

11. The notification device of claim 8, wherein said controller is configured to vary an intensity of said strobe system output based upon said sequence of digital pulses.

12. The notification device of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein said controller is configured to vary an intensity of said strobe system output based upon an output from said temperature sensor.

13. The notification device of claim 1, wherein said at least one strobe circuit comprises an energy storage device that stores electrical power, such that said stored electrical power is rapidly discharged to flash said at least one strobe.

14. The notification device of claim 13, wherein said energy storage device is a capacitor.

15. The notification device of claim 1, wherein said at least one strobe comprises an LED having a plurality of LED chips, each of said plurality of LED chips adapted to emit light in a different color.

16. The notification device of claim 1, wherein said at least one strobe comprises at least one Zenon tube.

17. The notification device of claim 16, wherein said strobe device comprises at least one switching device to switch between a plurality of said Zenon tubes.

18. The notification device of claim 17, wherein said switching device is a relay.

19. The notification device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said signal and said electrical power are supplied to said notification device by a master controller.

20. The notification device of claim 19 in communication with a vibration notification device configured to vibrate based upon a signal received from said master controller, such that said master controller signals said vibration notification device to vibrate when said strobe drive circuit flashes said at least one strobe.

21. The notification device of claim 20, wherein said vibration notification device wirelessly communicates with said master controller.

22. The notification device of claim 19, wherein said at least one strobe is flashed by said strobe system when a smoke detector device that is in communication with said master controller detects smoke.

23. The notification device of claim 1 further comprising an audible device configured to emit an audible noise based upon said signal received from at least one of said plurality of conductors.

24. The notification device of claim 23, wherein said flashing of said at least one strobe and said audible noise emitted from said audible device are substantially synchronized when said signal received from at least one of said plurality of conductors is a different protocol than an operating protocol of said notification device.

25. The notification device of claim 24 further comprising a synchronization module configured to interrupt said supplied signal from at least one of said plurality of conductors, wherein said synchronization module supplies a signal having a predetermined pulse to said at least one strobe drive circuit and said audible device.

26. A method of visual notification of different types of events by flashing different colors, said method comprising:

receiving a periodic signal in each of a plurality of notification devices;

determining a color and a flash rate in at least one of said plurality of notification devices based upon data contained in said periodic signal; and

flashing at least one strobe at said determined color and flash rate in at least one of said plurality of notification devices.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said plurality of notification devices are connected in parallel.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of providing said data as to which of said different colors said at least one strobe is flashed, wherein said data is at least one pulse.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of selecting one of at least two sets of strobes of said at least one strobe.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein each set of said at least two sets of strobes generates light of a different color than any other of said at least two sets of strobes.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of flashing said at least one strobe comprises generating said determined color by changing a ratio of electrical power supplied to each of at least two sets of strobes, each set of strobes emitting light of a different color, so that a combined output of the at least two sets of strobes has the determined color.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of providing a vibration notification device configured to vibrate when said periodic signal is received by said notification device.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of emitting an audible noise by said notification device based upon said received periodic signal.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of synchronizing said audible noise and flashing of said at least one strobe when said received signal is a protocol other than an operating protocol of said notification device.

35. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of providing said periodic signal in one of a plurality of protocols, wherein said notification device translates a plurality of protocols to a predetermined protocol to determine said color and said flash rate.

36. A notification system comprising:

a master controller;

a notification device in communication with said master controller, wherein said notification device comprises;

at least one strobe drive circuit configured to supply an electrical signal for periodically flashing at least one strobe;

a smoke detector device in communication with said master controller; and

an Ethernet connection connecting said master controller and said smoke detector device, wherein an electrical power is supplied to said smoke detector device and a data signal is communicated between said master controller and said smoke detector over said Ethernet connection.

37. The notification system of claim 36, wherein said notification device further comprises a strobe system in communication with said at least one strobe drive circuit, and said strobe system is configured to flash said at least one strobe in one of at least two different colors.

38. The notification system of claim 36, wherein said notification device further comprises a controller in communication with said at least one strobe drive circuit, and said controller is configured to determine which color of at least two different colors to flash said at least one strobe based upon an electrical signal received from said master controller via said Ethernet connection.

39. The notification system of claim 38, wherein said controller receives updates over said Ethernet connection.

40. The notification system of claim 36 further comprising a vibration notification device configured to vibrate based upon a signal received from said master controller, such that said master controller signals said vibration notification device to vibrate when said strobe drive circuit flashes said at least one strobe.

41. The notification system of claim 40, wherein said vibration notification device wirelessly communicates with said master controller.

42. The notification system of claim 36, wherein said notification device further comprises an audible device configured to emit an audible noise based upon said signal received from said master controller.

43. The notification system of claim 42, wherein said flashing of said at least one strobe and said audible noise emitted from said audible device are substantially synchronized when said master controller is operating using a protocol that is different than an operating protocol of said notification device.

44. The notification system of claim 43, wherein said notification device further comprises a synchronization module configured to interrupt said signal supplied from said master controller, wherein said synchronization module supplies a signal having a predetermined pulse to said at least one strobe drive circuit and said audible device.

45. A notification system comprising:

a notification device configured to flash at least one strobe one of at least two different colors based upon a received electrical signal during a time period; and

a vibration notification device remote from said notification device, and is configured to vibrate based upon a received signal, such that said vibration notification device vibrates during said time period said notification device flashes said at least one strobe.

46. The notification system of claim 45, wherein said notification device further comprises:

at least one strobe device configured to provide an electrical signal for periodically flashing at least one strobe based upon said received signal; and

a strobe system in communication with at least one strobe device, and is configured to flash said at least one strobe in one of said at least two different colors.

47. The notification system of claim 45 further comprising a master controller in communication with said notification device and said vibration notification device.

48. The notification system of claim 47 further comprising a smoke detector device, wherein said master controller commands at least one of said notification device to flash said at least one strobe and said vibration notification device to vibrate when said smoke detector detects smoke.

49. The notification system of claim 47, wherein said vibration notification device is in wireless communication with said master controller.

50. The notification system of claim 47, wherein said notification device further comprises an audible device configured to emit an audible noise.

51. The notification system of claim 50, wherein said flashing of said at least one strobe and said audible noise emitted from said audible device are substantially synchronized when said master controller is operating using a different protocol than at least one said notification device.

52. The notification system of claim 51, wherein said notification device further comprises a synchronization module configured to interrupt a power signal communicated from said master controller and to provide an electrical signal having a predetermined pulse to said at least one strobe drive circuit and said audible device.

53. A notification device comprising:

at least one strobe drive circuit configured to provide an electrical signal for periodically flashing at least one strobe based upon a received signal;

a strobe system in communication with said strobe drive circuit, wherein said strobe system is configured to flash at least one strobe in one of at least two different colors; and

an audible device configured to emit an audible noise, wherein said flashing of said at least one strobe and said emitting of said audible noise are substantially synchronized when said received signal is a protocol that is different than an operating protocol of at least one said notification device.

54. The notification system of claim 53, wherein said notification device further comprises a synchronization module configured to interrupt said received signal, wherein said synchronization module supplies an electrical signal having a predetermined pulse to said at least one strobe drive circuit and said audible device.