Aural warning processor

• US 20110241896A1
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avia Accesorios International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Avia Accesorios International, LLC
• Inventors: Camino, Holman Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US12/798,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20110241896A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft

Abstract

An aural warning processor includes a warning signal monitoring circuit and an audio output generation circuit under the operable control of a microcontroller. A system interface provides off-system electrical connectivity for the processor. The warning signal monitoring circuit is monitors the states of various subsystems of a host system with which the aural warning processor is used, as actually measured by through failure detection circuits otherwise provided with the host system and configured to produce electrical signals indicative of the existence of abnormal conditions in or pertaining to monitored subsystems. The electrical signals output from the failure detection circuits are conveyed to the warning signal monitoring circuit through the system interface, the control circuit operates to determine whether any conveyed signal is indicative of an abnormal condition and, if so, further operates to control generation of an appropriate audio message.

Claims

1. A processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs, said processor comprising:

a monitoring circuit, said monitoring circuit being adapted to selectively collect electrical signals generated external to said processor;

a signal generator, said signal generator being adapted to selectively produce an electrical representation of any one of a plurality of electronically stored aural signals;

a controller, said controller being adapted to;

control selection by said monitoring circuit of any one of the electrical signals generated external to said processor;

perform an analysis of said selected electrical signal generated external to said processor, said analysis being determinative of an indication within said selected electrical signal of an anomalous condition; and

control selection by said signal generator of any one of the electronically stored aural signals, said selection of said one of the electronically stored aural signals being made according to said analysis of said selected electrical signal generated external to said processor; and

an aural output device in electrical communication with said signal generator, said aural output device being adapted to convert said electrical representation of any one of a plurality of electronically stored aural signals to the represented aural signal.

2. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a microcontroller.

3. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said signal generator comprises an integrated memory; and

said electronically stored aural signals are electronically stored in said integrated memory of said signal generator.

4. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted for integration with a host system.

5. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 4, wherein said signals generated external to said processor are produced a failure detection system associated with said host system.

6. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 5, wherein said failure detection system comprises a plurality of transducers, each said transducer being adapted to convert a measurement of the physical state of a subsystem of said host system to an electrical signal.

7. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 4, said processor further comprising an interface for integration of said processer with said host system.

8. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 7, wherein said interface comprises an electrical connector.

9. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 8, wherein said interface comprises a plurality of electrical connectors.

10. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 8, wherein said connector is adapted to provide electrical connectivity between said processor and a visual warning device provided in connection with said host system, said visual warning device being adapted to display a visual indication of the existence of an anomalous condition respecting a subsystem of said host system as measured by said failure detection system.

11. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 10, wherein said aural output device is provided external to said processor in connection with said host system.

12. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 7, wherein said aural output device is provided external to said processor in connection with said host system.

13. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 12, wherein said aural output device comprises an audio loudspeaker.

14. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 12, wherein said aural output device comprises a connection adapted for interface with an audio headset.

15. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 12, wherein said aural output device comprises an audio controller.

16. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 12, wherein said electrical representation produced by said signal generator of said electronically stored aural signals comprises a digital signal.

17. The processor for producing aural messages responsive to external signal inputs as recited in claim 12, wherein said electrical representation produced by said signal generator of said electronically stored aural signals comprises an analog signal.