Automatic Audible Alarm Origination Locate
First Claim
1. A method for automatic audible alarm origination locate, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring an input-output bus coupling together a spatially diverse plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices;
detecting when the input-output bus at a first logic level goes to a second logic level;
determining if the second logic level remains on the input-output bus for a first time period, whereinif so, then determining which ones of the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices are in a local alarm condition and which other ones are not in the local alarm condition, wherein the ones that are in the local alarm condition are designated as follower devices and the other ones that are not in the local alarm condition are designated as slave devices, andif not, then determining when one of the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices is in the local alarm condition;
making a first one of the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices in the local alarm condition a master device;
asserting the second logic level on the input-output bus with the master device;
asserting the first logic level on the input-output bus with the master device for short times between asserting the second logic level thereon; and
synchronizing groups of alert tone pulses from the master, follower and slave devices, wherein alert tone pulse groups from the slave device will only occur when the input-output bus is at the second logic level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of hazard alarm devices are in spatially diverse locations and coupled together with an input-output bus. An interconnect protocol enables non-originating alarm devices to synchronize their audible alert tone pulses with audible alert tone pulses from an originating alarm device in a local hazard alarm condition. Hence, all audible alert tone pulses start sounding substantially together with allowances for signal contention and arbitration between the spatially diverse alarm devices. The originating alarm device continuously sounds its pattern of audible alert tone pulse groups without interruption, while the non-originating alarm devices periodically pause sounding a group of their audible alert tone pulses. The originating alarm device may be found by listening for the alarm device that is continuously sounding audible alert tone pulse groups without pause.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for automatic audible alarm origination locate, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring an input-output bus coupling together a spatially diverse plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices; detecting when the input-output bus at a first logic level goes to a second logic level; determining if the second logic level remains on the input-output bus for a first time period, wherein if so, then determining which ones of the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices are in a local alarm condition and which other ones are not in the local alarm condition, wherein the ones that are in the local alarm condition are designated as follower devices and the other ones that are not in the local alarm condition are designated as slave devices, and if not, then determining when one of the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices is in the local alarm condition; making a first one of the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices in the local alarm condition a master device; asserting the second logic level on the input-output bus with the master device; asserting the first logic level on the input-output bus with the master device for short times between asserting the second logic level thereon; and synchronizing groups of alert tone pulses from the master, follower and slave devices, wherein alert tone pulse groups from the slave device will only occur when the input-output bus is at the second logic level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A hazard detection and alarm system, said system comprising:
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a plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices coupled together with an input-output bus, where the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices are spatially diverse; one of the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices becomes a master when in a local alarm, other ones of the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices become followers when in a local alarm occurring after the occurrence of the master local alarm, and still other ones of the plurality of hazard detection and alarm devices become slaves when not in a local alarm; and the master asserts a second logic level on the input-output bus that was previously at a first logic level, then periodically asserts the first logic level on the input-output bus for a first time period, then thereafter asserts no logic level on the input-output bus for a second time period and thereafter reasserts the second logic level on the input-output bus, wherein all followers and slaves synchronize their alert tone pulse groups to alert tone groups of the master from when the input-output bus goes from the first logic level to the second logic level and remains at the second logic level for a first time period; wherein alert tone pulse groups from the slave devices will only occur when the input-output bus is at the second logic level. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A hazard detection and alarm device comprises:
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a hazard detector; an alarm alert generator; an audible sound reproducer coupled to an output of the alarm alert generator; a digital processor having a first input coupled to the hazard detector for receiving a hazard detection signal and a first output coupled to the alarm alert generator for control thereof; a bus driver having an input coupled to a second output of the digital processor and an output adapted for coupling to an input-output bus; a bus receiver having an input adapted for coupling to the input-output bus and an output coupled to a second input of the digital processor; and a time delay filter having an input coupled to the output of the bus receiver and an output coupled to a third input of the digital processor; wherein the digital processor determines a master, follower or slave state of the hazard detection and alarm device, and when the slave state is determined then the alarm alert generator will only drive the audible sound reproducer when a logic high is present on the input-output bus. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification