ALARM SYSTEM

• US 3,626,098 A
• Filed: 08/25/1969
• Issued: 12/07/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John R. Lee
• Original Assignee: John R. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Helvestine, William A.
• Application Number:
  US04/852,600
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 177/5,6,100 178/79,83
• US Class Current: 379/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 using recorded signals, e.g. speech

Abstract

A timer is included in an alarm system for enabling termination of message transmission from the alarm system. In an alarm system of the type wherein in response to a sensed alarm condition an information storage and retrieval unit operates a dial pulse switch to dial a telephone number stored in the information storage and retrieval unit and causes a message also stored therein to be repetitively transmitted over telephone lines, the timer is coupled to the information storage and retrieval unit and actuated to operate simultaneously therewith. Upon completion of a predetermined interval, the timer provides a signal to the information storage and retrieval unit for enabling termination of the message transmission. Transmission is thereafter terminated upon the provision of an end-of-message indication from the information storage and retrieval unit.

Claims

2. An alarm system wherein in response to a sensed alarm condition a dialing pulse switch is operated to dial a predetermined dialing number on the telephone lines and a predetermined message is then transmitted over the telephone lines, comprising a dial pulse switch for dialing a predetermined number on the telephone lines;

a message transmitter for transmitting a predetermined message over the telephone lines;

an information storage and retrieval unit operatively coupled to the dial pulse switch and to the message transmitter and containing a stored predetermined dialing number and a stored predetermined message, which information storage and retrieval unit, in response to a said sensed alarm condition, operates the dial pulse switch to dial the stored predetermined dialing number and provides to the message transmitter a stored predetermined message for transmission, wherein the alarm system is characterized by the feature that the information storage and retrieval unit comprises a rotatable disc containing, along a first circular track, conductive elements defining a series of dialing pulse trains representative of the stored predetermined dialing number, wherein each dialing pulse train contains a number of pulses representative of a separate digit of the stored predetermined dialing number and further containing, along a second circular track, conductive elements defining a series of message pulse trains representative of the stored predetermined message wherein each message pulse train contains a number of pulses representative of a separate character of the stored predetermined message, a first conductive wiper positioned to make contact with the conductive elements along the first circular track and operatively coupled to the dialing pulse switch for causing dialing of the predetermined number when the disc rotates, and a second conductive wiper positioned to make contact with the conductive elements along the second circular track and operatively coupled to the message transmitter for causing transmission of the stored predetermined message as the disc continues to rotate subsequent to the Dialing of the predetermined number; and

an alarm receiver operatively coupled to the message transmitter for graphically displaying a separate character of the predetermined message in response to each said message pulse train, which alarm receiver comprises an input amplifier for providing a series of message pulse trains in response to the receipt of a said transmitted predetermined message, a first signal converter operatively coupled to the input amplifier for providing a separate pulse for each message pulse train, each of which separate pulses has a duration equal to that of its corresponding message pulse train, a ring counter operatively coupled to the first signal converter for sequentially providing on one of a plurality of output lines at a time a series of enabling pulses in response to the pulses received from the first signal converter, a plurality of digit gates operatively coupled to the input amplifier and to the ring counter wherein each digit gate is operatively coupled to a separate output line from the ring counter, which plurality of digit gates are sequentially opened one at a time in response to the enabling pulses from the ring counter for sequentially and separately providing on their respective output lines a single message pulse train, and a plurality of digit display units each being operatively coupled to a separate digit gate for graphically displaying a separate character of a said predetermined message in response to the message pulse train received from its respective digit gate.

3. An alarm system according to claim 2 further characterized by a second signal converter operatively coupled to the input amplifier, to the ring counter and to the digit display units, for providing, in response to the series of message pulse trains from the input amplifier, a reset signal comprising a single reset pulse having the duration of the series of message pulse trains, which reset signal is provided to the ring counter and to the digit display unit for resetting them to their initial condition at the beginning of a said single reset pulse.

4. An alarm system according to claim 2 characterized by a return tone generator and by a return tone timer which when actuated causes the return tone generator to provide a return signal having a predetermined duration over the telephone lines to the message transmitter, wherein the return tone timer is operatively coupled to the input amplifier for suppressing the input amplifier from providing a series of message pulse trains while a return signal is being provided.

5. An alarm system wherein in response to a sensed alarm condition a dialing pulse switch is operated to dial a predetermined dialing number on the telephone lines and a predetermined message is then transmitted over the telephone lines, comprising a dial pulse switch for dialing a predetermined number on the telephone lines;

a message transmitter for transmitting a predetermined message over the telephone lines;

an information storage and retrieval unit operatively coupled to the dial pulse switch and to the message transmitter and containing a stored predetermined dialing number and a stored predetermined message, which information storage and retrieval unit, in response to a said sensed alarm condition, operates the dial pulse switch to dial the stored predetermined dialing number and provides to the message transmitter a stored predetermined message for transmission, wherein the alarm system is characterized by the feature that the information storage and retrieval unit comprises a rotatable disc containing, along a first circular track, conductive elements defining a series of dialing pulse trains representative of the stored predetermined dialing number, wherein each dialing pulse train contains a number of pulses representative of a separate digit of the stored predetermined dialing number and further containing, along a second circular track, conductive elements defining a series of messAge pulse trains representative of the stored predetermined message wherein each message pulse train contains a number of pulses representative of a separate character of the stored predetermined message, a first conductive wiper positioned to make contact with the conductive elements along the first circular track and operatively coupled to the dialing pulse switch for causing dialing of the predetermined number when the disc rotates, and a second conductive wiper positioned to make contact with the conductive elements along the second circular track and operatively coupled to the message transmitter for causing transmission of the stored predetermined message as the disc continues to rotate subsequent to the dialing of the predetermined number; and

an alarm receiver operatively coupled to the message transmitter for graphically displaying a separate character of the predetermined message in response to each said message pulse train, which alarm receiver comprises an answering switch circuit operatively coupled to the telephone lines, which answering switch circuit comprises a line seizure switch normally in an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position, wherein the answering switch circuit is operatively responsive to a ringing signal provided over the telephone lines thereto for operating the line seizure switch to remove the line seizure switch from the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position and to operatively couple the telephone lines to the alarm receiver.

6. An alarm system according to claim 5 further characterized by a return tone generator and by a return tone timer operatively coupled to the answering switch circuit, which return tone timer when actuated causes the return tone generator to provide a return signal having a predetermined duration over the telephone lines to the message transmitter, and which return tone timer provides to the answering switch circuit, upon the termination of a said predetermined duration, a signal for returning the line seizure switch to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position.

7. An alarm system according to claim 5 further characterized by an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' timer which is operatively coupled to the answering switch for limiting the duration of the operation of the alarm receiver, which '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' timer commences operation for a predetermined duration upon receipt of a signal provided from the answering switch at such time as the line seizure switch is removed from the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position and which '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' timer provides upon the termination of the predetermined duration a signal to the answering switch for returning the line seizure switch to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position.

8. An alarm system wherein in response to a sensed alarm condition a predetermined message is transmitted, comprising a message transmitter for transmitting a predetermined message, wherein the predetermined message comprises a series of message pulse trains representative of the stored predetermined message, wherein each message pulse train contains a number of pulses representative of a separate character of the predetermined message;

and an alarm receiver operatively coupled to the message transmitter for graphically displaying a separate character of the predetermined message in response to each said transmitted message pulse train, which alarm receiver comprises an input amplifier for providing a series of message pulse trains in response to the receipt of a said transmitted predetermined message, a first signal converter operatively coupled to the input amplifier for providing a separate pulse for each message pulse train, each of which separate pulses has a duration equal to that of its corresponding message pulse train, a ring counter operatively coupled to the first signal converter for sequentially providing on one of a plurality of output lines at a time a series of enabling pulses in response to the pulses received from the first signal converter, a plurality of digit gates operatively coupled to the Input amplifier and to the ring counter wherein each digit gate is operatively coupled to a separate output line from the ring counter, which plurality of digit gates are sequentially opened one at a time in response to the enabling pulses from the ring counter for sequentially and separately providing on their respective output lines a single message pulse train, and a plurality of digit display units each being operatively coupled to a separate digit gate for graphically displaying a separate character of a said predetermined message in response to the message pulse train received from its respective digit gate.

9. An alarm system according to claim 8 further characterized by a second signal converter operatively coupled to the input amplifier, to the ring counter and to the digit display unit, for providing in response to the series of message pulse trains from the input amplifier, a reset signal comprising a single reset pulse having the duration of the series of message pulse trains, which reset signal is provided to the ring counter and to the digit display unit for resetting them to their initial condition at the beginning of a said single reset pulse.

10. An alarm system according to claim 8 characterized by a return tone generator and by a return tone timer which when actuated causes the return tone generator to provide a return signal having a predetermined duration to the message transmitter, wherein the return tone timer is operatively coupled to the input amplifier for suppressing the input amplifier from providing a series of message pulse trains while a return tone signal is being provided.

11. An alarm system wherein in response to a sensed alarm condition a predetermined message is transmitted, comprising a message transmitter for transmitting a predetermined message, wherein the predetermined message comprises a series of message pulse trains representative of the stored predetermined message, wherein each message pulse train contains a number of pulses representative of a separate character of the predetermined message;

and wherein the alarm system is characterized by an alarm receiver operatively coupled to the message transmitter for graphically displaying a separate character of the predetermined message in response to each said transmitted message pulse train, which alarm receiver comprises an answering switch circuit operatively coupled to telephone lines which operatively coupled the message transmitter to the alarm receiver, which answering switch circuit comprises a line seizure switch normally in an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position, wherein the answering switch circuit is operatively responsive to a ringing signal provided over the telephone lines thereto for operating the line seizure switch to remove the line seizure switch from the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position and to operatively couple the telephone lines to the alarm receiver.

12. An alarm system according to claim 11 further characterized by a return tone generator and by a return tone timer operatively coupled to the answering switch circuit, which return tone timer when actuated causes the return tone generator to provide a return signal having a predetermined duration over the telephone lines to the message transmitter, and which return tone timer provides to the answering switch circuit, upon the termination of a said predetermined duration, a signal for returning the line seizure switch to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position.

13. An alarm system according to claim 11 further characterized by an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' timer which is operatively coupled to the answering switch for limiting the duration of the operation of the alarm receiver, which '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' timer commences operation for a predetermined duration upon receipt of a signal provided from the answering switch at such time as the line seizure switch is removed from the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position and which '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' timer provides, upon the termination of the predetermined duration, a signal to the answering switch for returning the line seizure switch to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on hook'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position.

14. An alarm system wherein in response to a sensed alarm condition a dial pulse switch is operated to dial a predetermined dialing number on the telephone lines and a predetermined message is then transmitted over the telephone lines, comprising a dial pulse switch for dialing a predetermined number on the telephone lines;

a message transmitter for transmitting a predetermined message over the telephone lines; and

an information storage and retrieval unit operatively coupled to the dial pulse switch and to the message transmitter and containing a stored predetermined dialing number and a stored predetermined message, which information storage and retrieval unit, in response to a said sensed alarm condition, operates the dial pulse switch to dial the stored predetermined dialing number and provides to the message transmitter a stored predetermined message for transmission, wherein the alarm system is characterized by a timer which is operatively coupled to the information storage and retrieval unit, which timer is actuated to operate for a predetermined duration simultaneously with the information storage and retrieval unit commencing operation in response to a said sensed alarm condition and which timer, upon completion of operation for a said predetermined duration, provides a signal to the information storage and retrieval unit for enabling the termination of the operation thereof.

15. An alarm system according to claim 14 further characterized by the feature that the information storage and retrieval unit provides an end-of-message indication that the predetermined message has been provided to the message transmitter and that the operation of the dial pulse switch has not again commenced, which provided indication when combined with the enabling signal causes the information storage and retrieval unit to terminate operation at this end-of-message position.

16. An alarm system according to claim 14 further comprising a line seizure switch which is operable for switching the telephone lines to connection with the message transmitter, which alarm system is further characterized by a system control circuit which is operatively coupled to the timer and to the information storage and retrieval unit for actuating both simultaneously in response to a said sensed alarm condition, and which system control circuit is operatively coupled to the line seizure switch for switching the telephone lines to connection with the message transmitter in response to a said sensed alarm condition;

and by the feature that the timer, upon completion of operation for a said predetermined duration, provides a signal to the system control circuit for enabling the latter to operate the line seizure switch for switching the telephone lines from connection with the message transmitter.

17. An alarm system according to claim 14 wherein the information storage and retrieval unit comprises a rotatable disc containing, along a first circular track, conductive elements defining a series of dialing pulse trains representative of the stored predetermined dialing number, wherein each dialing pulse train contains a number of pulses representative of a separate digit of the stored predetermined dialing number and further containing, along a second circular track, conductive elements defining a series of message pulse trains representative of the stored predetermined message wherein each message pulse train contains a number of pulses representative of a separate character of the stored predetermined message;

a first conductive wiper positioned to make contact with the conductive elements along the first circular track and operatively coupled to the dialing pulse switch for causing dialing of the predetermined number when the disc rotates; and

a second conductive wiper positioned to make contact with the conductive elements along the second circular track and operativeLy coupled to the message transmitter for causing transmission of the stored predetermined messsage as the disc continues to rotate subsequent to the dialing of the predetermined number.

18. An alarm system according to claim 18, wherein the rotatable disc further comprises a conductive end-of-message indicator element which is disposed in relation to the conductive elements along the first and second circular tracks and in relation to the first and second conductive wipers such that when it is scanned by a conductive wiper an indication is provided that the conductive elements along the second circular track have been completely scanned and that the scanning of the conductive elements along the first circular track has not again commenced, which provided indication when combined with a said enabling signal causes the rotatable disc to stop rotating at this end-of-message location.