LOCAL AND NATIONAL WARNING ALARM SYSTEM

• US 3,701,024 A
• Filed: 12/30/1970
• Issued: 10/24/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Billie Joe Ball, Donald F. Fitzgerald, James H. Knowles
• Original Assignee: Billie Joe Ball, Donald F. Fitzgerald, James H. Knowles
• Inventors: Knowles, James H., Ball, Billie Joe, Fitzgerald, Donald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Murray, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weinstein, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US05/102,844
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 325/364,466,51,302,303 340/164,181,224
• US Class Current: 455/526
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency

Abstract

An alarm and information communication system utilizing existing radio broadcast facilities to transmit a warning alarm signal and emergency information to the population in the event of a local or national emergency; the system consists of a warning alarm signal generator as an available program source at the broadcast stations and warning alarm signal and emergency information receivers are provided for use by the general public. The system provides for designation of some radio broadcast stations as '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'local stations'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and some as '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'regional stations'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' by Civil Defense or other appropriate authority; each alarm signal and information receiver is adapted to continuously monitor one local and one regional broadcast station whereby, upon reception of a signal of a specified frequency from the local station or reception of a signal from the regional station, the receiver will emit an alarm signal and then broadcast the pertinent information.

Claims

1. A local and national alarm and information communication system comprising:

alarm signal generating means for supplying an alarm signal of a predetermined frequency to be broadcast by designated local and regional radio stations, receiving units for use by individuals in the system, each of said units including a first receiving means for receiving said alarm signal and audio signals broadcast by said designated local radio station and a second receiving means for receiving said alarm signal and audio signals broadcast by said designated regional radio station, first switching means connected to said first and second receiving means, said first switching means including a signal gate, means for supplying a reference voltage from said first receiving means to said signal gate, second switching means movable between a first and second position in response to reception of said alarm signal by a said receiving unit, said second switching means being connected to said signal gate and said signal gate being shiftable between a first position wherein signals are passed only from said first position wherein signals are passed only from said first receiving means to said second switching means when said local radio station is broadcasting and a second position in response to the absence of a broadcast signal from said local radio station wherein signals are passed only from said second receiving means to said second switching means, audio broadcasting means connected to said second switching means and operating to broadcast said alarm signal and information when said second switching means is in said second position.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second switching means is a signal gate and said alarm signal passed through said first switching means is fed through a narrow band pass filter to an amplifier and to a demodulator connected to the output of said amplifier, said demodulator being connected to a pulse counter providing a voltage output for shifting said signal gate from said first position to said second position upon sensing of a predetermined number of pulses by said counter.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the output of said counter actuates a visual alarm.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said audio broadcasting means comprises an audio amplifier and speaker connected to said amplifier.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein a manual switch is provided between said second switching means and said audio broadcasting means, said manual switch being shiftable between one position wherein said second switching means is connected to said audio broadcasting means and another position wherein said audio broadcasting means is connected through a potentiometer to said first switching means.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said manual switch is mechanically linked with a second switch in a circuit for providing a resetting voltage to said second switching means so that when said manual switch is moved to said other position said second switch will close said circuit and said second switching means will be reset.

7. A receiving unit for use by persons in a local and national alarm warning system comprising:

first receiving means for receiving an alarm signal of a specified frequency and audio signalS broadcast by a first radio transmitter, second receiving means for receiving said alarm signal and audio signals broadcast by a second radio transmitter, first switching means including a signal gate and means for supplying a reference voltage from said first receiving means to said signal gate, said signal gate being connected to said first and second receiving means, second switching means including a signal gate movable between a first, circuit breaking position and a second, circuit closing position, a narrow band pass filter connected to said first switching means, an amplifier and demodulator connected in series to said filter, a pulse counter connected to said demodulator for providing a voltage output for moving said signal gate of said second switching means from said first position to said second position upon sensing of a predetermined number of pulses by said counter, said second switching means being connected to said first switching means and said first switching means being shiftable between a first position wherein signals are passed only from said first receiving means to said second switching means when said first radio transmitter is operating and a second position in response to the absence of a broadcast signal from said first radio transmitter wherein signals are passed only from said second receiving means to said second switching means, and audio broadcasting means connected to said second switching means and operating to broadcast said alarm signal and information when said second switching means is in said second position.