PANEL ROOM STATUS INDICATOR SYSTEM AND ROOM UNIT THEREFOR

• US 3,705,422 A
• Filed: 04/01/1971
• Issued: 12/05/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenfred L. Savey
• Original Assignee: Lenfred L. Savey
• Inventors: Savey, Lenfred L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/130,222
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286R,287R
• US Class Current: 340/286.08
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A system for providing visual indication at the registration desk of a hotel or motel and in the housekeeper'"'"''"'"'s office thereof, of the status of occupancy, cleanliness and inspection of each guest room of the hotel or motel, and a room unit for such system. The preferred form of room unit comprises a jack including two open-circuited switches the first of which is arranged to be closed by insertion of a short plug in the jack and both of which are arranged to be closed by insertion of a longer plug in the jack. The anode-cathode path of a first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) is connected in series relationship with a first resistor between one contact of the first switch and a first supply conductor, to which the cathode of the SCR is connected. That conductor provides a negative return path to a d-c constant voltage source. The anode-cathode path of a second SCR is connected between one contact of the second switch and the first supply conductor. A first diode is connected in series relationship with a second resistor of value smaller than that of the first resistor, between the other contact of the first switch and a second supply conductor to which the cathode of the diode is connected. The second supply conductor provides a negative return path to a source of pulsating d-c voltage. A second diode is connected in series relationship with an indicator lamp between the second conductor and the anode of the second SCR, the cathode of the second diode being connected to the second conductor. Respective voltage dividers for applying a triggering voltage to the respective control electrodes of the first and second SCRs are connected from the second contacts of the first and second switches respectively to the first conductor. Third and fourth conductors for making connections to respective indicator lamps in an indicator station of the system are connected to the respective first terminals of the first and second switches. The indicator system preferably comprises two indicator stations - a panel at the registration desk and another panel at the housekeeper'"'"''"'"'s station. Each of those panels includes two indicator lamps for each room. In one embodiment a first lamp in each panel is connected in series with a first lamp in the other panel, the third conductor of the room unit, and one terminal of a normally closed reset switch the other terminal of which is connected to the positive terminal of the d-c constant voltage source. A second lamp in each panel is connected in series with a second lamp in the other panel, with another switch located in the registration panel, and with the d-c constant voltage source. The negative terminal of the source is connected to the first conductor of the room unit. In addition, to provide pulsating voltage a periodically actuated switch is connected between that negative terminal and the second conductor of the room unit. In another embodiment the first lamps of the two panels are connected in parallel and the parallel combination is connected in series with the reset switch, the third conductor and the d-c voltage source. The second lamps also are connected in parallel and that parallel combination is connected in series with the fourth conductor, the other switch and the d-c voltage source. In either embodiment closure of the other switch causes the second lamps and the room unit light to flash. Insertion of a short plug into the room unit jack causes the first lamps also to flash. Removal of that plug causes the first lamps to emit constant-intensity light. Insertion of the longer plug into the jack causes the room unit lamp to be extinguished and the second lamps to emit constant-intensity light; this condition continues after removal of the longer plug. Opening of the reset switch causes the first lamps to be extinguished, and opening of the other switch causes the second lamps to be extinguished.

Claims

1. In a room unit for a room status indicator system, a first conductor for receiving a constant operating potential, a second conductor for receiving a pulsating operating potential, and a third conductor for making connection to electrically actuatable indicator means, a thyristor having an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, means connecting said cathode to said first conductor, and means connecting said anode to said third conductor, a switch having a first contact and a second contact, means connecting said first contact of said switch to said third conductor, and means connected to said second contact of said switch for transmitting a triggering current to said control electrode of said thyristor, rectifier means having an anode and a cathode, and bidirectionally conductive means connecting said cathode of said rectifier means to said second conductor and said anode of said rectifier means to one of said first and secOnd contacts of said switch.

2. A room unit according to claim 1, wherein said means connecting said anode of said thyristor to said third conductor comprises first resistive means having a given resistance, and said means connecting said cathode of said rectifier means to said second conductor and said anode of said rectifier means to one of said contacts of said switch comprises second resistive means having a resistance lower than given resistance and connected in series relationship with said rectifier means and said second contact of said switch.

3. A room unit according to claim 1, wherein said means connecting said cathode of said rectifier means to said second conductor and said anode of said rectifier means to one of said contacts of said switch comprises another electrically actuatable indicator means connected in series relationship with said rectifier means and said first contact of said switch.

4. A room status indicator system comprising a room unit according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a signal station comprising said electrically actuatable indicator means, said indicator means having first and second terminals, said third conductor being connected to saId first terminal, another switch having one terminal connected to said second terminal of said indicator means and having another terminal, means for connecting said other terminal of said other switch to the positive terminal of a source of substantially constant unidirectional voltage, means for connecting said first conductor to the negative terminal of said source, and means for connecting said second conductor of said room unit to the negative terminal of a source of pulsed unidirectional voltage.

5. A room unit for a room status indicator system, comprising, a first conductor for receiving a constant operating potential, a second conductor for receiving a pulsating operating potential, a third conductor for making connection to first electrically actuatable indicator means, and a fourth conductor for making connection to second electrically actuatable indicator means, a first thyristor having a cathode, an anode and a control electrode, means connecting said cathode to said first conductor, and first resistive means having a given resistance and connecting said anode to said third conductor, a second thyristor having a cathode, an anode, and a control electrode, means connecting said cathode of said second thyristor to said first conductor, and means connecting said anode of said second thyristor to said fourth conductor, switching means comprising first and second switches each having a first contact and a second contact normally open-circuited from said first contact, said switching means being operable by a first actuator to close-circuit saId first and second contacts of solely said first switch, and by a second actuator differing from said first actuator to close-circuit said first and second contacts of at least said second switch, means connecting said first contact of said first switch to said third conductor, and first means connected to said second contact of said first switch for transmitting a triggering current to said control electrode of said first thyristor, means connecting said first contact of saId second switch to said fourth conductor, and second means connected to said second contact of said second switch for transmitting a triggering current to said control electrode of said second thyristor, first rectifier means having an anode and a cathode, and second resistive means having a resistance lower than said given resistance of said first resistive means, said first rectifier means and said second resistive means being connected in series relationship between said second conductor and said second contact of said first switch, and said first rectifier means being poled so that said anode of said first rectifier means is connected to said first switch and said cathode of said first rectifier meanS is connected to said second conductor, second rectifier means having an anode and a cathode, and third electrically actuatable indicator means, said second rectifier means and said third indicator means being connected in series relationship between said second conductor and said fourth conductor, and said second rectifier means being poled so that said anode of said second rectifier means is connected to said fourth conductor and said cathode of said second rectifier means is connected to said second conductor.

6. A room unit according to claim 5, wherein said first means for transmitting a triggering current comprises third resistive means interconnecting said second contact of said first switch and said control electrode of said first thyristor, and said second means for transmitting a triggering current comprises fourth resistive means interconnecting said second contact of said second switch and saId control electrode of said second thyristor, said room unit also comprising fifth resistive means interconnecting said first conductor and said control electrode of said first thyristor, sixth resistive means interconnecting said first conductor and said control electrode of said second thyristor, and first and second capacitive bypass means shunting said fifth resistive means and said sixth resistive means respectively.

7. A room unit according to claim 5, further comprising first means for limiting the rate of rise of forward-biasing voltage between said anode and said cathode of said first thyristor, and second means for limiting the rate of rise of forward-biasing voltage between saId anode and said cathode of said second thyristor.

8. A room unit according to claim 5 wherein said third indicator means comprises an electric lamp.

9. A room unit according to claim 5, wherein said switching means comprises a jack including said first and second switches, said first actuator comprises a first plug having a given length, said second actuator comprises a second plug whose length exceeds said given length, said jack comprises means for receiving alternatively said first plug or said second plug, solely said first switch is responsive to insertion of saId first plug into said receiving means to close-circuit said first and second contacts of said first switch, and each of said first and second switches is responsive to insertion of said second plug into said receiving means to close-circuit said first and second contacts thereof.

10. A room status indicator system comprising a room unit according to claim 5 and further comprising:

a signal station comprising said first electrically actuatable indicator means and said second electrically actuatable indicator means, each of said first and second indicator means having first and second terminals, said third conductor being connected to said first terminal of said first indicator means, said fourth conductor being connected to said first terminal of said second indicator means, and a third switch having a first terminal connected to said second terminal of said second indicator means and having a second terminal, means for connecting said second terminal of said third switch to the positive terminal of a first source of substantially constant unidirectional voltage, means including normally closed switch means for connecting said second terminal of said first indicator means to said positive terminal of said first source, means for connecting said first conductor of said room unit to the negative terminal of said first source, and means for connecting said second conductor of said room unit to the negative terminal of a second source of pulsed unidirectional voltage.

11. A room status indicator system according to claim 10, comprising said first source and said second source, wherein said second source comprises said first source and also comprises switch means having one terminal connected to said negative terminal of said first source and having another terminal, for periodically providing betweeN said terminals thereof alternately a low-resistance path and a high-resistance path, and wherein said second conductor of said room unit is connected to said other terminal of the last-named switch means.

12. A room status indicator system according to claim 10, wherein each of said first, second and third indicator means comprises an electric lamp.

13. A room status indicator system according to claim 10, wherein said switching means of said room unit comprises a jack including said first and second switches, said first actuator comprises a first plug having a given length, said second actuator comprises a second plug whose length exceeds said given length, said jack comprises means for receiving alternatively said first plug or said second plug, solely said first switch is responsive to insertion of said first plug into said receiving means to close-circuit said first and second contacts of said first switch, and each of said first and second switches is responsive to insertion of said second plug into said receiving means to close-circuit said first and second contacts thereof.

14. A room status indicator system according to claim 13, wherein each of said first, second and third indicator means comprises an electric lamp.

15. A system for indicating the status of a plurality of rooms, said system comprising for each of said rooms a room unit according to claim 5, said system further comprising:

a first signal station comprising for each of said rooms said first electrically actuatable indicator means and said second electrically actuatable indicator means, each of said first and second electrically actuatable indicator means having first and second terminals, means connecting said third conductor of said room unit for each given one of said rooms to said first terminal of said first indicator means for said given room, means connecting said fourth conductor of said room unit for said given room to said first terminal of said second indicator means for said given room, and a third switch having a first terminal connected to said second terminal of said second indicator means for said given room and having a second terminal, a second signal station comprising for each of said rooms fourth electrically actuatable indicator means and fifth electrically actuatable indicator means, each of said fourth and fifth indicator means having first and second terminals, means connecting said second terminal of said first indicator means for said given room to said first terminal of said fourth indicator means for said given room, means connecting said second terminal of said third switch to said first terminal of said fifth indicator means for said given room, and normally closed switch means having one terminal connected to said second terminal of each of said fourth indicator means for every one of said rooms and having another terminal, a source of a substantially constant unidirectional voltage, said source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, means for connecting said other terminal of said normally closed switch means and said second terminal of every one of said fifth indicator means to said positive terminal of said source, means for connecting said first conductor of every one of said room units to said negative terminal of said source, switching means having one terminal connected to said negative terminal of said source and having another terminal, for periodically providing between said terminals thereof alternately a low-resistance path and a high-resistance path, and means for connecting said second conductor of every one of said room units to said other terminal of the last-named switch means.

16. A room status indicator system according to claim 15, wherein, in each of said room units, said first means for transmitting a triggering current comprises third resistive means interconnecting said second contact of said first switch and said control electrode of said first thyristor, and said second means for transmitting a triGgering current comprises fourth resistive means interconnecting said second contact of said second switch and said control electrode of said second thyristor, said room unit also comprising fifth resistive means interconnecting said first conductor and said control electrode of said first thyristor, sixth resistive means interconnecting said first conductor and said control electrode of said second thyristor, and first and second capacitive bypass means respectively shunting said fifth resistive means and said sixth resistive means.

17. A room status indicator system according to claim 16, further comprising, in each of said room units, first means for limiting the rate of rise of forward-biasing voltage between said anode and said cathode of said first thyristor, and second means for limiting the rate of rise of forward-biasing voltage between said anode and said cathode of said second thyristor.

18. A room status indicator system according to claim 17, wherein each of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth indicator means comprises an electric lamp.

19. A room status indicator system according to claim 18, wherein, in each of said room units, said switching means comprises a jack including said first and second switches, said first actuator comprises a first plug having a given length, said second actuator comprises a second plug whose length exceeds said given length, said jack comprises means for receiving alternatively said first plug or said second plug, solely said first switch is responsive to insertion of said first plug into said receiving means to close-circuit said first and second contacts of said first switch, and each of said first and second switches is responsive to insertion of said second plug into said receiving means to close-circuit said first and second contacts thereof.

20. A room status indicator system comprising a room unit according to claim 5 and further comprising:

a first signal station comprising said first electrically actuatable indicator means and said second electrically actuatable indicator means, each of said first and second electrically actuatable indicator means having first and second terminals, means connecting said third conductor of said room unit to said first terminal of said first indicator means, a third switch having first and second terminals, means connecting said fourth conductor of said room unit to said first terminal of said third switch, and means connecting said second terminal of said third switch to said first terminal of said second indicator means, a second signal station comprising fourth electrically actuatable indicator means and fifth electrically actuatable indicator means, each of said fourth and fifth indicator means having first and second terminals, means interconnecting said first terminals of said first and fourth indicator means, means interconnecting said second terminals of said first and fourth indicator means, normally closed switch means having one terminal connected to said second terminal of said fourth indicator means and having another terminal, means interconnecting said first terminals of said second and fifth indicator means, and means interconnecting said second terminals of said second and fifth indicator means, means for connecting said other terminal of said normally closed switch means and said second terminal of said fifth indicator means to the positive terminal of a source of substantially constant unidirectional voltage, means for connecting said first conductor of said room unit to the negative terminal of said source, and means for connecting said second conductor of said room unit to the negative terminal of a source of pulsed unidirectional voltage.