Alerting process and system of apparatus therefor

• US 4,031,467 A
• Filed: 09/19/1975
• Issued: 06/21/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James M. Whitney, Lewis Singleton Jr
• Original Assignee: James M. Whitney, Lewis Singleton Jr
• Inventors: Whitney, James M., Singleton, Lewis Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safourek, Benedict V.
• Application Number:
  US05/614,918
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 325/51, 325/53, 325/54, 325/55, 325/64, 325/308, 325/392, 325/466, 325/478, 325/1, 325/6, 325/57, 343/200, 343/207, 343/208, 343/225, 343/228, 340/224
• US Class Current: 455/526
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast

Abstract

A master control unit is placed for operation at each of several radio stations covering large area zones. A distinct audio triggering frequency is provided for each of several defined smaller zones in the large area zones. On notice from the National Weather Bureau or other appropriate agency, as Sheriff'"'"'s Office, the operator of the master control unit selectively triggers radio frequency receiver assemblies to automatically connect to disconnected loudspeakers in such radio frequency receiver assemblies in any one small area zone, any combination of such zones, or all zones in its watch area to then automatically cause audible notice of any immediately needed warning affecting only that small area zone or any combination of such smaller area zones.

Claims

1. A localized area warning system comprising, in a large geographically defined area, a radio frequency transmitter provided with (a) means for producing a plurality of modulating signals each of fixed frequency in range of 20 to 3,000 Hz, and (b) means for producing a fixed radio frequency output, and, in each of several separate smaller geographically defined area portions within said one large area, a plurality of radio frequency receiving circuits each comprising an audio frequency detector assembly with an electrical output and a power input operatively connected thereto, said output of said detector assembly connected to a loud speaker through a normally open first switch operatively connected to a first switch closing means therefor, said first switch closing means connected to means providing an input signal to a time delay means, said time delay means having an output operatively connected to a circuit controlling said first switch closing means whereby to close said first switch at the end of a predetermined time period,

an audio frequency signal receiving circuit operatively connected to the output of said audio frequency detector assembly and selectively actuated only by one audio frequency signal characteristic of one smaller geographical area portion;

an electrical power source operatively connected to said audio frequency receiving circuit,

a second time delay circuit having an input operatively connected to and actuated by said audio frequency signal receiving circuit and having an output operatively connected to a second switch closing means between a power source for said first switch closing means and said first switch closing means whereby to provide a predetermined time of connection of said loudspeaker to said audio frequency detector assembly on receipt by said audio frequency receiving circuit and said audio frequency detector assembly of said one audio frequency signal for a predetermined time period, and

a volume control means connected between said radio frequency receiving circuit and said loudspeaker,

a third normally open switch controlled by a relay therefor and said third switch bridging said volume control means when closed,

said relay operatively connected to and maintained in operative connection to a power source by said first time delay means and said relay when actuated closing said third switch, and wherein each of said audio frequency signal receiving circuits is located in a casing that carries identification of said separate smaller geographically defined area in which to be used.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said large area is one of several large areas and, in each of those several large areas the means for producing fixed ratio frequency output comprises an assembly producing a different radio frequency output in each of said several large areas.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein each of said radio frequency receiving circuits is located in a second casing and an identification of said large geographically defined area is affixed to said second casing.

4. A radio frequency receiver circuit comprising an audio frequency detector assembly with an electrical output and a power source operatively connected thereto, said output of said detector assembly connected to a loudspeaker through a normally open first switch operatively connected to a first switch closing means therefor, said first switch closing means connected to means providing an input signal to a time delay means, said time delay means having an output operatively connected to a circuit controlling said first switch closing means whereby to close first said switch at the end of a predetermined time period,

an audio frequency signal receiving circuit operatively connected to an output of said audio frequency detector assembly and selectively actuated only by one audio frequency signal, an electrical power source operatively connected to said audio frequency receiving circuit,

a second time delay circuit having an input operatively connected to and actuated by said audio frequency signal receiving circuit and having an output operatively connected to a second switch closing means between (a) a power source passing to said first switch closing means and (b) said first switch closing means, whereby to provide a predetermined time of connection of said loudspeaker to said audio frequency detector assembly on receipt by said radio frequency receiver and said audio frequency detector assembly of said one audio frequency signal for a predetermined time period, and

a volume control means connected between said radio frequency receiver circuit and said loudspeaker,

a third normally open switch controlled by a relay therefor and said third switch bridging said volume control means when closed,

said relay operatively connected to and maintained in operative connection to a power source by said first time delay means, and said relay when actuated closing said third switch, and wherein each of said audio frequency signal circuits is located in a casing that carries indicia of a geographically defined area in which to be used.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said radio frequency receiver circuit is located in a second casing and an indicia of the identification of a larger geographically defined area is affixed to said second casing.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said radio frequency receiver circuit comprises an amplitude modulation radio wave receiving circuit operatively connected to said audio frequency detector assembly.

7. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said radio frequency receiver circuit comprises a frequency modulation radio wave receiving circuit operatively connected to said audio frequency detector assembly.

8. A localized area warning process comprising, in a large geographic area, continuously operating a radio frequency transmitter at and broadcasting a fixed radio frequency signal characteristic with audio modulation and a plurality of distinct emergency modulating audio signals each of fixed frequency in range of 20 to 3,000 Hz, carried by said radio frequency signals for a predetermined time and, in one of several separate smaller geographic area portions within said one large area, at each of a plurality of radio frequency receiving circuits tuned to said fixed radio frequency signal and comprising a audio detector circuit and a loudspeaker circuit not operatively connected to said detector circuit, continuously actuating said audio detector circuit by said modulated frequency signals and an electrical power source and, in an emergency situation, selectively actuating a selective audio signal frequency receiving circuit by one of said distinct emergency modulating audio signals carried by said radio frequency signal and characteristic of that one smaller geographic area portion only, and timing said period of actuation and

after a predetermined period of time of such actuation operatively connecting said audio detector to a loudspeaker and then maintaining operative connection therebetween for only a predetermined period of time while

an audio frequency signal is passed from said radio frequency transmitter to said loudspeakers and an audible verbal message produced by said loudspeaker.

9. Process as in claim 8 comprising, in each of several separate smaller geographic area portions within said one large area,

at each of a plurality of said radio frequency receiving circuits tuned to said fixed radio frequency signal characteristic, continuously actuating said audio detector thereby and in an emergency, selectively actuating by said modulated frequency signals and an electrical power source a selective audio frequency signal receiving circuit by one of said distinct emergency modulating audio signals characteristic of each smaller geographic area portion only, and timing said period of actuation and after a predetermined period of time of such actuation operatively connecting said audio detector to a loudspeaker and then maintaining operative connection therebetween for only a predetermined period of time while in each of said smaller geographic area portions

an audio frequency signal is passed from said radio frequency transmitted to said loudspeakers and an audible verbal message is produced by each of said loudspeakers

10. Process as in claim 9 comprising, in each of several large geographically defined areas, operating a radio frequency transmitter and broadcasting at a fixed radio frequency signal characteristic different from the radio frequency signals in other of said several large areas, and with a plurality of distinct emergency modulating audio signals each of fixed frequency in range of 20 to 3,000 Hz, carried by said radio frequency signals and, in one of several separate smaller geographic area portions within each of said large areas,

at each of a plurality of said radio frequency receiving circuits tuned to said fixed radio frequency signal characteristic of one large area continuously actuating the said audio detector by said modulated frequency signals and an electrical power source and, in an emergency situation, selectively actuating a selective andio frequency signal receiving circuit by one of said distinct emergency modulating audio signals characteristic of only that one smaller geographic area portion of said one large area, and timing said period of actuation and after a predetermined period of time of such actuation connecting said audio detector to a loudspeaker and then maintaining connection therebetween for only a predetermined period of time while

an audio frequency signal is passed from said radio frequency transmitter to said loudspeakers and an audible verbal message is produced by each of said loudspeakers.

11. Process as in claim 10 wherein some of said radio frequency transmitters transmit radio waves at a fixed frequency.

12. Process as in claim 10 wherein some of said radio frequency transmitters transmit frequency modulated radio waves.