Sonic monitoring method and apparatus

• US 4,091,366 A
• Filed: 07/19/1976
• Issued: 05/23/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JH Mcdaniel Tele-Communications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: JH Mcdaniel Tele-Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Lavallee, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/706,453
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 340/224, 340/261, 340/258 R, 340/345, 340/171 PF, 340/171 A, 340/147 F
• US Class Current: 340/524
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A detector is positioned in each of a plurality of protected zones for converting detected sound into electric signals which are amplified and fed to operatively associated discriminators which generate an alarm signal responsive to the detection of electric signals indicative of the occurrence of an alarm condition. Security personnel stationed at locations remote to the zones in which the alarm condition occurred are automatically notified of the occurrence and location of the alarm condition for purposes of taking remedial action. A local annunciator system is provided to notify further security personnel of the occurrence and location of the alarm condition and includes an audio system which is actuated automatically, in the preferred embodiment, responsive to the generation of an alarm signal by one of the discriminators for purposes of continuously monitoring the zone within which the alarm condition occurred to determine the nature of the alarm condition to the end that appropriate remedial action can be taken.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the sound level in a plurality of protected zones for notifying security personnel of the location of a zone in which the sound level exceeds a predetermined value indicative of an alarm condition, comprising:

detector means associated with each of said zones for detecting sound and producing electrical signals proportional to said sound that is detected;

discriminating means operably connected to each of said detector means for receiving said signals and generating an alarm signal in response to said signals exceeding a predetermined level;

timing circuit means connected to said discriminating means for producing predetermined timing signals which identify a zone from which an alarm signal is being generated by said discriminating means in response to receiving said alarm signal;

annunciator means having latch means connected to said timing circuit means, said annunciator means further including visual indicator means, speaker means for reproducing the sound detected by said detector means and switching means connected to said speaker means, said latch means energizing said visual indicator means subsequent to the generation of said timing signals, said latch means operating said switching means so that the switching means normally disables said speaker means and enables the same in response to said timing circuit means receiving said alarm signal;

encoder means connected to said timing circuit means for generating a coded combination of signals identifying the zone from which an alarm signal is being received;

transmitter means connected to said encoder means for modulating said coded combination signals on a carrier signal and transmitting said carrier signal and said coded combination of signals;

one or more receivers, each of which is respectively tuned to receive at least one of said coded combination of signals modulated on said carrier signal and transmitted by said transmitter means, each of said receivers receiving indicator means responsive to said transmitted signal for producing an alerting signal to alert security personnel of the occurrence of an alarm condition.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicator means comprises a plurality of zone lamps, each of said zone lamps being operably associated with one of said detectors and actuated responsive to the generation of an alarm signal indicative of sound exceeding a predetermined level in the zone in which said operatively associated detector is located.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said local annunciator means includes an alert system comprising a sound generator which generates a tone responsive to the generation of an alarm signal.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said timing circuit means generates a signal for actuating said transmitter means.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said timing circuit means includes a first timer connected to said means for discriminating among said electric signals, a further timer connected to said first timer, and means for inhibiting said first timer whereby said first timer is inhibited during a timing out period of said further timer.

6. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmitter is adapted for modulating audio signals on said carrier signal, and each of said receivers is adapted for receiving said carrier signal with said audio signals modulated thereon, and including microphone means located at said annunciator means connected to said transmitter means for producing said audio signals, whereby a communication path is provided between said microphone means and each of said receivers enabling personnel stationed at said local annunciator system to provide security personnel alerted by one of said receivers with information pertinent to the type of remedial action, if any, advisable.

7. A system for monitoring the sound level in a plurality of protected zones for notifying security personnel of the location of a zone in which the sound level exceeds a predetermined value indicative of an alarm condition, comprising:

detector means associated with each of said zones for detecting sound and producing electrical signals proportional to said sound that is detected;

discriminating means operably connected to each of said detector means for receiving said signals and generating an alarm signal in response to said signals exceeding a predetermined level;

timing circuit means connected to said discriminating means for producing predetermined timing signals which identify a zone from which an alarm signal is being generated by said discriminating means in response to receiving said alarm signal;

annunciator means operatively connected to said detector means and to said timing circuit means, said annunciator means including visual indicator means actuated by said timing circuit means, said annunciator means including speaker means for reproducing the sound detected by said detector means, switching means connected to said speaker means and latch means for controlling said switching means so that said switching means normally disables said speaker means and enables the same in response to said timing circuit means producing said timing signals subsequent to receiving an alarm signal from said discriminating means;

means associated with said discriminating means for generating and transmitting signals identifying a zone in response to an alarm signal being generated by the discriminating means associated with said zone; and

one or more receivers for selectively receiving said transmitted signals to provide an alerting signal for alerting security personnel of the occurrence of an alarm condition.

8. A method of monitoring protected zones, comprising the steps of:

detecting sound occurring in said zones by sonic detectors associated therewith;

converting sound into electrical signals having a power level that is proportional to the intensity of the detected sound;

monitoring the power level thereof and producing an alarm signal in the event the level exceeds a predetermined value;

producing a coded signal identifying the zone from which an alarm signal originates when such occurs;

transmitting a preselected coded combination of signals identifying the zone on a carrier signal adapted to be received by a remote receiver in response to an alarm condition;

enabling speaker means at a remote annunciator station subsequently of said coded identifying signal being produced for reproducing the detected sound only in the event an alarm condition occurs to thereby preclude the listening by personnel of the zones in the absence of an alarm condition.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 including the steps of:

producing a further alert signal at a control panel indicative of the zone within which sound received by one of said detectors exceeds a predetermined level, and

continuously monitoring the sound received by said one of said detectors responsive to the production of said alarm signal whereby additional information regarding the nature of the alarm condition can be gathered by personnel stationed at said control panel to assist in determining what, if any, remedial action is advisable.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 including the step of personnel stationed at said control panel communicating with security personnel alerted by any of said receivers regarding additional information gathered by continuously monitoring the zone within which the sound exceeded a predetermined level whereby personnel stationed at said control panel can provide said security personnel alerted by said receiver with information pertinent to the type of remedial action, if any, is advisable.