Visual signalling apparatus

• US 4,365,238 A
• Filed: 11/03/1980
• Issued: 12/21/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kollin, Adam
• Original Assignee: Kollin, Adam
• Inventors: Kollin, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/203,227
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310 R, 340/310 A, 340/310 CP, 340/148, 340/407, 340/538, 340/539, 340/519, 340/521, 340/332, 340/326, 340/825.51, 367/178, 367/197, 367/198, 367/199, 179/2 E, 179/1 C, 179/2 A, 179/1 VC, 179/2 C, 455/38, 455/344, 455/352, 455/108, 455/68, 455/228
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

An apparatus for visually signalling hearing impaired persons of the occurrence of an audible sound producing event. A plurality of sensing devices are individually located adjacent to a sound producing device, such as a telephone, doorbell, fire detector, etc., to sense the audible sounds produced by the activation of such devices. The output signals from the sensing devices are arranged in a predetermined priority ranking to enable a more important event to take precedence over an already occurring less important event. A sensing device transmits a signal to a central logic unit indicating the activation of one of the sound producing devices. The central logic unit identifies which sensing device sent the signal and transmits a predetermined sequence of output pulses associated with the particular activated device to a plurality of control modules. The control modules are each associated with an illuminating device, such as a light, and turn the associated light on and off in a predetermined sequence according to the received output pulses from the central logic unit to signal the hearing impaired person which sound producing event has taken place.

Claims

1. A visual signalling apparatus for hearing impaired persons adapted for use in a building having illuminating means, a source of electrical power and electrical power conductors for supplying electrical power from said source to said illuminating means, said visual signalling apparatus comprising:

a plurality of means for sensing audible sounds resulting from the occurrence of a one of a plurality of predetermined events, each of said sensing means being associated with a different one of said predetermined sound producing events, each of said sensing means producing a distinct first output signal upon sensing said audible sounds resulting from the occurrence of said associated predetermined event;

a central logic unit;

means for transmitting said first output signal from said sensing means to said central logic unit; and

means adapted to be connected to said illuminating means, for controlling the state of said illuminating means;

said central logic unit including means for receiving said first output signal from said transmitting means and means for identifying which of said plurality of sensing means transmitted said first output signal;

said central logic unit including means for transmitting a distinct second output signal to said controlling means for each of said first output signals received from said sensing means, said distinct second output signal specifying one of a plurality of predetermined sequences of changes of state, each preassigned to one of said plurality of predetermined events, of said illuminating means so as to indicate the occurrence of one of said predetermined events;

said controlling means changing the state of said illuminating means according to said predetermined specific sequence in response to said second output signal from said central logic unit.

2. The visual signalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitting means includes a radio frequency transmitter and wherein the central logic unit includes a radio frequency receiver.

3. The visual signalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined events include the activation of a fire detection means, burglar alarm means, telephone, doorbell, alarm clock, a person'"'"'s voice and a knock on a door.

5. The visual signalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central logic unit is adapted to be connected to the electrical power conductors in a house and includes means for transmitting the second output signal onto said electrical power conductors;

and

wherein the controlling means is adapted to be connected to said electrical power conductors and includes means for receiving said second output signal from said central logic unit on said electrical power conductors.

6. The visual signalling apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a plurality of illuminating means; and

a plurality of controlling means, each associated with one of said illuminating means and responsive to the second output signal from the central logic unit, for controlling the changes of state of said associated illuminating means.

7. The visual signalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controlling means further includes switch means for manually changing the state of the illuminating means independent from the second output signal from the central logic unit.

4. A visual signalling apparatus for hearing impaired persons adapted for use in a building having illuminating means, a source of electrical power and electrical power conductors for supplying electrical power from said source to said illuminating means, said visual signalling apparatus comprising:

a plurality of means for sensing audible sounds resulting from the occurrence of one of a plurality of predetermined events, each of said sensing means being associated with a different one of said predetermined sound producing events, each of said sensing means producing a distinct first output signal upon sensing the audible sounds resulting from the occurrence of said associated predetermined event, said first output signals from the sensing means having a predetermined priority ranking;

a central logic unit;

means for transmitting said first output signals from said sensing means to said central logic unit; and

means adapted to be connected to said illuminating means, for controlling the state of said illuminating means;

said central logic unit including means for receiving said first output signals from said transmitting means and means for identifying which of said plurality of sensing means transmitted said first output signal;

said central logic unit including means for transmitting a second output signal to said controlling means for each of said first output signal received from said sensing means, said distinct second output signal specifying one of a plurality of predetermined sequences of changes of state, each preassigned to one of said plurality of predetermined events, of said illuminating means so as to indicate the occurrence of one of said predetermined events;

said controlling means changing the state of said illuminating means according to said predetermined specific sequence in response to said second output signal from said central logic unit.

8. A visual signalling apparatus for hearing impaired persons comprising:

a plurality of means for illuminating various portions of a building;

a source of electrical power;

electrical power conductors for supplying electrical power from said source to said illuminating means;

a central logic unit connected to said electrical power conductors;

a plurality of means for sensing audible sounds resulting from the occurrence of predetermined events within said building, each of said sensing means being associated with one of the said predetermined events, each of said sensing means including transmitter means for transmitting a distinct first output signal to said central logic unit upon sensing said audible sounds associated with the occurrence of said associated predetermined event;

said central logic unit including receiver means for receiving said first output signals from said sensing means and means for identifying which of said sensing means sent said first output signal; and

a plurality of means, each connected between said electrical power conductors and one of said illuminating means, for controlling the changes of state of said illuminating means connected thereto;

said central logic unit further including means for transmitting a distinct second output signal on said electrical power conductors to said controlling means, said second output signal providing one of a plurality of distinct sequences of changes of state of said illuminating means for each first output signal received from said sensing means so as to enable said hearing impaired persons to determine which of said sound producing events is taking place;

said connecting means including means for receiving said second output signal from said central logic unit on said electrical power conductors and for changing the state of said illuminating means connected thereto in accordance with said second output signal.