Data reporting system

• US 4,568,935 A
• Filed: 06/08/1983
• Issued: 02/04/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Saigal, Anil, Phillips, Fred C.
• Primary Examiner(s): YUSKO, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US06/502,421
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 340/517, 340/522, 340/331, 340/332, 340/526, 340/538, 340/309.3, 340/825.36, 340/825.05, 340/505, 340/518, 340/524, 340/528, 340/500
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/002 only replying the state of the sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems

Abstract

In apparatus for communicating data by repetitively completing and opening an electric circuit, the improvement which comprises a light source inserted in the circuit to provide a visible train of light flashes upon operation of the apparatus, and circuitry for suppressing a predetermined portion of the flashes in response to a condition, to reduce the observable flashing rate of the source.

Claims

1. In a data gathering system, in combination:

a data gathering station including a microprocessor, a plurality of data sources, and multiplexer means connecting said sources to said microprocessor so that said microprocessor may give outputs digitally representative of said sources;

a data transmission line including a pair of conductors;

means, including switch means, for establishing a conductive path between said conductors, so that when said path is completed a pulse of current may flow between said conductors, said path including lamp means so that when current flows in said path said lamp is illuminated;

means periodically connecting said switch means to said microprocessor for actuation in accordance with the output thereof;

means energizable to prevent illumination of said lamp means without interrupting said path;

and condition responsive means for periodically energizing the last-named means.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which the periodicity of said condition responsive means is in phase with, but is a multiple of, the periodicity of actuation of said switch means.

3. A system according to claim 2 in which the periodicity is changeable dependent upon the condition sensed by said condition responsive means.

4. An alarm system for detecting normal, trouble, and alarm conditions, for displaying said conditions locally, and for transmitting at least some of said conditions remotely, said system comprising:

light emitting means;

sensor means; and

,

condition detection means connected to said sensor means and to said light emitting means for detecting normal, trouble, and alarm conditions of said sensor means and for energizing said light emitting means at a frequency depending upon said condition to display said conditions locally, said condition detection means having transmitter means for transmitting at least some of said conditions to a remote location.

5. Supervisory apparatus comprising an alarm device, means connected to interrogate said device repeatedly to derive successive signals from said device representative of the state each time said device is interrogated, and condition-responsive means in said device for selectively preventing individual illuminations of said lamp without disablement of said apparatus.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the condition responsive means prevents every second illumination of said lamp.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the condition responsive means prevents two out of every three successive illuminations.