Evaluation apparatus

• US 4,603,325 A
• Filed: 06/05/1984
• Issued: 07/29/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pittway Corporation Syosset NY
• Original Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Marino, Francis C., McGarrett, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/617,494
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/531, 340/537, 340/505, 340/506, 340/511, 340/514, 340/345, 340/346, 340/515, 340/825.54, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 455/7, 455/9, 455/10, 455/11, 455/53, 455/67, 455/115, 455/154, 455/157, 455/159, 455/226, 455/227, 343/6.5 R, 343/6.5 SS, 343/6.8 R
• US Class Current: 340/539.21
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/17 Detection of non-compliance or faulty performance, e.g. response deviations H04B17/18 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention provides apparatus for evaluating installation of components of a wireless type of alarm system or the like that includes a plurality of satellite stations, each of which includes a sensor and associated transmitter circuitry responsive to the sensor for transmitting an alarm signal at radio frequency, and a central station for receiving the alarm signal and operating an output device in response to the received signal. The installation evaluating apparatus includes signal strength sensing circuitry responsive to the strength of the alarm signal received at the central station, and an RF transmitter responsive to the sensed signal strength for transmitting an indicator signal to a receiver at the installation location of the satellite transmitter device being evaluated, the nature of the indicator signal received at the transmitter site providing an indication of the quality of the RF transmission path between the transmitter and the central receiver.

Claims

1. Apparatus for evaluating installation of components of a wireless type of alarm system or the like that includes a plurality of satellite stations, each of which includes a sensor and associated transmitter circuitry responsive to the sensor for transmitting an alarm signal at radio frequency, and a central station remote from said satelite stations for receiving the alarm signal and operating an output device in response to the received signal, the installation evaluating apparatus including signal strength sensing circuitry responsive to the strength of the alarm signal received at said central station, and an RF transmitter responsive to said sensed signal strength for transmitting an indicator signal to a receiver at the installation location of the satellite transmitter device being evaluated, the nature of said indicator signal received at said transmitter site providing an indication of the quality of the RF transmission path between said transmitter and said central receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal strength sensing circuitry includes amplitude peak detection circuitry, and analog-to-digital converter circuitry having a set of outputs and providing a digital signal corresponding to the strength of the received signal as sensed by said amplitude peak detection circuitry.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said converter circuitry includes a plurality of comparator circuits and a resistive ladder network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including audio signal generating means comprising an oscillator, and said RF transmitter transmits an audio frequency modulated signal at a broadcast frequency as said indicator signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means for storing said signal strength indication in binary form.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further including an audio frequency oscillator, gate means for controlling application of audio frequency signals to said RF transmitter, and divider circuitry responsive to said audio frequency signals, and second gate means for controlling application of output signals from said divider circuitry to said signal strength storage means.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said signal strength storage means includes a shift register, and further including an oscillator and means for applying output pulses of said oscillator as shift pulses to transfer stored information from said shift register.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means responsive to the termination of a transmission burst from said satellite transmitter for causing said RF transmitter to transmit a series of audio tone indicator signals corresponding in number to the received strength of said transmission burst.

9. Apparatus for evaluating installation of components of a wireless type of alarm system or the like that includes a plurality of satellite stations, each of which includes a sensor and associated transmitter circuitry responsive to the sensor for transmitting an alarm signal at radio frequency, and a central station remote from said satellite stations for receiving the alarm signal and operating an output device in response to the received signal,

the installation evaluating apparatus including

signal strength sensing circuitry responsive to the strength of the alarm signal received at said central station, said signal strength sensing circuitry including amplitude peak detection circuitry, and analog-to-digital converter circuitry having a plurality of outputs, each said output providing a digital signal corresponding to the strength of the received signal as sensed by said amplitude peak detection circuitry,

an RF transmitter, and

means responsive to the termination of a transmission burst from said satellite transmitter for causing said RF transmitter to transmit a series of audio tone indicator signals corresponding in number to the digital signal output of said analog-to-digital converter circuitry to a receiver at the installation location of the satellite transmitter device being evaluated, the number of said audio tone indicator signals received at said the transmitter site providing an indication of the quality of the RF transmission path between said transmitter and said central receiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said converter circuitry includes a plurality of comparator circuits and a resistive ladder network.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 and further including shift register means for storing said signal strength indication in binary form, an oscillator, and means for applying output pulses of said oscillator as shift pulses to transfer stored information from said shift register for controlling the generation of said audio tone indicator signals.