Receiver for audible alarm

• US 4,617,555 A
• Filed: 04/17/1985
• Issued: 10/14/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Distribution Devices Incorporated One Ruckman Road Closter NW Jersey 07624
• Original Assignee: Data Distribution Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Sheiman, Arthur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/724,024
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 340/531, 340/539, 340/565, 340/566, 340/384 R, 340/384 E, 340/692, 367/197-199
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal

Abstract

A receiver to detect the audio tone emitted by an activated smoke alarm. The receiver employs an electret condenser microphone to monitor ambient sound. The output of the microphone is applied to an active band-pass filter and then to a PLL tone decoder. The PLL is tunable to provide maximum sensitivity to the frequency of the tone. The microphone is the gain controllable element in an AGC system that acts to keep received signals at a constant level. This insures that all devices operate linearly.

Claims

1. Apparatus to detect sonic signals within a predetermined range of frequencies comprising an electret microphone with integral FET impedance converter for receiving the sonic signal, band-pass filter means connected to the output of said electret microphone, AGC means connected to the output of said filter means and producing an AGC bias voltage which is applied to the FET to control the sensitivity of said electret microphone, and means connected to the output of said filter means for producing a defined response to the presence of the sonic signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said response producing means comprising a signal amplifier and a PLL, said amplifier connected to the output of said filter means and boosting such output a preset amount, said PLL connected to the output of said amplifier and adapted to lock onto the frequency of the sonic signal and produce the defined response to the presence thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said PLL being tunable over a narrow frequency range for peaking the response of same to the sonic signal.

4. A receiver to detect the audio tone emitted by an activated smoke alarm comprising transducer means adapted to receive sound energy and converting the same to an electrical signal, band-pass filter means electrically coupled to said transducer means and acting sharply to attenuate electrical signals above and below a defined bandwith, signal amplifier means electrically connected to the output of said filter means for amplifying the electrical signals passed through said filter means, phase locked loop means electrically connected to the output of said amplifier means and adapted to lock onto the amplified electrical signal representing the audio tone and electrically indicate the presence thereof, and means for filtering out the ring of a telephone, the last-mentioned means coupled to the output of said PLL and responsive to the momentary unlocking thereof induced between telephone rings.

5. The receiver of claim 4, AGC means electrically connected to the output of said filter means and adapted to produce a control voltage in response to the signal level at the output of said filter means, the control voltage being applied to said transducer means for controlling the gain thereof thereby tending to keep the last-mentioned output at a constant level.

6. The receiver of claim 5, said transducer means comprising an electret condenser microphone.

7. A receiver for detecting an audio signal that falls within a predetermined range of frequencies comprising microphone means for monitoring the presence of the audio signal, signal amplifier means connected to the output of said microphone means for boosting the output thereof a given amount, phase locked loop tone decoder means coupled to the output of said amplifier means, said tone decoder means adapted to lock onto the audio signal when the same is present at the output of said amplifier means and indicate such presence by a change in state at the output of said tone decoder means, said tone decoder means being tunable over a narrow frequency bend whereby the same can be tuned to the frequency of the audio signal thereby providing maximum sensitivity thereto, and delay means coupled to the output of said tone decoder means, said delay means including a resettable timer that when activated by the output of said tone decoder means has a delay period that is, at least, approximately three seconds long and including nearly instantaneous reset means, the last-mentioned means adapted to reset the timer when said tone decoder means momentarily unlocks.

8. The receiver of claim 7, band-pass filter means interposed between the output of said microphone means and said signal amplifier means, said filter means adapted to pass signals in a predetermined, relatively wide frequency range.

9. The receiver of claim 7, delay means coupled to the output said tone decoder means, said delay means including a resettable timer that when activated by the output of said tone decoder means has a delay period that is at least as long as one ring cycle of a telephone bell and including nearly instantaneous reset means, the last-mentioned means adapted to reset the timer when said tone decoder means momentarily unlocks.