Auxiliary alarm
First Claim
1. An audio alarm for providing a back-up acoustic output in response to a sensed parameter comprising:
- a first audio alarm circuit having a first transducer providing a first acoustic output in response to the sensed parameter;
a second audio alarm circuit having a second transducer providing the back-up acoustic output in response to a predetermined fault condition, the second transducer being acoustically coupled to the first transducer;
the second audio alarm circuit providing an electrical signal in response to the first acoustic output of the first transducer, anda detector responsive to the sensed parameter and to the electrical signal, the detector being adapted to provide the predetermined fault condition and cause the second transducer to provide the back-up acoustic output upon failure of the first transducer to provide the first acoustic output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises an audio alarm for providing a back-up acoustic output in response to a sensed parameter including a first audio alarm circuit having a first transducer for providing a first acoustic output in response to the sensed parameter, a second audio alarm circuit having a second transducer which provides the back-up acoustic output in response to a predetermined fault condition, and which is acoustically coupled to the first transducer. The second audio alarm circuit provides an electrical signal by converting the first acoustic output of the first transducer into an electrical signal. A detector circuit is connected to the first and second audio alarm circuits and responds to the sensed parameter and to the electrical signal from the second audio alarm circuit to provide the predetermined fault condition by interpreting the electrical signal from the second audio alarm circuit. After the detector circuit has determined that the predetermined fault condition exists, the detector circuit induces the second transducer to provide the back-up acoustic output as a result of the failure of the first transducer to provide the first acoustic output. The audio alarm circuit also provides several auto-diagnostic features for informing a user of internal failures in the audio alarm circuit itself.
102 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An audio alarm for providing a back-up acoustic output in response to a sensed parameter comprising:
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a first audio alarm circuit having a first transducer providing a first acoustic output in response to the sensed parameter; a second audio alarm circuit having a second transducer providing the back-up acoustic output in response to a predetermined fault condition, the second transducer being acoustically coupled to the first transducer;
the second audio alarm circuit providing an electrical signal in response to the first acoustic output of the first transducer, anda detector responsive to the sensed parameter and to the electrical signal, the detector being adapted to provide the predetermined fault condition and cause the second transducer to provide the back-up acoustic output upon failure of the first transducer to provide the first acoustic output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An alarm for providing a back-up output in response to a sensed parameter comprising:
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a first alarm circuit having means for providing a first output in response to the sensed parameter; a second alarm circuit having means for providing the back-up output in response to a predetermined fault condition, the means for providing the back-up output being coupled to the means for providing a first output;
the second alarm circuit providing an electrical signal in response to the first output, anda detector means for responding to the sensed parameter and to the electrical signal, the detector means being adapted to provide the predetermined fault condition and to cause the second alarm circuit to provide the back-up output upon failure of the first alarm circuit to provide the first output.
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11. An audio alarm for providing a back-up acoustic output in response to a sensed parameter comprising:
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a first audio alarm circuit having means for providing a first acoustic output in response to the sensed parameter; a second audio alarm circuit having means for providing the back-up acoustic output in response to a predetermined fault condition, the means for providing the back-up acoustic output being acoustically coupled to the means for providing a first acoustic output;
the second audio alarm circuit providing an electrical signal in response to the first acoustic output,a detector means for responding to the sensed parameter and to the electrical signal and for providing the predetermined fault condition by interpreting the electrical signal from the second audio alarm circuit, and whereby the second audio alarm circuit provides the back-up acoustic output upon failure of the means for providing the first acoustic output to provide the first acoustic output.
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12. A method of providing an audio alarm that provides a back up acoustic output in response to a sensed parameter comprising:
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providing a first audio alarm circuit having a first transducer adapted to provide a first acoustic output in response to the sensed parameter; providing a second audio alarm circuit having a second transducer adapted to provide the back-up acoustic output in response to a predetermined fault condition, acoustically coupling the second transducer to the first transducer; providing an electrical signal from the second audio alarm circuit in response to the first acoustic output of the first transducer, providing a detector responsive to the sensed parameter and to the electrical signal, interpreting the electrical signal from the first audio alarm circuit by the detector to provide the predetermined fault condition, and initiating the back-up acoustic output from the second transducer upon failure of the first transducer to provide the first acoustic output. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of verifying the operation of an audio alarm that provides a back-up acoustic output in response to a sensed parameter comprising the steps of:
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providing first and second alarm circuits adapted to provide primary and back-up acoustic outputs respectively, acoustically coupling the first alarm circuit to the second alarm circuit such that the second alarm circuit provides an electrical signal in response to the primary acoustic output, providing a detector circuit connected to the first and second alarm circuits, the detector being adapted to monitor the electrical signal of the second alarm circuit, and adapted to elicit acoustic output from the first and second alarm circuits, connecting an auto-diagnostic line between the second alarm circuit and the detector circuit to afford monitoring of internal elements of the second alarm circuit by the detector, initiating the back-up output from the second alarm circuit, monitoring the auto-diagnostic line and the electrical signal from the second alarm circuit by the detector circuit, determining whether the second alarm circuit is operating, and providing a second alarm circuit failure signal to indicating means upon determining that the second alarm circuit has failed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of verifying the operation of an audio alarm that provides a back-up acoustic output in response to a sensed parameter comprising the steps of:
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providing first and second alarm circuits adapted to provide primary and back-up acoustic outputs respectively, acoustically coupling the first alarm circuit to the second alarm circuit such that the second alarm circuit provides an electrical signal in response to the primary acoustic output, providing a detector circuit connected to the first and second alarm circuits, the detector being adapted to monitor the electrical signal of the second alarm circuit, and adapted to elicit acoustic output from the first and second alarm circuits, initiating acoustic output from the first alarm circuit, monitoring the electrical signal from the second alarm circuit by the detector circuit, determining whether the alarm circuit is operating properly, and providing an alarm circuit failure signal to indicating means upon determining that the alarm circuit has failed. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification