Smoke detector including an indicator for indicating a missing primary power source which is powered by a substantially nonremovable secondary power source
First Claim
1. A smoke detector having a missing power source indicator, comprising:
- primary power source means for providing power to the smoke detector;
smoke detection and indication means, connected to said primary power source means, for detecting and indicating the presence of smoke;
missing power source indicator means for indicating the absence of said primary power source means; and
supplementary power source means, connected to said missing power source indicator means, for providing power to said missing power source indicator means in the absence of power from said primary power source means, wherein said supplementary power source means is substantially non-removable from said smoke detector by a consumer.
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Abstract
A smoke detector having an audible missing primary power source indicator, capable of indicating the absence of a primary power source powering the detector is provided. A missing power source circuit, including a supplementary power source having an effective voltage below a predetermined reference value is connected in parallel with the primary power source of the smoke detector. Additionally, the smoke detector contains low voltage detection and alarm circuitry, connected to the primary and supplementary power sources, to produce an audible warning when the effective voltage powering the smoke detector is determined to be below a predetermined reference value. Primary power to the detector may be supplied by a DC battery, a DC power source which has been converted from AC power or by a combination of the two. In one embodiment of the present detector, the supplementary power source has been rendered substantially non-removable by a consumer to prevent a consumer from disabling the missing power source indicator by removing the supplementary power source. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the supplementary power source of the present invention is a battery which has been completely enclosed in plastic, thus being rendered substantially non-removable by a consumer in the absence of using physical force to alter the smoke detector circuitry or housing.
55 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A smoke detector having a missing power source indicator, comprising:
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primary power source means for providing power to the smoke detector; smoke detection and indication means, connected to said primary power source means, for detecting and indicating the presence of smoke; missing power source indicator means for indicating the absence of said primary power source means; and supplementary power source means, connected to said missing power source indicator means, for providing power to said missing power source indicator means in the absence of power from said primary power source means, wherein said supplementary power source means is substantially non-removable from said smoke detector by a consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14)
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11. A smoke detector having a missing power source indicator, comprising:
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primary power source means for providing power to the smoke detector; smoke detection and indication means, connected to said primary power source means, for indicating the absence of said primary power source means; supplementary power source means, connected to said missing power source indicator means, for providing power to said missing power source indicator means in the absence of power from said primary power source means, wherein said supplementary power source means is substantially non-removable from said smoke detector by a consumer; and wherein said supplementary power source is sealed within a substantially non-removable chamber connected to a housing containing said smoke detector circuitry.
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15. A smoke detector having a missing power source indicator, comprising:
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a primary power source for providing power to the smoke detector; smoke detection circuitry connected to said primary power source for detecting smoke and for providing a smoke detection output when said smoke is detected; low voltage detection circuitry connected to said primary power source for providing a low voltage output when a detected voltage is below a predetermined reference voltage; alarm circuitry, connected to said smoke detection circuitry and to said low voltage detection circuitry, for providing an alarm upon the receipt of a smoke detection output or a low voltage output; and a battery, sealed in a plastic chamber and mounted to a housing containing the smoke detector circuitry, and additionally electrically connected in parallel with said primary power source and further connected to at least said low voltage detection circuitry, for providing a voltage below a predetermined reference voltage to said low voltage detection circuitry when said primary power source has been disconnected, said enclosed battery being rendered substantially non-removable by a consumer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification