Wireless audible indication system with battery status indicator

• US 5,680,112 A
• Filed: 07/29/1994
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dimango Products Corp (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Xydis, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANNAVA, ASHOK K
• Application Number:
  US08/282,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/636, 340/539, 455/127, 455/336, 455/339, 455/343
• US Class Current: 340/636.15
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A wireless audible indication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver. An embodiment of the transmitter includes a modulator formed by a microprocessor and a radio frequency oscillator. The modulation format employed is selectable by the user using severable jumper wires. A battery status circuit is included which verifies the status of a battery within the transmitter. The modulator transmits a low battery bit to the receiver in order to alert the user of a weak transmitter battery. An embodiment of the receiver includes a superregenerative detector which produces an intermediate signal upon receiving a radio frequency signal. A signal processing circuit, which includes an active peak detector stage and a discrete comparator stage, is used to process the intermediate signal. A microprocessor controls a sound generator circuit in response to the processed intermediate signal. The microprocessor, which normally operates in an inactive mode, is awaken using a wake-up circuit upon reception of the radio frequency signal. A battery status circuit is included to verify the status of a battery within the receiver. Embodiments of the transmitter and receiver employ a pulse position modulation scheme.

Claims

1. A transmitter for use with a corresponding receiver in a wireless doorbell system, the corresponding receiver capable of receiving a radio frequency signal and producing an audible indication in response thereto, the transmitter capable of operation using a battery source of power, the transmitter comprising:

a battery status circuit, coupled to the battery source, which produces a status signal in dependence upon the status of the battery source, the battery status circuit including a first transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter, wherein the voltage drop between the base and the emitter varies in dependence upon the voltage of the battery source, and wherein the status signal is based upon the output of the collector, the battery status circuit further including a second transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter, wherein the collector is coupled to the emitter of the first transistor;

a microprocessor, coupled to the battery status circuit, which produces an activation signal to the base of the second transistor to selectively activate the battery status circuit so that the battery status circuit draws current from the battery source only when activated, the activation signal solely for activating the battery status circuit, the microprocessor deriving a battery status bit in response to the status signal from the battery status circuit; and

a radio frequency oscillator, responsive to the microprocessor, which produces a radio frequency signal modulated in dependence upon the battery status bit.

2. The transmitter of claim 1 further comprising a modulator, responsive to the battery status circuit, which produces a radio frequency signal which is modulated in dependence upon the status signal wherein the modulator includes a pulse position modulator.

3. The transmitter of claim 1 further comprising a modulator, responsive to the battery status circuit, which produces a radio frequency signal which is modulated in dependence upon the status signal wherein the modulator includes a microprocessor which executes a stored routine to produce the activation signal along a single pin dedicated to selectively activate the battery status circuit.

4. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises:

a radio frequency detector which produces an intermediate signal upon receiving the radio frequency signal from the transmitter;

a sound generator which generates a first audible indication in dependence upon the intermediate signal from the radio frequency detector; and

a battery status indication circuit which indicates the status of a first battery source in dependence upon the intermediate signal.

5. The transmitter of claim 4 wherein a sound generator is coupled to the battery status indication circuit, and wherein the sound generator generates a second audible indication in dependence upon the status of the first battery source.

6. The transmitter of claim 5 wherein the second audible indication is indicative of a low battery status for the first battery source.

7. The transmitter of claim 5 wherein the second audible indication is generated after the first audible indication.

8. The transmitter of claim 4 wherein the battery status indication circuit provides a visual indication of the status of the first battery source.

9. The transmitter of claim 8 wherein the battery status indication circuit includes a light emitting diode which illuminates in response to a low battery status for the first battery source.

10. The transmitter of claim 8 wherein the battery status indication circuit further includes a switch which enables the visual indication of the status of the first battery source.

11. The transmitter of claim 4 wherein the receiver is capable of operating using a second battery source of power.

12. The transmitter of claim 11 further comprising a battery status circuit, coupled to the second battery source, which verifies the status of the second battery source, wherein the battery status indication circuit is coupled to the battery status circuit, and wherein the battery status indication circuit further indicates the status of the second battery source.

13. The transmitter of claim 12 wherein the battery status circuit includes a transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter, wherein the voltage drop between the base and the emitter varies in dependence upon the voltage of the second battery source, and wherein the battery status indication circuit is coupled to the collector.

14. The transmitter of claim 13 wherein the battery status circuit is selectively activated in response to an activation signal to draw current form the second battery source only when activated.

15. The transmitter of claim 14 wherein the battery status circuit includes a transistor having a base coupled to receive the activation signal, wherein the transistor activates the battery status circuit in response to the activation signal.

16. A receiver for use with a corresponding transmitter in an audible indication system, the corresponding transmitter capable of operating using a first battery source of power, the corresponding transmitter further capable of transmitting a radio frequency signal representative of the status of the first battery source, the receiver capable of operating using a second battery source of power, the receiver comprising:

a battery status circuit, coupled to the second battery source, which produces a status signal in dependence upon the status of the second battery source, the battery status circuit including a first transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter, wherein the voltage drop between the base and the emitter varies in dependence upon the voltage of the second battery source, and wherein the status signal is based upon the output of the collector, the battery status circuit further including a second transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter, wherein the collector is coupled to the emitter of the first transistor;

a radio frequency detector which produces an intermediate signal upon receiving the radio frequency signal from the corresponding transmitter;

a microprocessor, coupled to the battery status circuit, which produces an activation signal to the base of the second transistor to selectively activate the battery status circuit, wherein the microprocessor receives the status signal from the battery status circuit, and wherein the microprocessor further receives the intermediate signal from the radio frequency detector;

a sound generator, coupled to the microprocessor, which generates a first audible indication in dependence upon the intermediate signal from the radio frequency detector, the sound generator further generating a second audible indication in dependence upon the status of the first battery source and the status of the second battery source;

a switch coupled to the microprocessor; and

a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode, each coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the first light emitting diode illuminates upon depression of the switch in dependence upon the status of the first battery source, and wherein the second light emitting diode illuminates upon depression of the switch in dependence upon the status of the second battery source.