Emergency alarm system

• US 5,790,019 A
• Filed: 03/15/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luke Edwin
• Original Assignee: Luke Edwin
• Inventors: Edwin, Luke
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US08/618,467
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/507, 340/511, 340/514, 340/516, 340/517, 340/521, 340/541, 340/565, 340/567, 340/650, 340/693, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.79, 340/825.82, 340/825.81, 340/286.02, 340/326, 340/331, 340/332, 340/815.53, 340/815, 340/65, 340/815.66, 379/37, 379/39, 379/43, 379/44, 379/33, 362/800, 362/812, 345/905
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

This invention provides a new and improved emergency alarm system comprising a central control unit which is directly or indirectly connected to every other component of the emergency alarm system. The central control unit triggers and stops a visual alarm generator and an audio alarm generator, either simultaneously or separately, upon receiving signals from other components of the emergency alarm system. A portable control element and a signal-generating detection means are used for starting and stopping the central control unit, which in turn triggers a power supply means to cause a change, through the visual alarm generator, in color of a visible outdoor board and to commence, through the audio alarm generator, an alarm. A hidden sensing circuit can serve as the signal-generating detection means. The present invention also presents a method of application of said emergency alarm system.

Claims

1. A new and improved emergency alarm system for a building comprising following components:

(a) a visual alarm generator for triggering visual alarms;

(b) an audio alarm generator for triggering audio alarms;

(c) a central control unit to which any other component of the emergency alarm system is directly or indirectly connected, with a major function of said central control unit being triggering and stopping the visual alarm generator and triggering and stopping the audio alarm generator, either simultaneously or separately, upon receiving signals from the other components of the emergency alarm system;

(d) a visible outdoor board being located adjacent to entrance of the building and displaying any desired information in any desired color, with non-emergency conditions in the building being indicated by one color and emergency conditions in the building being indicated by a different color;

(e) a power supply means for providing energy to the components of the emergency alarm system;

(f) a circuit-tester module allowing energization of the visual alarm generator and of the audio alarm generator for a limited period of time;

(g) a portable control element having a manually-operated control button or switch for triggering or stopping the central control unit when desired;

(h) a reset switch for stopping an alarm generated by the visual alarm generator and by the audio alarm generator;

(i) a signal-generating detection means which, upon activation, triggers the power supply means to cause a change in color of the visible outdoor board and triggers the audio alarm generator, said signal-generating detection means comprising;

i. a signal generating means being connected to the power supply means,

ii. a signal detection means being operatively associated with the signal generating means and, upon detection of an emergency condition, activating the signal generating means and, as a result, the signal-generating detection means,

iii. a power-failure detector for automatically starting existing shut-off module batteries which are used to make the emergency alarm system immune from temporary interruption, whether intentional or accidental, of power supply to the power supply means, and

iv. a hidden sensing circuit comprising;

A. a series of connected sensors connected to one another in a closed loop,

B. an open-circuit detector placed under a covering and connected to the series of connected sensors,

C. a power switch and blinker activated by the open-circuit detector,

D. a signal generator activated by the power switch and blinker to generate a signal, and

E. a multi-display selector which forwards the generated signal to trigger any selected alarms; and

(j) supplementary devices, including, but not limited to, door bells, cameras, television transmitters, voice units and porch lights, said supplementary devices used for identifying and communicating with an entering party;

such that said components of the emergency alarm system are connected either directly or indirectly to one another to more clearly identify the building, to minimize possibilities of tampering of the emergency alarm system, to activate, during any emergency situation, the visual alarm generator and the audio alarm generator and to form any desired third parties of the emergency situation.

2. The emergency alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the visible outdoor board comprises:

(a) an alpha-numeric display on front side of the visible outdoor board;

(b) flashing lights, positioned inside the visible outdoor board, for clearly indicating any information desired by owner of the building on face of the alpha-numeric display, said flashing lights using either liquid crystal diodes or light emitting diodes, with the liquid crystal diodes, as well as the light emitting diodes, having individually-applied and separately-used colors including red and green, with the green color illuminating the visible outdoor board during non-emergency conditions and with the red color illuminating the visible outdoor board during emergency conditions;

(c) dot matrixes of light bulbs and sockets, said light bulbs being connected from feeder lines through diode and complementary connections to a common supply line, with an electro-mechanical switching drive being used to energize the common lines and the feeder lines;

(d) a weather-proof box for housing said dot matrixes of light bulbs and sockets and having a metallic bottom, said metallic bottom creating space for any electrical wiring;

(e) weather-proof transparent window sealing the dot matrixes of light bulbs and sockets on the face of the alpha-numeric display;

(f) an elastomeric gasket sealing the dot matrixes of light bulbs and sockets to the weather-proof box;

(g) a support for the dot matrixes of light bulbs and sockets; and

(h) clamps for holding the dot matrixes of light bulbs and sockets in position on the support.

3. The emergency alarm system according to claim 1, wherein a telephone-line cut-off sensor is set up at entry of any telephone lines into the building such that upon disconnection of the telephone line, the microprocessor automatically triggers an alarm.

4. A method of operation of a new and improved emergency alarm system for a building, said method comprising:

(a) providing energy to components of the emergency alarm system by using a power supply means that is made immune from temporary interruption, whether intentional or accidental, of power supply by using a power-failure detector which automatically triggers shut-off module batteries;

(b) demonstrating any desired alpha-numeric display in any desired color on a visible outdoor board being located adjacent to entrance of the building, with non-emergency conditions in the building being indicated by one color and emergency conditions in the building being indicated by a different color on the visible outdoor board;

(c) triggering a central control unit by;

i. turning on, when desired, a manually-operated control button or switch of a portable control element, or

ii. activating a signal-generating detection means by;

A. automatic sensing of movement by a hidden sensing circuit being adapted to sense movement of an individual on a covering placed over an open-circuit detector,

B. activation of the hidden sensing circuit by the open-circuit detector when continuity of an electrical circuit of a series of connected sensors is interrupted, and

C. activation, by the open-circuit detector, of a power switch and blinker to feed a signal generator which forwards a generated signal to a multi-display selector for triggering any selected alarms;

(d) upon activation of the central control unit, starting an alarm by;

i. triggering solely the audio alarm generator, which upon activation starts an alarm,

ii. triggering solely the visual alarm generator, which upon activation causes a change in color of the visible outdoor board,

iii. triggering the audio alarm generator by the visual alarm generator after the visual alarm generator is triggered,

iv. triggering the visual alarm generator by the audio alarm generator after the audio alarm generator is triggered, or

v. triggering the audio alarm generator and the video alarm generator simultaneously;

(e) personally or automatically, through use of information saved in the central control unit, informing and getting assistance from a third party if desired; and

(f) stopping an audio alarm or a visual alarm through use of the central control unit by;

i. turning on a reset switch;

or

ii. turning off, when desired, a manually-operated control button or switch of the portable control element.

5. The method of operation of the new and improved emergency alarm system of claim 4, wherein the emergency alarm system is activated by:

(a) voluntary interruption by the user of the emergency alarm system;

(b) detection of entry of an intruder into the building without knowledge of the user of the emergency alarm system by using a signal detection means;

(c) detection of high levels of unwanted gases including, but not limited to, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide;

(d) detection of a temperature higher than a set limit;

(e) triggering of a smoke detector;

(f) dialing of emergency numbers;

(g) detection of sudden loud noises activated by gun shots, yelling, breaking of a window glass or explosion;

(h) sending of remote radio signals;

(i) sending of signals by surveillance cameras;

(j) turning on of hidden secret switches by the user of the emergency alarm system;

or

(k) disconnection of telephone wires or of electrical utility lines.