Remote detecting system and method
First Claim
1. A system for detecting the existence of a hazardous condition in an area, the system comprising:
- at least one battery-powered detecting unit being located within the area for detecting the existence of the hazardous condition, the at least one battery-powered detecting unit generating and transmitting a battery status signal only if the battery power is at least equal to an acceptable level, thereby conserving battery power; and
at least one receiving unit being responsive to the battery status signal such that the at least one receiving unit provides at least one sensory indication when the battery status signal is not received within a predetermined time period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting the existence of a hazardous condition in an area includes a number of battery-powered detecting units whereby each detecting unit is respectively located within a zone within the area and each detecting unit includes a sensing circuit, a battery level monitoring circuit and a transmitting circuit. The sensing circuit senses the existence of a hazardous condition within that respective zone and generates a hazardous condition alert signal in response thereto. The battery level monitoring circuit monitors the level of the battery powering the detecting unit and generates a battery status signal when the battery is at an acceptable level. The transmitting circuit transmits the hazardous condition alert signal and/or the battery status signal. The system also includes a receiving unit which is responsive to the detecting units and includes a receiving circuit, a battery status indicating circuit and a hazard condition alert circuit. The receiving circuit receives the hazardous condition alert signals and/or the battery status signals. The battery status indicating circuit is responsive to the battery status signals and includes a number of visual indicators, corresponding to the number of detecting units, which are respectively responsive to the battery status signals such that each indicator provides a first visual indication when the respective battery status signal corresponding thereto is received and a second visual indication when the respective battery status signal is not received. The hazardous condition alert circuit is responsive to the hazardous condition alert signals such that the alert circuit respectively activates the visual indicators corresponding to one of the detecting units when an alert signal is received therefrom. The battery status signals are preferably periodically transmitted by the detecting units to the receiving unit.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for detecting the existence of a hazardous condition in an area, the system comprising:
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at least one battery-powered detecting unit being located within the area for detecting the existence of the hazardous condition, the at least one battery-powered detecting unit generating and transmitting a battery status signal only if the battery power is at least equal to an acceptable level, thereby conserving battery power; and at least one receiving unit being responsive to the battery status signal such that the at least one receiving unit provides at least one sensory indication when the battery status signal is not received within a predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for detecting the existence of a hazardous condition in an area, the system comprising:
a plurality of battery-powered detecting units, each detecting unit being respectively located within a plurality of zones within the area, each detecting unit including; a sensing circuit, the sensing circuit sensing the existence of the hazardous condition within the respective zone and generating a hazardous condition alert signal in response thereto; a battery level monitoring circuit, the battery level monitoring circuit monitoring the level of the battery powering the detecting unit and generating a battery status signal only when the battery power is at least equal to an acceptable level; and a transmitting circuit, the transmitting circuit transmitting at least one of the hazardous condition alert signal and the battery status signal; and at least one receiving unit, the at least one receiving unit being responsive to the plurality of detecting units and including; a receiving circuit, the receiving circuit receiving one of the plurality of hazardous condition alert signals and the plurality of battery status signals; a battery status indicating circuit, the battery status indicating circuit being responsive to the plurality of battery status signals, the battery status indicating circuit including a plurality of visual indicators which are respectively responsive to the plurality of battery status signals such that each indicator provides a first visual indication when the respective battery status signal corresponding thereto is received and a second visual indication when the respective battery status signal is not received within a predetermined time period; and a hazardous condition alert circuit, the alert circuit being responsive to the plurality of hazardous condition alert signals such that the alert circuit respectively activates the visual indicators corresponding to one of the detecting units when an alert signal is received therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for monitoring a voltage level associated with a battery of a battery-powered detecting unit, the detecting unit detecting the existence of a hazardous condition in an area, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a battery status signal only when the battery in the detecting unit is at least equal to an acceptable level; transmitting the battery status signal from the detecting unit only when the battery in the detecting unit is at least equal to the acceptable level, thereby conserving battery power; monitoring the battery status signal at a receiving unit, the receiving unit including a sensory indicator; and activating the sensory indicator when the battery status signal is not received by the receiving unit within a predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification