Detector and alarm apparatus and system

• US 5,914,674 A
• Filed: 08/11/1995
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin R. Coleman, Robert M. Coleman
• Original Assignee: Kevin R. Coleman, Robert M. Coleman
• Inventors: Coleman, Robert M., Coleman, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/514,483
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 340/531, 340/539, 340/517, 340/518, 340/521, 340/506, 340/520, 340/534, 340/870.09, 340/825.06, 340/825.36, 340/825.69, 307/116
• US Class Current: 340/870.09
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal

Abstract

An alarm apparatus includes two sensor circuits. One of the circuits is configured to emit an audible warning upon the sensing of an adverse condition. The other circuit functions to scan for a radio signal and, when one is detected, transmit a further radio signal. The apparatus can be used alone or together with a series of other similar apparatuses to create a warning system. When used as part of a system, once one apparatus is activated due to the existence of, for example, a fire, the apparatuses produce a alarm signal and transmit a radio signal. Transmission of the subsequent radio signal is sensed by the other apparatuses of the system which, in a cascade fashion, also become activated.

Claims

1. A de-centralized alarm apparatus, said alarm apparatus consisting of:

a.) a first sensor, said first sensor consisting of a first sensing means only in electrical communication with a first independent switching means;

1.) said first sensing means of said first sensor being configured to continuously scan for an adverse condition, said first sensing means emitting a signal only upon detection of said adverse condition, said signal being emitted only to said first independent switching means;

2.) said first independent switching means of said first sensor electrically connected to said first sensing means of said first sensor, said first independent switching means of said first sensor and said first sensing means of said first sensor forming a first, self-contained circuit, said first independent switching means including a monitor means and a switching means, said monitor means in electrical connection with said first sensing means and said switching means, said monitor means continuously monitoring said first sensing means for production of said signal by said first sensing means, said production of said signal indicating the occurrence of said adverse condition, said monitor means only emitting a signal to said switching means of said first independent switching means of said first sensor, said switching means being in a deactivated state when said monitor means of said first independent switching means does not detect said signal from said first sensing means and does not emit a signal, said switching means of said first independent switching means of said first sensor being in an active state when said monitor means emits said signal upon reception of said signal from said first sensing means indicating the detection of said adverse condition by said first sensing means of said first sensor;

b.) a second sensor, said second sensor consisting of a second sensing means, a decoding means, and a second independent switching means, said second sensing means being in electrical communication only with said decoding means, said decoding means being in electrical communication only with said second sensing means and said second independent switching means;

1.) said second sensing means of said second sensor being configured to continuously scan a selected frequency for at least one radio signal, said radio signal containing encrypted information;

2.) said decoding means only in direct electrical communication with said second sensing means and said second independent switching means, said decoding means being configured to decode said information encrypted in said radio signal, said decoding means emitting a signal upon deciphering of said encrypted information received over said frequency scanned by said second sensing means;

3.) said second independent switching means of said second sensor electrically connected to said decoding means of said second sensor, said second independent switching means of said second sensor, said decoding means, and said second sensing means of said second sensor forming a second, self-contained circuit, said second switching means of said second sensor including a monitor means and a switching means, said monitor means in electrical connection with said decoder means and said switching means, said monitor means continuously monitoring said decoder means for production of said signal indicating the reception of said encrypted information over said selected frequency, said monitor means only emitting a signal to said switching means of said second independent switching means, said switching means being in a deactivated state when said monitor means of said second independent switching means does not detect said signal from said decoder means and emit said signal to said switching means of said second sensor, said switching means of said second independent switching means being in an active state when said radio signal is sensed by said second sensing means of said second sensor and said decoding means is able to decode said encrypted information in said radio signal and produce said signal to said monitor means and said monitor means emits said signal to said switching means of said second independent switching means;

c.) a warning means in electrical communication with both said switching means of said first independent switching means of said first circuit of said first sensor and said switching means of said second independent switching means of said second circuit of said second sensor, said warning means being activated when either of said switching means of said first independent switching means or switching means of said second independent switching means are in said active states, said warning means including a means for producing an audible alarm signal when said warning means is activated;

d.) a transmitting means in direct electrical communication with both said switching means of said first independent switching means of said first circuit of said first sensor and said switching means of said second independent switching means of said second circuit of said second sensor, said transmitting means being adapted to continuously transmit encrypted information in the form of a radio signal when either of said switching means of said first independent switching means or switching means of said second independent switching means are in said active states; and

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e.) an encoding means in direct electrical communication with said transmitting means, said encoding means encrypting information for transmission by said transmitting means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adverse condition sensed by said first sensing means is heat.

3. The apparatus or claim 1 wherein said adverse condition sensed by said first sensing means is the concentration of particulate products of combustion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adverse condition sensed by said first sensing means is a selected concentration of carbon monoxide.

5. A multiple device alarm system, said alarm system having a de-centralized configuration, said alarm system including at least two alarm subunits, each of said subunits consisting of:

a.) a first sensor, said first sensor consisting of a first sensing means only in electrical communication with a first independent switching means;

1.) said first sensing means of said first sensor being configured to continuously scan for an adverse condition, said first sensing means emitting a signal only upon detection of said adverse condition, said signal being emitted only to said first independent switching means;

2.) said first independent switching means of said first sensor electrically connected to said first sensing means of said first sensor, said first independent switching means of said first sensor and said first sensing means of said first sensor forming a first, self-contained circuit, said first independent switching means including a monitor means and a switching means, said monitor means being in electrical connection with said first sensing means and a switching means, said monitor means continuously monitoring said first sensing means for production of said signal by said first sensing means, said production of said signal indicating the occurrence of an adverse condition, said monitor means only emitting a signal to said switching means of said first independent switching means of said first sensor, said switching means being in a deactivated state when said monitor means of said first independent switching means does not detect said signal from said first sensing means and does not emit said signal, said switching means of said first independent switching means of said first sensor being in an active state when said monitor means emits a signal upon reception of a signal from said first sensing means indicating the detection of said adverse condition by said first sensing means of said first sensor;

b.) a second sensor, said second sensor consisting of a second sensing means, a decoding means, and a second independent switching means, said second sensing means being in electrical communication only with said decoding means, said decoding means being in electrical communication only with said second sensing means and said second independent switching means;

1.) said second sensing means of said second sensor being configured to continuously scan a selected frequency for a radio signal transmitted by the other of said subunits, said radio signal containing encrypted information;

2.) said decoding means only in direct electrical communication with said second sensing means and said second independent switching means, said decoding means being configured to decode said information encrypted in said radio signal, said decoding means emitting a signal upon deciphering of said encrypted information received over said frequency scanned by said second sensing means;

3.) said second independent switching means of said second sensor electrically connected to said decoding means of said second sensor, said second independent switching means of said second sensor, said decoder means, and said second sensing means of said second sensor forming a second, self-contained circuit, said second switching means of said second sensor including a monitor means and a switching means, said monitor means in electrical connection with said decoder means and said switching means, said monitor means continuously monitoring said decoder means for production of said signal indicating the reception of said encrypted information over said selected frequency, said monitor means only emitting a signal to said switching means of said second independent switching means, said switching means being in a deactivated state when said monitor means of said second independent switching means does not detect said signal from said decoder means and emit said signal to said switching means of said second sensor, said switching means of said second independent switching means being in an active state when said radio signal is sensed by said second sensing means of said second sensor and said decoding means is able to decode said encrypted information in said radio signal and produce said signal to said monitor means and said monitor means emits said signal to said switching means of said second independent switching means;

c.) a warning means in electrical communication with both said switching means of said first independent switching means of said first circuit of said first sensor and said switching means of said second independent switching means of said second circuit of said second sensor, said warning means being activated when either of said switching means of said first independent switching means or said switching means of said second independent switching means are in said active states, said warning means including a means for producing an audible alarm signal when said warning means is activated;

d.) a transmitting means in direct electrical communication with both said switching means of said first independent switching means of said first circuit of said first sensor and said switching means of said second independent switching means of said second circuit of said second sensor, said transmitting means being adapted to continuously transmit encrypted information in the form of a radio signal from one of said subunits to the other of said subunits when either of said switching means of said first independent switching means of said first circuit of said first sensor or switching means of said second independent switching means of said second circuit of said second sensor are in said active states; and

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e.) an encoding means in direct electrical communication with said transmitting means, said encoding means encrypting information for transmission by said transmitting means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said adverse condition sensed by said first sensing means is heat.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said adverse condition sensed by said first sensing means is the concentration of particulate products of combustion.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said adverse condition sensed by said first sensing means is a selected concentration of carbon monoxide.