Dual powered, smoke detector activated flashlight

• US 5,969,437 A
• Filed: 12/16/1997
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kalidon Technoligy, Inc., Kalidon Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kalidon Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Foerster, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/991,481
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66, 307/64, 340/628, 340/333, 340/529, 340/527, 340/521, 340/586, 340/636, 340/321, 340/540, 315/86
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means

Abstract

A dual powered flashlight responsive to an audible smoke detector alarm includes a sound sensor for sensing an audible smoke detector alarm and producing an electrical alarm signal in response; a frequency-sensitive amplifier amplifying the electrical alarm signal but not other signals; an integrator for integrating the electrical alarm signal amplified by the frequency-sensitive amplifier and for generating a trigger signal only when the integrated signal exceeds a threshold; a lamp; a battery connector for receiving a battery for providing current for illuminating the lamp; a power supply including a mains connector connectable to electrical power lines and powering the frequency-sensitive amplifier and the integrator; and a switch receiving the trigger signal and a power supply signal from the power supply for connecting the lamp to the battery in response to at least one of a trigger signal and absence of application of electrical power to the mains connector. The flashlight illuminates automatically in the event of a power failure or generation of a smoke detector alarm and remains illuminated so long as the power failure or alarm continues or upon unplugging from the power lines to aid in escape from smoke or a power failure.

Claims

1. A dual powered flashlight responsive to an audible smoke detector alarm comprising:

a sound sensor for sensing audible signals, including an audible smoke detector alarm, and producing electrical signals in response, the electrical signals including an electrical alarm signal produced in response to an audible smoke detector alarm;

a frequency-sensitive amplifier receiving the electrical signals and selectively amplifying the electrical alarm signal in the electrical signals produced by the sound sensor;

an integrator receiving the electrical alarm signal from and amplified by the frequency-sensitive amplifier for integrating the electrical alarm signal amplified by the frequency-sensitive amplifier to produce an integrated signal and for generating a trigger signal only when the integrated signal exceeds a threshold;

a lamp;

a battery connector for receiving a battery for providing current for illuminating the lamp;

a power supply including a mains connector connectable to electrical power lines and powering the frequency-sensitive amplifier and the integrator; and

a switch receiving the trigger signal and power supply signal from the power supply for connecting the lamp to the battery in response to at least one of a trigger signal and absence of application of electrical power to the mains connector.

2. The dual powered flashlight of claim 1 wherein the frequency-sensitive amplifier comprises a multiple stage bandpass amplifier.

3. The dual powered flashlight of claim 1 wherein the switch is normally closed and is opened when electrical power is applied to the mains connector unless a trigger signal is generated by the integrator, whereby battery life is maximized.

4. The dual powered flashlight of claim 1 wherein the integrator includes a zero-crossing detector for converting the electrical alarm signal amplified by the frequency-sensitive amplifier into a pulsed signal and a charge pump for integrating the pulsed signal.

5. The dual powered flashlight of claim 4 wherein the integrator includes an amplifier, receiving the pulsed signal from the zero-crossing detector, for establishing the threshold at which an electrical alarm signal integrated by the integrator causes a trigger signal to be generated.

6. The dual powered flashlight of claim 1 wherein the power supply includes a battery charging circuit for charging a battery received in the battery connector.

7. The dual powered flashlight of claim 6 wherein the mains connector is connected in parallel with a battery received in the battery connector, through the charging circuit.

8. The dual powered flashlight of claim 1 wherein the integrator includes a timer for continuing generation of the trigger signal for a fixed length period following termination of an audible smoke detector alarm.

9. The dual powered flashlight of claim 8 wherein the integrator includes a charge pump and an amplifier, receiving a signal from the charge pump, for establishing the threshold at which an electrical alarm signal integrated by the integrator causes a trigger signal to be generated.

10. The dual powered flashlight of claim 9 wherein the timer comprises a capacitor connected at a first end to an output terminal of the amplifier and the switch and at a second end to the charge pump.

11. A dual powered flashlight responsive to an audible smoke detector alarm comprising:

a sound sensor for sensing audible signals, including an audible smoke detector alarm, and producing electrical signals in response, the electrical signals including an electrical alarm signal produced in response to an audible smoke detector alarm;

a frequency-sensitive amplifier receiving the electrical signals and selectively amplifying the electrical alarm signal in the electrical signals produced by the sound sensor;

an integrator receiving the electrical alarm signal from and amplified by the frequency-sensitive amplifier for integrating the electrical alarm signal amplified by the frequency-sensitive amplifier to produce an integrated signal and for generating a trigger signal only when the integrated signal exceeds a threshold;

a lamp;

a battery connector for receiving a battery for providing current for illuminating the lamp;

a power supply including a mains connector connectable to electrical power lines and powering the frequency-sensitive amplifier and the integrator; and

a normally closed switch connecting the lamp to the battery when the normally closed switch is closed, the normally closed switch being opened while the mains connector is supplied with electrical power unless a trigger signal is applied to the normally closed switch by the integrator, whereby battery life is maximized.

12. The dual powered flashlight of claim 11 wherein the frequency-sensitive amplifier comprises a multiple stage bandpass amplifier.

13. The dual powered flashlight of claim 11 including an on/off switch for electrically connecting and disconnecting the lamp and the battery.

14. The dual powered flashlight of claim 11 wherein the power supply includes a battery charging circuit for charging a battery received in the battery connector.

15. The dual powered flashlight of claim 14 wherein the mains connector is connected in parallel with a battery received in the battery connector, through the charging circuit.

16. The dual powered flashlight of claim 11 wherein the integrator includes a zero-crossing detector for converting the electrical alarm signal amplified by the frequency-sensitive amplifier into a pulsed signal and a charge pump for integrating the pulsed signal.

17. The dual powered flashlight of claim 16 wherein the integrator includes an amplifier, receiving the pulsed signal from the zero-crossing detector, for establishing the threshold at which an electrical alarm signal integrated by the integrator causes a trigger signal to be generated.

18. The dual powered flashlight of claim 11 wherein the integrator includes a timer for continuing generation of the trigger signal for a fixed length period following termination of an audible smoke detector alarm.

19. The dual powered flashlight of claim 18 wherein the integrator includes a charge pump and an amplifier, receiving a signal from the charge pump, for establishing the threshold at which an electrical alarm signal integrated by the integrator causes a trigger signal to be generated.

20. The dual powered flashlight of claim 19 wherein the timer comprises a capacitor connected at a first end to an output terminal of the amplifier and the switch and at a second end to the charge pump.