Quake-alerter w/radio-advisory and modular options

• US 6,114,967 A
• Filed: 04/01/1997
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marvin J. Yousif
• Original Assignee: Marvin J. Yousif
• Inventors: Yousif, Marvin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/831,085
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 340/690, 340/689, 340/540, 340/566, 340/628, 340/632, 340/601, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.47, 200/61.5, 200/61.52, 73/652, 73/654, 367/178
• US Class Current: 340/690
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes

Abstract

An improved safety related compact hand-portable apparatus for home or office use, EQ-Alert™ is ceiling or shelf mountable, activating upon sensing a minimum-threshold earthquake preferably of about 3.25/Rictor-scale intensity, instantly emitting a series of approximate 110-decibel level siren-alarms; preferably along with activation of a safety-lamp to illuminate an immediate floor-area in event of community power-outage. A preferably dry-cell powered dc/electronic IC-chip timer-circuit, limits duration of the audible-alarm, triggered by sufficient movement of an internal omni-directional mercury n.o./jiggle-switch. Upon completion of the timed audible-alarm and optional voice-chip announcement, the timer-circuit sequences a conventional integral superheterodyne-AM/radio user has preset to a local Conelrad/news-station, for ongoing notification of any earthquake rescue procedures. Optional provision for plug-in circuit-modules, facilitates adding of allied safety-units, such as substantially conventional smoke-alarm, and carbonmonoxide-alarm detectors, sharing the audio-transducer and IC-microprocessor; to issue forth separate short programed voice-announcements as to the detected hazards.

Claims

1. ) A multi-function omni-directional motion disturbance detection apparatus serving to identify an earthquake event, sequentially audibly alerting the user, visually orienting them, and then vocally advising them in real-time as to any actual local emergency procedures;

comprising;

a supporting-structure housing an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) means capable of sequencing priority functions upon activation of a detector-circuit portion thereof;

a passive detector-circuit employing a full-azimuth motion-sensor device means having only two electrical conductors arranged in a stand-by modality of detection operation to initiate all priority functions;

a first priority function electrically sequenced high-decibel alarm means secured within said housing confines to propagate outwardly in highly audible amplitude therefrom;

a second priority function electrically sequenced electrical-lamp means mounted within said housing confines to illuminate the immediate area, whereby a person can become oriented in otherwise possible darkness;

a third priority function combining an electrically sequenced radio-receiver having user pre-selected emergency frequency tuning means, vocally announcing vital real-time information;

a source of electrical energy capable of powering all electrical functions but nulled until activated via said detector-circuit.

2. ) The earthquake alerting device according to claim 1, wherein said motion-sensor device means is a mercury-switch.

3. ) The earthquake motion-sensor according to claim 2, wherein said mercury-switch is a normally-open type.

4. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said motion-sensor means comprised two motion-sensor devices, a first motion-sensor device arranged on a plane parallel to said base surface, and a second motion-sensor device arranged on a plane at a right-angle to said base-surface;

thereby enabling an electric switch to be biased to select either horizontal ceiling-mounting for said first device, or biased to an alternate switch position selecting said second motion-sensor for vertical-wall mounting installation.

5. ) The earthquake motion-sensor device according to claim 2, wherein said mercury-switch can be horizontally leveled via laterally offset hinging means, enabling critical leveling of the said main-housing portion relative to co-hinged mounting-base portion;

thereby for example, enabling said housing to be mounted upon an inclined stairwell ceiling.

6. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said motion-sensor device means is a ball and plunger type construction, whereby inertia reaction of the ball enables a plunger to bias into an alternate closed-circuit position.

7. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said motion-sensor means includes two discrete mercury-switches arranged at a right-angle to each other;

including a selector-switch enabling the user to choose one of said motion-sensors for horizontal mounting installation, the other said motion-sensor for vertical mounting installation.

8. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said emergency frequency tuning means is user selected from an existing government regulated emergency clear-channel advisory.

9. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical-circuit power means is via a d.c.-battery contained within said housing confines.

10. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical-circuit power means is via a ac/line-current sourced outside said housing, and reduced into lower dc-current for normal circuitry operation.

11. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said high-decibel alarm means is a siren or horn sound reproduced by an electrical audio-transducer.

12. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting-structure and associated said electric-circuit means includes a female electrical plug-in, accomodating optional interfacing of an accessory electronic-module facilitating expansion of priority functions to include a carbon-monoxide detector device;

said carbon monoxide-detector'"'"'s electrical-circuit to efficiently utilize existing said audio-alarm audio-transducer.

13. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting-structure and associated said electric-circuit means includes a female electrical plug-in, accomodating optional interfacing of an accessory electronic-module facilitating expansion of priority functions to include a smoke-detector device;

said smoke-detector'"'"'s electrical-circuit to efficiently utilize existing said audio-alarm audio-transducer.

14. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said AM/radio-receiver is circuited with said ECU to include a monentary-on type activating switch, enabling said AM/radio-receiver to be briefly activated to check frequency tunning.

15. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said carbon-monoxide detector module includes a biomimetic-sensor device capable of mimicking human-response to the CM-toxin via use of a molecular-encapsulant holding at least one component of the chemical sensory reagent.

16. ) The earthquake alerting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said motion-sensor is a mercury-switch wherein the casing serves tantamount to one said conductor or electrode, and at least two second said conductor electrodes are disposed circumferentially around a droplet of Mercury liquid located via gravity into a recess of said casing;

whereby said Mercury is able to sensitively respond to make electrical continuity between said casing and a said second conductor either via vibration or resonance thereto sufficient as to cause said continuity switch to close.

17. ) A multi-function omni-directional earthquake alerting method serving to notify the user of an earthquake event via sequentially audible means, visual means of orientation, and then vocally advise in real-time as to any actual local emergency procedures;

said method comprising;

a supporting-structure housing an ECU means capable of sequencing priority functions upon activation of a detector-circuit portion thereof;

a passive detector-circuit employing a full-azimuth motion-sensor device means having only two electrical conductors arranged in a stand-by modality of detection operation to initiate all priority functions;

a first priority function electrically sequenced high-decibel alarm means secured within said housing confines to propagate outwardly in highly audible amplitude therefrom;

a second priority function electrically sequenced electrical-lamp means mounted within said housing confines to illuminate the immediate area, whereby a person can become oriented in otherwise possible darkness;

a third priority function combining an electrically sequenced AM/radio-receiver having user pre-selected emergency frequency tuning means, vocally announcing vital real-time information;

a source of electrical energy capable of powering all electrical functions but nulled until activated via said detector-circuit.

18. ) The earthquake alerting methodology according to claim 17, wherein said motion-sensor device means is a normally-open type mercury-switch.

19. ) A multi-function omni-directional earthquake alerting apparatus serving to notify the user of an earthquake event via sequential audible means, visual means of orientation, and then vocally advise in real-time as to any actual local emergency procedures;

said apparatus comprising;

a supporting-structure housing an ECU means capable of sequencing priority functions upon activation of a detector-circuit portion thereof;

a passive detector-circuit employing at least one normally-open type full-azimuth motion-sensor mercury-switch device having at least two electrical conductors arranged in a stand-by modality of detection operation to initiate all priority functions;

a first priority function electrically sequenced high-decibel alarm means secured within said housing confines to propagate outwardly in highly audible amplitude therefrom;

a second priority function electrically sequenced electrical-lamp means mounted within said housing confines to illuminate the immediate area, whereby a person can become oriented in otherwise possible darkness;

a third priority function combining an electrically sequenced AM/radio-receiver having user pre-selected emergency frequency tuning means, vocally announcing vital real-time information;

a source of electrical energy capable of powering all electrical functions but nulled until activated via said detector-circuit.