Apparatus and method for providing alarm synchronization among multiple alarm devices
First Claim
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1. A method for synchronizing a series of interconnected alarm devices comprising:
- generating at one of the alarm devices detecting a local alarm condition a local pulsed alarm signal having a series of repeating temporal patterns each having a plurality of pulses;
generating a signal at the one of said alarm devices detecting the local alarm condition, the signal having a distinct rising edge being generally coincident with a first rising edge of a first pulse of the temporal pattern of pulses;
detecting the rising edge of said signal at each of said remaining alarm devices; and
generating a remote pulsed alarm signal having a series of repeating temporal patterns each having a plurality of pulses in response to said rising edge at each of said remaining alarm devices whereby the local pulsed alarm signal begins at substantially the same time as each of the remote pulsed alarm signals.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for synchronizing a series of interconnected alarm devices. The alarm device detecting an alarm condition produces a signal having a distinct rising edge which is detected at each of the remaining alarm devices. A pulsed alarm signal having a fixed number of pulses is generated at each remaining device in response to the rising edge. A reset signal from the alarm device detecting the alarm condition resets each of the remaining alarm devices after each fixed number of pulses is produced so that each of said devices has a pulsed alarm signal which begins and ends at substantially the same time.
33 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for synchronizing a series of interconnected alarm devices comprising:
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generating at one of the alarm devices detecting a local alarm condition a local pulsed alarm signal having a series of repeating temporal patterns each having a plurality of pulses;
generating a signal at the one of said alarm devices detecting the local alarm condition, the signal having a distinct rising edge being generally coincident with a first rising edge of a first pulse of the temporal pattern of pulses;
detecting the rising edge of said signal at each of said remaining alarm devices; and
generating a remote pulsed alarm signal having a series of repeating temporal patterns each having a plurality of pulses in response to said rising edge at each of said remaining alarm devices whereby the local pulsed alarm signal begins at substantially the same time as each of the remote pulsed alarm signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
detecting a falling edge of said signal which occurs within a predetermined time following said rising edge; and
resetting said remaining devices when said falling edge is detected whereby said remaining devices cease emitting said pulsed alarm signal.
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4. The method for synchronizing said interconnected alarm devices according to claim 1 further comprising:
continuously producing at said remaining devices a continuous pulse alarm signal until said falling edge is detected following said rising edge.
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5. The method for synchronizing said interconnected alarm devices according to claim 1 wherein said pulsed alarm signal comprises three consecutive pulses having substantially equal on times, followed by a substantially longer off period.
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6. The method for synchronizing according to claim 5, wherein said generated signal falling edge occurs at substantially 50% of said pulsed alarm signal duration.
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7. The method for synchronizing according to claim 1 further comprising detecting whether said generated signal is at a high level for more than a predetermined time.
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8. The method for synchronizing according to claim 1 further comprising determining if one of said remaining devices is applying a signal to other devices in response to a detected alarm condition;
- and inhibiting generation of said signal in response to a determination that a remaining device is detecting an alarm condition.
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9. The method for synchronizing according to claim 8 wherein said step for determining if said remaining device is detecting an alarm condition comprises determining whether said signal having a distinct rising edge is being generated by said one alarm device.
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10. An alarm device for responding to a locally generated alarm condition and to a remotely detected alarm condition detected by another alarm device that generates a pulsed audible signal having a series of repeating temporal patterns each having a plurality of pulses to indicate the alarm condition, comprising:
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a sensor for detecting a local alarm condition;
a transducer for locally generating a pulsed audible signal;
a local alarm detector connected to said sensor and to said transducer for enabling said transducer to generate said pulsed audible signal in response to a detected local alarm condition; and
a remote alarm device signal detector connected to receive a signal from another alarm device indicating that another alarm device is generating the pulsed audible signal, the signal having a rising edge generally coincident with the beginning of a first pulse of the temporal pattern of pulses and a falling edge, the signal detector being operable to supply a signal to said transducer for enabling said transducer to generate said pulsed audible signal in response to the detected rising edge of a first polarity received from said another alarm device, wherein the signal supplied by the remote alarm device signal detector to the transducer synchronizes the locally generated pulsed audible signal and the pulsed audible signal generated by said another alarm device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An alarm device for responding to a locally generated alarm condition and to a remotely detected alarm condition detected by another alarm device comprising:
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a sensor for detecting a local alarm condition;
a transducer for locally generating a pulsed audible signal including a series of repeating temporal patterns each including a plurality of pulses and an off period;
a local alarm detector connected to said sensor and to said transducer for enabling said transducer to generate said pulsed audible signal in response to a detected local alarm condition;
a remote alarm device signal detector connected to receive a signal from said another alarm device and to enable said transducer to generate said pulsed audible signal in response to a detected rising edge of the signal received from said another alarm device such that the locally generated pulsed alarm signal is synchronized with the pulsed audible alarm signal generated by said another alarm device; and
a transmitter circuit for transmitting a transmit signal to a plurality of other alarm devices for initiating a pulsed audible signal at said other alarm devices, the transmit signal having a rising edge of a first polarity synchronized with the beginning of a first pulse of the temporal pattern of pulses for the locally generated pulsed audible signal and a falling edge synchronized with the termination of the last pulse of the temporal pattern of pulses for the locally generated pulsed audible signal such that the pulsed audible signal at said other alarm device is synchronized with a pulsed audible signal produced by said transducer in response to said local alarm condition. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification