Device with silencing circuitry

• US 6,762,688 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BRK Brands Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BRK Brands Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Mori, Vincent B., Johnston, Derek Scott, Duran, Edward C., Venzant, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US10/071,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20020130782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628, 340/629, 340/630, 340/632, 340/633, 340/634, 340/635, 340/636, 340/693.6, 340/693.7
• US Class Current: 340/628
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply

Abstract

A smoke detector monitors one or more internal conditions, such as battery output voltage in detectors that include batteries. Both audible and visible indicators are energized to indicate the presence of the monitored condition or conditions. A switch or a wireless sensor on the detector can be actuated to temporarily suppress the audible indicator provided the battery exhibits an output voltage in a predetermined range, less than that of normal operation.

Claims

1. A detector comprising:

first and second different ambient condition sensors;

a control circuit which includes programmed instructions for digitally implementing a sensing function for each of the sensors;

first and second test circuits wherein each test circuit tests a respective sensor;

at least one circuit for monitoring an internal operational characteristic of each sensor and wherein the control circuit includes instructions for evaluating a digital representation of the operational characteristics;

a calibration storage unit coupled to the control circuit wherein initial performance information can be pre-stored to take into account component variations wherein a verbal output can be generated by the control circuit indicative of the sensed, non-alarm operational characteristic and which includes actuation circuitry for suppressing the verbal output for a predetermined period of time.

2. A detector as in claim 1 wherein the actuation circuitry includes a wireless input port for receipt of a remotely generated suppression signal.

3. A detector as in claim 1 wherein the sensors are selected from a class which includes fire sensors and gas sensors.

4. A detector comprising:

first and second different ambient condition sensors;

a control circuit which includes programmed instructions for digitally implementing a sensing function for each of the sensors;

first and second test circuits wherein each test circuit tests a respective sensor;

at least one circuit for monitoring an internal operational characteristic and wherein the control circuit includes instructions for evaluating a digital representation of the operational characteristic;

a calibration storage unit coupled to the control circuit wherein initial performance information can be pre-stored to take into account component variations wherein a verbal output can be generated by the control circuit indicative of a variation between the digital representation of the operational characteristic and selected initial performance information.