Alarm systems, alarm devices, alarm activation methods, alarm system retrofitting methods, and alarm system network establishment methods

• US 6,950,018 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PAS Alert LLC
• Original Assignee: PAS Alert LLC
• Inventors: Merrell, Daniel B., Goetz, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/155,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20020175811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.14, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/539.26, 340/531, 340/7.2
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/226 with alphanumeric or graphic display means

Abstract

An alarm system includes at least one wireless alarm transmitter, at least one wireless activate transmitter, and at least one wireless signal receiver. The signal receiver becomes sensitized to recognize an alarm code from the alarm transmitter after recognizing an activate code from the activate transmitter. The signal receiver can include an alarm generator that provides a first alarm after recognizing the alarm code. An alarm device can include a wireless hazard signal receiver that becomes sensitized to recognize a wireless transmitted hazard alarm code only after recognizing a wireless transmitted activate code. An alarm generator can provide a hazard alarm after recognizing the alarm code. The device can further include an alarm code and activate code decryption device. Instead of or in addition to the activate transmitter and sensitizing feature, the system can be equipped to display a location name in the alarm generator as a text alarm.

Claims

1. An alarm system which provide hazard condition alarms via a plurality of personal paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, the alarm system comprising:

at least one wireless alarm transmitter;

at least one hazard condition detector equipped to prompt the alarm transmitter to send a single paging code after identifying at least one hazard condition; and

a plurality of wireless signal receivers comprised by respective personal paging devices enabled to recognize the single paging code which addresses the plurality of paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, respective paging devices including an alarm generator equipped to provide at least a visually displayed text alarm as a first alarm after recognizing the paging code, and the text alarm naming a location of the hazard condition detector that identified the hazard condition.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one wireless alarm transmitter repeater.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the alarm transmitter comprises a code encryption device and the plurality of signal receivers comprise respective code decryption devices.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the alarm transmitter is wired to an alarm control panel or alarm indication panel and transmits the paging code after a detector identifies a hazard condition and notifies the control panel or indication panel.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the alarm transmitter is wired to the detector via a stationary alarm generator and transmits the paging code after the stationary alarm generator provides a second alarm.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the stationary alarm generator comprises a 12/24 volt alarm further comprising at least one of a light and a horn, the alarm transmitter being wired to the stationary alarm generator via a class C relay.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the stationary alarm generator further comprises an additional class C relay suitable for wiring to hazard suppression equipment.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the detector is combined with the alarm transmitter in a single unit.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the detector comprises a smoke detector.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal receiver is enabled to additionally receive network paging signals external of the at least one alarm transmitter, the network paging signals addressing receivers individually as part of a conventional paging network.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the network paging signals comprise emergency broadcast signals.

12. An alarm system retrofitting method which produces an alarm system providing hazard condition alarms via a plurality of personal paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, the alarm system retrofitting method comprising:

linking at least one added wireless alarm transmitter with an existing alarm system, the link allowing an alarm actuation signal of the existing alarm system to be extended to the wireless alarm transmitter; and

providing a plurality of added wireless signal receivers comprised by respective personal paging devices enabled to recognize a single paging code from the alarm transmitter which addresses the plurality of paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, respective paging devices including an alarm generator equipped to provide at least a visually displayed text alarm as a first alarm after recognizing the paging code, and the text alarm naming a location of a hazard condition detector that generated the alarm actuation signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the linking comprises linking at least one added stationary alarm generator with the existing alarm system and linking the alarm transmitter with the added stationary alarm generator.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the added stationary alarm generator comprises a 12/24 volt alarm further comprising at least one of a light and a horn, the alarm transmitter being wired to the added stationary alarm generator via a class C relay.

15. An alarm system operating in multiple locations and providing hazard condition alarms via a plurality of personal paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, the alarm system comprising:

at least one first wireless alarm transmitter and at least one second wireless alarm transmitter operating independently from the first alarm transmitter;

at least one first hazard condition detector equipped to prompt the first alarm transmitter to send a first paging code after identifying at least one hazard condition within a first space which may be occupied, the first paging code including a first location code;

at least one second hazard condition detector equipped to prompt the second alarm transmitter to send a second paging code after identifying at least one hazard condition within a second space which may be occupied and which is separate from the first space, the second paging code including a second location code which is different from the first location code; and

a plurality of wireless signal receivers comprised by respective personal paging devices enabled to recognize both the first and second paging codes which address the plurality of paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, respective paging devices including an alarm generator equipped to provide at least a visually displayed text alarm as a first alarm after recognizing the first or second paging code and, based upon the respective first or second location code, the text alarm naming a location of the detector that identified the hazard condition.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the alarm transmitter is wired to the detector via a stationary alarm generator and transmits the paging code after the stationary alarm generator provides a second alarm.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the stationary alarm generator comprises a 12/24 volt alarm further comprising at least one of a light and a horn, the alarm transmitter being wired to the stationary alarm generator via a relay.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the detector is combined with the alarm transmitter in a single unit.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the detector comprises a smoke detector.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the signal receiver is enabled to additionally receive network paging signals external of the at least one alarm transmitter, the network paging signals addressing receivers individually as part of a conventional paging network.

21. An alarm system which provides hazard condition alarms via a plurality of personal paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, the alarm system comprising:

at least one wireless alarm transmitter;

at least one hazard condition detector equipped to prompt the alarm transmitter to send a single paging code after identifying at least one hazard condition; and

a plurality of wireless signal receivers comprised by respective personal paging devices enabled to recognize the single paging code which addresses the plurality of paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, respective paging devices including an alarm generator equipped to provide at least a visually displayed text alarm as a first alarm after recognizing the paging code.

22. An alarm system retrofitting method which produces an alarm system providing hazard condition alarms via a plurality of personal paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, the alarm system retrofitting method comprising:

linking at least one added wireless alarm transmitter with an existing alarm system, the link allowing an alarm actuation signal of the existing alarm system to be extended to the wireless alarm transmitter; and

providing a plurality of added wireless signal receivers comprised by respective personal paging devices enabled to recognize a single paging code from the alarm transmitter which addresses the plurality of paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, respective paging devices including an alarm generator equipped to provide at least a visually displayed text alarm as a first alarm after recognizing the paging code.

23. An alarm system operating in multiple locations and providing hazard condition alarms via a plurality of personal paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, the alarm system comprising:

at least one first wireless alarm transmitter and at least one second wireless alarm transmitter operating independently from the first alarm transmitter;

at least one first hazard condition detector equipped to prompt the first alarm transmitter to send a first paging code after identifying at least one hazard condition within a first space which may be occupied;

at least one second hazard condition detector equipped to prompt the second alarm transmitter to send a second paging code after identifying at least one hazard condition within a second space which may be occupied and which is separate from the first space; and

a plurality of wireless signal receivers comprised by respective personal paging devices enabled to recognize both the first and second paging codes which address the plurality of paging devices collectively without regard to the paging devices individually, respective paging devices including an alarm generator equipped to provide at least a visually displayed text alarm as a first alarm after recognizing the first or second paging code.