Building alarm system with synchronized strobes
First Claim
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1. A method of synchronizing audible alarms and visual strobes in a building alarm system comprising:
- connecting the audible alarms and visual strobes in the building to common power lines and applying power to the audible alarms and visual strobes through the common power lines, the visual strobes being powered to charge a capacitor in each visual strobe to a firing voltage without activating the visual strobe; and
after the audible alarms and visual strobes have been powered, repeatedly changing the voltage on the power lines to control timing of the audible alarms and visual strobes by providing a synchronization signal through the power lines to cause each visual strobe to discharge the capacitor through a flash lamp in each visual strobe such that the visual strobes flash in synchronization with each other.
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Abstract
In a building fire alarm system, the light strobes of a network of strobes are synchronized to flash simultaneously. Each strobe has a charging circuit to charge a capacitor which discharges through a flash tube. Once a capacitor is charged, the charging circuit is disabled. A synchronization pulse is applied through common power lines to trigger discharge of each strobe capacitor through the flash tube followed by recharging of the capacitor.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of synchronizing audible alarms and visual strobes in a building alarm system comprising:
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connecting the audible alarms and visual strobes in the building to common power lines and applying power to the audible alarms and visual strobes through the common power lines, the visual strobes being powered to charge a capacitor in each visual strobe to a firing voltage without activating the visual strobe; and after the audible alarms and visual strobes have been powered, repeatedly changing the voltage on the power lines to control timing of the audible alarms and visual strobes by providing a synchronization signal through the power lines to cause each visual strobe to discharge the capacitor through a flash lamp in each visual strobe such that the visual strobes flash in synchronization with each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A building alarm system comprising, in the building:
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a pair of power lines; at least one audible alarm powered by said power lines; visual strobes powered by said power lines, the visual strobes comprising a capacitor in each visual strobe charged from the power lines to a firing voltage without activating the visual strobe; and means for applying power to the audible alarm and visual strobes through said power lines and, after said power has been applied, repeatedly changing said voltage on the power lines to control timing of the audible alarm and the visual strobes, the change in voltage on the power lines causing each visual strobe to discharge the capacitor through a flash lamp in each visual strobe such that the visual strobes flash in synchronization with each other. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A building alarm system comprising, in the building:
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a pair of power lines; at least one audible alarm powered by a voltage on said power lines, the audible alarm being controlled by a change in the voltage on the power lines after power is applied; and visual strobes powered by said voltage on said power lines, the strobes being repeatedly triggered to synchronously flash with a change in the voltage on the power lines after power is applied, the visual strobes comprising a capacitor in each visual strobe charged from the power lines to a firing voltage without activating the visual strobe, the change in the voltage on the power lines causing each visual strobe to discharge the capacitor through a flash lamp in each visual strobe such that the visual strobes flash in synchronization with each other. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification