Sign transmitter unit

• US 7,259,670 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Inventors: Cunningham, James Vernon, Gomes, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/305,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 340/539.17, 340/539.18, 340/539.19, 340/539.26, 340/539.27, 340/531, 340/901, 340/902, 340/904, 340/521, 340/825.69, 340/471, 340/473, 340/474, 340/539.22, 340/539.28
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Abstract

Sign 1 has frame 13 attaching to base 9 and supporting character plates 4. Casing 11 attaches to frame 13 and holds character plates 4 against frame 13. Light assembly 15 and base 9 backlight character plates 4. Backlight is diffusion chamber 17 sidelit by light assembly 15. Casing 11 hides access to the mount and is not easily removable. Light assembly 15 is externally powered and is activated by external messages and by low ambient light. An Emergency Alarm message causes flashing in one color and intermittent activation of sound. For non-emergency, alternate light mode is used with constant sound. Transmitter 1501 transmits messages for the sign 1. The transmitter 1501 learns emergency telephone numbers for dial detection on a telephone line, in addition to standard emergency telephone number. Emergency button 1507 can begin transmission of emergency alarm message. Transmitter 1501 may have other alarm inputs.

Claims

1. A transmitter unit for use with a sign and an alarm source, the transmitter unit comprising:

a) an alarm detector for detecting an alarm from the alarm source,

b) a radio frequency transmitter circuit,

c) a transmitter control circuit, and

d) a transmitter housing for housing the transmitter circuit and transmitter control circuit,

wherein the transmitter control is for recognizing alarms detected by the alarm detector and sending messages to the transmitter circuit in response to a detected alarm, and the transmitter circuit is for transmitting those messages over radio frequencies to the sign, and

wherein the alarm detector comprises a telephone decoder for receiving DTMF tones or dial pulses and decoding the DTMF tones or dial pulses into decoded data, and a portion of the transmitter control circuit for receiving the decoded data and determining when an emergency number has been decoded by the telephone decoder.

2. The transmitter unit of claim 1 wherein the telephone decoder is also for detecting an off-hook condition and decoding DTMF tones or dial pulses begins after detection of an off-hook condition.

3. The transmitter unit of claim 2 further comprising means for a user to program one or more emergency telephone numbers into the unit for dialing detection.

4. The transmitter unit of claim 3 further comprises a security system alarm condition input to the alarm detector.

5. The transmitter unit of claim 1 wherein the transmitter control circuit comprises a programmed controller for controlling the operation of the transmitter unit.

6. The transmitter unit of claim 1 wherein the transmitter control circuit is programmed for a plurality of modes of operation, including a Running mode wherein the unit monitors using the alarm detector, and a Program mode wherein the unit receives one or more emergency telephone codes for storage.

7. The transmitter unit of claim 6 wherein the transmitter unit operates in Running mode by default.

8. The transmitter unit of claim 6 further comprising user input means for activating Program mode.

9. The transmitter unit of claim 6 wherein the transmitter control circuit is further programmed for a Learn mode for transmitting a broadcast message to teach a message address to which the transmitter unit addresses messages.

10. The transmitter unit of claim 6 wherein the transmitter control circuit is further programmed for a Reset mode wherein one or more stored telephone codes are deleted from the transmitter unit.

11. The transmitter unit of claim 1 further comprising:

two telephone connectors in the housing for connection to a telephone and a telephone line to allow connection between the telephone and telephone line when connected and to allow the alarm detector to monitor off-hook and dialing on the telephone line.

12. The transmitter unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a means of physical pressure emergency user input to the alarm detector from external to the transmitter unit.

13. The transmitter unit of claim 12 wherein the means of physical pressure emergency user input to the alarm detector from external to the transmitter unit is a button switch.

14. The transmitter unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a reset user input, and wherein the transmitter circuit is for continuously transmitting the messages over radio frequencies until a reset occurs at the reset user input.

15. The transmitter of claim 14 wherein the reset user input is a means of physical pressure reset user input to the alarm detector from external to the transmitter unit.

16. The transmitter of claim 15 wherein the means of physical pressure reset user input to the alarm detector from external to the transmitter unit is a button switch.

17. The transmitter unit of claim 1 further comprising:

two telephone connectors in the housing for connection to a telephone and a telephone line to allow connection between the telephone and telephone line when connected and to allow the alarm detector to monitor off-hook and dialing on the telephone line.

18. The transmitter unit of claim 17 wherein the alarm detector comprises an audible tone detector for detecting an audible tone that represents an alarm.

19. The transmitter unit of claim 18 further comprising:

a means of physical pressure emergency user input to the alarm detector from external to the transmitter unit.

20. The transmitter unit of claim 19 further comprising:

a reset user input, and wherein the transmitter circuit is for continuously transmitting the messages over radio frequencies until a reset occurs at the reset user input.

21. The transmitter of claim 20 wherein the reset user input is a means of physical pressure reset user input to the alarm detector from external to the transmitter unit.

22. The transmitter unit of claim 21 wherein the transmitter control circuit is programmed for a plurality of modes of operation, including a Running mode wherein the unit monitors using the alarm detector, and a Program mode wherein the unit receives one or more emergency telephone codes for storage.

23. The transmitter unit of claim 22 wherein the transmitter control circuit is further programmed for a Learn mode for transmitting a broadcast message to teach a message address to which the transmitter unit addresses messages.

24. A transmitter unit for use with a sign and an alarm source, the transmitter unit comprising:

a) an alarm detector for detecting an alarm from the alarm source,

b) a radio frequency transmitter circuit,

c) a transmitter control circuit, and

d) a transmitter housing for housing the transmitter circuit and transmitter control circuit, wherein the transmitter control is for recognizing alarms detected by the alarm detector and sending messages to the transmitter circuit in response to a detected alarm, and the transmitter circuit is for transmitting those messages over radio frequencies, and

wherein the alarm detector comprises an audible tone detector for detecting an audible tone that represents an alarm.

25. The transmitter unit of claim 24 wherein the audible tone detector is for detecting an audible tone emitted by a smoke detector.

26. The transmitter unit of claim 24 wherein the audible tone detector is for detecting an audible tone emitted by a carbon monoxide detector.