Combined doorbell and smoke detection device

• US 7,319,402 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Randy D. Sudderth
• Original Assignee: Randy D. Sudderth
• Inventors: Sudderth, Randy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US11/339,115
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628, 340/506, 340/511, 340/521, 340/524, 340/538, 340/332, 340/815.46
• 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 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A combined doorbell and smoke detection device includes a housing that has monolithically formed sides. One side includes openings formed adjacent to the housing top corners for receiving fasteners therethrough. Nested within the housing are a door bell chime, a first control unit, a carbon monoxide smoke detector, and an ionization smoke detector. A second control unit is coupled to the carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors, and includes an amplifier. A power interrupt diverting switch is disposed within the housing and is mated to an external power source. An internal power supply source is nested within the housing and is coupled to the power interrupt diverting switch. A transformer is coupled to the power interrupt diverting switch, and the first and second control units for converting a first voltage level to a second voltage level transmitted to the first and second control units respectively.

Claims

1. A combined doorbell and smoke detection device for alerting a homeowner when a guest has arrived and further when a dangerous level of smoke is present within a building structure, said combined doorbell and smoke detection device comprising:

a housing having a plurality of linear and monolithically formed sides, one of said sides including a plurality of openings formed adjacent to top corners of said housing, said one side being directly engaged against a support surface wherein a plurality of fasteners are passed through said openings and into said support surface such that said housing is statically maintained at an elevated position during operating conditions;

a door bell chime nested within said housing;

a first control unit nested within said housing and being electrically coupled directly to said door bell chime;

a carbon monoxide smoke detector nested within said housing and disposed adjacent to said door bell chime;

an ionization smoke detector nested within said housing and seated adjacent to said carbon monoxide smoke detector;

a second control unit electrically coupled to said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors respectively such that each of said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors are independently and simultaneously operable with each other and said door bell chime respectively, said second control unit generating and transmitting an output signal to said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors based upon a predetermined user input signal;

a power interrupt diverting switch disposed within said housing and electrically mated to an external power supply source;

an internal power supply source nested within said housing and directly coupled to said power interrupt diverting switch; and

a transformer electrically and directly coupled to said power interrupt diverting switch as well as said first and second control units for selectively converting a first voltage level received from the external power supply source to a second voltage level transmitted to said first and second control units respectively;

wherein said power interrupt diverting switch channels power from said internal power supply source to said first and second control units when the external power supply source is inactive.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said second control unit comprises:

an analog-to-digital converter for receiving said input signal in an analog format and transmitting said output signal to a digital format;

a processor electrically coupled to said analog-to-digital converter;

a memory electrically coupled to said processor and including software instructions that cause said second control unit to independently toggle said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors between active and inactive modes, said software instructions performing the steps of

a. determining whether one of said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors has detected one of a maximum smoke and carbon monoxide level in the ambient atmosphere;

b. determining a duration of time in which said one detector has emitted a unique distress signal for more than a predetermined threshold time frame;

c. deactivating another one of said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors until said distress signal is discontinued so that the operator can audibly identify which of said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors has been triggered.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said power interrupt diverting switch is directly coupled to said first and second controllers as well as said transformer respectively.

4. A combined doorbell and smoke detection device for alerting a homeowner when a guest has arrived and further when a dangerous level of smoke is present within a building structure, said combined doorbell and smoke detection device comprising:

a housing having a plurality of linear and monolithically formed sides, one of said sides including a plurality of openings formed adjacent to top corners of said housing, said one side being directly engaged against a support surface wherein a plurality of fasteners are passed through said openings and into said support surface such that said housing is statically maintained at an elevated position during operating conditions;

a door bell chime nested within said housing;

a first control unit nested within said housing and being electrically coupled directly to said door bell chime;

a carbon monoxide smoke detector nested within said housing and disposed adjacent to said door bell chime;

an ionization smoke detector nested within said housing and seated adjacent to said carbon monoxide smoke detector;

a second control unit electrically coupled to said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors respectively such that each of said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors are independently and simultaneously operable with each other and said door bell chime respectively, said second control unit generating and transmitting an output signal to said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors based upon a predetermined user input signal, wherein said second control unit further comprises an amplifier for increasing an intensity of said output signal during operating conditions;

a power interrupt diverting switch disposed within said housing and electrically mated to an external power supply source;

an internal power supply source nested within said housing and directly coupled to said power interrupt diverting switch; and

a transformer electrically and directly coupled to said power interrupt diverting switch as well as said first and second control units for selectively converting a first voltage level received from the external power supply source to a second voltage level transmitted to said first and second control units respectively;

wherein said power interrupt diverting switch channels power from said internal power supply source to said first and second control units when the external power supply source is inactive.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said second control unit comprises:

an analog-to-digital converter for receiving said input signal in an analog format and transmitting said output signal to a digital format;

a processor electrically coupled to said analog-to-digital converter;

a memory electrically coupled to said processor and including software instructions that cause said second control unit to independently toggle said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors between active and inactive modes, said software instructions performing the steps of

a. determining whether one of said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors has detected one of a maximum smoke and carbon monoxide level in the ambient atmosphere;

b. determining a duration of time in which said one detector has emitted a unique distress signal for more than a predetermined threshold time frame;

c. deactivating another one of said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors until said distress signal is discontinued so that the operator can audibly identify which of said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors has been triggered.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said power interrupt diverting switch is directly coupled to said first and second controllers as well as said transformer respectively.

7. A combined doorbell and smoke detection device for alerting a homeowner when a guest has arrived and further when a dangerous level of smoke is present within a building structure, said combined doorbell and smoke detection device comprising:

a housing having a plurality of linear and monolithically formed sides, one of said sides including a plurality of openings formed adjacent to top corners of said housing, said one side being directly engaged against a support surface wherein a plurality of fasteners are passed through said openings and into said support surface such that said housing is statically maintained at an elevated position during operating conditions;

a door bell chime nested within said housing;

a first control unit nested within said housing and being electrically coupled directly to said door bell chime;

a carbon monoxide smoke detector nested within said housing and disposed adjacent to said door bell chime;

an ionization smoke detector nested within said housing and seated adjacent to said carbon monoxide smoke detector;

a second control unit electrically coupled to said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors respectively such that each of said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors are independently and simultaneously operable with each other and said door bell chime respectively, said second control unit generating and transmitting an output signal to said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors based upon a predetermined user input signal, wherein said second control unit further comprises an amplifier for increasing an intensity of said output signal during operating conditions, wherein said second control unit is directly and independently coupled to said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors respectively;

a power interrupt diverting switch disposed within said housing and electrically mated to an external power supply source;

an internal power supply source nested within said housing and directly coupled to said power interrupt diverting switch; and

a transformer electrically and directly coupled to said power interrupt diverting switch as well as said first and second control units for selectively converting a first voltage level received from the external power supply source to a second voltage level transmitted to said first and second control units respectively;

wherein said power interrupt diverting switch channels power from said internal power supply source to said first and second control units when the external power supply source is inactive.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said second control unit comprises:

an analog-to-digital converter for receiving said input signal in an analog format and transmitting said output signal to a digital format;

a processor electrically coupled to said analog-to-digital converter;

a memory electrically coupled to said processor and including software instructions that cause said second control unit to independently toggle said carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors between active and inactive modes, said software instructions performing the steps of

a. determining whether one of said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors has detected one of a maximum smoke and carbon monoxide level in the ambient atmosphere;

b. determining a duration of time in which said one detector has emitted a unique distress signal for more than a predetermined threshold time frame;

c. deactivating another one of said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors until said distress signal is discontinued so that the operator can audibly identify which of said ionization and carbon monoxide smoke detectors has been triggered.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said power interrupt diverting switch is directly coupled to said first and second controllers as well as said transformer respectively.