Method and apparatus for providing a notification appliance with a light emitting diode

• US 7,663,500 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wheelock Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wheelock Incorporated
• Inventors: Curran, John W., Keeney, Shawn P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US11/096,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20050219060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/331, 340/693.1, 340/384.1, 340/815.65, 340/555, 362/555, 362/231, 362/347
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a strobe alarm unit employing at least one light emitting diode.

Claims

1. A strobe notification appliance, comprising:

at least one broad distribution light emitting diode (LED);

an energy storage device for storing energy;

a control circuit for causing said stored energy to be applied to said at least one broad distribution LED, wherein said at least one broad distribution light emitting diode comprises at least one multi-color LED; and

a voltage converter coupled to said energy storage device for stepping an input voltage, wherein said energy storage device is deployed between said voltage converter and said at least one broad distribution LED.

2. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one multi-color LED comprises a tricolor LED.

3. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one broad distribution light emitting diode comprises a plurality of LEDs.

4. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said voltage converter comprises a buck converter.

5. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said voltage converter comprises a booster converter.

6. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said voltage converter comprises at least one current limiter.

7. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises a microcontroller.

8. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

9. A strobe notification appliance, comprising:

at least one broad distribution light emitting diode (LED);

means for storing energy;

means for controlling said stored energy to be applied to said at least one broad distribution LED, wherein said at least one broad distribution light emitting diode comprises at least one multi-color LED; and

means for converting voltage, coupled to said means for storing energy, for stepping an input voltage, wherein said means for storing energy is deployed between said means for converting voltage and said at least one broad distribution LED.

10. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, wherein said means for converting voltage comprises a buck converter.

11. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, wherein said means for converting voltage comprises a booster converter.

12. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, wherein said means for converting voltage comprises at least one current limiting means.

13. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, wherein said controlling means comprises a microcontroller or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

14. A method of providing a strobe notification appliance, comprising:

providing at least one broad distribution light emitting diode (LED);

providing an energy storage device for storing energy;

providing a control circuit for causing said stored energy to be applied to said at least one broad distribution LED, wherein said at least one broad distribution light emitting diode comprises at least one multi-color LED; and

providing a voltage converter coupled to said energy storage device for stepping an input voltage, wherein said energy storage device is deployed between said voltage converter and said at least one broad distribution LED.

15. A strobe notification appliance, comprising:

at least one broad distribution light emitting diode (LED);

an energy storage device for storing energy;

a control circuit for causing said stored energy to be applied to said at least one broad distribution LED, wherein said at least one broad distribution light emitting diode comprises at least one multi-color LED; and

a voltage converter coupled to said energy storage device for stepping an input voltage, wherein said voltage converter is deployed between said energy storage device and said at least one broad distribution LED.

16. The strobe notification appliance of claim 15, wherein said at least one multi-color LED comprises a tricolor LED.

17. The strobe notification appliance of claim 15, wherein said at least one broad distribution light emitting diode comprises a plurality of LEDs.

18. The strobe notification appliance of claim 15, wherein said voltage converter comprises a buck converter.

19. The strobe notification appliance of claim 15, wherein said voltage converter comprises a booster converter.

20. The strobe notification appliance of claim 15, wherein said voltage converter comprises at least one current limiter.

21. The strobe notification appliance of claim 15, wherein said control circuit comprises a microcontroller.

22. The strobe notification appliance of claim 15, wherein said control circuit comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

23. A strobe notification appliance, comprising:

at least one broad distribution light emitting diode (LED);

means for storing energy;

means for controlling said stored energy to be applied to said at least one broad distribution LED, wherein said at least one broad distribution light emitting diode comprises at least one multi-color LED; and

means for converting voltage, coupled to said means for storing energy, for stepping an input voltage, wherein said means for converting voltage is deployed between said means for storing energy and said at least one broad distribution LED.

24. A method of providing a strobe notification appliance, comprising:

providing at least one broad distribution light emitting diode (LED);

providing an energy storage device for storing energy;

providing a control circuit for causing said stored energy to be applied to said at least one broad distribution LED, wherein said at least one broad distribution light emitting diode comprises at least one multi-color LED; and

providing a voltage converter coupled to said energy storage device for stepping an input voltage, wherein said voltage converter is deployed between said energy storage device and said at least one broad distribution LED.