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

• US 8,026,829 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wheelock Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wheelock Incorporated
• Inventors: Keeney, Shawn P., Curran, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/559,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/331, 340/693.1, 340/384.1, 340/815.65, 340/555, 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 produces light of a predetermined color; and

a lens to narrow a viewing angle of the at least one broad distribution LED and to increase a light intensity on axis at 0 degrees.

2. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one broad distribution LED comprises at least one high current density LED to produce a high intensity white light.

3. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one broad distribution LED comprises at least one LED device combined with the lens to produce a high intensity white light.

4. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage converter coupled to the energy storage device.

5. The strobe notification appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

a current limiter coupled to the energy storage device.

6. The strobe notification appliance of claim 5, further comprising:

a buck converter coupled between the energy storage device and said at least one broad distribution LED.

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);

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 produces light of a predetermined color; and

a reflector to narrow a light distribution pattern of the at least one broad distribution LED and to increase a light intensity on axis at 0 degrees.

10. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, wherein said at least one broad distribution LED comprises at least one high current density LED to produce a high intensity white light.

11. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, wherein said at least one broad distribution LED comprises at least one LED device combined with a lens to produce a high intensity white light.

12. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, further comprising:

a voltage converter coupled to the energy storage device.

13. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, further comprising:

a current limiter coupled to the energy storage device.

14. The strobe notification appliance of claim 13, further comprising:

a buck converter coupled between the energy storage device and said at least one broad distribution LED.

15. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, wherein said control circuit comprises a microcontroller.

16. The strobe notification appliance of claim 9, wherein said control circuit comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).