Notification appliance and method thereof

• US 8,836,532 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Fish, Richard T. Jr., Pattok, Greg R., Edwards, Scott R., Fogg, Jeremy A., Tuttle, Darin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US12/640,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20110012746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/691.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A notification appliance configured to emit a notification output based upon at least one detected environmental condition is provided that includes a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition, at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source configured to emit light having an intensity during a pulse time period, and a controller in communicative connection with the sensor and the LED light source, wherein the controller is configured to control the LED light source so that the pulse time period is approximately less than or equal to two hundred milliseconds (200 ms), while substantially maintaining an effective intensity and enhancing a perceived brightness of the emitted light.

Claims

1. A notification appliance configured to emit a notification output based upon at least one detected environmental condition comprising:

a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition;

at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source configured to emit light having an intensity during a pulse time period, wherein said emitted light corresponds to said notification output;

an ambient light sensor configured to detect ambient light in an area proximate said notification appliance; and

a controller in communicative connection with said sensor, said at least one LED light source, and said ambient light sensor, wherein upon detection of said at least one environmental condition, said controller is configured to alter said intensity and said pulse time period of said emitted light as a function of said detected ambient light, wherein said controller alters said intensity and said pulse time period of said emitted light as a percentage of one another, and said pulse time period is approximately less than or equal to two hundred milliseconds (200 ms), so as to substantially maintain an effective intensity and enhance a perceived brightness of said emitted light.

2. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said pulse time period ranges between and includes approximately twenty-five milliseconds (25 ms) and one hundred seventy-five milliseconds (175 ms).

3. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said pulse time period ranges between and includes approximately seventy-five milliseconds (75 ms) and one hundred milliseconds (100 ms).

4. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light source is configured to be a night light, such that said controller is configured to control said at least one LED light source to substantially constantly emit said emitted light as a function of said detected ambient light by said ambient light sensor being below a threshold value.

5. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to alter at least one of:

a flash intensity of said emitted light by said at least one LED light source;

a pulse duration of said emitted light by said at least one LED light source;

a pulse signature of said emitted light by said at least one LED light source;

a spectral characteristic of said emitted light by said at least one LED light source;

a spectral output of said emitted light by said at least one LED light source; and

an illumination patter of said emitted light by said at least one LED light source.

6. The notification appliance of claim 5, wherein altering said pulse signature comprises altering at least one of a common multi-pulse, a variable multi-pulse, a common hyper-pulse, and a variable hyper-pulse.

7. The notification appliance of claim 1 further comprising an audible enunciation device configured to emit an audible sound when said sensor detects the at least one environmental condition.

8. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light source comprises at least one of a white LED light source, and a non-white LED light source.

9. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light source comprises a first LED light source configured to emit a first light during a first pulsed time period, and a second LED light source configured to emit a second light during a second pulsed time period.

10. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light source comprises a first LED light source and a second LED light source, which are independently controlled to emit a first light and a second light corresponding to said emitted light.

11. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light source comprises at least two LED light sources, such that said controller is configured to alter a pattern of said emitted light from at least a portion of said at least two LED light sources to increase a brightness of said emitted light projected at the area proximate the notification appliance.

12. The notification appliance of claim 1 further comprising a projection light source in communicative connection with said controller, wherein said projection light source is configured to emit said emitted light through an at least partially transparent substrate to project an image on a surface adjacent the notification appliance.

13. The notification appliance of claim 12, wherein said image corresponds to the at least one detected environmental condition.

14. The notification appliance of claim 12, wherein said projection light source is a light pipe.

15. The notification appliance of claim 12, wherein said at least partially transparent substrate is integrated with at least one of a faceplate and a bezel.

16. The notification appliance of claim 12, wherein said controller controls said projection light source to be substantially constantly on when the at least one environmental condition is detected.

17. The notification appliance of claim 12, wherein said controller controls said projection light source substantially synchronous with said pulse time period of said at least one LED light source.

18. The notification appliance of claim 12, wherein said image projected by said projection light source is at least one of a symbol and text.

19. The notification appliance of claim 12, wherein said projection light source is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

20. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises at least one of:

an input from a panel;

a signal;

a coded signal;

fire;

smoke;

carbon dioxide;

carbon monoxide;

tornado;

terrorist attack;

intruder;

heat;

a doorbell that has been activated to ring; and

a telephone that has been activated to ring.

21. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to control said at least one LED light source to emit said emitted light for a set pulse time period, while having a predetermined spectral signature with said set pulse time period comprising at least one of:

a common multi-pulse;

a variable multi-pulse;

a common hyper-pulse; and

a variable hyper-pulse.

22. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light source comprises at least one of a red-green-blue (RGB) LED, a binary complimentary white LED, and a multiple die LED, such that said emitted light is emitted in different colors to indicate multiple detected environmental conditions.

23. The notification appliance of claim 1 further comprising a camera device in communicative connection with said controller, wherein said camera device is configured to detect at least one ambient condition in a detection area proximate the notification appliance, and said controller is configured to alter said emitted light by said at least one LED light source as a function of said detected at least one ambient condition.

24. The notification appliance of claim 23, wherein said detected at least one ambient condition comprises at least one of:

ambient light; and

a color of the detection area proximate the notification appliance.

25. The notification appliance of claim 24, wherein said camera device is a red-green-blue (RGB) camera.

26. The notification appliance of claim 24, wherein said at least one LED light source is configured to be a night light, such that said controller is configured to control said at least one LED light source to substantially constantly emit said emitted light as a function of said detected ambient light by said camera device being below a threshold value.

27. The notification appliance of claim 23, wherein said controller is further configured to modify at least one of:

a flash intensity of said at least one LED light source;

a pulse duration of said at least one LED light source;

a pulse signature of said at least one LED light source;

a spectral characteristic of said at least one LED light source;

a spectral output of said at least one LED light source; and

a pattern of said emitted light by said at least one LED light source.

28. The notification appliance of claim 27, wherein modifying said pulse signature comprises modifying one of a common multi-pulse, a variable multi-pulse, a common hyper-pulse, and a variable hyper-pulse.

29. The notification appliance of claim 1 further comprising an optic pack in optical communication with said at least one LED light source, wherein said optic pack is configured to project said emitted light in an illumination pattern.

30. The notification appliance of claim 29, wherein said illumination pattern substantially complies with UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY™

(UL) 1971.

31. The notification appliance of claim 29, wherein said illumination pattern comprises said emitted light being projected in an approximately forty-five degree (45°

) horizontal direction with respect to a left side of said at least one LED light source, an approximately forty-five degree (45°

) horizontal direction with respect to a right side of said at least one LED light source, and an upwards and downwards vertical direction with respect to a center of said at least one LED light source.

32. The notification appliance of claim 29, wherein said optic pack is a two lens optic pack comprising:

a collimator in optical communication with said at least one LED light source, said collimator comprising Fresnel optics; and

an outer lens in optical communication with said collimator.

33. The notification appliance of claim 32, wherein said outer lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

34. The notification appliance of claim 29, wherein said optic pack is a three lens optic pack comprising:

a collimator in optical communication with said at least one LED light source;

an inner lens in optical communication with said collimator; and

an outer lens in optical communication with said inner lens.

35. The notification appliance of claim 34, wherein said inner lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

36. The notification appliance of claim 34, wherein said outer lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

37. The notification appliance of claim 29, wherein said optic pack is a reflector optic pack comprising:

a reflector in optical communication with said at least one LED light source;

an inner lens in optical communication with said reflector; and

an outer lens in optical communication with said inner lens.

38. The notification appliance of claim 37, wherein said inner lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

39. The notification appliance of claim 37, wherein said outer lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

40. The notification appliance of claim 1 further configured to be in a notification appliance system, wherein the notification appliance is in communicative connection with at least one of a similar notification appliance and a legacy notification appliance.

41. A notification appliance configured to emit a notification output based upon at least one detected environmental condition comprising:

a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition;

at least one light source configured to emit light having at least one characteristic, and an intensity during a pulse time period, wherein said emitted light corresponds to said notification output;

an ambient light sensor configured to detect ambient light in an area proximate the notification appliance;

a controller in communicative connection with said sensor, said at least one light source, and said ambient light sensor, wherein upon detection of said at least one environmental condition, said controller is configured to alter said at least one characteristic, said intensity, and said pulse time period of said emitted light as a function of said detected ambient light, wherein said controller alters said intensity and said pulse time period of said emitted light as a percentage of one another so as to substantially maintain an effective intensity and enhance a perceived brightness of said emitted light.

42. The notification appliance of claim 41, wherein said at least one light source is at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source.

43. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said controller is configured to pulse said at least one LED light source during a time period that ranges between and includes approximately one millisecond (1 ms) and two hundred milliseconds (200 ms).

44. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said controller is configured to pulse said at least one LED light source during a time period that ranges between and includes approximately twenty-five milliseconds (25 ms) and one hundred seventy-five (175 ms).

45. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said controller is configured to pulse said at least one LED light source during a time period that ranges between and includes approximately seventy-five milliseconds (75 ms) and one hundred milliseconds (100 ms).

46. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said controller is further configured to modify at least one of:

a flash intensity of said at least one LED light source;

a pulse duration of said at least one LED light source;

a pulse signature of said at least one LED light source;

a spectral output of said at least one LED light source; and

a pattern of said emitted light by said at least one LED light source.

47. The notification appliance of claim 46, wherein modifying said pulse signature comprises modifying one of a common multi-pulse, a variable multi-pulse, a common hyper-pulse, and a variable hyper-pulse.

48. The notification appliance of claim 41, wherein said at least one light source is configured to be a night light, such that said controller is configured to control said at least one light source to substantially constantly emit said emitted light as a function of said detected ambient light by said ambient light sensor being below a threshold value.

49. The notification appliance of claim 41, wherein said at least one light source comprises a first light source configured to emit a first light during a first pulsed time period and a second light source configured to emit a second light during a second pulsed time period.

50. The notification appliance of claim 49, wherein at least said first light source is a white light source, and at least said second light source is a non-white light source.

51. The notification appliance of claim 41, wherein said at least one light source comprises a first light source and a second light source, which are independently controlled to emit a first light corresponding to the first light source and a second light corresponding to the second light source.

52. The notification appliance of claim 41, wherein said at least one light source comprises at least two light sources, such that said controller is configured to alter a pattern of said emitted light from at least a portion of said at least two light sources to increase a brightness of said emitted light projected at the area proximate the notification appliance.

53. The notification appliance of claim 41, wherein said controller is configured to control said at least one light source to emit said emitted light for a set pulse time period, while having a predetermined spectral signature with said set pulse time period comprising at least one of:

a common multi-pulse;

a variable multi-pulse;

a common hyper-pulse; and

a variable hyper-pulse.

54. The notification appliance of claim 41, wherein said controller is configured to control said at least one light source to emit said emitted light at a spectral distribution profile to enhance a human eye response.

55. The notification appliance of claim 41, wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one of a red-green-blue (RGB) LED, a binary complimentary white LED, and a multiple die LED, such that said emitted light is emitted in different colors to indicate multiple detected environmental conditions.

56. The notification appliance of claim 41, wherein said ambient light sensor is a red-green-blue (RGB) ambient light sensor (ALS).