Systems and methods for optimizing low battery indication in alarms

• US 9,019,112 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Ratzlaff, Larry R., Burnette, Stan, Andres, John, Chandler, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US13/893,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20140015682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636.1, 340/636.12, 340/636.19, 340/628, 340/641, 340/506, 340/309.16, 340/309.7, 340/286.05
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• 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 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

A method and apparatus for utilizing a timing component to optimize low battery indication in alarm devices. The method and apparatus may set a timing component based on a condition detected by a alarm device. Upon detection of a low battery condition within the alarm device, the alarm device can delay low battery indication, using the timing component, until a time of day with a higher probably of user suitability.

Claims

1. An alarm apparatus comprising:

a battery configured to provide at least one of power or backup power to the alarm apparatus;

a timing component;

a sound producing component; and

circuitry containing instructions causing the apparatus to perform operations comprising;

determining that the battery is in a low power state;

initiating a wait state for a predetermined amount of time, using the timing component;

detecting the power level of the battery at regular intervals during the wait state; and

initiating a low battery chirp using the sound producing component based on detecting that the power level of the battery remained in the low power state during the wait state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the operations further comprise returning to an initial state based on detecting that the power level of the battery is no longer in the low power state.

3. An alarm apparatus comprising:

a battery configured to provide at least one of power or backup power to the alarm apparatus;

a timing component;

a sound producing component;

a processing system comprising one or more processors; and

a memory system comprising one or more computer-readable media, wherein the computer-readable media contain instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations comprising;

determining battery voltage levels of the battery at set intervals of a first predetermined period of time;

averaging the battery voltage levels of the battery over a second predetermined period of time;

determining an estimated time of day based a lowest average battery voltage level;

determining that the battery is in a low power state; and

initiating a low battery chirp during the low power state, using the sound producing component, based on a determination that the estimated time of day matches a predetermined time of day.

4. An alarm apparatus comprising:

a battery configured to provide at least one of power or backup power to the alarm apparatus;

a timing component;

a sound producing component;

a light sensor;

a processing system comprising one or more processors; and

a memory system comprising one or more computer-readable media, wherein the computer-readable media contain instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations comprising;

determining patterns of ambient light using the light sensor;

determining an estimated time of day based the patterns of ambient light;

determining that the battery is in a low power state; and

initiating a low battery chirp during the low power state, using the sound producing component, based on a determination that the estimated time of day matches a predetermined time of day.

5. An alarm apparatus comprising:

a battery configured to provide at least one of power or backup power to the alarm apparatus;

a timing component;

a sound producing component; and

circuitry containing instructions causing the apparatus to perform operations comprising;

determining that the battery is in a low power state at a first time; and

initiating a low battery chirp, using the sound producing component, based on a determination that the battery remained in the low power state at a second subsequent time.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, the operations further comprise clearing the low power state based on a determination that the battery did not remain in the low power state at the second subsequent time.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first time and the second subsequent time represent regularly intervened battery power tests performed by the alarm apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a time interval between the first time and the second subsequent time is at least twelve hours.

9. An alarm apparatus comprising:

a battery configured to provide at least one of power or backup power to the alarm apparatus;

a timing component;

a sound producing component; and

circuitry containing instructions causing the apparatus to perform operations comprising;

setting an allowed alarm time of day based on an event triggered by a user of the apparatus;

determining that the battery is in a low power state; and

initiating a low battery chirp, using the sound producing component, at the allowed time of day after the low power state was determined.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the event triggered by the user of the apparatus is an installation of the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the event triggered by the user of the apparatus is powering on of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the event triggered by the user of the apparatus is a user-initiated test of the apparatus.