Networked audible and visual alarm apparatus and method of synchronized alerting

• US 9,747,763 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2017
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATHENA Patent Development, LLC
• Original Assignee: ATHENA Patent Development, LLC
• Inventors: Scordato, Stephen, Carlin, John A., Arno, Michael, Grupp, Kevin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US15/408,597
• Time in Patent Office: 223 Days
• Field of Search: 340428, 340632, 34081545, 362 86
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• 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 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

A networked visual and audible alarm apparatus and method of synchronized alerting provides audible and visual alerts upon detection of events, such as smoke, carbon monoxide and gas. The apparatus adapts to a light bulb socket to provide normal lighting when no event is detected. The apparatuses are systematically disposed through different sections of a structure. Each apparatus independently emits an audible signal, dependent on the type of event detected in the respective section for the apparatus. Further, each alarm apparatus provides a colored high strobe light that illuminates at a color and intensity that varies, dependent on the type of event detected in the section of the alarm apparatus. A microphone enables the alarm apparatus to initiate the audible signal and the high strobe light upon detecting an audible signal from an adjacent alarm apparatus. Also, voice commands can be used to power off the alarming apparatus.

Claims

1. A networked visual and audible alarm apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a housing with LED lighting means;

at least one partition configured to separate sections of internal space with said housing;

an LED light, the LED light comprising at least one of the following;

a first color LED strobe array, a second color LED strobe array, a third color LED strobe array, a fourth color LED strobe array, and a fifth color LED array;

a smoke detector configured to detect smoke, the smoke detector disposed within said internal space of said housing;

a carbon monoxide detector configured to detect carbon monoxide, the carbon monoxide detector disposed within said internal space of said housing;

a gas detector configured to detect gas, the gas detector disposed within said internal space of said housing;

an alarm disposed within said internal space of said housing, said alarm having an audible and visual pulsation, said alarm configured to enable testing;

wherein said visual pulsation of LED lights is comprised of alternating high intensity LED light of said first color with said LED strobe array of said second color for indicating detection of smoke, and alternating high intensity LED light of said first color with said LED strobe array of said third color for indicating detection of carbon monoxide, and alternating high intensity LED light of said first color with said LED strobe array of said fourth color for indicating detection of gas, and alternating high intensity LED light of said first color with said LED strobe array of said fifth color for a repeat alarm state indicating another apparatus is alarming a danger;

power conditioning of VAC line voltages;

a non-replaceable rechargeable battery, said non-replaceable rechargeable battery having an activation means for actuating said apparatus;

a silence alarm signal active configured to silence said alarm through a verbal command;

a microphone configured to listen for a sound pattern; and

a communication portion configured to communicate for purposes of alerting other apparatuses, in a network, to repeat the alarm.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing is configured to directly replace existing prior art lighting housings styles, types and shapes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said smoke detector, said carbon monoxide detector, and said gas detector are operatively arranged so that a window of time elapses between audible alarm pulsations to receive audio signals via the microphone, for a command having two generated pulses above a threshold representing said command to shut-off, and suspend alarm state.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one partition forms a LED light interior, an electronics chamber, and an isolated, detector/microphone/horn space, for smoke, carbon monoxide or gas to enter and exit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said audible and visual pulsation, is a rhythmic pattern of lights and sound in three beats ON to one beat OFF.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said rhythmic pattern of lights and sound is alternating white and green, red, amber, or blue high intensity LED strobes and an audible signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communication portion is adapted to listen with the on-board microphone, or via transmitting or receiving short range RF signals.

8. A networked visual and audible alarm apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a housing envelope adapted substantially the standard style and shape of a conventional light bulb housings providing lighting with conventional LED lighting means in a main array;

a plurality of partitions to separate areas of internal space within housing to isolate smoke and gas from LED and electronics;

a power conditioning of VAC line voltages;

a non-replaceable rechargeable battery, said non-replaceable rechargeable battery having an activation pin for initially putting apparatus into service;

an alarm comprising a piezo-electric horn for the audible and strobing LED'"'"'s for the visual pulsations, and further configured to enable testing the alarm both audible and visual pulsations with sound and LED lights;

wherein said visual pulsation of LED lights is comprised of alternating high intensity LED light of said first color with said LED strobe array of said second color for indicating detection of smoke, and alternating high intensity LED light of said first color with said LED strobe array of said third color for indicating detection of carbon monoxide, and alternating high intensity LED light of said first color with said LED strobe array of said fourth color for indicating detection of gas, and alternating high intensity LED light of said first color with said LED strobe array of said fifth color for a repeat alarm state indicating another apparatus is alarming danger;

a silence alarm signal active configured to be powered off through a verbal command;

said a silence alarm signal active having a microphone to listen for sound patterns; and

a communication portion configured to communicate for purposes of alerting other apparatuses, in a network, to repeat the alarm state.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said housing envelop comprises at least one of the following:

an Edison A-19 screw base socket, a flood BR-30 screw base socket, a recessed fixture, a track-light fixture, and a nightlight fixture.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said housing envelop comprising a light-defusing reflector is an electronics casing with vents for detection of smoke, carbon monoxide and gas, a base with electrical connection means, that can be formed to directly replace existing prior art lighting housings of any style, type or shape.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said housing envelop comprising a light-defusing reflector, an electronics casing with vents, a base with electrical connection means, that can be formed to directly replace existing prior art lighting housing styles, type and shapes and wherein said detection means is a reflective or transmissive photo interrupter means of smoke detection and the carbon monoxide is an ionization detection and the gas is an electro-chemical means, can be for specific gas types and wherein said separate partitioned areas creating a LED light interior space under a light-defusing reflector, a PCB and electronics chamber and an isolated, smoke, carbon monoxide and gas detector area, piezo-electric sounding device, and, microphone space, for allowing smoke and gas to enter/exit isolated detector space, and allowing sound to enter/exit isolated space.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said audible and visual alarming, is a piercing pulsation of a rhythmic pattern of colored and white lights for visual alarm, and audible sound in three beats ON to one beat OFF, giving rise to any occupants present that danger exists.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said alternating high intensity LED light of said first color is a white high intensity LED and said LED strobe array of said second color is a red high intensity LED, and said LED strobe array of said third color is an amber high intensity LED, and said LED strobe array of said fourth color is a blue high intensity LED, and said LED strobe array of said fifth color is a green high intensity LED for a repeat alarm state indicating another apparatus is alarming danger.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an on-board microphone configured to create waveform pulses consistent with sounds that exceed a predetermined amplitude level representing speech commands, or, other apparatus audibly alarming;

or transmitting and receiving via short range RF signals of the same pattern recognition.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a gas detector, the detectors configured to utilize a threshold measuring process and wherein said separate partitioned areas have interior space under a light-defusing reflector, PCB and electronics chamber and an isolated, smoke, carbon monoxide and gas detector area, with piezo-electric sounding device, and, microphone, disposed near vents for allowing smoke and gas to enter/exit isolated space, and allowing sound to enter/exit isolated space.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said audible and visual alarming is a piercing pulsation of a rhythmic pattern of colored, LED, and, white light LED, with sound in three beats ON to one beat OFF in waveform, giving rise to any occupants present that danger exists.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said rhythmic pattern of lights and sound is alternating white high intensity LED with red high intensity LED for smoke, alternating white high intensity LED with amber or blue high intensity LED for carbon monoxide or gas respectively, and, alternating white high intensity LED with green high intensity LED for a ‘

repeat’

state indicating another apparatus was alarming a danger, and along with an audible piezo-electrical horn, creating a light and sound pattern, that give a sense of urgency.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said communication means is an on-board microphone and means to create waveform pulses consistent with sounds that exceed a predetermined amplitude level and representing speech commands that produce valid silence first and second recognition waveforms generating the stop alarming pulses, valid silence command, or, other apparatus audibly alarming;

or transmitting/receiving via short range RF signals of the same pattern recognition.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said audible and visual alarming is to include a test alarm means, by turn the apparatus ON/OFF/ON in quick succession, within one second to activate a test mode wherein said test mode alarm state will last for five second and repeated to all like apparatuses in a network, or, be silenced via a silence command response.

20. A method of synchronized alerting with a networked visual and audible alarm apparatus, the method comprising:

providing lighting with conventional LED lighting means in a main array, when not in an alarm state, providing a communications means either by sound and RF signaling between like units within range in network, providing a plurality of alarm apparatuses, the plurality of alarm apparatuses comprising an audible alarm circuit configured to emit an audible signal, a high strobe light, a microphone, a smoke detector configured to detect smoke, and a carbon monoxide detector configured to detect carbon monoxide;

detecting smoke, carbon monoxide, or gas, and any combination of all three;

emitting the audible signal from the audible alarm circuit upon detection of the smoke, carbon monoxide or the gas, or gas, and any combination of all three;

illuminating the high strobe light, the high strobe light comprising at least one of the following;

a white LED strobe array, a green LED strobe array, a red LED strobe array, an amber LED strobe array, and a blue LED strobing array,

whereby detection of smoke illuminates the red LED strobe array,

whereby detection of carbon monoxide illuminates the amber LED strobe array,

whereby detection of gas (natural gas, propane gas or redon gas) illuminates the blue LED strobe array,

whereby non-detection illuminates the white LED strobe array;

capturing the audible signal with the microphone,

whereby capturing the audible signal without detecting smoke or carbon monoxide or gas illuminates the green LED strobe array;

directing a pathway through illumination of the green LED strobe array;

providing a rechargeable power source through a rechargeable battery; and

powering off the plurality of alarm apparatuses through voice activation to shut off alarm.