Low power detection and alarm
First Claim
1. An alarm apparatus for detecting radiation and/or pollutants including smoke and carbon monoxide, the apparatus comprising:
- an alarm circuit including a detector for detecting said radiation and/or pollutants and an audible alarm emitting device;
a power supply circuit, connectable to an external AC power supply, including (a) a rectifying circuit configured to provide a rectified DC voltage power supply to said alarm circuit and (b) a current reducer for reducing the current supplied to the rectifying circuit so as to limit a current drawn from the AC power supply; and
a controller configured to operate the power supply circuit in a first mode of operation in which it supplies current to the alarm circuit at a first power level less than that required to energize the audible alarm emitting device and, in response to the detection of said radiation and/or pollutants, to operate the power supply circuit in a second mode of operation wherein it supplies current from the AC power supply to the alarm circuit at a second power level sufficient to exclusively energize the audible alarm emitting device,wherein the rectifying circuit comprises a capacitor connected to the rectified DC voltage power supply and the power supply circuit includes a voltage controller, controlled by the controller, for controlling a voltage charge on said capacitor, wherein the capacitor is charged to a first voltage and maintained at the first voltage to provide current to the alarm circuit at the first power level in the first mode of operation and wherein the capacitor is charged to a second, higher voltage to provide current to the alarm circuit at the second power level in the second mode of operation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An alarm apparatus, for detecting radiation and/or pollutants including smoke and carbon monoxide, comprises an alarm circuit including a detector for radiation and/or pollutants and an audible alarm emitting device. A power supply circuit, connectable to an external AC power supply, supplies power to the alarm circuit. A controller operates the power supply circuit in a first mode of operation in which it supplies current to the alarm circuit at a first power level less than that required to energize the audible alarm emitting device and, in response to the detection of radiation and/or pollutants, operates the power supply in a second mode of operation in which it supplies current to the alarm circuit at a second power level sufficient to energize the audible alarm emitting device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An alarm apparatus for detecting radiation and/or pollutants including smoke and carbon monoxide, the apparatus comprising:
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an alarm circuit including a detector for detecting said radiation and/or pollutants and an audible alarm emitting device; a power supply circuit, connectable to an external AC power supply, including (a) a rectifying circuit configured to provide a rectified DC voltage power supply to said alarm circuit and (b) a current reducer for reducing the current supplied to the rectifying circuit so as to limit a current drawn from the AC power supply; and a controller configured to operate the power supply circuit in a first mode of operation in which it supplies current to the alarm circuit at a first power level less than that required to energize the audible alarm emitting device and, in response to the detection of said radiation and/or pollutants, to operate the power supply circuit in a second mode of operation wherein it supplies current from the AC power supply to the alarm circuit at a second power level sufficient to exclusively energize the audible alarm emitting device, wherein the rectifying circuit comprises a capacitor connected to the rectified DC voltage power supply and the power supply circuit includes a voltage controller, controlled by the controller, for controlling a voltage charge on said capacitor, wherein the capacitor is charged to a first voltage and maintained at the first voltage to provide current to the alarm circuit at the first power level in the first mode of operation and wherein the capacitor is charged to a second, higher voltage to provide current to the alarm circuit at the second power level in the second mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing power to an alarm apparatus for detecting radiation and/or pollutants including smoke and carbon monoxide, the method comprising:
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providing an alarm circuit including a detector for detecting said radiation and/or pollutants and an audible alarm emitting device; providing a power supply circuit, connectable to an external AC power supply, wherein the power supply circuit includes a rectifying circuit configured to provide a rectified DC voltage power supply to said alarm circuit and further includes a current reducer for reducing the current supplied to the rectifying circuit so as to limit a current drawn from the AC power supply; operating the power supply circuit in a first mode of operation in which it supplies current to the alarm circuit at a first power level less than that required to energize the audible alarm emitting device and, in response to the detection of said radiation and/or pollutants, operating the power supply circuit in a second mode of operation wherein it supplies current from the AC power supply to the alarm circuit at a second power level sufficient to exclusively energize the audible alarm emitting device, wherein providing a power supply circuit including a rectifying circuit comprises providing a capacitor connected to the rectified DC voltage power supply and controlling a voltage charge on said capacitor wherein the capacitor is charged to a first voltage and maintained at the first voltage to provide current to the alarm circuit at the first power level in the first mode of operation and wherein the capacitor is charged to a second, higher voltage to provide current to the alarm circuit at the second power level in the second mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification