Enhanced visual signaling for an adverse condition detector

• US 20050151663A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maple Chase Company
• Original Assignee: Maple Chase Company
• Inventors: Tanguay, William P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,030,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.200
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light

Abstract

An adverse condition detector that allows the user to visually determine the type of adverse condition being detected. The adverse condition detector includes a sensor and a control unit coupled to the sensor. When the sensor detects an adverse condition above a selected level, the control unit generates an audible alarm signal and a visual alarm signal. The visual alarm signal simulates the type of adverse condition being detected. In one embodiment of the invention, the visual alarm signal includes a plurality of visual indicators operated in a random fashion to simulate the appearance of a flame.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An adverse condition detection apparatus operable to detect an adverse condition and generate a visual alarm signal to indicate the presence of the adverse condition, the apparatus comprising:

an adverse condition sensor operable to detect the adverse condition and generate a detection signal;

a control unit coupled to the adverse condition sensor for receiving the detection signal, the control unit being operable to control the generation of both the visual alarm signal and an audible alarm signal during the generation of the detection signal;

an audible indicator coupled to the control unit, wherein the control unit activates the audible indicator to generate an audible alarm signal upon detection of the adverse condition; and

a visual indicator coupled to the control unit, the visual indicator being operable to generate the visual alarm signal upon detection of the adverse condition, wherein the visual indicator is an LCD screen selectively operable to display the visual alarm signal such that the visual alarm signal visually simulates the type of adverse condition being detected.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the visual indicator is a color LCD screen.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the visual indicator is selectively operated by the control unit to visually simulate the appearance of a flame.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the audible alarm signal includes a plurality of alarm pulses each separated by an off period, wherein the control unit operates the visual indicator only during the off periods of the alarm signal.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the adverse condition detection apparatus includes a housing for enclosing the adverse condition sensor, the control unit and the visual indicator, wherein the visual indicator can be seen from the exterior of the housing.

31. A method of operating an adverse condition detection apparatus having an adverse condition sensor operable to detect an adverse condition, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a control unit coupled to the sensor to receive a detection signal upon the sensor detecting the adverse condition;

activating an audible indicator to generate an audible alarm signal upon receipt of the detection signal by the control unit; and

selectively activating a visual indicator to display a pattern that visually simulates the type of adverse condition being sensed.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the audible alarm signal includes a series of alarm pulses each separated by an off period, wherein the visual indicator is activated by the control unit only during the off periods of the audible alarm signal.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the visual indicator is a LCD screen selectively operable to display the visual alarm signal.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the visual indicator is a color LCD screen.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the visual indicator is selectively operated by the control unit to visually simulate the appearance of a flame.