Sign transmitter unit

• US 20060097889A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Inventors: Gomes, Michael, Cunningham, J. Vernon
• Granted Patent: US 7,259,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.55
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Abstract

Sign 1 has frame 13 attaching to base 9 and supporting character plates 4. Casing 11 attaches to frame 13 and holds character plates 4 against frame 13. Light assembly 15 and base 9 backlight character plates 4. Backlight is diffusion chamber 17 sidelit by light assembly 15. Casing 11 hides access to the mount and is not easily removable. Light assembly 15 is externally powered and is activated by external messages and by low ambient light. An Emergency Alarm message causes flashing in one colour and intermittent activation of sound. For non-emergency, alternate light mode is used with constant sound. Transmitter 1501 transmits messages for the sign 1. The transmitter 1501 learns emergency telephone numbers for dial detection on a telephone line, in addition to standard emergency telephone number. Emergency button 1507 can begin transmission of emergency alarm message. Transmitter 1501 may have other alarm inputs.

Claims

1. A transmitter unit for use with a sign, the transmitter unit comprising:

a) an alarm detector,

b) a radio frequency transmitter circuit,

c) a transmitter control circuit, and

d) a transmitter housing for housing the transmitter circuit and transmitter control circuit, wherein the transmitter control is for recognizing alarms detected by the alarm detector and sending messages to the transmitter circuit in response to a detected alarm, and the transmitter circuit is for transmitting those messages over radio frequencies.

2. The transmitter unit of claim 1, wherein:

the alarm detector comprises a telephone decoder for receiving DTMF tones or dial pulses and decoding the DTMF tones or dial pulses into decoded data, and a portion of the transmitter control circuit for receiving the decoded data and determining when an emergency number has been decoded by the telephone decoder.

3. The transmitter unit of claim 2, wherein the telephone decoder is also for detecting an off-hook condition and decoding DTMF tones or dial pulses begins after detection of an off-hook condition.

4. The transmitter unit of claim 3, further comprising means for a user to program one or more emergency telephone numbers into the unit for dialling detection.

5. The transmitter unit of claim 1, wherein the alarm detector comprises an audible tone detector for detecting an audible tone that represents an alarm.

6. The transmitter unit of claim 5, wherein the audible tone detector is for detecting an audible tone emitted by a smoke detector.

7. The transmitter unit of claim 5, wherein the audible tone detector is for detecting an audible tone emitted by a carbon monoxide detector.

8. The transmitter unit of claim 4, further comprises a security system alarm condition input to the alarm detector.

9. The transmitter unit of claim 1, wherein the transmitter control circuit comprises a programmed controller for controlling the operation of the transmitter unit.

10. The transmitter unit of claim 2, wherein the transmitter control circuit is programmed for a plurality of modes of operation, including a Running mode wherein the unit monitors using the alarm detector, and a Program mode wherein the unit receives one or more emergency telephone codes for storage.

11. The transmitter unit of claim 10, wherein the transmitter unit operates in Running mode by default.

12. The transmitter unit of claim 10, further comprising user input means for activating Program mode.

13. The transmitter unit of claim 10, wherein the transmitter control circuit is further programmed for a Learn mode for transmitting a broadcast message to teach a message address to which the transmitter unit addresses messages.

14. The transmitter unit of claim 10, wherein the transmitter control circuit is further programmed for a Reset mode wherein one or more stored telephone codes are deleted from the transmitter unit.