Notification Appliance and Method Thereof

• US 20110012746A1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tuttle, Darin D., Edwards, Scott R., Fish, Richard T. JR., Pattok, Greg R., Fogg, Jeremy A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,836,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A notification appliance configured to emit a notification output based upon at least one detected environmental condition is provided that includes a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition, at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source configured to emit light having an intensity during a pulse time period, and a controller in communicative connection with the sensor and the LED light source, wherein the controller is configured to control the LED light source so that the pulse time period is approximately less than or equal to two hundred milliseconds (200 ms), while substantially maintaining an effective intensity and enhancing a perceived brightness of the emitted light.

Claims

1. A notification appliance configured to emit a notification output based upon at least one detected environmental condition comprising:

a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition;

at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source configured to emit light having an intensity during a pulse time period; and

a controller in communicative connection with said sensor and said LED light source, wherein said controller is configured to control said LED light source so that said pulse time period is approximately less than or equal to two hundred milliseconds (200 ms), while substantially maintaining an effective intensity and enhancing a perceived brightness of said emitted light.

2. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said pulse time period ranges between and includes approximately twenty-five milliseconds (25 ms) and one hundred seventy-five milliseconds (175 ms).

3. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said pulse time period ranges between and includes approximately seventy-five milliseconds (75 ms) and one hundred milliseconds (100 ms).

4. The notification appliance of claim 1 further comprising an ambient light sensor in communicative connection with said controller, wherein said ambient light sensor is configured to detect ambient light in an area proximate the notification appliance, and said controller is configured to alter said light emitted by said at least one LED light source as a function of said detected ambient light.

5. The notification appliance of claim 4, wherein said at least one LED light source is configured to be a night light, such that said controller is configured to control said at least one LED light source to substantially constantly emit light as a function of said detected ambient light by said ambient light sensor being below a threshold value.

6. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to alter at least one of:

a flash intensity of said light emitted by said at least one LED light source;

a pulse duration of said light emitted by said at least one LED light source;

a pulse signature of said light emitted by said at least one LED light source;

a spectral characteristic of said light emitted by said at least one LED light source;

a spectral output of said light emitted by said at least one LED light source; and

an illumination pattern of said light emitted by said light emitted by said at least one LED light source.

7. The notification appliance of claim 6, wherein altering said pulse signature can comprise altering at least one of a common multi-pulse, a variable multi-pulse, a common hyper-pulse, and a variable hyper-pulse.

8. The notification appliance of claim 1 further comprising an audible enunciation device configured to emit an audible sound when said sensor detects the at least one environmental condition.

9. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein at least said first LED light source is a white LED light source, and at least said second light source is a non-white LED light source.

10. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light source comprises a first LED light source configured to emit light during a first pulsed time period, and a second LED light source configured to emit light during a second pulsed time period.

11. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light source comprises a first LED light source and a second LED light source, which are independently controlled to emit light.

12. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light sources comprises at least two LED light sources, such that said controller is configured to alter a pattern of said emitted light from at least a portion of said at least two LED light sources to increase a brightness of emitted light projected at an area proximate the notification appliance.

13. The notification appliance of claim 1 further comprising a projection light source in communicative connection with said controller, wherein said projection light source is configured to emit light through an at least partially transparent substrate to project an image on a surface adjacent the notification appliance.

14. The notification appliance of claim 13, wherein said image corresponds to the at least one detected environmental condition.

15. The notification appliance of claim 13, wherein said projection light source is a light pipe.

16. The notification appliance of claim 13, wherein said at least partially transparent substrate is integrated with at least one of a faceplate and a bezel.

17. The notification appliance of claim 13, wherein said controller controls said projection light source to be substantially constantly on when the at least environmental condition is detected.

18. The notification appliance of claim 13, wherein said controller controls said projection light source substantially synchronous with said pulse time period of said at least one LED light source.

19. The notification appliance of claim 13, wherein said image projected by said projection light source is at least one of a symbol and text.

20. The notification appliance of claim 13, wherein said projection light source is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

21. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises at least one of:

an input from a panel;

a signal;

a coded signal;

fire;

smoke;

carbon dioxide;

carbon monoxide;

tornado;

terrorist attack;

intruder;

heat;

a doorbell that has been activated to ring; and

a telephone that has been activated to ring.

22. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to control said at least one LED light source to emit light for a set pulse time period, while having a predetermined spectral signature with said set pulse time period comprising at least one of:

a common multi-pulse;

a variable multi-pulse;

a common hyper-pulse; and

a variable hyper-pulse.

23. The notification appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one LED light source comprises at least one of a red-green-blue (RGB) LED, a binary complimentary white LED, and a multiple die LED, such that different colors of said emitted light indicate multiple detected environmental conditions.

24. The notification appliance of claim 1 further comprising a camera device in communicative connection with said controller, wherein said camera device is configured to detect at least one ambient condition in an area proximate the notification appliance, and said controller is configured to alter said light emitted by said at least one LED light source as a function of said detected at least one ambient condition.

25. The notification appliance of claim 24, wherein said detected at least one ambient condition comprises at least one of:

ambient light; and

a color of an area proximate the notification appliance.

26. The notification appliance of claim 25, wherein said camera device is a red-green-blue (RGB) camera.

27. The notification appliance of claim 25, wherein said at least one LED light source is configured to be a night light, such that said controller is configured to control said at least one LED light source to substantially constantly emit light as a function of said detected ambient light by said camera device being below a threshold value.

28. The notification appliance of claim 24, wherein said controller is further configured to modify at least one of:

a flash intensity of said at least one LED light source;

a pulse duration of said at least one LED light source;

a pulse signature of said at least one LED light source;

a spectral characteristic of said at least one LED light source;

a spectral output of said at least one LED light source; and

a pattern of said light emitted by said at least one LED light source.

29. The notification appliance of claim 28, wherein modifying said pulse signature can comprise modifying one of a common multi-pulse, a variable multi-pulse, a common hyper-pulse, and a variable hyper-pulse.

30. The notification appliance of claim 1 further comprising an optic pack in optical communication with said at least one LED light source, wherein said optic pack is configured to project said emitted light in an illumination pattern.

31. The notification appliance of claim 30, wherein said illumination pattern substantially complies with UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY™

(UL) 1971.

32. The notification appliance of claim 30, wherein said illumination pattern comprises said emitted light being projected in an approximately forty-five degree (45°

) horizontal direction with respect to a left side of said at least one LED light source, an approximately forty-five degree (45°

) horizontal direction with respect to a right side of said at least one LED light source, and an upwards and downwards vertical direction with respect to a center of said at least one LED light source.

33. The notification appliance of claim 30, wherein said optic pack is a two lens optic pack comprising:

a collimator in optical communication with said at least one LED light source, said collimator comprising Fresnel optics; and

an outer lens in optical communication with said collimator.

34. The notification appliance of claim 33, wherein said outer lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

35. The notification appliance of claim 30, wherein said optic pack is a three lens optic pack comprising:

a collimator in optical communication with said at least one LED light source;

an inner lens in optical communication with said collimator; and

an outer lens in optical communication with said inner lens.

36. The notification appliance of claim 35, wherein said inner lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

37. The notification appliance of claim 35, wherein said outer lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

38. The notification appliance of claim 30, wherein said optic pack is a reflector optic pack comprising:

a reflector in optical communication with said at least one LED light source;

an inner lens in optical communication with said reflector; and

an outer lens in optical communication with said inner lens.

39. The notification appliance of claim 38, wherein said inner lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

40. The notification appliance of claim 38, wherein said outer lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

41. The notification appliance of claim 1 further configured to be in a notification appliance system, wherein the notification appliance is in communicative connection with at least one of a similar notification appliance and a legacy notification appliance.

42. A notification appliance configured to emit a notification output based upon at least one detected environmental condition comprising:

a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition;

at least one light source configured to emit light;

an ambient light sensor configured to detect ambient light in an area proximate the notification appliance; and

a controller in communicative connection with said sensor, said at least one light source, and said ambient light sensor, wherein said controller is configured to alter at least one characteristic of said light emitted by said at least one light source as a function of said ambient light detected by said ambient light sensor.

43. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said controller alters said at least one characteristic of said light emitted by said at least one light source while substantially maintaining an effective intensity and enhancing a perceived brightness of said emitted light.

44. The notification appliance of claim 43, wherein said at least one light source is at least one light emitting diode (LED).

45. The notification appliance of claim 44, wherein said controller is configured to pulse said at least one LED light source during a time period that ranges between and includes approximately one millisecond (1 ms) and two hundred milliseconds (200 ms).

46. The notification appliance of claim 44, wherein said controller is configured to pulse said at least one LED light source during a time period that ranges between and includes approximately twenty-five milliseconds (25 ms) and one hundred seventy-five (175 ms).

47. The notification appliance of claim 44, wherein said controller is configured to pulse said at least one LED light source during a time period that ranges between and includes approximately seventy-five milliseconds (75 ms) and one hundred milliseconds (100 ms).

48. The notification appliance of claim 44, wherein said controller is further configured to modify at least one of:

a flash intensity of said at least one light source;

a pulse duration of said at least one light source;

a pulse signature of said at least one light source;

a spectral output of said at least one light source; and

a pattern of said light emitted by said at least one light source.

49. The notification appliance of claim 48, wherein modifying said pulse signature comprises modifying one of a common multi-pulse, a variable multi-pulse, a common hyper-pulse, and a variable hyper-pulse.

50. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said at least one light source is configured to be a night light, such that said controller is configured to control said at least one light source to substantially constantly emit light as a function of said detected ambient light by said ambient light sensor being below a threshold value.

51. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said at least one light source comprises a first light source configured to emit light during a first pulsed time period and a second light source configured to emit light during a second pulsed time period.

52. The notification appliance of claim 51, wherein at least said first light source is a white light source, and at least said second light source is a non-white light source.

53. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said at least one light source comprises a first light source and a second light source, which are independently controlled to emit light.

54. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said at least one light sources comprises at least two light sources, such that said controller is configured to alter a pattern of said emitted light from at least a portion of said at least two light sources to increase a brightness of emitted light projected at an area proximate the notification appliance.

55. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said controller is configured to control said at least one light source to emit light for a set pulse time period, while having a predetermined spectral signature with said set pulse time period comprising at least one of:

a common multi-pulse;

a variable multi-pulse;

a common hyper-pulse; and

a variable hyper-pulse.

56. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said controller is configured to control said at least one light source to emit light at a spectral distribution profile to enhance a human eye response.

57. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one of a red-green-blue (RGB) LED, a binary complimentary white LED, and a multiple die LED, such that different colors of said emitted light indicate multiple detected environmental conditions.

58. The notification appliance of claim 42, wherein said ambient light sensor is a red-green-blue (RGB) ambient light sensor (ALS).

59. A notification appliance configured to emit a notification output based upon at least one detected environmental condition comprising:

a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition;

at least one light source configured to emit light as a function of said at least one environmental condition;

an at least partially transparent substrate; and

a projection light source in optical communication with said at least partially transparent substrate, wherein said projection light source is configured to emit light, at least a portion of said emitted light propagating through said at least partially transparent substrate to project an image on a surface adjacent the notification appliance.

60. The notification appliance of claim 59, wherein said image is projected when said sensor detects the at least one environmental condition.

61. The notification appliance of claim 59, wherein said image corresponds to the at least one detected environmental condition.

62. The notification appliance of claim 59, wherein said projection light source is a light pipe.

63. The notification appliance of claim 59, wherein said at least partially transparent substrate is integrated with at least one of a faceplate and a bezel.

64. The notification appliance of claim 59 further comprising a controller in communicative connection with said sensor, said at least one light source, and said projection light source, wherein said controller controls said projection light source to be substantially constantly on when the at least environmental condition is detected.

65. The notification appliance of claim 59 further comprising a controller in communicative connection with said sensor, said at least one light source, and said projection light source, wherein said controller controls said projection light source substantially synchronous with said pulse time period of said at least one light source.

66. The notification appliance of claim 59 wherein said image projected by said projection light source is at least one of a symbol and text.

67. The notification appliance of claim 59, wherein said projection light source is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

68. A notification appliance configured to emit a notification output based upon at least one detected at least one environmental condition comprising:

a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition;

at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source configured to emit light; and

an optic pack in optical communication with said at least one LED light source, wherein said optic pack comprises;

a collimator; and

an outer lens in optical communication with said collimator, wherein at least one of said collimator and said outer lens comprises Fresnel optics, such that said optic pack is configured to project said emitted light in an illumination pattern that substantially complies with UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY™

(UL) 1971.

69. The notification appliance of claim 68 further comprising an ambient sensor configured to detect ambient light conditions proximate the notification appliance, such that said at least one LED light source emits said light as a function of said detected ambient light.

70. The notification appliance of claim 68, wherein said optic pack is a two lens optic pack comprising:

a collimator in optical communication with said at least one LED light source, said collimator comprising Fresnel optics; and

an outer lens in optical communication with said collimator.

71. The notification appliance of claim 70, wherein said outer lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

72. The notification appliance of claim 68, wherein said optic pack is a three lens optic pack comprising:

a collimator in optical communication with said at least one LED light source;

an inner lens in optical communication with said collimator;

an

an outer lens in optical communication with said inner lens.

73. The notification appliance of claim 72, wherein said inner lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

74. The notification appliance of claim 72, wherein said outer lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

75. The notification appliance of claim 70, wherein said optic pack is a reflector optic pack comprising:

a reflector in optical communication with said at least one LED light source;

an inner lens in optical communication with said reflector; and

an outer lens in optical communication with said inner lens.

76. The notification appliance of claim 75, wherein said inner lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.

77. The notification appliance of claim 75, wherein said outer lens comprises a horizontal Fresnel surface, and a vertical Fresnel surface.