System and method for combined alarm detection and emergency signaling

• US 20120238319A1
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Colin Patrick Lake
• Original Assignee: Colin Patrick Lake
• Inventors: Lake, Colin Patrick
• Application Number:
  US13/065,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20120238319A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A system and method are provided for detecting emergency conditions and alerting a user while providing emergency lighting, using a combined alarm system. The system is connected to an external electrical power source to provide electrical power to the system, electrically charge an electrical energy storage, and provide ongoing detection of electrical power outages. When an alarm signal detector signaling device detects an external alarm signal, it generates an alternative alarm signal and a lighting source generates emergency lighting. When an abnormal voltage detector detects an electrical power outage, the lighting source included in the system generates emergency lighting. The user is able to carry the system as a portable source of emergency lighting, and control the generation of emergency lighting using an electrical power switch.

Claims

4-1. The system of claim 5, wherein said attachment component is coupled to said device housing in a removable fashion.

5-2. The system of claim 5, wherein said attachment component, while coupled to said device housing, is wearable on a part of a human body.

6-3. The system of claim 5, wherein said attachment component, while coupled to said device housing, is removably attachable to an article of human clothing.

17. A method of detecting emergency conditions and alerting a user while providing emergency lighting, said method including:

connecting a combined alarm system to an electrical power source, wherein said combined alarm system includes an electrical energy storage that charges from said electrical power source;

detecting, at said combined alarm system, an external alarm signal;

detecting, at said combined alarm system, an electrical power outage;

generating, when said external alarm signal is detected at said combined alarm system, an alternative alarm signal;

generating, when said external alarm signal is detected at said combined alarm system, emergency lighting;

generating, when said electrical power outage is detected at said combined alarm system, emergency lighting powered from said electrical energy storage; and

providing said combined alarm system as a portable source of emergency lighting, powered by said electrical energy storage, when said combined alarm system is not connected to an electrical power source.

18. The method of claim 17, further including controlling said emission of light from using an electrical power switch.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said combined alarm system comprises a software application executed by a smartphone;

wherein detecting an external alarm signal is performed by a microphone component of said smartphone;

wherein detecting an electrical outage is performed by an external electronic module connected to said external electrical power source, in unidirectional communication with said smartphone;

wherein generating an alternative alarm signal is performed by at least one of a speaker component of said smartphone and an LCD screen component of said smartphone; and

wherein generating emergency lighting is performed by at least one of an LCD screen component of said smartphone and an LED flash component of said smartphone.