Audio visual monitoring system for announcing a message upon detection of a monitored condition

• US 4,275,274 A
• Filed: 05/29/1979
• Issued: 06/23/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tim G. English
• Original Assignee: Tim G. English
• Inventors: English, Tim G.
• Primary Examiner(s): CARDILLO JR, RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US06/043,151
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 340/691, 340/500, 340/507, 340/508, 340/517, 340/519, 340/521, 340/19 A, 340/509, 340/506, 179/100.1 C, 360/12
• US Class Current: 369/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits

Abstract

An audio-visual communicating system which comprises an illuminated sign containing printed information and including a plurality of recorded messages on a recording device, and which recording device is selectively activated by one or more detectors each monitoring a specific condition whereby an audio message corresponding to the sensed circuit is sounded. The system includes a circuit containing a primary source of electrical power and a secondary source of electrical power, the latter being in the form of a rechargeable battery and a charging circuit for maintaining a charge on the battery. The arrangement is such that the system is rendered operative whether or not there has been a failure of the primary power source.

Claims

1. An audio-visual communicating system for monitoring and announcing a warning upon the detection of a predetermined monitored condition comprising a sign means, an AC lamp and a DC lamp for illuminating said sign, a tape transport means having an endless tape containing a plurality of recorded messages, a plurality of tape heads operatively associated with said endless tape, a playback amplifier and associated speaker, an electrical circuit electrically connecting said tape heads to said playback amplifier and associated speaker and for selectively energizing said AC or DC lamps, said electrical circuit including a primary power source and a secondary power source, said secondary power source comprising a storage battery;

a charging circuit included in said electrical circuit for maintaining a charge on said battery, and said AC lamp being in circuit so as to be energized by said primary power source, and said DC lamp being in circuit so as to be energized by said battery upon failure of said primary power source, switch means disposed in said circuit for energizing said tape transport and said D.C. lamp in the event of a failure of said primary power source, whereby one of said tape heads is rendered operative to transmit an audio message on said tape to said speaker, a detector connected in circuit to each of the other tape heads, means operatively connected to each said detectors and with corresponding tape heads for selectively activating its corresponding tape head upon the sensing of a condition monitored by a respective detector, and means for de-energizing said circuit when the detector de-senses the monitored condition.

2. An audio visual communicating system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said heads has a specific priority in accordance with the importance of the monitored condition.

3. An audio-visual communicating system for monitoring and announcing a warning upon the detection of a predetermined monitored condition comprising a sign means, an AC lamp and a DC lamp mounted in said sign for alternately illuminating said sign, a recording device containing a plurality of recorded messages, a playback amplifier and associated speaker, a plurality of recording head means operatively associated with said recording device, and an electrical circuit electrically connecting said recording device and associated recording head means in circuit with said playback amplifier and speaker, said electrical circuit including a primary source of AC power, said AC lamps being in circuit with said AC power, and a switch means for opening and closing the circuit to said AC lamp, a stepdown transformer means in said A.C. circuit, a charging circuit, said transformer having a primary winding in said AC circuit and a secondary winding in said charging circuit, means in said charging circuit for rectifying the current said DC lamp being in circuit with said charging circuit, a battery in said charging circuit whereby said DC lamp is energized by said battery upon failure of said primary power source, relay means interposed in said circuit between said battery and said DC lamp to effect the energizing of said DC lamp upon failure of said primary power source and the actuation of one of said recording heads and associated playback amplifier and speaker for sounding an audible intelligent message associated with said primary power failure, detector means connected in circuit with each of the other recording head means, relay means interposed in said circuit between each of said other recording head means and the play back amplifier and associated speaker, whereby the sensing of a predetermined monitored condition by said detecting means causes its associated relay means to activate the associated recording head means to sound one of said messages, said relay means being wired so that the actuation of said recording head means have a predetermined order of priority;

and means for deactivating the circuit to return the circuit back to a stand-by condition.

4. An audio-visual communicating system for monitoring and announcing an audible message upon the detection of a predetermined monitored condition comprising a sign means, an AC lamp and a DC lamp for illuminating said sign means, a message storing means having one or more messages;

a playback amplifier and associated speaker, an electrical circuit electrically connecting said message storing device to said playback amplifier and associated speaker and for selectively energizing said AC or DC lamps, said electrical circuit including a primary power source and a secondary power source, said secondary power source comprising a storage battery;

a charging circuit included in said electrical circuit for maintaining a charge on said battery, and said AC lamp being in circuit so as to be energized by said primary power source, and said DC lamp being in circuit so as to be energized by said battery upon failure of said primary power source, switch means disposed in said circuit for energizing said message storing means and said D.C. lamp in the event of a failure of said primary power source whereby said message storing device is rendered operative to transmit an audio message to said speaker, one or more detectors corresponding in number at least to the number of said stored messages connected in circuit with said message storing device whereby each detector. monitors a predetermined condition, means operatively connected to each detector and with said message storing device for activating said message storing device to sound the message monitored by said detector upon the sensing of a condition monitored by said detector, and means for de-energizing said circuit when the detector de-senses the monitored condition.