Visual indicator for identifying which of a plurality of dangerous condition warning devices has issued an audible low battery warning signal

• US 5,966,079 A
• Filed: 02/18/1998
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maple Chase Company
• Original Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Tanguay, William P
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/025,720
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636, 340/628-634, 340/691, 340/825.44, 455/38.3, 455/343
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply

Abstract

In order to facilitate determination of which of a plurality of dangerous condition warning devices is issuing an audio failing battery signal, the device incorporates a circuit including: a processor, an audio annunciator such as a horn, at least one visual indicator such as an LED and a processor controlled, periodically invoked battery condition determining procedure to check the output voltage of the battery under load. If a low battery condition is detected, the horn is driven to issue an audio warning (e.g., a pulse of about 10 milliseconds duration every minute) and the LED is driven to issue a distinctive series brief flashes (e.g., five flashes of about 10 milliseconds each spaced about 500 milliseconds apart), the first flash being issued in coordination with the issuance of each brief audio warning. Thus, the single device having the failing battery can be quickly identified by the visual indication, thereby eliminating the uncertainty which is experienced when only an audio failing battery indication is employed.

Claims

1. A dangerous condition warning device adapted to issue an alarm when a sensed dangerous condition exceeds a predetermined status, which dangerous condition monitoring device is operable from a battery, said dangerous condition monitoring device comprising a dangerous condition monitoring device circuit including:

A) an audio annunciator;

B) at least one visual indicator;

C) a processor which periodically reads at least one dangerous condition sensor, which processes information and which selectively issues enabling signals to said audio annunciator and to said visual indicator to provide sensory condition indications, the processor being fully operative to process information with both a first operating voltage which is required to power said audio annunciator and with a second operating voltage which is less than the first operating voltage;

D) a DC-to-DC converter for selectively converting energy from the battery to the first and second operating voltages for energizing the dangerous condition monitoring device circuit;

E) battery test mode means in the dangerous condition monitoring device circuit for issuing a first voltage level signal when the battery is to be tested and a second voltage level signal when the first operating voltage is not necessary;

F) DC-to-DC converter output voltage setting means responsive to;

1) the first voltage level signal for controlling the DC-to-DC converter to issue the first operating voltage; and

2) the second voltage level signal for controlling the DC-to-DC converter to issue the second operating voltage;

G) battery condition monitoring means cooperating with said processor to periodically check the output voltage of the battery under load with said DC-to-DC converter controlled to issue the second operating voltage;

H) means for issuing an indication that a low battery condition has been detected;

I) audio low battery warning means adapted to drive said audio annunciator to issue a brief audio warning periodically in response to the issuance of the indication; and

J) visual low battery indicator means adapted to drive said visual indicator to issue a distinctive series of flashes in coordination with the issuance of each brief audio warning.

2. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 1 in which each brief audio period during which the audio warning is issued by said audio annunciator is no more than about 50 milliseconds at intervals of no less than about 30 seconds.

3. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 1 in which each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least three flashes of no more than about 50 milliseconds each.

4. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 2 in which each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least three flashes of no more than about 50 milliseconds each.

5. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 1 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is no more than about 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least three flashes of no more than about 20 milliseconds each.

6. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 2 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is no more than about 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least three flashes of no more than about 20 milliseconds each.

7. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 3 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is no more than about 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least three flashes of no more than about 20 milliseconds each.

8. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 4 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is no more than about 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least three flashes of no more than about 20 milliseconds each.

9. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 1 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is less than 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least five flashes of less than 20 milliseconds each.

10. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 2 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is less than 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least five flashes of less than 20 milliseconds each.

11. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 3 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is less than 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least five flashes of less than 20 milliseconds each.

12. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 4 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is less than 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least five flashes of less than 20 milliseconds each.

13. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 5 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is less than 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least five flashes of less than 20 milliseconds each.

14. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 6 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is less than 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least five flashes of less than 20 milliseconds each.

15. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 7 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is less than 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least five flashes of less than 20 milliseconds each.

16. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 8 in which each brief period during which the audio warning is issued is less than 20 milliseconds occurring at intervals of no less than about one minute and each distinctive series of flashes by said visual indicator comprises at least five flashes of less than 20 milliseconds each.