Warning system

• US 6,518,878 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Watchguard Isle LLC
• Original Assignee: Roger E. Skoff
• Inventors: Skoff, Roger E.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/538,323
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/507, 340/511, 340/517, 340/521, 340/526, 340/533, 340/3.1
• US Class Current: 340/506
• 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 warning system (20) includes a central control unit (CCU), and a plurality of local units (LU) connected to the central control unit (CCU). Each local unit (LU) includes a plurality of input trips (A_n), such as smoke detector, an earthquake detector, and gas detector, and a plurality of programmable responses, such as a bypass relay (C), a message delivered by a record/playback unit (D), an emergency light (E), and a strobe light (F). The input trips (A_n) also include a disconnect trip (A₁), which is activated by a detector input signal (DI) sent from the central control unit (CCU), and indicates that the central control unit (CCU) has malfunctioned. The programmable responses include a warning output signal (WO) which is sent from the local unit (LU) to the central control unit (CCU) to indicate the presence of a local emergency at the local unit (LU).

Claims

1. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed; and

,

said plurality of programmable responses including a warning output signal sent from said local unit to said central control unit which indicates the presence of a local emergency.

2. A warning system according to claim 1, further including:

said warning output signal being sent when a loss of local unit power is detected.

3. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed; and

,

said plurality of input trips including a smoke detector.

4. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed; and

,

said plurality of input trips including an earthquake detector.

5. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed; and

,

said plurality of input trips including a motion detector.

6. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed; and

,

said plurality of input trips including a noxious or poisonous gas detector.

7. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed; and

,

said plurality of programmable responses including illumination of an emergency light.

8. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed; and

,

said plurality of programmable responses including illumination of a strobe light.

9. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed; and

,

under non-emergency conditions, said central control unit broadcasting preselected audio to each of said local units.

10. A warning system according to claim 9, further including:

when one of said input trips is activated, said preselected audio is disconnected.

11. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed; and

,

under emergency conditions, said central control unit allows for broadcasting at least one of (1) preselected audio, and (2) live voice instructions to at least one of said local units, of which no local trip has been tripped.

12. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed;

said plurality of programmable responses including a warning output signal sent from said local unit to said central control unit which indicates the presence of a local emergency;

said warning output signal being sent when a loss of local unit power is detected;

said plurality of input trips including a smoke detector;

said plurality of input trips including an earthquake detector;

said plurality of input trips including a motion detector;

said plurality of input trips including a noxious or poisonous gas detector;

said plurality of programmable responses including illumination of an emergency light;

said plurality of programmable responses including illumination of a strobe light;

said plurality of programmable responses including the broadcast of an audio message;

under non-emergency conditions, said central control unit broadcasting preselected audio to each of said local units; and

,

when one of said input trips is activated, said preselected audio is disconnected.

13. A warning system, comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of local units connected to said central control unit;

each of said plurality of local units having a plurality of input trips and a plurality of programmable responses thereto;

said plurality of programmable responses for each said local unit tailorable to meet the needs of a particular location;

said plurality of input trips including a disconnect trip indicating that said central control unit has failed;

said plurality of programmable responses including the broadcast of an audio message; and

,

said audio message being a verbal message that is broadcast in a plurality of different languages.