GB2214682A

GB2214682A - Smoke warning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2214682A
Application number: GB8801460A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ding-Li Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-01-21
Filing date: 1988-01-22
Publication date: 1989-09-06
Also published as: DE8800651U1; FR2627613A1; GB8801460D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a shell having several slots an infra-red LED 2 and an OPTO-sensor 3 both placed inside the shell, and a battery and a speaker 4 provided in the lower portion of the shell. As smoke particles flow into the shell, a speech network is initiated to pronounce warning statements, e.g. "thank you for not smoking" or "smoking will endanger your health". <IMAGE>

Description

WAKENING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a warning apparatus, particularly suitable for warning smokers that they are in a "no smoking" zone.

As everyone knows that smoking is a health hazard, there have recently been set up many anti-smoking groups to warn people not to smoke and to refuse to accept the "passive smoking" which occurs when a non-smoker is in the presence of a smoking person. Generally, the public is advised to give up smoking by using a written sign indicating the injurious effects produced by smoking.

However, such signs have had little effect as is evidenced by the number of people still smoking as and when they like. It has given rise to a social problem in that smokers are a danger not only to themselves, but also to others who do not smoke, because of the effects of "passive smoking". It is becoming increasingly common to forbid smoking in certain public places such as stations, theatres, restaurants and the like.

It is desirable to provide a more effective means of warning smokers that they are in a "no smoking" zone.

According to the present invention there is provided a warning apparatus comprising smoke detection means and means responsive to the smoke detection means to produce an intelligible, audible signal indicative to a smoker that he should cease to smoke.

The warning apparatus can include an infra-red light emitting diode, a sensor, a speaker and a battery.

The intelligible, audible indication can take the form of warning speech including such statements as "Thank you for not smoking". "Smoking will endanger your health", and so on so as to advise people not to smoke.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a warning apparatus for no smoking in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the speech network system of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, it can be seen that the apparatus of the present invention comprises a shell 1 having a plurality of slots 11 therein. An infra-red LED 2 and an OPTO-sensor 3 are placed inside the shell 1, and a speaker 4 and a battery 5 are provided in the lower portion of the said shell 1. The battery 5 may provide three sets of voltages, for example 7V for the LED 2, 5V for a first amplifier 10 and control logic 12 (described below) and 3V for a second amplifier 13 and a speech network 14 (described below).

When smoke particles enter the shell 1 via the slots 11, they can reflect the light emitted from the infra-red LED 2 to the OPTO-sensor 3. The infra-red LED 2 is operated, via a driver 16, in response to a clock, signal produced by a timing and control unit 15 so as to be 'off' for one second and 'on' for 100 microsecond. On sensing such reflected light the sensor 3 will produce a signal which is transformed into a 5 volt square wave by the first amplifier 10 and transmitted to the timing and control unit 15 as illustrated in Figure 2. If the signal is counted a total of three times continuously, a pulse will be provided after two seconds to actuate the speech network 14.Referring to Figure 3, the speech network comprises a control logic system 12, 6k oscillator 18, address generator 19, 32k Read Only Memory 20 and D/A converter 21 which serves to convert the speech KOM CODE to human speech to be amplified by the second amplifier 15 and transmitted out to drive the speaker 4.

In a preferred embodiment, the said Read Only Memory (ROM) 20 has a capacity of 32k to provide two seconds of speech, the second amplifier 13 can drive the speaker with a resistance of 8 Ohm and the output is 0.2 watts. Further the speech data stored in the ROM can be preset as "Thank you for not smoking", "Smoking will endanger your health", and the like.

In use, the static current consumption is less than one hundred microamperes so the battery has a long life. Further, the initiation is caused by way of light reflection and will not be erroneously triggered by oil, gas and/or steam.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus it will be appreciated that the drawings are exemplary of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A warning apparatus comprising smoke detection means and means responsive to the smoke detection means to produce an intelligible, audible signal indicative to a smoker that he should cease to smoke.

2. A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a housing having at least one opening therein and containing a source of radiation, a radiation detector and means for outputting an audible signal, the arrangement being such that smoke entering the housing via the opening causes radiation from the source to be detected by the detector, detection of such radiation by the detector causing the audible signal output means to output such an intelligible, audible signal.

3. A warning apparatus comprising a housing having at least one opening therein and containing a source of radiation, a radiation detector and means for outputting an audible signal, the arrangement being such that smoke entering the housing via the opening causes radiation from the source to be detected by the detector, detection of such radiation by the detector causing the audible signal output means to output an intelligible, audible signal.

4. A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the source of radiation is an infra-red light emitting diode.

5. A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the radiation detector is an OPTO-sensor.

6. A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 2; 3, 4 or 5, wherein the housing comprises a slotted shell.

7. A warning apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the source of radiation is operable to produce pulses of radiation.

8. A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the source of radiation is operable according to a timing cycle of one second off and 100 microsecond on.

9. A warning apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, comprising means for detecting when the detector has received three consecutive radiation pulses reflected by smoke particles and for driving the audible signal output means in response thereto.

10. A warning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.