GB2221070A

GB2221070A - An alarm adaptor for the deaf

Info

Publication number: GB2221070A
Application number: GB8914379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Mark Francis Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-22
Filing date: 1989-06-22
Publication date: 1990-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-22
Also published as: GB2221070B; GB8914379D0; GB8814758D0

Abstract

An alarm device 1 incorporates a striker 2 which acts on a bell 3, when activated. A unit 4 is attached to the device by means of detachable linked strips 15. The unit 4 incorporates a microphone 5 which will pick up the sound emitted by the alarm device 1, which will then cause a radio or ultrasound signal to be sent out from a transmitter 6. Such signals can be picked up by a receiver unit 7 linked with circuitry 8 which controls the operational state of a vibrator 9. Operation of the vibrator 9 can readily by sensed by a deaf person who is in contact with or very close to the vibrator, and this will act as a warning to him. <IMAGE>

Description

"An Alarm Adaptor for the Deaf" In this day and age people are encouraged more and more to buy fire safety equipment, including fire alarms.

However, for the deaf this poses a problem as they are unable to hear the alarm, especially at night when asleep. Therefore these devices are no use for the deaf.

Additionally a deaf person is unable to hear a doorbell or a telephone bell during the day, or any other audible signal, such as a burglar alarm or an alarm clock. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device which can transmit an alarm signal to a deaf person in such a way that he will be aware of it.

Accordingly this invention provides an alarm adaptor for the deaf comprising the combination of a vibrator device and control circuitry therefor, and a pick-up microphone connected to provide an operating signal, to be fed to the control circuitry through a linkage thereto to trigger operation of the vibrator when the microphone picks up the sound of an audible alarm.

During the night the vibrator of the alarm adaptor can be placed under the pillow of the sleeping deaf person and, when the device is activated, the vibrator will disturb his sleep and act as an alarm. During the day the vibrator can be placed on the lap or behind the cushions of a seated deaf person or, if the device is sufficiently portable, it can, for example be strapped to his body.

If the microphone is highly sensitive it can be positioned at a point reasonably remote from the existing audible alarm device and thus near to the user. In most cases, however, the microphone will be positioned near to the alarm device and will ideally carry means for attachment of the microphone to the existing alarm device.

This attachment means will comprise strapping, an adhesive pad, or the combination of a fabric strip and a hooked strip which are able to be releasably interengaged.

The vibrator can be a vibrating relay but preferably will be an electric motor with an-off balance counterweight.

The linkage between the microphone and the control circuitry can constitute an electrically-conductive wire, but preferably would comprise a radio or ultrasound transmitter and receiver system. Ideally the transmitter and receiver system will operate on a coded signal transmission.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an alarm adaptor of this inven tion shown with an audible alarm device; and Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the operating circuitry of the parts of the adaptor.

Figure 1 shows an alarm device 1 incorporating a striker 2 which acts on a bell 3, when activated. The unit 4 is attached to the device by means of detachable linked strips 15. These may comprise a fabric strip and a hooked strip which may be releasably engaged, the strips commonly being known under the name Velcro (Trade Mark). The unit 4 incorporates a microphone 5 which will pick up the sound emitted by the alarm device 1, which will then cause a radio or ultrasound signal to be sent out from a transmitter 6. Such signals can be picked up by a receiver unit 7 linked with circuitry 8 which controls the operational state of a vibrator 9. This vibrator comprises an electric motor with an off-balance counterweight situated within a suitably shaped housing.

Whilst the vibrator 9 is shown linked to the casing for the circuitry 8 by a conductive wire, the vibrator and circuitry could be housed within a common single housing. It will be appreciated also that the radio or ultrasonic link between the units 4 and 8 could be replaced by a conductive wire. It is envisaged that the parts of the equipment will be powered by self-contained batteries.

The operational circuitry of the units 4 and 8 is illustrated in Figure 2. In the unit 4 the pick up device 5 passes a signal to a threshold switch 10 which, when triggered, powers an oscillator 11 of the transmitter 6 via an encoder 12. The remote receiver 7 feeds an amplifier 13 leading to a comparator 14 and a decoder 16 to check the form of the received signal which is coded by pulse modulation. The device will not then respond to stray signals from other sources. Furthermore the system could be constructed to respond to signals received from a number of sources which will each be separately coded. An acceptable received signal will cause the operation of a latch 17 which will enable the vibrator motor 9.

Operation of the vibrator 9 can readily be sensed by a deaf person who is in contact with or very close to the vibrator, and this will act as a warning to him.

In addition to the vibrator there could be a visual warning device such as a flashing light or a special steady warning light. If the system is to be used to receive alarm signals transmitted from a number of sources, a panel could be provided with a separate warning light for each alarm which is being monitored. The deaf person alerted by a vibrator would then be able to check the region from which the alarm had been received.

The "alarm" could be in the form of a fire alarm bell or door bell or a telephone, for example. Alternatively there may be a situation where an alerted deaf person needs to be able to determine where a fire alarm bell or the operation of a panic button has occurred where there are a number of different possible regions of a building.

It will be possible also for the alarm to be used in combination with a conventional alarm clock in order to wake a sleeping person at a required time.

A substantial advantage of this alarm adaptor is that it can be used in association with an existing audio alarm device without requiring that device to be modified in any way. A further advantage is that the vibrator emits sound at a very low frequency which many deaf people can hear, as it is the higher range of sounds that are affected most in deafness.

Claims

1. An alarm adaptor for the deaf, comprising the combination of a vibrator device and control circuitry therefor, and a pick-up microphone connected to provide an operating signal, to be fed to the control circuitry, through a linkage thereto, to trigger operation of the vibrator when the microphone picks up the sound of an audible alarm.

2. An alarm adaptor according to Claim 1, wherein the microphone carries means for attachment thereof to an existing audible alarm device.

3. An alarm adaptor according to claim 2, wherein the attachment means comprise strapping, an adhesive pad, or the combination of a fabric strip and a hooked strip which are able to be releasably interengaged.

4. An alarm adaptor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vibrator comprises an electric motor with an off-balance counterweight, or a vibrating relay.

5. An alarm adaptor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the linkage between the microphone and the control circuitry comprises an electrically conductive wire.

6. An alarm adaptor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the linkage between the microphone and the control circuitry comprises a radio or ultrasound transmitter and receiver system.

7. An alarm adaptor according to claim 6, wherein the transmitter and receiver system operates on a coded signal transmission.

8. An alarm adaptor substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.