GB2329504A

GB2329504A - Scrolling message alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2329504A
Application number: GB9819463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan William Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-17
Filing date: 1998-09-08
Publication date: 1999-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-08
Also published as: GB2329504B; GB2329505A; GB9819463D0; GB2329505B; GB9819964D0

Abstract

An alarm box suitable for security, emergency, or other applications, including a short length electronic scrolling message display device, providing the advantage of large legible character height for a given overall display panel length, able to provide instructions when the alarm condition is activated, and able to act as a general purpose display or sign when the alarm condition is not present.

Description

SCROLLING MESSAGE ALARM The present invention describes an alarm box suitable for security, emergency, or other applications, including a short form of electronic scrolling message display device, whereby the length of the scrolling electronic alphanumeric display is restricted to a small number of characters, typically less than 6, providing the use of large height, legible characters for a given overall display panel length.

It has been found in many instances that alarm boxes once energised are often ignored because an observer is unsure of what action is to be taken or is afraid of the consequences of investigating the cause further. As a result the audible siren and flashing light or other attention attracting devices remain in operation and become an environmental nuisance without affording any real protection to the guarded property. In the limit the owner of the guarded property may be guilty of an offence by virtue of the nuisance caused and may be prosecuted when the police are informed. Indeed it is apparent that police manpower is expended unnecessarily in dealing with unheeded alarms. This invention therefore provides for a specific action to be recommended using a short scrolling display within the overall design of the alarm box. The space available to incorporate a suitable display panel having characters which are sufficiently large to be viewed at distance with ease, precludes the use of a static or conventional scrolling message display.

As an example, character height may be increased by a factor of 6 or more when a 2.6 character wide display is used instead of the conventional 16 character length form of scrolling message display.

This has the benefit of greatly increasing the legibility of the message.

When devised as a 3 or 4 character long display panel, which may also be controlled to provide a static display, the invention provides for dual function as a normal timekeeping device or other static indicator, which when activated displays an appropriate alarm message. The unit may also operate as a general paging device or addressable message display when not required to indicate the alarm message. Any message may be displayed when the alarm function is activated but in particular a message informing an onlooker of an appropriate telephone number to call is possibly the most expedient method of reacting to the alarm indication.

The owner of the guarded property may define the appropriate message using a suitable interface which may include a telephone keypad, a conventional keyboard/pad, a personal computer or other convenient means, or may be defined or controlled remotely.

In another form the unit may be constructed as an "EXIT" AFIRE" or similar sign. The device may be suitable for wall, floor, roof, ceiling or other mounting, or may be attached to or placed upon any appropriate surface. The alarm indication may be brought about by conventional means including switch contact, infrared or video detection or other actuation, or measuring instrument type capabilities may be included together with appropriate threshold or triggering arrangement to energise the alarm. The alarm box may function as part of an overall system or may be devised to be self contained.

Previous Patents have described scrolling displays in a mathematical sense as consisting of one character or more.

However those descriptions took no account of the fact that a scrolling display one character in width is of no practical use, as the information displayed is not discernible by a human observer because of the inability of the human brain to make sense from the rapid flashing light element matrix. This is a consequence of the way in which the data is updated. In fact the technique only becomes practical for human observation when the display width is approximately two or more characters wide as a minimum.

Nevertheless, the applicant has found that effective communication can be achieved using a much shorter scrolling display unit than is normal, in which only a small number of characters, e.g. four or less or, preferably in some applications, three or less, can be displayed at any one time as a message of many more characters is scrolled across the display. Surprisingly, it has been found that the human eye/brain system is still capable of discriminating messages of any given length without difficulty when only three characters or less are displayed simultaneously.

In consequence scrolling displays have been configured traditionally to be typically 12 to 16 characters in length effectively defining the length to height aspect ratio of the display panel to be in excess of 10 : 1.

One advantage of adopting a short length display therefore is that it produces overall physical geometries of approximately 2:1 to 4:1 in terms of this ratio which facilitates greatly improved overall packaging arrangements when compared with either conventional length scrolling or static display signs. As a consequence, substantially greater character heights may be adopted for a given display length than would be the case when conventional length displays are considered. In fact conventional displays are not practical because the implied character height could not be read at the distances involved. As described earlier, larger height of the characters results in the message display being more easily read at greater distance, and the short character length display panel permits the aspect ratio of the overall dimensions of the alarm box to be similarly restricted to a more convenient value. Typically the height to width ratio of the housing may be designed to be in the range of approximately 3:1 to 1:3.

As an extreme example, a display panel needed to occupy a 6 metre horizontal space would permit 2 metre high characters to be displayed, whereas a conventional display would be limited to character sizes of about 0.5 metres or less. A more normal alarm box display with character height of 5 cms. would be suitable for inclusion in an overall package measuring approximately 15 x 15 cms., say - although it will be appreciated that actual size may be chosen to suit requirements.

Furthermore, the resultant display can be made less expensively than conventional displays because of the reduced number of light emitting or reflecting elements and associated parts and packaging needed. Such a design requires between 10% and 20% of the number of light emitting elements and associated circuitry needed in conventional displays. The matrix elements may comprise LCD, LED, gas discharge, incandescent or devices employing other optical technique, modern video panels being appropriate also. Low persistence devices are of advantage in ensuring display quality.

Accordingly, this invention provides an electronic scrolling alarm box, pager or message display unit comprising an electronic control circuit and a multiple element display panel, wherein the control circuit comprises a timing unit, storage means, input means and output means, the output means being coupled to the alarm transducers and the display panel, wherein the length of the display panel is 6 characters or less in length, and wherein the control circuit is capable of providing sequential data to the display panel representing a message of a length greater than the length of the display panel, or optionally when selected, provides a static alpha-numeric display of time or other information.

In some cases it is preferable for the ratio of message length to the display panel length to be greater than or equal to 2:1.

According to another aspect, the invention provides apparatus including an electronic scrolling display panel wherein the width of the display panel is such as to display only a minimum number of characters in whole or in part simultaneously whereby the entire message is still clearly understandable to an observer.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides means for selecting pre-stored messages or for displaying further messages through the device's radio interface or other remote interface, or keyboard or telephone interface. The remote interface may include audio input, optionally employing speech recognition techniques with or without a switch or similar input as confirmation of the voice signal.

The switch input may select operation of speech recognition for use in forming/selecting messages for display.

According to another aspect, the invention provides optionally for a voice signal output equivalent to, or in addition to, the displayed message.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a message display unit in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a 7 x 15 display matrix with different successive energised states showing a 2.6 character wide version; Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a 7 x 23 display matrix with different successive scrolling energised states showing a 4 character wide version, which is able to display time of day in 4 character wide static format; (A 7 x 20 arrangement is convenient for time display when a 12 hour clock is adopted instead of a 24 hour arrangement) Figure 4 illustrates a wall mounted security alarm box showing part of a scrolling message giving details of a telephone number to contact.

With reference to Figure 1, an electronic circuit for controlling the display comprises a microcomputer circuit consisting of a central processing or timing unit 10, a program memory 12, a data memory 14 and input/output circuitry 16. The program and data memories 12, 14 contain a plurality of messages, either predefined or entered via the remote or local interfaces, which can be selected either, by switch means 18 connected to the input line, by a keyboard/telephone local interface 20 using a keyboard 22, or by the remote interface using parallel or serial communication techniques incorporating radio, wired, optical, microwave, audio or other transmission mediums.

Alternatively data may be transferred to the data memory 14 to cause information to be displayed statically.

Once a message has been received or selected, the central processing unit 10 transfers the relevant data representing to each character from its memory 14 to a display buffer memory 24 such that data stored in the buffer memory 24 represents an image of the instantaneous sequential bit pattern for each character, up to the maximum number of characters capable of being displayed at one time in a display matrix 26. In the example of a 2.6 character wide display, The first 15 bits of column data are selected from the buffer memory 24 for each row in turn, and are applied to the display matrix 26 via a column amplifier 28 and a row amplifier 30, and their corresponding latches 32, 34, whilst the appropriate row is energised and held for a predetermined time. In the case of the 4 character long version the first 23 bits are selected. Following each complete cycle the data within the display buffer memory 24 is shifted along one position and the whole display cycle is repeated again during which the appropriate data bits for further characters are organised within the central processing unit 10 and transferred into the display buffer memory 24. The process can be used to produce a message display capable of scrolling in any direction or alternatively remaining static. According to how the buffer memory 24, amplifiers 28, 30 and latches 32, 34 are arranged, and according to the program stored in the program memory 12, the apparatus of Figure 1 can be configured to cause a message to be moved from one end to the other of the display panel, up and down or held static by illuminating the matrix elements in an appropriate sequence.

As before, it will be understood that references to the "length" of the display panel and the "length" of the message to be displayed in this specification are to be construed as being the "length" of each in the direction of movement of the message with respect to the panel.

A shift register can be used in place of the latches 32, 34 although latches are preferable due to the low number of columns driven by the latch to output column data, whereby the interval between subsequent column data bits is greatly reduced resulting in improved appearance of the displayed message.

Referring to Figure 2, the display elements 35 are arranged in a 7 x 15 matrix assuming a 7 x 5 element character matrix - although other formats are suitable. The elements are driven such that characters generally each occupy 5 columns of elements with a 1 column spacing, resulting in a display only 2.6 characters wide. A matrix of this size can be seen in which the first part of the word "THANKYOU" (occupying 8 character widths) is displayed on the matrix display of 2.6 characters width in a scrolling manner, scrolling from right to left. The figure shows the first 8 sequential illuminated matrix positions of the word.

Referring to Figure 3, the display elements are arranged in a 7 x 23 matrix assuming the same 7 x 5 element character matrix, resulting in a display 4 characters wide. A matrix of this size can be seen in which the first part of the word "THANKYOU" (occupying 8 character widths) is displayed on the matrix display of 4 characters width in a scrolling manner, scrolling from right to left. The figure shows the first 8 sequential illuminated matrix positions of the word.

As an alternative to the arrangement described above, but at the expense of electronic complexity, the illuminated matrix elements may be powered individually instead of adopting a row and column approach - this approach is less of a problem practically when the display length is limited to a small number of characters, as described, such that the number of connections is not excessive. Even so, as an example, a 7 x 15 matrix would require 105 driving circuits, compared with 22 for the conventional design. However, this arrangement may be adopted to provide an improved quality display for short length panels.

It will be appreciated that the size of the display panel can be expressed in characters or characters and partcharacters or in other ways, and that the characters themselves may be represented by various matrix element structures besides the ones indicated.

Where reference has been made to alphanumeric display characters throughout this description it is taken to include other graphics characters or shapes which are capable of being defined by the display matrix.

Claims

1. An alarm box device suitable for security, emergency, safety, or other applications incorporating a short length scrolling message display comprising an electronic control circuit and a multiple element display panel, wherein the control circuit comprises a timing unit, storage means, input means and output means, the output means being coupled to conventional audible and/or visual indication or other alarm transducers and the display panel, wherein the control circuit is capable of providing sequential data to the display panel representing a scrolling message or other information, of a length greater than the length of the display panel, which appears to move along the display panel as a consequence of illuminating elements of the display in a predetermined sequence, and, wherein the display panel is less than approximately 6 characters in length, and the alarm box overall dimensions have an approximate height to width aspect ratio in the range of 1 : 4 to 4 : 1.

2. A unit according to claim 1, whereby data may be displayed statically.

3. A unit according to any other claim whereby information is displayed in the horizontal plane.

4. A unit according to any other claim whereby information is displayed in the vertical plane.

5. A unit according to claim 1 wherein the alarm box housing has an approximate overall height to width aspect ratio in the range of 1 : 3 to 3 : 1.

6. A unit according to claim 1 wherein the alarm box housing has an approximate overall height to width aspect ratio in the range of 1 : 2 to 2 : 1.

7. A unit according to claim 1 wherein the alarm box housing has an approximate overall height to width aspect ratio of 1 : 1.

8. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the message length to display panel length is greater than or equal to 2:1.

9. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is less than 4 characters in length.

10. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is less than 3 characters in length.

11. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is approximately 2 characters in length.

12. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the control circuit is capable of providing data to the display representing time.

13. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the control circuit is capable of providing data to the display representing temperature.

14. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the control circuit is capable of providing data to the display representing weight or other value.

15. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the control circuit is capable of providing data to the display representing the word "EXIT" or similar.

16. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the control circuit is capable of providing data to the display representing the word "FIRE"or similar.

S

17. A unit according to the previous ss claims, whereby this data is displayed statically.

18. A unit according to any other claim, wherein means is provided for incorporating function as an electronic counter.

19. A unit according to any other claim, wherein means is provided for incorporating a time keeping function.

20. A unit according to any other claim, wherein means is provided for incorporating function as a temperature gauge.

21. A unit according to any other claim, wherein means is provided for incorporating function as a weighing machine or other measuring instrument.

22. A unit according to any other claim, wherein means is provided for incorporating function as an "exit", "fire" or other sign.

23. A unit according to any other claim, wherein means is provided for incorporating function as a clock.

24. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the display panel is a matrix display.

25. A unit according to the previous claim, wherein the matrix display incorporates LED, LCD, gas discharge, incandescent or devices employing other optical techniques, including video panel technology.

26. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the length to height ratio of the display panel is less than 4:1.

27. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the length to height ratio of the display panel is less than 3:1.

28. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the length to height ratio of the display panel is approximately 2:1.

29. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the electronic control circuit is arranged to display information in the form of characters which appear to move from one end to the other or up and down depending on geometry of the display panel as a consequence of illuminating elements of the matrix in a predetermined sequence.

30. A unit according to any other claim whereby the length of the display panel is defined with regard to the display plane

31. A unit according to any other claim arranged to be suitable for wall, floor, roof, ceiling, gantry or other appropriate mounting.

32. A unit according to any other claim arranged to be suitable to be attached to ,or placed upXon an appropriate surface, or for desk, table top or similar use.

33. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the electronic control circuit is arranged such that the illumination of the display can be varied in whole or in part.

34. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the electronic control circuit is arranged such that the speed of the scrolling message displayed can be varied.

35. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means provides for actuation of the alarm condition.

36. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means provides for selection of message display appropriate to the alarm condition.

37. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means provides for selection of message display independent of the alarm condition.

38. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means include a plurality of display selection switches.

39. A unit according to the previous claim, arranged such that operation of the switches causes different selected messages to be displayed.

40. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means include a speech recognition system for supplying, selecting or defining messages.

41. A unit according to the previous claim, further comprising means for selecting speech recognition as the input means.

42. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means includes a telephone interface, the electronic control circuit being arranged such that user-defined information entered using a telephone keypad coupled to the telephone interface can be displayed.

43. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means includes a keyboard interface, the electronic control circuit being arranged such that user-defined information entered using a keyboard coupled to the keyboard interface can be displayed.

44. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means includes a switch interface for connection to display selection switches.

45. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means include a wired interface for connecting the unit to a computer or other electronic system for defining or selecting information.

46. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means include a radio paging or other electromagnetic wave interface for defining or selecting information.

47. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means include an infra-red or other optical interface for defining or selecting information.

48. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means include a speech, ultrasonic, or other acoustic wave interface for defining or selecting information.

49. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the input means provides for different information to be selected or defined.

50. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the electronic control circuit comprises a computer circuit including a central processing unit, memory means for storing a control program and messages for display, and input/output means for feeding display control signals to the display panel, alarm indicators and control inputs.

51. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the elements of the display panel are electrically driven employing a row and column arrangement.

52. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the elements of the display panel are electrically driven individually.

53. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the output means include speech or other audible output.

54. A unit according to any other claim, wherein the output means include the ability to display a telephone number and/or other information when the alarm condition is activated

55. A unit according to any other claim whereby the overall dimensions of the alarm box are arranged to be suitable in applications where physical space available in the horizontal dimension is required to be limited whilst still enabling displayed information to be viewed at distance with ease.

56. A unit according to any other claim intended for use together with other equipment within an overall system.

57. A unit according to any other claim intended for use s a self contained system.

58. An item constructed and arranged substantially as herein described.