GB2342206A

GB2342206A - An alarm device in combination with a communication device

Info

Publication number: GB2342206A
Application number: GB9923305A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benoit Chirion; Thierry Gouanelle; Dominique Selas
Original assignee: Legrand SA; Legrand SNC
Current assignee: Legrand SA; Legrand SNC
Priority date: 1998-10-01
Filing date: 1999-10-01
Publication date: 2000-04-05
Also published as: FR2784214B1; FR2784214A1; GB9923305D0

Abstract

A device for emitting continuous or discontinuous or vocal audible alarm messages or vocal messages and phonic communication, comprising a compression loudspeaker (1), an audio amplifier (2), switching means (3) to alternate between an sound generator of alarm messages (5) and an audio signal source (4), and means for processing the signal received from a remotely located control device to control the switching means and the sound generator. The processing means may comprise an interface (7), a decoding unit (8) and a management unit (6) suitable for processing a binary signal. The management unit comprises a device for memorising commands to be sent to the switching means to generate a sound according to the signal received.

Description

2342206 ALARM DEVIC The invention relates to alarm devices and has

particular application to such devices used for protecting premises from unwanted intrusions.

In this field there are currently known, on the one hand, high-powered internal or external intruder alarm sirens (typically 110 dB), fire alarm sirens, possibly including a pre-recorded voice message, and on the other hand, multi-sound sound alarms which can be switched manually according to their application, and lastly, intercom modules which allow remote interrogation of an intruder, listening, or establishing of a dialogue via the telephone network or an internal network.

These modules are called "removal of doubt" modules as they allow differentiation between a legitimate alarm and a false alarm via a remote monitoring operator.

In each of these systems, a single function is carried out (intruder alarm, fire alarm, intercom, removal of doubt by remote monitoring). This situation forces many users to employ several pieces of juxtaposed apparatus in order to carry out these different functions.

According to the invention there is provided a device for emitting continuous or discontinuous or vocal audible alarm messages, or vocal messages, and phonic communication comprising a compression loudspeaker, an amplifier of the "audio" type, a means for switching between a generator of sounds characteristic of alarm messages and an "audio" sound source, and means for processing the signal for controlling the switching means and the sound generator emitted by a remote control device.

Thus the invention can remedy the disadvantage described hereinabove, by providing an integrated device combining numerous distinct sound functions in a single piece of 2 equipment, by virtue of a judicious selection of its component elements. Such a device represent a significant saving in means compared to existing devices.

The technical difficulties encountered in producing a multifunction sound producing device (modulated sound and voice) comprise in particular the necessity of using a common electronic system for the diverse functions desired. In particular the processing of sounds including voices normally requires the use of loud speakers as acoustic transducers.

In this case, a compression chamber, normally used for producing sirentype sounds, is used.

An audio amplifier of a commercially available type, and thus very economical, can be used, In this case, however, this amplifier is also used to process modulated siren-type sounds instead of its traditional use for sounds of the voice or musical type.

Thus it is possible to integrate into a single device functions up until now provided by discrete devices, thereby solving the problem of selecting the electronic system and the means of sound reproduction.

Preferably, the device comprises a means for processing the control signal for the switching means and for the sound generator, emitted by a remote control device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control signal processing means comprises 25 an interface, a control command decoding unit, and a management unit controlling the switching means and the generator of sounds characteristic of alarm messages.

This device can be a simple and economical implementation of the invention.

3 According to a particular configuration, the control signal is composed of elements of the binary type.

According to a yet more particular configuration, the management uffit comprises a memory device suitable for recording the commands to be sent to the switching means and to the sound generator, in accordance with the binary signal received.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which - Figure 1 is a block diagram of a device according to the invention.

As shown in Figure 1, a multifunction alarm device comprises, for sound reproduction, a compression loudspeaker 1, supplied by an amplifier 2 of the "audio" 15 type, such as commercially available device for reproducing voice or music.

These devices are selected such as to be able to produce a sound level greater than 110 dB, which corresponds to a standard alarm level (for example, a Satep type CR120 compression loudspeaker and an "audio" amplifier formed by two TDA 2003 20 amplifiers mounted in a bridge can be used).

At the input of this audio amplifier 2, a switch 3 allows the type of sound source supplying the amplifier 2 to be selected.

A first source type is composed of an audio input 4, which then supplies a standard audio signal (for example, voice) to the amplifier 2.

This audio input 4 is possibly interfaced with a telephone line for authorising a communication of the remote monitoring type. In this case, the device preferably 4 comprises a microphone for listening to the noise prevailing around the device, or for communicating with a person.

A second sound source type is constituted by a sound generator 5 of the siren type (modulated sounds), known per se, which is suitable for emitting several types of sounds corresponding to different types of alarm (continuous sound, discontinuous sound, voice message, and so forth) according to an external instruction.

This sound generator 5 is coupled to a management unit 6 which also controls the switch 3. The function of this management unit 6 is to send control commands to the switch 3 and the sound generator 5, that is to say the selection of the t)W of sound to be produced by the device, audio message or siren.

The selection of the sound type to be produced by the device is not done manually, but in a manner which is controllable using a signal emitted by one or more pieces of external control apparatus, not shown on the drawing. Typically, such a remote control apparatus can consist of an alarm installation of a type known by the skilled person.

This signal is formed by binary elements. An interface 7 receives this signal, typically of an electromagnetic nature (radio signal), and transmits the signal received to a unit 8 for decoding control commands.

The decoding unit 8 detects the arrangement of the binary elements composing the signal. It comprises, in its memory, in a pre-recorded manner, a table of cycles of sounds to be produced, according to the signal received. The decoding unit 8 consequently transmits the commands to the management unit 6. The decoding unit can be provided by a microcontroller.

According to die signal received, the device provides one of the following functions:

- emission of a standardised intruder alarm, - emission of a technical alarm sound, - emission of a standardised fire alarm, - emission of a pre-detem-lined sound other than an alarm (for example, chimes), - phonic communication with a person at a distant location via a network (telephone, radio...), - broadcast of a pre-recorded voice message.

The whole of the device is supplied electrically by the low voltage mains (the energy source is not shown in the drawing).

It is clear that as a variant, an external auxiliary very low voltage supply can be used for the device. It is also possible to implement, according to techniques known to the 15 skilled person, either a battery supply or an accumulator supply.

In another variant, a technique for transmitting signals by wire replaces the radio transmission technique.

6

Claims

CLAIM

1 A device for emitting continuous or discontinuous or vocal audible alarm messages, or vocal messages, and phonic communication comprising - a compression loudspeaker, - an amplifier of the "audio" type, - a means for switching between a generator of sounds characteristic of alarm messages and an "audio" sound source, and means for processing the signal for controlling the switching means and the sound generator emitted by a remote control device.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the means for processing the control signal comprises an interface, a unit for decoding the control commands, and a management unit controlling the switching means and the generator of sounds characteristic of alarm messages.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the signal processing means is suitable for processing a signal composed of elements of the binary type.

4. A device according to claim 2, in which the management unit comprises a device for memorising commands to be sent to the switching means and to the sound generator according to the signal received.

5. A device for emitting continuous or discontinuous or vocal audible alarm messages, or vocal messages and phonic communication substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.