GB2497359A - Alarm generating flash events - Google Patents
Alarm generating flash events Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2497359A GB2497359A GB1121237.0A GB201121237A GB2497359A GB 2497359 A GB2497359 A GB 2497359A GB 201121237 A GB201121237 A GB 201121237A GB 2497359 A GB2497359 A GB 2497359A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- flash
- primary
- events
- text
- light
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
- G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B5/36—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
- G08B5/38—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources using flashing light
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H05B45/30—Driver circuits
- H05B45/32—Pulse-control circuits
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
- H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
- H05B47/165—Controlling the light source following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Alarm Systems (AREA)
- Photometry And Measurement Of Optical Pulse Characteristics (AREA)
Abstract
An alarm generates repeated pairs of primary and secondary light flash events when triggered. One light source produces primary flash events of visible light with a wide bandwidth of at least 200 nm. Another light source produces secondary flash events of visible light with a narrow bandwidth of less than a third of the primary flash event. The primary and secondary flash events overlap wholly, partially, or are consecutive. The flash events may have durations of 500ms or less. The bandwidth of the secondary flash event may be less than 30nm. The primary and secondary light flash events may comprise a plurality of sources.
Description
AN ALABM FOR GENERATXNG FLASH EVENTS
The present invention relates to an alarm for generating flash events, such alarms may be used, for example, in a network of alarms which flash when triggered Alarms frequently have a light that repeatedly flashes as a part of the response to the alarm being triggered-The use of the light is to attract attention-In order to fulfil this purpose the flash of light must be bright. The brightness level required for such a flash is high.
There is a market demand that a flashing light on a triggered alarm be coloured and therefore be of a narrow bandwidth. Most frequently the demand is for the colour to be red with a central bandwidth frequency in the range of 43OTHz to 4BOTHZ.
Alarms are often devices operating within a system, network or loop of alarms. Due to the requirements of such systems, an alarm can only draw a small amount of current for operation.
Narrow bandwidth light, such as a bandwidth of approximately a quarter or less of the visible spectrum, is not as effective at attracting attention as wide bandwidth light, such as a bandwidth of approximately two thirds or more of the visible spectrum or white light, especially if reflected light is being relied upon or if the light is reflected from a surface. If there is more than one flash bandwidth used as the primary flash1 by using different light sources, lens design can become difficult and complex.
The use of a narrow bandwidth flaèh, such as that described above, of the needed brightness level draws a larger current from an alarm loop. A large draw of current in an alarm loop is difficult and impractical as such loops are not set up to function with large current draws. The greater bandwidth of a wide bandwidth flash, such as that described above, causes a lower brightness level to be required to attract attention than a narrow bandwidth due to the increased power output of each flash given by the extra bandwidth, and to the fact that the eye is generally less sensitive to narrow band light than it is to wider band light. Thus, a lower current is drawn from the loop.
However, if a wide bandwidth flash is used for the improved ability to attract attention and lower draw of current, the market demand for a coloured flash is not met.
At its most general, the present invention proposes a wide bandwidth flash event coloured by a narrow bandwidth flash event.
According to the invention, there may be provided an alarm for generating repeated pairs of primary and secondary light flash events when triggered, comprising: a first light source arranged to produce the primary flash events of visible light with a bandwidth of at least 200nm (nanometres) a second light source arranged to produce the secondary flash events of visible light with a bandwidth of less than a third of the primary flash events, wherein the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair wholly overlap in duration, or the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair partially overlap in duration, or the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair are consecutive in duration. En use, the wide bandwidth primary flash events attract attention due to the brightness and effectiveness of the wider bandwidth-The use of the secondary flash event is to give the observable flash a coloured appearance. The secondary flash may precede or be preceded by th primary flash whilst maintaining the relationship between the durations.
In this case, consecutive is taken to mean one after the other with a limited intermediary gap such that there are not two discernable events. Therefore for this invention two flash events are consecutive if one flash event of a pair is followed by the other flash event with the gap between the end of the preceding flash event and the beginning of the following flash event being not more than 200ms; preferably not more than looms The duration of the primary flash events may be SOOrns (milliseconds) or less, and separately the duration of the secondary flash events may be SOOms or less.
The bandwidth of the secondary flash event may be less than 3Onm.
There may be a timer element programmed to send out pulse events to cause the primary and the secondary flash events. Note that each pulse event may single pulse, with one pulse event for each flash event, or may be a plurality of trigger pulses in short succession, which results in the corresponding light source appearing to illuminate continuously during the pulse event. Use of pulse events involving a plurality of trigger pulse is known per se to drive light sources such as LEDs.
When there is a partial overlap between the two flash events of each pair of flash events, the overlap in the durations may be 5D or less, preferably 20% or less.
The primary flash events and the secondary flash events may each have a plurality of sources.
According to the invention, there may also be provided a method for an alarm generating a repeated pair of primary and secondary light flash events; wherein when triggered the alarm executes the steps comprising: primary flash events of visible light with a bandwidth of at least 200nm; secondary flash events of visible light with a bandwidth of less than a third of the primary flash events, wherein the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair wholly overlap in duration, or the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair partially overlap in duration, or the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair are consecutive in duration.
An embodiment of the invention is discussed in detail below, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the timing relationship of the flash events of each pair of flash events; Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of an alarm containing a first and a second flash source; Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the timing device programmed to send out a pulse to create the primary and secondary flash events.
An embodiment of the invention comprises an alarm that generates repeated pairs of flash events when it is triggered.
One flash event of the pair has a wide bandwidth of extending through 200nm of the visible spectruim which gives approximately white light. The other flash event of the pair has a narrow bandwidth limiting it to a third of the bandwidth of the wide bandwidth flash event, which limits the narrow bandwidth flash event to approximately one colour region of the visible spectrum.
The wide bandwidth flash event is emitted by one source and the narrow bandwidth flash event is emitted by a second source.
When the flashes are emitted by the respective sources -S, they are controlled by a timing element that is programmed to activate the flash event sources at the correct timings.
In this embodiment of the invention, within a pair of flash events the two flash events have an overlapping timing relationship. The wide bandwidth primary light flash event is followed by the narrow bandwidth secondary light flash event that starts before the primary flash event has ended.
Fig. 1 shows a timing relationship of the flash events of a pair of flash events (10) of an embodiment of the invention. The pair of flash events (10) is made up of a primary light flash
S
event (11) * and a secondary light flash event (12) as an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, the primary light flash event (11) starts, and is followed by a secondary light flash event (12) that starts before the primary light flash event (11) finishes. The flash events occur when the alarm is triggered Fig.1 also shows a variation of the embodiment of the invention. The variation is of a secondary light flash event (13) that starts and is followed by a primary light flash event (11) that starts before the secondary light flash event finishes.
In another embodiment of the invention in each pair of flash events (10) a primary light flash event (11) starts, and at the same time as the primary light flash event (11) finishes a secondary light flash event starts, or as a variation, a secondary light flash event starts and at the same time as the secondary light flash event finishes a primary light flash event (11) starts.
In another variation of this embodiment there is a gap between the end of a preceding flash event and the beginning of a following flash event in a pair of flash events of a maximum gap of 200ms, In one of the variations of an embodiment of the invention the primary light flash events have a bandwidth of 200nm and the secondary light flash events have a bandwidth of a third of the bandwidth of the primary light flash events such that the flash events produce visible light.
Returning to Fig. 1, the pr±mary and secondary light flash events ((11) and (12)) of a pair of flash events (10) form one combined flash event due to their corresponding timings. The different primary and secondary light flash events enables the alarm to draw a lower current and to achieve the needed brightness to attract attention. The combined flash is coloured as the secondary light flash events colour the primary light flash events due to the relationship between the timings.
Fig. 1 also shows that the pair of primary and secondary light flash events (10) is repeated when the alarm is triggered.
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention. This embodiment shows an alarm (20) that has a first light source (22) and a second light source (23) embedded within an alarm module (21) In a variation of this embodiment of the invention there is a plurality of first and/or second light sources.
Moreover, it is possible that the light sources are formed by two LED5 integrated together into a single integrated circuit device. Whilst appearing as a single component, the LEDs of such a component may be driven to generate the different light flash events used in the present invention.
Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the timing element (30) of the invention which is connected to the first light source (22) and the second light source (23) to enable the timing element (30) to activate the light sources.
When there are a plurality of first light sources and/or second light sources, the timing element (30) is connected to all the light sources to enable their activation.
Claims (2)
- <claim-text>CLAIMS1. An alarm for generating repeated pairs of primary and secondary light flash events when triggered, comprising: a first light source arranged to produce the primary flash events of visible light with a bandwidth of at least 200nm; a second light source arranged to produce the secondary flash events of visible light with a bandwidth of less than a third of the primary flash events, wherein the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair wholly overlap in duration, or the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair partially overlap in duration, or the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair are consecutive in duration.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. An alarm for generating repeated pairs of primary and secondary light flash events when triggered according to claim 1, rgherein the flash events have durations of 500ms or less.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. An alarm for generating repeated pairs of primary and secondary light flash events when triggered according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bandwidth of the secondary flash event is less than 3Onm.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. An alarm for generating repeated pairs of primary and secondary ho-hf flash events when triggered having a timer element programmed to send out a pulse event to cause the primary and the secondary flash events.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. An alarm for generating repeated pairs of primary and secondary light flash events when triggered according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the primary and the secondary flash event of each pair overlap in duration, and the overlap is 501 or less. (4</claim-text> <claim-text>6. An alarm for generating repeated pairs of primary and secondary hictht flash events when triggered according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein (4 the primary light flash event has a plurality of sources.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. An alarm for generating repeated pairs of primary and secondary light flash events when triggered according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the secondary light flash event has a plurality of sources.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A method for an alarm generating a repeated pair of primary and secondary light flash events; wherein when triggered the alarm executes the steps comprising: primary flash events of visible light with a bandwidth of at least 200nm; secondary flash events of visible light with a bandwidth of less than a third of the primary flash events, wherein the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair wholly overlap in duration, or the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair partially overlap in duration, or the primary and the secondary flash event within each pair are consecutive in duration.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. An alarm for generating repeated pairs oi primary and secondary iio:ht flash events when triggered as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, Fig. 1 and Fig.
- 2. C) (4</claim-text>
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1121237.0A GB2497359A (en) | 2011-12-08 | 2011-12-08 | Alarm generating flash events |
| EP12195078.6A EP2602774A1 (en) | 2011-12-08 | 2012-11-30 | An alarm for generating flash events |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1121237.0A GB2497359A (en) | 2011-12-08 | 2011-12-08 | Alarm generating flash events |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201121237D0 GB201121237D0 (en) | 2012-01-18 |
| GB2497359A true GB2497359A (en) | 2013-06-12 |
Family
ID=45541517
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1121237.0A Withdrawn GB2497359A (en) | 2011-12-08 | 2011-12-08 | Alarm generating flash events |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP2602774A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2497359A (en) |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3893092A (en) * | 1973-11-19 | 1975-07-01 | Electro Devices Inc | Flashing color sequence annunciator system with fail-safe features |
| US5980125A (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 1999-11-09 | Julich; Harry | Focusing method and frame for large-format cameras |
| JP2006305256A (en) * | 2005-04-28 | 2006-11-09 | Toshihiko Furuta | Light emitting stick |
| US20060274542A1 (en) * | 2005-06-03 | 2006-12-07 | Ge Security, Inc. | Color blinking for domelights as a visibility enhancement technique |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2222919A (en) * | 1988-09-20 | 1990-03-21 | Safety Equipment Public Inc | Apparatus and methods for controlling a signal device |
| US5175528A (en) * | 1989-10-11 | 1992-12-29 | Grace Technology, Inc. | Double oscillator battery powered flashing superluminescent light emitting diode safety warning light |
| US6914534B2 (en) * | 2002-11-20 | 2005-07-05 | Maple Chase Company | Enhanced visual signaling for an adverse condition detector |
| WO2006012649A1 (en) * | 2004-07-26 | 2006-02-02 | Dunstan Walter Runciman | Beacon which protect buildings and their occupants against fire and other hazards |
| US8836532B2 (en) * | 2009-07-16 | 2014-09-16 | Gentex Corporation | Notification appliance and method thereof |
-
2011
- 2011-12-08 GB GB1121237.0A patent/GB2497359A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2012
- 2012-11-30 EP EP12195078.6A patent/EP2602774A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3893092A (en) * | 1973-11-19 | 1975-07-01 | Electro Devices Inc | Flashing color sequence annunciator system with fail-safe features |
| US5980125A (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 1999-11-09 | Julich; Harry | Focusing method and frame for large-format cameras |
| JP2006305256A (en) * | 2005-04-28 | 2006-11-09 | Toshihiko Furuta | Light emitting stick |
| US20060274542A1 (en) * | 2005-06-03 | 2006-12-07 | Ge Security, Inc. | Color blinking for domelights as a visibility enhancement technique |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP2602774A1 (en) | 2013-06-12 |
| GB201121237D0 (en) | 2012-01-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| COOA | Change in applicant's name or ownership of the application |
Owner name: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY Free format text: FORMER OWNER: COOPER FULLEON LIMITED |
|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |