MXPA97008645A - Transmitter activated by son - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote annunciator system, in which the signal of emission of an acoustic signal by a first annunciator detects in a detector the acoustic signal that causes a radio frequency transmitter to transmit a radio frequency signal. A radiofrequency receiver that receives the signal operates a second annunciator that is located away from the first annunciator to cause the second annunciator to emit an audible or visual signal. Preferably, the radiofrequency signal is encoded and decoded in the receiver and if the first annunciator can emit two different acoustic signals, the transmitted signal is decoded depending on the acoustic signal being emitted and the receiving decoder causes the second announcer to emit an audible signal that depends on the coding of the transmitted signal

Description

TRANSMITTER ACTIVATED BY SOUND Related Requests This application relates to copending application 08 / 242,305 filed May 13, 1994 and entitled "Combined, audible and visual signaling device", the description of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an annunciator system that includes a sound activated transmitter for transmitting distinctive signals to one or more remote annunciators in response to different events and particularly, to a system for operating one or more emitting devices. of different sound and / or light when operating a first sound emitting device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bells, bells or other audible indicators or indicators for doors, conventional, inside a home or another building, are commonly wired for one or more push buttons or switches in a door or entrance doors and are activated by a person, who wants to enter the building, generating an audible sound such as a harmonic tone, inside the home or another construction. Since the distance at which you can hear the sound of these annunciators or primary devices is limited, other annunciators, in addition to the primary annunciator, may be required to notify an occupant of the construction, for example, in a basement, attic, garage or other remote area of the home or other construction, when the primary device is in operation. Since the physical interconnection or wiring of the remote devices to the primary device or the push button or switches is a complicated and expensive procedure, a different and more cost effective method is required. Methods for activating remote annunciator devices without wiring, costly includes the transmission of a radio trigger signal, by air, to a distant device. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,523,193, which describes a device for activating, from a remote location, a distant sound producer by means of this signal. These devices, however, usually operate by connecting the transmitter to a circuit of the primary device, whereby a common power source is shared. In this way, by pressing the activator button to close an electrical switch on it, the current flowing through them to energize the primary device also energizes the transmitter. The connection of the transmitter of the activating signal so that the transmitter is energized by the power source of the primary device has disadvantages. First, if there are two pressure buttons, at least three electrical connections must be made to the electrical circuit of the primary device, which may be acceptable in many cases, but it is desirable to provide a transmitter of the activating signal that can be Use with these connections or with fewer connections. In addition, if the transmitter is energized through the same source that energizes the primary device, electrical problems can occur, such as overload or voltage drop. Secondly, although older forms of annunciators that have solenoids which activate a mechanical sound generating device, such as a tone bar or bell, will operate when the activation or push button switch momentarily closes, there is one more way new annunciator that includes electronic circuits that simulate the sounds of the old forms, for example, a tone, and that are physically smaller and simpler. However, these newer forms of annunciators require a continuous supply of electrical power, that is, even when the push button switch is closed, to function properly. If, in this case, the transmitter of the activating signal will transmit when the annunciator is energized, the transmitter will transmit continuously, which, for obvious reasons, is unacceptable.

Third, there is a limited band of radio frequencies in which a transmitter of activating signals, for reasons of governmental regulation, is allowed to transmit. In this way, if there are at least two transmitters and two remote receivers in close proximity, within the transmission power ranges of the transmitters, and the transmitters have substantially the same transmission frequency, it is possible that false activation of the transmitters will occur. remote annunciators. For example, one transmitter may be in a building or apartment, another transmitter may be in another building or apartment nearby, and all receivers may be close enough for both transmitters to activate both alerting devices, audible or visual, when activated. of the transmitters. Since inexpensive receivers are used that are not highly selective, simply shifting the transmit frequency of one of the transmitters within the limited band may not be sufficient to avoid false signaling. There are also annunciators that produce audible sounds but that are completely mechanical, that is, they do not require a source of electrical energy or electrical energization, and it is desirable to be able to activate the remote annunciators when these non-electric primary annunciators are activated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved warning system having at least one annunciator remote from the primary annunciator without the necessary expensive wiring between the primary annunciator and the remote annunciator, and which overcomes the problems of the systems of the prior art. Another objective of the invention is to provide a radiofrequency transmitter system that is activated by an acoustic signal generated by an annunciator that is electrically operated or not. Still another object of the invention is to provide an alert system, which, in response to an acoustic signal, sends a radio frequency signal to a remote annunciator to activate the latter. Another object of the invention is to provide an alert system, activated by the acoustic signal, which transmits a single radio signal to a receiver or remote receivers selected for each of two more different events, by means of which it is alerted to a person who is in a remote place of a particular event. Another object of the invention is to provide an alert system activated by an acoustic signal, in which the transmitted radio signal is coded so as to activate only one selected remote device or devices. According to the first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a transmitter of radiofrequency energy, activated by sound, which in response to the sound energy generated by a primary sound generator activated by a switch, for example, a button switch, digitally transmits the encoded radio frequency signals to a device or remote receiver / signaling devices to activate the device or remote devices. The sound activated transmitter includes an encoder that modulates the radio frequency energy with an address identification code and a data code, the identification of the activating sound and the remote receiver or receivers decode the address and data codes. If the remote receiver is arranged to respond to the received address code, the remote receiving / signaling device generates the acoustic and / or visible signal indicated by the data codes. While the present invention has other applications, it will be described in connection with a mode in which the audible signals of a conventional door tone, of the type that provides distinctive signals indicative of the operation of a door bell button switch on a door front or back of a card or similar, activate a transmitter that sends encoded signals to remote devices that provide audible and / or visual signals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments thereof, the description of which should be considered together with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram, schematic, illustrating the principles of the invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram, schematic illustrating the electrical connection of the sound activated transmitter to the power source of the audible annunciator; Figure 3 is a block diagram, schematic of the transmitter shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a sound activated transmitter that can be used as the transmitter shown in Figures 1-3; Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the transmitter shown in Figures 3 and 4; Figure 6 is a block diagram, schematic, of an audible and visible annunciator that can be used as a remote annunciator; Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of the remote annunciator that can be used as the remote annunciator shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the remote annunciator shown in Figures 6 and 7. As used herein, the terms "audible" or "sound" refer to the acoustic energy that is It can listen through the human ear and is usually in the range from about 60 Hz to 20,000 Hz and, preferably, in the range from about 100 Hz to 5,000 Hz. The term "visible" and "visual" refers to the Luminous energy that the human eye can see. Each type of energy is a signal observable by the human. The general principles of the invention are illustrated in figure 1. An annunciator 1, when energized by means of an actuator 2, produces sound energy that is represented by waves 3. The annunciator may be, for example, buzzer or vibrator, a bar of tones, a tube or tubes of harmonies or a device producing electronic sounds electrically activated or a bar of tones or tube or tubes of electrically activated harmonies. The actuator 2 can be operated by hand, for example, by pressing a button, it can be operated by a switch indicating the opening of a door or window or by a known type of detector indicating the passage of an object, for example a person , through an entrance in a building. Next, a specific embodiment of the invention will be described, in which the annunciator is electrically operable and activated by any two switches to provide sound energy of two different frequencies, depending on the switch being operated. A sound activated transmitter 4 includes a sound receiver 5, for example, a microphone, which converts the sound energy into electrical energy. The transmitter 4 is connected to a source of electrical power 6 which may be the same as the power source for the annunciator 1, if the latter has a source of electrical energy, or it may be a separate source of electrical energy, particularly when the Announcer 1 is simply operated mechanically. The sound receiver 5 is located near the annunciator 1, so that the receiver 5 receives sufficient sound energy from the annunciator 1. The sound energy is normally in the range of 500 to 1000 Hz and the electrical output of the receiver 5 will include signals in the same rank. The output signals from the receiver 5 are supplied to a receiver and filter 7 that amplifies the signals and limits the response of the transmitter 4. In this way, to reduce the possibility of activation of the transmitter 4 by the sound energy produced in another annunciator different from the annunciator 1, the filter restricts any significant output of the detector-filter to the signals of the receiver 5 for a range of 500-1000 Hz. Of course, if the annunciator 1 sends sound energy in a different range, the filter will limit the output to the signals in this last range. The filter detector 7 preferably also includes a sound duration circuit which will also limit the output of the detector-filter 7 not only for the sound energy of the annunciator 1 of a frequency in the filter range, but also for the sound energy of the filter. a predetermined duration, for example around 100 milliseconds. Accordingly, when the sound energy of the correct frequency and of a predetermined duration is received in the sound receiver 5, the detector / filter 7 turns on an electric gate 8 which energizes an adjustable encoder 9 which provides a digitally coded signal, in relation with the remote annunciator to be energized, towards a modulator 10 that energizes and modulates a radiofrequency transmitter 11. The amplified radio frequency energy is radiated by the transmitting antenna 12, as indicated in lines 13 and 14, and is received by the receiving antennas 15 and 16 that are part of the remote annunciators 17 and 18 which may be identical. It is assumed that both remote annunciators will be energized when the transmitter 11 transmits, and that an annunciator 17 or 18 is in one place and the annunciator 17 or 18 is in another location. However, it will be evident that only one annunciator 17 or 18 can be provided and that more than two annunciators 17 and 18 can be used. The radiofrequency energy received by the antennas 15 and 16 is received and demodulated by the receiver-demodulators 19 and 20, the electrical outputs from which are supplied to the adjustable decoders 21 and 22. If the encoded signals received by the decoders 21 and 22 correspond to the arrangements of the decoders 21 and 22, the decoders 21 and 22 electrically energize the annunciators 23 and 24 which can be of a known type, for example, an electrically operable horn, a strobe light, a piezoelectric transducer. Although the audible annunciator 1 may have a single frequency sound output, it is customary to provide an annunciator that emits different tones or audible sounds depending on whether an actuator 2 is activated on an input, for example, the front door or an actuator 2 that it is in another entrance, for example, a back door. Figure 2 illustrates the use of the invention in a system in which the audible annunciator 1 and the sound activated transmitter receive electrical power from a power source 6 and the annunciator 1 is energized electrically by any of the button switches of the front door 25 or a back door switch 26 and provides 2 different possible sounds, a sound when the door switch 25 is closed and another sound when the back door switch 26 is closed. This annunciator is well known in The technique. However, the system of Figure 2, that is, with an annunciator 1 providing two different sounds depending on the switch 25 or 26 being activated, it is desirable, although not necessary, that the annunciators 23 and 24 also indicate the switch 25. and 26 that is activated.

Figure 3 illustrates the apparatus for transmitting the encoded signals in different ways to the remote annunciators 17 and 18 to indicate which switch 25 or 26 is activated. As indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the wires or lines 27 and 28 for the switches 25 and 26 are connected to the annunciator 1 so that the annunciator 1 is energized by either the switches 25 or 26. However, as shown in FIG. shown in Figure 3, the line 28 is also connected by a wire or line 29 to the rear door detector 30 which will be described in greater detail below. The detector 30 is connected to the encoder 9 so that if the back door switch 26 is activated, the encoded signal that the encoder 9 provides to the transmitter 11 is different from the encoded signal that it provides to the transmitter 11 when the switch is activated of the front door 25. Through the interconnection, in different ways, of the terminals 1-12 of the address board 31, the address code can be changed, that is, the encoded signal to which the remote announcers 17 and 18 respond. In figure 3 the filter detector 7 of figure 1 is illustrated with 2 components, a filter amplifier 7a and a sound duration measuring circuit 7b. When the sound receiver 5, which is illustrated as a microphone in FIG. 3, receives the sound of the appropriate frequency, that is, within the baseband range of the filter and of the appropriate duration, for example, 100 milliseconds, a gate transmission 32 connected to the sound duration circuit 7b causes the encoder 9 to transmit to the modulator 10 a signal carrying an address code and a code indicating the switch 25 or 26 that has been activated. Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of a circuit unit known to those skilled in the art that can be used to implement the functions described in relation to Fig. 3. In this way, the supply of conventional energy 6 with insulators diodes D1-D3 supply the DC power to the switches 25 and 26, to the audible annunciator 1 and to the remaining circuits shown in figure 4. When the front door switch 25 is activated, the annunciator 1 emits a sound of a first frequency that is received by the sound receiver or microphone 5, the output of which is amplified in the amplifier of the filter amplifier 7a, that is, the amplifier U3: A and associated circuits. The filter consisting of the amplifier U3: B and associated circuits provides a significant output only when the sound signal received by the receiver 5 is within the range of band frequencies, for example, 500-1000 Hz, determined by the values of the components associated with the amplifier U3: B. The sound duration circuit consisting of the amplifier U3: C, and associated components, provides a significant output only when the signal passing through the filter continues for a predetermined time, for example, 100 milliseconds. The default time output, for example, 100 milliseconds. The output of the sound duration circuit causes the transmission gate circuit consisting of the amplifier U3: D, and associated components, arranged as a multivibrator to apply a voltage to the encoder 9 consisting of a microprocessor of a known type, such as being an HT-12E type encoder sold by HOLTEK, which when energized by the transmission gate 32 provides a digitally encoded signal to the RF10 transmitter and causes the latter to transmit energy to a radio frequency and modulated by the encoded signal. For example, the encoded signal is encoded in binary code and can have 12 bits consisting of 6 address bits, 2 fixed bits, 3 data bits and 1 fixed bit. The code is determined by interconnecting terminals 1-6 on address board 31 with terminals 7-12 on address board 31 by conductive bridges or jumpers. In this way, when a bridge is not found, a binary 1 is transmitted and when the terminals interconnect a bridge, a zero is presented in the code. For example, when all terminals 1-6 are interconnected, respectively, with terminals 12-7, the address code is six zeros. When all the bridges are not found, the address code is six ones. Of course, the address code can be selected by interconnecting the appropriate terminals. The coded signals will be transmitted by the transmitter 10 as long as the gate 32 is "on", usually for some repetitions of the transmission of the coded signals. If the sound of the annunciator 1 continues more than the "on" time of the gate 32, for example, for a few seconds, the gate 32 will again turn on and again transmit the coded signals a few times. If the front door switch 25 is activated, the encoded signals will contain two data bits indicating the operation of the switch 25. If the back door switch 26 is activated, the back door detector 30 is energized and applies a voltage to the encoder which will change the data bits to indicate the activation of the back door switch 26 in place of the front door switch 25. Accordingly, the encoded signals transmitted by the transmitter 10 include the address bits and the bits of data indicating switch 25 or 26 that is activated. Figure 5 is a self-explanatory flow chart illustrating the operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a block diagram of a remote annunciator 17 or 18 that can be used in the invention. The pins 33-35 represent the pins of a plug at the end of an AC power cord connecting a device to an AC power outlet. When connected to the output and the switch 36 closed, the transformer 37 is energized. The transformer 37 supplies low voltage, for example, 12 volts, energizes the low voltage rectifier, the filter and the regulator 38 which provides, on lines 39 and 40, low voltage DC energy to energize the various circuits that are described to continuation. The transformer 37 also supplies more voltage power than the line to a rectifier and filter 41 which supplies high voltage power CD to a strobe lamp 42 and an energizer circuit 43. The trigger circuit 43 is activated by a signal from a optoisolator 44 when receiving a signal from the microprocessor decoder 45. The strobe lamp 42 and its associated operation circuits are described in greater detail in copending application 08 / 242,305 and may be omitted, if desired. However, the strobe lamp 42 and its associates provide a visible annunciator that can be useful when the person to be alerted has poor hearing or is deaf. The rest of the circuits illustrated in Figure 6 are also described in detail in the serial application No. 08 / 242,305, but, shortly, the encoded RF signals that are received in the antenna 15 are sent to a superregenerative receiver. 19, the output of the signal from which is supplied to an amplifier and visual limiter 45. The signal output from the amplifier and limiter 45 is supplied to the decoder of the microprocessor 21. The code will cause the decoder 21 to provide an output that can be adjustable by an address board 31 as well as the address board 31 of the transmitter circuits shown in Figures 3 and 4. When a correct address code signal is received by the decoder, it then provides an output signal that depends on the data bits, that is, it depends if the data bits that are received correspond to the activation of the switch of the front door 25 or of the back door switch 26. The output signal of the decoder 21 is formed in the sound forming unit 46 and is supplied to the sound amplifier 47 from which the signal is supplied to the annunciator. horn 48 for energizing the latter with a tone that is different when switch 25 or switch 26 is activated. Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of a known circuit unit that can be used for remote annunciators 17 and 18. The circuit diagram of Figure 7 corresponds to the circuit diagram of Figure 6 of the application Serial No. 08/242, 305 and al. block diagram of figure 6 of the present. The circuit diagram of figure 7 is described more extensively in the application Serial No. 08 / 242,305 and the reference numbers used in figure 6 of the present apply to figure 7. Therefore, the purpose and The function of the circuits shown in Figure 7 will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description given in conjunction with Figure 6 hereof and together with Figure 6 in the Application Series No. 08 / 242,305. . Figure 8 is a self-explanatory flow chart illustrating the operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 6 and 7. From the aforementioned, it will be apparent that in the simplest embodiment of the system of the invention, 1 ') provides a transmitter which is activated by sound and which transmits an encoded address RF signal when it receives the sound energy in a predetermined frequency range, and a remote annunciator consisting of an RF receiver, a decoder and a receiver is provided. an audible or visible annunciator, or both. Only in a remote annunciator set to accept the address code in the transmitter's RF signal will it trigger its annunciator. If the sound source has more than one actuator, this simple mode does not indicate on the remote annunciator the actuator that was activated. In the preferred embodiments of the simple system and other modes, there is a means for measuring the duration of the activating sound which warns the activation of the transmitter unless the sound in the predetermined range continues for at least a predetermined time. In a more elaborate embodiment of the invention in which the sound source has two actuators, the transmitter transmits an RF signal encoded not only with an address but also with information such as the actuator that was operated and the remote annunciator provides a indication of the acutator of the sound source that was operated. Although in the most elaborate embodiment of the invention described in detail, the sound activated transmitter is conductively connected to one of the triggers of the sound source, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other methods can be used to distinguish between the operation of the actuators of the sound source. For example, if the sound source provides sound energy of the first frequencies when an actuator and sound energy of a second different frequency is activated when the other actuator is activated, the filter amplifier 7a can be designed to distinguish between two different energies and cause the operation of the encoder 9 in the same way as the back door detector without a conductive connection between the transmitter and the actuators of the sound source. Also, although in the described embodiments the RF signal is modulated with a binary coded signal and is preferred, it will be evident that other types of coding can be employed. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS A remote annunciator system to indicate, at a remote point, from a first annunciator that emits an acoustic signal, the emission of an acoustic signal through the first annunciator, the system consists of: the detector means of the acoustic signal that can be placed adjacent to the announcer and that responds to the acoustic signal emitted by the announcer; a radiofrequency transmitter connected to and responding to the detector means for transmitting a radiofrequency signal when receiving through the detector means the acoustic signal emitted by the annunciator; a radiofrequency receiver to receive the radiofrequency signal; and a second remote annunciator connected to the radiofrequency receiver to emit an observable signal by the human when the radiofrequency receiver receives the radiofrequency signal. The remote annunciator system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the signal observable by the human is an acoustic signal. The remote annunciator system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the signal observable by the human is a visible light. The remote annunciator system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sound detecting means consists of a filter means for limiting the transmission of a radio frequency signal by transmitting the radio frequency to the receiver through the signal detecting means. acoustics of an acoustic signal of a predetermined frequency range less than the frequency range to which human hatred responds. The remote annunciator system, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the predetermined frequency range is from about 500 to about 1000 Hz. The remote annunciator system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detecting means comprises of the duration of the acoustic signal for limiting the transmission of a radio frequency signal by the radiofrequency transmitter to the receiver through the detector means of the acoustic signal of an acoustic signal having at least a predetermined duration. The remote annunciator system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the predetermined duration is around at least 100 milliseconds. The remote annunciator system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprises the encoder means connected to the acoustic signal detecting means and the radio frequency transmitter for modulating the radiofrequency signal with a predetermined code. 9. The remote annunciator, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the predetermined code is a digital code. The remote annunciator, as set forth in claim 8, further comprises an encoder means connected to the radiofrequency receiver and the second annunciator to limit the emission of. a signal observable by the human by means of a second annunciator to the receiver by means of the radiofrequency receiver of a radiofrequency signal modulated by the predetermined code. 11. The remote annunciator, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first annunciator emits two different acoustic signals and wherein the encoder means modulates the radio frequency signal with a first predetermined code when the first annunciator emits one of two acoustic signals. different and with a different predetermined second code when the first announcer emits the other of the two different acoustic sounds. 12. The remote annunciator, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first annunciator is electrically operable and is connected to a source of electrical power by two different switch means and wherein the encoder means is connectable to the electrical power source by means of one of the switching means for controlling the code with which the coding means modulates the radio frequency transmitter. 13. The remote annunciator, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second annunciator can emit two different observable signals by the human also contains the decoder means connected to the radiofrequency receiver and the second annunciator to cause this annunciator to emit one of the signals observable by the human when the receiver receives a signal from radiofrequency modulated with the first predetermined code and emitting the other of the signals observable by the human when the receiver receives a radiofrequency signal modulated with the second predetermined code. 14. The remote annunciator, as set forth in claim 13, wherein two different signals observable by the human are acoustic signals. 15. The remote annunciator, as set forth in claim 13, wherein two different signals observable by the human are visible light signals.