The invention pertains to voice alarm systems. More particularly, the invention pertains to such systems which can be activated by a displaced, wireless control unit.
Known voice alarm systems require an emergency responder to be physically located in certain positions in an installation in order to use the alarm system. This means that information needs to be relayed from the field back to the voice alarm station and then the individual at the voice alarm station needs to decide on a course of action.
It would be desirable to be able to provide first responders with more flexible access to such systems. Preferably a first responder would be able to access a voice alarm system from almost anywhere in the respective region.
While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.
Systems which embody the present invention provide a remote wireless feed into a voice alarm station. This can result in faster, more accurate response to emergency events.
A wireless device which a first responder could carry on their person, whether it would be their own or issued at a location in a facility provides flexible access to a voice alarm system. This device communicates with receivers, for example, resonant frequency (RF) devices, located throughout the facility.
The first responder would carry the device with him when investigating an emergency. If access to the voice system was needed, a button (or combination of buttons) on the device would be pressed to activate the device and gain access to the paging function of the voice alarm system. The first responder could then page individuals to his location, initiate an evacuation, or perform any other voice command which may apply to his situation. The device could also be voice responsive.
The wireless device could be battery powered and could include an RF transceiver, a microcontroller which would communicate with the voice alarm system via the transceiver, a keypad with a user interface, a microphone input, and a CODEC to translate the microphone input into a digital signal. A charger dock for the device can maintain the battery charge and initiate a trouble signal to the fire alarm system in case of battery failure.
The RF system interface could include an RF transceiver, a microcontroller, and an interface to the voice system. The microcontroller would translate the signal received from the wireless device into a format usable by the voice system. It would also be capable of transmitting data such as system status to the wireless device.
The detectors 14b could include, for example, smoke detectors, fire detectors, gas detectors and the like, all without limitation as would be understood by those of skill in the art. Detectors 14b are coupled to control circuitry 14a by a wired or wireless medium 16.
Associated with system 12 is a voice alarm system 20. System 20 could be a dedicated system associated with the alarm system 12 and serve no other purpose. Alternately, system 20 could include some or all of a general public address system which could be used to distribute voice or verbal information throughout the region R being monitored. The exact details in this regard are not limitations of the present invention.
System 20 includes at least one node or interface 22 which is in communication with the alarm system 12. Node 22 is also in bi-directional communication with a plurality of wireless, RF for example, interfaces 24. The members of the plurality 24, for example, 24a, 24b . . . 24n can be distributed throughout the region R and can but need not be substantially identical.
Interface 24b, for example, can include local control circuitry such as a local programmable processor and associated software 26a, 26b. The control circuitry 26a is in turn coupled to a radio frequency transceiver 28c. Transceiver 28c radiates RF and receives RF signals via antenna 28d.
Members of the plurality 24 communicate with node 22 via a wired or wireless communication bus 30. As those of skill in the art will understand, communication on the bus 30 is preferably but need not be bi-directional.
Node 22 is also coupled to an audio output node or interface circuitry 32. A plurality of verbal or audio output transducers, such as speakers 34 can be distributed throughout the region R so as to provide a way to transmit verbal messages throughout the respective region as needed. Those of skill in the art will understand that the members of the plurality 34 can in part be driven by members of a plurality 36 of audio amplifiers.
As noted previously, the members of the plurality 34 can be used to transmit messages selectively or throughout the region R either in connection with an alarm condition which has been detected by control circuits 14a or as part of a normal, non-alarm, verbal communication of a general matter for which public address systems would be routinely used.
Those of skill in the art will also understand that the members of the plurality 36 could be controllable on a zone-by-zone basis if desired. Alternately, each of the members of the plurality 34 could be independently controllable.
A wireless paging device indicated generally at 40 which is configured to be portable such that a first responder could carry or wear the device 40 can be used so as to enable first responders to communicate, via members of the plurality 34, with one or more areas or zones of the region R. The first responder could carry the device 40 when entering the region R to investigate an emergency condition.
Where access to the voice alarm system 20 is desirable and necessary, the first responder can use the wireless device 40 and one or more interfaces to obtain access to the functions, particularly the paging function, of the voice alarm system 20. The first responder could then page one or more individuals to his location, initiate an evacuation, or issue other voice commands which are appropriate for the situation.
Unit 40 includes control circuitry 42a which could be implemented as a programmable processor 42b which operates in conjunction with executable control software 42c. Audio compression software 42d can also be included.
Inputs to the control circuitry 42a include signals from a user keypad 44a, best seen in
The signals from the keypad 44a as well as the audio received via microphone 46a can be processed by control circuitry 42a prior to being coupled to an RF transceiver 48a and an associated antenna 48b. It will be understood that the unit 40 could be implemented with a transmitter only as opposed to the transceiver 48a without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Optionally, a verbal output device, such as a loudspeaker could also be incorporated into the unit 40 providing the user bi-directional audio communications. Unit 40 can be contained in a portable, wearable housing 40-1.
Using the unit 40 a first responder can output verbal messages via some or all of the members of the plurality 34. For example, as illustrated in
Those of skill will understand that the keypad 44a illustrated in
In summary, a first responder, using a portable unit such as unit 40 can activate some or all of the members of the plurality 34 and communicate wirelessly and verbally into one or more selected areas of the region R. Such communication can be facilitated by information received from the alarm system control circuits 14a as to which portions of the region R have gone into alarm or, for example, have been evacuated.
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4103286 | Nicolini et al. | Jul 1978 | A |
4491699 | Walker | Jan 1985 | A |
4894642 | Ashbaugh et al. | Jan 1990 | A |
4914649 | Schwendeman et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
5283549 | Mehaffey et al. | Feb 1994 | A |
5963631 | Fazio et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
6000505 | Allen | Dec 1999 | A |
6199550 | Wiesmann et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6904280 | Siegel | Jun 2005 | B2 |
7142093 | Foster et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
7218708 | Berezowski et al. | May 2007 | B2 |
7221966 | Birli et al. | May 2007 | B2 |
20020149491 | Crandall et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20040196145 | Foster et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20050172959 | Williams | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050212677 | Byrne et al. | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050227650 | Williams | Oct 2005 | A1 |
20060164234 | Acar | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20060215855 | Rauenzahn | Sep 2006 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
743623 | Nov 1996 | EP |
2198269 | Jun 1988 | GB |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20080048839 A1 | Feb 2008 | US |