Indicator modules for annunciator systems

Claim 2

An indicator module for an annunciator system selectively operable in one of a plurality of operating modes, comprising: an input from a point to be monitored connected to said module for supplying a point input signal signifying a change in the condition of said point; a visual indicator means; a modular circuit means connected between said point input and said visual indicator means for energizing said visual indicator means in response to said point input signal, said modular circuit means including a plurality of normally uncoupled current path means, selected ones of said current path means being operative to provide a selected one of a plurality of operating modes; and selector means foR each of said current path means mounted on said modular circuit means coupling its associated current path means between said point input and said visual indicator means to provide a selected one of said operating modes.

Claim 3

The indicator module of claim 1 further including circuit board means for supporting said current path means and wherein each of said selector means comprises a threaded female member secured to said circuit board adjacent an input and an output portion of an associated current path means and a correspondingly threaded male member in said female member for coupling said input and output portions when said male member is in a first position and to uncouple said associated current path means when said male member is in a second position.

Claim 4

The indicator module of claim 1 wherein said modular circuit means includes: a trigger circuit means selectively responsive to a normally closed point contact signal and to a normally open point contact signal for producing a first trigger output signal in the absence of a point contact input signal and a second trigger output signal in the presence of a point contact input signal; a first gating means for producing a first gate output signal in response to the first trigger output signal and a second gate output signal in response to the second trigger output signal; a first of said normally uncoupled current path means comprising first and second mutually exclusive trigger output path means connected from the trigger circuit means to the first gating means, one of said trigger output path means being coupled by its associated selector means for supplying the first and second trigger output signals to the gating means; a bistable circuit means for producing a first bistable output signal in response to the first gate output signal and for producing a second bistable output signal in response to the second gate output signal; a second gating means for producing a third gate output signal in response to the first bistable output signal and for producing a fourth gate output signal in response to the second bistable output signal; and a driving circuit means for preventing energization of said visual indicator means in response to the third gate output signal and for energizing the visual indicator means in response to the fourth gate output signal.

Claim 5

The indicator module of claim 3 wherein selected ones of said normally uncoupled current path means are coupled and connected to means for rendering the indicator module operable in a single-indication occurrence-ringback operating mode, including: a flasher-input circuit connected from a flasher-input terminal to the second gating means; a flasher means connected in common to the flasher-input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for applying a pulsating voltage to the terminal of the module receiving a first to occur point input signal to provide a flashing visual indication thereof; a first of said normally uncoupled current path means coupled by an associated selector means and connected from the bistable circuit means to the first gating means for applying a latching current thereto to maintain the flashing visual indication following removal of the point input signal; a horn-output circuit connected from the bistable circuit means to a horn-output terminal; horn means connected in common to the horn-output terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules operable in response to the first to occur point input signal to produce an audible indication thereof; an acknowledge-input circuit connected from an acknowledge-input terminal to the bistable circuit means; and a manually operable acknowledge switch connected in common to the acknowledge-input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for applying an acknowledge signal to the bistable circuit means to change the flashing visual indication to a continuous visual indication in the presence of a point input signal and to reMove the flashing visual indication in the absence of a point input signal and to remove the audible indication.

Claim 6

The indicator module of claim 3 wherein selected ones of said normally uncoupled current path means are coupled and connected to means for rendering the indicator module operable in a first-out operating mode, including: a flasher-input circuit connected from a flasher-input terminal to the second gating means; a flasher means connected in common to the flasher-input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for applying a pulsating voltage to the terminals of the module receiving a first to occur point input signal to provide a flashing visual indication thereof; a second of said normally uncoupled current path means comprising first and second mutually exclusive first gate output signal path means connected from the first gating means to the trigger circuit means, one of said first gate output signal path means being coupled by an associated selector means for applying a latching current to the trigger circuit means to maintain the flashing visual indication following removal of the point input signal; an acknowledge-input circuit connected from an acknowledge-input terminal to the bistable circuit means; a manually operable acknowledge switch connected in common to the acknowledge-input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for applying an acknowledge signal to the bistable circuit means to change the flashing visual indication to a continuous visual indication in the presence of a point input signal and to remove the flashing visual indication in the absence of a point input signal and to remove the audible indication; a horn-output circuit connected from the bistable circuit means to a horn-output terminal; a horn-control output circuit connected from the trigger circuit means to a horn control terminal; horn control means including a horn means and a manually operable horn silence switch connected in common to the horn control terminals and to the acknowledge-input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules operable in response to the first to occur point input signal to produce an audible indication thereof; a third of said normally uncoupled current path means coupled by an associated selector means and connected from the trigger circuit means to a control terminal; a control means connection in common to the control terminals and horn-output terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for applying a control signal to prevent application of the pulsating voltage to the flasher-input terminals of all the modules except the one receiving the first to occur point input signal; a reset-input circuit connected from a reset-input terminal to the bistable circuit means; and a manually operable reset switch connected in common to the reset-input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for removing the latching current to the trigger circuit means to remove the visual indication.

Claim 7

The indicator module of claim 5 including additional means for rendering the indicator module operable in a sequence memory operating mode, including: a memory-output circuit connected from an input to the bistable circuit means from the first gating means to a memory output terminal; and a memory means including display means connected in common to the memory-output terminals, control terminals, and horn control terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for recording and, upon demand, displaying the sequence of serial occurrences of the point input signals to the plurality of indicator modules.

Claim 8

The indicator module of claim 4 wherein additional ones of said normally uncoupled current path means are coupled and connected to means for rendering the indicator module operable in a double-indication occurrence-ringback operating mode, including: a third gating means connected from the first gating means to the second gating means; a second-Flasher input circuit connected from a second-flasher input terminal to the third gating means; a second flasher means connected in common to the second-flasher input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for producing a second visual indication different from said flashing visual indication in response to the removal of a point input signal; a third of said normally uncoupled current path means coupled by an associated selector means and connected from the trigger circuit means to a control terminal; a horn control output circuit connected from the trigger circuit means to a horn control terminal; a first horn control means including said horn means connected in common to the control terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for producing a first audible indication in response to a first occurrence of a point input signal; and a second horn control means including a second horn means connected in common to the horn control terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for producing a second audible indication different from the first audible indication in response to the removal of the point input signal.

Claim 9

The indicator module of claim 3 wherein selected ones of said normally uncoupled current path means are coupled and connected to means for rendering the indicator module operable in a maintained first-out operating mode, wherein: said bistable circuit means includes first and second bistable circuit means; said second gating means includes first and second bistable circuit means; said second gating means includes third and fourth gating means, said third and fourth gating means each including first and second gating circuits; said driving circuit means includes first and second driving circuit means; said visual indicator means includes first and second visual indicator means; and further including: a flasher-input circuit connected from a flasher-input terminal to the first and second gating circuits of the third gating means; a flasher means connected in common to the flasher-input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for applying a pulsating voltage to the flasher-input terminal of the module receiving a first to occur point input signal to provide a flashing visual indication thereof on the first visual indicator means; a first of said normally uncoupled current path means coupled by an associated selector means and connected from the first bistable circuit means to the first gating means for applying a latching current thereto to maintain the flashing visual indication following removal of the point input signal; a second of said normally uncoupled current path means coupled by an associated selector means and connected from the trigger circuit means to a first control terminal; a control circuit connected from the first bistable circuit means to a second control terminal; a first-out control circuit means connected in common to the first and second control terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for applying the pulsating voltage from the flasher means to the modules receiving point input signals subsequent to the first to occur point input signal to provide a second flashing visual indication on the second visual indicator means; a horn control output circuit connected from the trigger circuit means to a horn control terminal; a horn control-acknowledge input circuit connected from a horn control-acknowledge input terminal to the second bistable circuit means; a horn-control means including a horn means connected in common to the horn control-acknowledge terminals and to the horn control terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules operable in response to the first to occur point input signal to produce an audible indication thereof; a manually operable acknowledge switch connected in common to the horn control-acknowledge terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules and to the horn-control means for changing the flashing visual indications to continuous visual indications in the presence of point input signals and to remove the second flashing visual indications in the absence of point input signals, and to remove the audible indication; a reset-input circuit connected from a reset-input terminal to the first bistable circuit means; and a manually operable reset switch connected in common to the reset-input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for removing the visual indications.

Claim 10

The indicator module of claim 3 wherein selected ones of said normally uncoupled current path means are coupled and connected to means for rendering the indicator module operable in a first-out acknowledge operating mode, wherein: said bistable circuit means includes first and second bistable circuit means; said second gating means includes third and fourth gating means, said third and fourth gating means each including first and second gating circuits; said driving circuit means includes first and second driving circuit means; said visual indicator means includes first and second visual indicator means; and further including: a flasher-input circuit connected from a flasher-input terminal to the first and second gating circuits of the third gating means; a flasher means connected in common to the flasher-input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for applying a pulsating voltage to the flasher-input terminal of the module receiving a first to occur point input signal to provide a flashing visual indication thereof on the first visual indicator means; a first of said normally uncoupled current path means coupled by an associated selector means and connected from the first bistable circuit means to the first gating means for applying a latching current thereto to maintain the flashing visual indication following removal of the point input signal; a second of said normally uncoupled current path means coupled by an associated selector means and connected from the trigger circuit means to a control output terminal; a control-horn circuit means connected from the second bistable circuit means to a control-horn output terminal; a first-out control circuit means connected in common to the control input terminals and to the control-horn output terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for applying the pulsating voltage from the flasher means to the modules receiving point input signals subsequent to the first to occur point input signal to provide a second flashing visual indication on the second visual indicator means; a horn control means including a horn means connected in common to the control-horn terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules operable in response to the first to occur point input signal to provide an audible indication thereof; a flasher-horn acknowledge circuit connected from a flasher-horn acknowledge input terminal to the second bistable circuit means; a manually operable flasher-horn acknowledge switch connected in common to the flasher-horn acknowledge input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for changing the flashing visual indications to continuous visual indications in the presence of point input signals and to remove the visual indications in the absence of point input signals, and to remove the audible indication; a first-out acknowledge circuit connected from a first-out acknowledge input terminal to the first bistable circuit means; and a manually operable first-out acknowledge switch connected in common to the first-out acknowledge input terminals of a plurality of the indicator modules for changing the continuous visual indications on the first visual indicators to continuous visual indications on the second visual indicators.