US3921140A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Alarm scanner apparatus and method
Assignee: Computer Sciences Corp
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Filing: 1974-05-16
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A high speed scanning system and method for scanning a matrix of alarm condition sensing means. A clock-fed counter means and decoder means automatically scan the matrix line by line. When a sensing means which has turned on due to the detection of an alarm condition is sensed the scanning means automatically stops scanning and a readout of the matrix position of the triggered alarm sensing means is provided. The scanning operation may be controlled in either an automatic mode by a central porcessing unit or in a manual mode by switches located on a control panel. The scanning operation may be stopped or started, the counters may be cleared or loaded and the current scanned matrix position may be read out.
Inventors
- 👤 Randie M Houston
- 👤 Jr Harold G Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:07
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B26/00; G08B26/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of alarm conditions comprising a matrix of alarm sensing means which change state when an alarm condition is sensed, said matrix comprising a set of horizontal conducting elemenTs and a set of vertical conducting elements, said alarm sensing means corresponding to each cross-over point of said elements, each of said sensing means corresponding to a matrix crosspoint including switch means connected between the horizontal and vertical elements which define matrix crosspoints, means, including counting means, for sequentially scanning said sensing means at each of said matrix crosspoints, means responsive to a scanned sensing means being in said changed state for stopping said scanning at the matrix crosspoint at which a change state occurs and providing a readout of the position in said matrix of said changed state sensing means, and means for starting said scanning again after said readout has occurred.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of alarm conditions comprising a matrix of alarm sensing means which change state when an alarm condition is sensed, said matrix comprising a set of horizontal conducting elemenTs and a set of vertical conducting elements, said alarm sensing means corresponding to each cross-over point of said elements, each of said sensing means corresponding to a matrix crosspoint including switch means connected between the horizontal and vertical elements which define matrix crosspoints, means, including counting means, for sequentially scanning said sensing means at each of said matrix crosspoints, means responsive to a scanned sensing means being in said changed state for stopping said scanning at the matrix crosspoint at which a change state occurs and providing a readout of the position in said matrix of said changed state sensing means, and means for starting said scanning again after said readout has occurred.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for stopping said scanning independently of the state of said sensing means and means for loading said counting means to cause the state of a desired sensing means to be detected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
automatic scanning means connected to said row-column matrix array for sequentially scanning said cross points and the conditions thereat from a starting cross point to an end cross point and terminating said scanning at any cross point at which a change signal condition from a given condition is present and connecting said any cross point to said sensed condition output means said automatic scanning means, including a multiplexer connected to receive signals from all conductors of one of the conductor axes of said row-column matrix and means for sequentially energizing the conductors in the other axes,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
automatic scanning means connected to said row-column matrix array for sequentially scanning said cross points and the conditions thereat from a starting cross point to an end cross point and terminating said scanning at any cross point at which a change signal condition from a given condition is present and connecting said any cross point to said sensed condition output means said automatic scanning means, including a multiplexer connected to receive signals from all conductors of one of the conductor axes of said row-column matrix and means for sequentially energizing the conductors in the other axes,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
a manually actuated matrix cross point selection signalling means connected to said row-column matrix for a. terminating the automatic scanning of said row-column matrix, and b. generating a signal representing the manually selected cross point of said row-column matrix and connecting said cross point manually selected to said sensed condition change output means, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
a manually actuated matrix cross point selection signalling means connected to said row-column matrix for a. terminating the automatic scanning of said row-column matrix, and b. generating a signal representing the manually selected cross point of said row-column matrix and connecting said cross point manually selected to said sensed condition change output means, and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including means for clearing said counting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
a remotely actuated automatic matrix cross point selection signalling means connected to said row-column matrix for a. terminating the automatic scanning of said row-column matrix, and b. generating a signal representing the remotely selected cross point of said row-column matrix and connecting said remotely selected cross point to said sensed condition change output means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
a remotely actuated automatic matrix cross point selection signalling means connected to said row-column matrix for a. terminating the automatic scanning of said row-column matrix, and b. generating a signal representing the remotely selected cross point of said row-column matrix and connecting said remotely selected cross point to said sensed condition change output means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scanning means includes a multiplexer means connected to one of said sets of conducting elements for sequentially outputting signals indicative of the state of said sensing means, said means responsive to a scanned sensing means being in said changed state being responsive to the output of said multiplexer means, said means for scanning further including a clock means which is connected to activate said counter means, and said means for stopping including a switch means responsive to the output of said multiplexer means for stopping said clock means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including a plurality of illumination means being connected to the outputs of said counting means to visually indicate the position of the sensing means being scanned.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for scanning further includes horizontal and vertical decoder means, the inputs of which are connected to the outputs of said counting means, and the outputs of which are connected to said horizontal and vertical conducting elements respectively for effecting line by line scanning.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said readout is accomplished by sampling the outputs of said counting means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of detecting which of the alarm condition sensing means of a row-column conductor matrix of said sensing means is in the alarm indicating state wherein said alarm condition sensing means are connected at row-column crosspoints of the matrix, there being one alarm condition sensing means at each crosspoint, comprising the steps of sequentially scanning said sensing means in column by column fashion, each crosspoint of a given row being scanned in sequence, stopping said sequential scanning when a sensing means in the alarm indicating state is detected, providing an indication of matrix crosspoint position when said sequential scanning is stopped, and starting said scanning again after said indication has been provided.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of detecting which of the alarm condition sensing means of a row-column conductor matrix of said sensing means is in the alarm indicating state wherein said alarm condition sensing means are connected at row-column crosspoints of the matrix, there being one alarm condition sensing means at each crosspoint, comprising the steps of sequentially scanning said sensing means in column by column fashion, each crosspoint of a given row being scanned in sequence, stopping said sequential scanning when a sensing means in the alarm indicating state is detected, providing an indication of matrix crosspoint position when said sequential scanning is stopped, and starting said scanning again after said indication has been provided.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a cross-point matrix system, apparatus for sampling individual cross point conditions of a plurality of cross points in a row-column matrix comprising,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a cross-point matrix system, apparatus for sampling individual cross point conditions of a plurality of cross points in a row-column matrix comprising,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said solid-state switch means comprises a phototransistor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |