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US4228429A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Alarm system having phase-sensitive bridge circuit

Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1978-12-11
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Granted: 1980-10-14
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Expires: 1998-12-11
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Abstract

Abstract An alarm system for detecting a dangerous condition such as the increase in content of or the presence of toxic or inflammable gas in the air and giving a warning signal. The alarm system comprises an AC power supply, a full-wave rectifier connected to the AC power supply and rectifying alternating current from the AC power source into direct current. An AC bridge circuit connected to the AC power supply and includes a sensor element at least in one branch. An AC operational amplifier is supplied with power from the full-wave rectifier and receives an input signal which is the output signal delivered from the bridge circuit through a DC blocking capacitor. A thyristor is connected in parallel with the AC power supply, with its control gate connected to the output of the operational amplifier, and its main electrodes in series with an alarm indicator actuable when the thyristor is triggered into the conduction state. Such triggering occurs when the output signal voltage from the operational amplifier reverses its phase by 180°, i.e., when the resistance of the sensor element varies when a dangerous condition exists.

Inventors

  • 👤 Keishin Tsuchiya
  • 👤 Ichiro Yoshihara
  • 👤 Kazuhito Saito
  • 👤 Takeshi Abe
  • 👤 Kiyoshi Abe
  • 👤 Kiyoshi Sone

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 21:57
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B23/00; G08B17/00; G08B17/10; G08B17/117

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 212 words
An alarm system comprising (a) an AC power supply circuit, (b) a full-wave rectifier for effecting full-wave rectification of the alternating current supplied from said AC power supply circuit, (c) an AC bridge circuit which is supplied with the power from said AC power supply circuit and which includes a sensor element in at least one branch of the bridge thereof, (d) a DC blocking capacitor having one terminal connected to an output terminal of said bridge circuit, (e) an operational amplifier which is supplied with power from said full-wave rectifier and receives the output signal from said AC bridge circuit through said DC blocking capacitor, an input terminal of said amplifier being connected to the other terminal of said blocking capacitor, (f) a thyristor having main electrodes connected to said AC power supply circuit and a control electrode for receiving the output signal from said operational amplifier, and (g) an alarm indicator coupled to at least one of said main electrodes of said thyristor and actuable when said thyristor is triggered into the conduction state by said operational amplifier output signal when the phase of the AC output signal from said AC bridge circuit is reversed by 180° due to the variation in resistance of said sensor element under abnormal conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 212 words
An alarm system comprising (a) an AC power supply circuit, (b) a full-wave rectifier for effecting full-wave rectification of the alternating current supplied from said AC power supply circuit, (c) an AC bridge circuit which is supplied with the power from said AC power supply circuit and which includes a sensor element in at least one branch of the bridge thereof, (d) a DC blocking capacitor having one terminal connected to an output terminal of said bridge circuit, (e) an operational amplifier which is supplied with power from said full-wave rectifier and receives the output signal from said AC bridge circuit through said DC blocking capacitor, an input terminal of said amplifier being connected to the other terminal of said blocking capacitor, (f) a thyristor having main electrodes connected to said AC power supply circuit and a control electrode for receiving the output signal from said operational amplifier, and (g) an alarm indicator coupled to at least one of said main electrodes of said thyristor and actuable when said thyristor is triggered into the conduction state by said operational amplifier output signal when the phase of the AC output signal from said AC bridge circuit is reversed by 180° due to the variation in resistance of said sensor element under abnormal conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
An alarm system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a differentiating capacitor is connected to the output of said operational amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
An alarm system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a smoothing circuit is connected to the output of said full-wave rectifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
An alarm system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a differentiating capacitor is connected to the output of said operational amplifier; and a smoothing circuit is connected to the output of said full-wave rectifier.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3221320A Cited
US3961900A Cited
US3950740A Cited
US3997837A Cited
US4084156A Cited
US4146887A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-10-14 1984-04-14 1984-10-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-10-14 1988-04-14 1988-10-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-10-14 1992-04-14 1992-10-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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