US4247846A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Alarm notification apparatus
Assignee: ConocoPhillips Co
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Filing: 1979-04-11
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Granted: 1981-01-27
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Expires: 1999-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An alarm system for notifying personnel in an adjustably set priority sequence of an alarm condition includes one or more alarm sensors, a central alarm station, a plurality of primary remote stations, and one or more secondary remote stations. The alarm sensors are connected to the central alarm station to communicate the occurrence of alarm conditions thereto. The central alarm station includes a priority selector device, a device for establishing a primary notification signal based upon the signals received from the alarm sensors and upon the setting of the priority selector device. The central alarm station also includes a transmitter for transmitting the notification signal to the primary remote stations and a receiver for receiving an acknowledgement signal from the primary remote stations. The primary remote stations each include a receiver for receiving the notification signal, an address detector device, a display device, a response encoder device, and a transmitter for transmitting the acknowledgement signal from the response device. The primary remote stations include another transmitter for transmitting a secondary notification signal to the secondary remote stations. The secondary remote stations include a receiver for receiving this secondary notification signal and also an indicator device and reset device for indicating the reception of the signal from the primary remote station.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin R. Zedler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:13
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B27/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
274 words
An alarm system for notifying personnel in an adjustably set priority sequence of an alarm condition, comprising: an alarm means; a plurality of primary remote stations, each having a different predetermined address and each including: first receiver means for receiving a primary notification signal; first transmitter means for transmitting an acknowledgement signal when said received primary notification signal has a format including the predetermined address of a respective one of said primary remote stations; and a central alarm station associated with said alarm means and said primary remote stations, including: means for adjustably setting a priority sequence of said remote station addresses; means connected to said alarm means and to said setting means for establishing said primary notification signal when said alarm means indicates an alarm condition has occurred, said establishing means providing said primary notification signal with a format having the address of that respective one of said plurality of primary remote stations having the highest priority as set by said setting means and establishing subsequent primary notification signals addressing others of said primary remote stations having successive lower priorities when said establishing means does not receive said acknowledgement signal from the last addressed primary remote station within a predetermined amount of time; second transmitter means for transmitting said primary notification signal to said primary remote stations; and second receiver means for receiving said acknowledgement signal from the primary remote station detecting the primary notification signal having its predetermined address, and for communicating said acknowledgement signal to said establishing means to prevent said establishing means from establishing said subsequent primary notification signals having formats with addresses of remote stations having successively lower priorities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
274 words
An alarm system for notifying personnel in an adjustably set priority sequence of an alarm condition, comprising: an alarm means; a plurality of primary remote stations, each having a different predetermined address and each including: first receiver means for receiving a primary notification signal; first transmitter means for transmitting an acknowledgement signal when said received primary notification signal has a format including the predetermined address of a respective one of said primary remote stations; and a central alarm station associated with said alarm means and said primary remote stations, including: means for adjustably setting a priority sequence of said remote station addresses; means connected to said alarm means and to said setting means for establishing said primary notification signal when said alarm means indicates an alarm condition has occurred, said establishing means providing said primary notification signal with a format having the address of that respective one of said plurality of primary remote stations having the highest priority as set by said setting means and establishing subsequent primary notification signals addressing others of said primary remote stations having successive lower priorities when said establishing means does not receive said acknowledgement signal from the last addressed primary remote station within a predetermined amount of time; second transmitter means for transmitting said primary notification signal to said primary remote stations; and second receiver means for receiving said acknowledgement signal from the primary remote station detecting the primary notification signal having its predetermined address, and for communicating said acknowledgement signal to said establishing means to prevent said establishing means from establishing said subsequent primary notification signals having formats with addresses of remote stations having successively lower priorities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 1, wherein said setting means includes a plurality of switch means, each having a plurality of selectable switch settings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 2, wherein: said alarm means includes a plurality of alarm condition detection devices; and said plurality of switch means are positioned in a matrix thereby providing rows and columns of said switch means, each row representing a respective one of said plurality of alarm condition detection devices, each column representing a respective one of said priorities, and each selectable switch setting of each of said switch means representing a predetermined address of a respective one of said primary remote stations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 3, wherein said switch means are thumbwheel switches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 1, wherein said establishing means includes a control means comprising: means for monitoring said alarm means; means for monitoring said setting means; means associated with both of said monitoring means for selecting the predetermined primary remote station address at the appropriate priority level when an alarm condition is detected; means associated with said selecting means for generating said primary notification signal having said selected predetermined address; means for determining if said acknowledgement signal is received within a predetermined time period thereby to prevent said selecting means and said generating means from providing a subsequent primary notification signal addressing a primary remote station having a lesser priority.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 5 wherein: said alarm means includes a plurality of alarm condition detection devices for providing alarm condition signals to said alarm monitoring means; and said generating means includes means for arranging a hierarchy among the alarm condition signals which are simultaneously detected by said alarm monitoring means so that an orderly series of primary notification signals can be generated and transmitted to said primary remote stations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 6 wherein said control means is a microprocessor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said primary remote stations includes: means connected to said first receiver means for detecting when a primary notification signal having a format containing a respective predetermined address has been received; means connected to said detecting means for displaying to personnel at said primary remote station when said primary notification signal having a predetermined address has been received; and means associated with said displaying means for generating said acknowledgement signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 8 wherein said displaying means includes visual and audible indicators.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 8 wherein: said alarm means includes a plurality of alarm condition detection devices; and said displaying means includes a plurality of visual indicators, each indicator corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of alarm condition detection devices and being activated when said received primary notification signal includes information within its format indicating that said respective detection device indicates an alarm condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said primary remote stations further includes a third transmitter means associated with said first receiver means for transmitting a secondary notification signal when said received primary notification signal contains the predetermined address of the respective primary remote station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a secondary remote station associated with one of said primary remote stations, said secondary remote station including: a third receiver means for receiving said secondary notification signal from said third transmitter means of said associated primary remote station; and means for indicating to personnel at said secondary remote station when said third receiver means has received said secondary notification signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 12 wherein said secondary remote station further includes means for resetting said indicating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
266 words
An alarm system for providing notification signals in an adjustably set priority, comprising: a plurality of detection devices for monitoring ambient conditions for alarm states and for providing alarm signals when said alarm states occur; a central alarm station to which said detection devices are connected, said central station including: an array of switch means, each switch means having a plurality of selectable switch settings for adjustably setting a plurality of priority sequences among a plurality of predetermined addresses, each of said addresses corresponding to a respective one of said selectable switch settings; means for providing, when an alarm signal occurs, a primary notification signal having a format including one of said plurality of predetermined addresses in accordance with said set priority sequences and including the identification of the detection devices from which the alarm signal came; a plurality of primary remote stations associated with said central station, each primary remote station having assigned thereto a different one of said plurality of predetermined addresses and including: means for detecting when said primary notification signal provided by said central alarm station contains the respective predetermined address of the respective primary remote station; means for displaying, when said address has been detected, which of said detection devices provided said alarm signal to said central alarm station; means for propagating a secondary notification signal when said address has been detected; and a plurality of secondary remote stations, each associated with a respective one of said primary remote stations and each including: means for receiving said secondary notification signal; and means for indicating the reception of said secondary notification signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
266 words
An alarm system for providing notification signals in an adjustably set priority, comprising: a plurality of detection devices for monitoring ambient conditions for alarm states and for providing alarm signals when said alarm states occur; a central alarm station to which said detection devices are connected, said central station including: an array of switch means, each switch means having a plurality of selectable switch settings for adjustably setting a plurality of priority sequences among a plurality of predetermined addresses, each of said addresses corresponding to a respective one of said selectable switch settings; means for providing, when an alarm signal occurs, a primary notification signal having a format including one of said plurality of predetermined addresses in accordance with said set priority sequences and including the identification of the detection devices from which the alarm signal came; a plurality of primary remote stations associated with said central station, each primary remote station having assigned thereto a different one of said plurality of predetermined addresses and including: means for detecting when said primary notification signal provided by said central alarm station contains the respective predetermined address of the respective primary remote station; means for displaying, when said address has been detected, which of said detection devices provided said alarm signal to said central alarm station; means for propagating a secondary notification signal when said address has been detected; and a plurality of secondary remote stations, each associated with a respective one of said primary remote stations and each including: means for receiving said secondary notification signal; and means for indicating the reception of said secondary notification signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 14 wherein said primary remote stations are electromagnetically associated with said central alarm station and said secondary remote stations are electromagnetically associated with said primary remote stations.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of notifying personnel in an adjustably set priority sequence of an alarm condition, comprising the steps of: disposing an alarm means at a location which is to be monitored for an alarm condition; communicating an alarm condition signal from said alarm means to a central alarm station when said alarm means detects the occurrence of an alarm condition; adjustably setting a priority sequence of addresses of a plurality of primary remote stations; establishing a primary notification signal having the highest priority address contained therein; transmitting said primary notification signal to said primary remote stations; receiving said primary notification signal at each of said primary remote stations; analyzing said received primary notification signal for determining the address contained therein; indicating the reception of said primary notification signal to personnel located at the primary remote station having the address contained within said primary notification signal; transmitting an acknowledgement signal to said central alarm station; receiving said acknowledgement signal at said central alarm station and determining if said acknowledgement signal has been received within a predetermined time period; establishing and transmitting subsequent primary notification signals containing addresses having lower priorities than the last transmitted primary notification signal when said acknowledgement signal has not been received within said predetermined time period; and terminating said establishment of subsequent primary notification signals when said acknowledgement signal is received within said predetermined time period.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of notifying personnel in an adjustably set priority sequence of an alarm condition, comprising the steps of: disposing an alarm means at a location which is to be monitored for an alarm condition; communicating an alarm condition signal from said alarm means to a central alarm station when said alarm means detects the occurrence of an alarm condition; adjustably setting a priority sequence of addresses of a plurality of primary remote stations; establishing a primary notification signal having the highest priority address contained therein; transmitting said primary notification signal to said primary remote stations; receiving said primary notification signal at each of said primary remote stations; analyzing said received primary notification signal for determining the address contained therein; indicating the reception of said primary notification signal to personnel located at the primary remote station having the address contained within said primary notification signal; transmitting an acknowledgement signal to said central alarm station; receiving said acknowledgement signal at said central alarm station and determining if said acknowledgement signal has been received within a predetermined time period; establishing and transmitting subsequent primary notification signals containing addresses having lower priorities than the last transmitted primary notification signal when said acknowledgement signal has not been received within said predetermined time period; and terminating said establishment of subsequent primary notification signals when said acknowledgement signal is received within said predetermined time period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as recited in claim 16 further including, after the step of analyzing said received primary notification signal for determining the address contained therein, the steps of: generating a secondary notification signal at the primary remote station addressed by the primary notification signal; receiving said secondary notification signal at a secondary remote station; and indicating the reception of said secondary notification signal at said secondary remote station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
263 words
An alarm system for providing notification signals in an adjustably set priority, comprising: a plurality of individually identifiable detection devices for monitoring ambient conditions for alarm states and for providing electrical alarm signals when said alarm states occur; a central alarm station to which said detection devices are connected, said central alarm station including: an array of switch means, each switch means having a plurality of selectable switch settings for adjustably setting a plurality of priority sequences among a plurality of predetermined addresses, each of said addresses corresponding to a respective one of said selectable switch settings; electronic control circuit means for providing, when an electrical alarm signal is provided by one of said detection devices and is communicated to said electronic circuit means, a primary notification signal having a format including one of said plurality of predetermined addresses in accordance with said set priority sequences and including the identification of the detection devices from which the alarm signal is provided; and a plurality of primary remote stations associated with said central alarm station, each primary remote station having assigned thereto a different one of said plurality of predetermined addresses and including: electronic address detector circuit means for detecting when said primary notification signal provided by said central alarm station contains the respective predetermined address of the respective primary remote station; means for displaying, when said respective predetermined address has been detected, which of said detection devices provided said alarm signal to said central alarm station; and electronic notification circuit means for propagating a secondary notification signal when said address has been detected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
263 words
An alarm system for providing notification signals in an adjustably set priority, comprising: a plurality of individually identifiable detection devices for monitoring ambient conditions for alarm states and for providing electrical alarm signals when said alarm states occur; a central alarm station to which said detection devices are connected, said central alarm station including: an array of switch means, each switch means having a plurality of selectable switch settings for adjustably setting a plurality of priority sequences among a plurality of predetermined addresses, each of said addresses corresponding to a respective one of said selectable switch settings; electronic control circuit means for providing, when an electrical alarm signal is provided by one of said detection devices and is communicated to said electronic circuit means, a primary notification signal having a format including one of said plurality of predetermined addresses in accordance with said set priority sequences and including the identification of the detection devices from which the alarm signal is provided; and a plurality of primary remote stations associated with said central alarm station, each primary remote station having assigned thereto a different one of said plurality of predetermined addresses and including: electronic address detector circuit means for detecting when said primary notification signal provided by said central alarm station contains the respective predetermined address of the respective primary remote station; means for displaying, when said respective predetermined address has been detected, which of said detection devices provided said alarm signal to said central alarm station; and electronic notification circuit means for propagating a secondary notification signal when said address has been detected.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 18, further comprising: a plurality of secondary remote stations, each associated with a respective one of said primary remote stations and each including: receiver means for receiving said secondary notification signal; and indicator means for indicating the reception of said secondary notification signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
An alarm system as recited in claim 19, wherein said primary remote stations are electromagnetically associated with said central alarm station and said secondary remote stations are electromagnetically associated with said primary remote stations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said electronic control circuit means includes a microprocessor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-27 | 1984-07-28 | 1985-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-27 | 1988-07-28 | 1989-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-07-28 | 1993-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |