Graphic annunciator

Claim 2

An annunciator for use with a detection system operable for producing detection signals representative of certain predetermined conditions, said annunciator comprising: a plurality of selectively activatable indicators; and signal processing means, including a plurality of output connections coupled with said indicators, for receiving said detection signals and responsive thereto for activating selected ones of said indicators, said processing means including means for storing condition data representative of said predetermined conditions in response to receipt of said signals, means for receiving and storing assignment data representative of selected assignments of said indicators to selected ones of said conditions, and means responsive to said condition and assignment data for activating said indicators in accordance therewith.

Claim 3

The annunciator as set forth in claim 1, the data signals including optical data signals, and further including a fiber optic cable for operably intercoupling said receiving means with the detection system for transmission of said optical data signals thereover.

Claim 4

The annunciator as set forth in claim 1, said signal processing means including a microprocessor.

Claim 5

The annunciator as set forth in claim 1, said indicators including light-emitting diodes.

Claim 6

The annunciator as set forth in claim 1, the predetermined conditions being associated with a protected area, said annunciator further including means presenting said indicators in a graphic representation of the protected area.

Claim 7

The annunciator as set forth in claim 1, said data signals including periodically transmitted verification signals, said signal processing means including verification means for actuating selected ones of said indicators upon failure to receive said verification signals within a predetermined time limit.

Claim 8

The annunciator as set forth in claim 1, further including optical signal producing means for coupling with the detection system and for producing said data signals as optical data signals, said signal processing means including optical signal receiving means for receiving said optical data signals, said annunciator further including fiber optic means for intercoupling said optical signal producing means and said optical signal receiving means for transmission of said optical signals therebetween.

Claim 9

An annunciator as set forth in claim 1, said predetermined condition including alarm conditions concerning an area protected by the detection system.

Claim 10

The annunciator as set forth in claim 1, further including data entry means for entering said assignment data into said receiving and storing means on the site of said annunciator.

Claim 11

The annunciator as set forth in claim 1, further including remote data entry means for entering said assignment data into said receiving and storing means from a location remote from said annunciator.

Claim 12

An annunciator for use with a detection system operable for producing detection signals representative of certain predetermined conditions, said annunciator comprising: a plurality of selectively activatable indicators; and signal processing means operably coupled with said indicators for receiving said detection signals and responsive thereto for selectively activating said indicators, said signal processing means including means responsive to receipt of said detection signals for storing history data representative of sequential occurrences of said predetermined occurrences, and selectively activatable means responsive to said history data for selectively and successively activating said indicators in sequential correspondence with said occurrences for providing a sequential review thereof.

Claim 13

An annunciator for use with a detection system operable for producing detection signals representative of certain predetermined conditions, said annunciator comprising: a plurality of selectively activatable indicators; and signal processing means operably coupled with said indicators for receiving said detection signals and responsive thereto for selectively activating said indicators, said signal processing means including means responsive to receipt of said detection signals for storing history data representative of sequential occurrences of said predetermined occurrences, and selectively activatable means responsive to said history data for selectively and successively activating said indicators in sequential correspondence with said occurrences for providing a sequential review thereof.

Claim 14

The annunciator as set forth in claim 11, said activatable means including means for manual activation thereof.

Claim 15

The annunciator as set forth in claim 11, said signal processing means including a microprocessor.

Claim 16

The annunciator as set forth in claim 11, said indicators including light-emitting diodes.

Claim 17

The annunciator as set forth in claim 11, the predetermined conditions being associated with a protected area, said annunciator further including means presenting said indicators in a graphic representation of the protected area.

Claim 18

The annunciator as set forth in claim 11, said data signals including periodically transmitted verification signals, said signal processing means including verification means for actuating said ones of said indicators upon failure to receive said verification signals within a predetermined time limit.

Claim 21

The method as set forth in claim 17, said connecting step including step of connecting said output with said indicators during manufacture of said annunciator.

Claim 22

The method as set forth in claim 17, further including the step of installing said annunciator on a site prior to said step of storing assignment data.

Claim 23

An annunciator for use with a detection system operable to produce data signals representative of certain predetermined conditions, said annunciator comprising: a plurality of selectively actuable indicators; signal processing means coupled with said indicators including means for coupling with the detection system for receiving and processing said data signals and in response thereto for actuating selected ones of said indicators in predetermined correspondence with predetermined conditions, said data signals being optical data signals, said signal processing means including optical signal receiving means for receiving said optical data signals, retransmission means for coupling with a transmission line and for receiving and retransmitting said data signals thereover, selectively alterable memory means for storing configuration data representative of said predetermined correspondence and for selectively actuating said indicators in response to said configuration data and data signals, and for storing history data representative of a plurality of sequential occurrences of said predetermined conditions, and means coupled with said memory means and responsive to said history data for selectively and successively actuating certain ones of said indicators in sequential correspondence with said occurrences in order to provide a sequential review thereof, said indicators being activatable upon simultaneous receipt of two activation signals, said signal processing means further including a plurality of indicator outputs for selectively producing respective activation signals, and means coupling said outputs and indicators in a multiplex arrangement with each indicator being coupled with two of said outputs for receipt of respective activation signals therefrom upon actuation of said respective indicators.

Claim 24

An annunciator for use with a detection system operable to produce data signals representative of certain predetermined conditions, said annunciator comprising: a plurality of selectively actuable indicators; signal processing means coupled with said indicators including means for coupling with the detection system for receiving and processing said data signals and in response thereto for actuating selected ones of said indicators in predetermined correspondence with predetermined conditions, said data signals being optical data signals, said signal processing means including optical signal receiving means for receiving said optical data signals, retransmission means for coupling with a transmission line and for receiving and retransmitting said data signals thereover, selectively alterable memory means for storing configuration data representative of said predetermined correspondence and for selectively actuating said indicators in response to said configuration data and data signals, and for storing history data representative of a plurality of sequential occurrences of said predetermined conditions, and means coupled with said memory means and responsive to said history data for selectively and successively actuating certain ones of said indicators in sequential correspondence with said occurrences in order to provide a sequential review thereof, said indicators being activatable upon simultaneous receipt of two activation signals, said signal processing means further including a plurality of indicator outputs for selectively producing respective activation signals, and means coupling said outputs and indicators in a multiplex arrangement with each indicator being coupled with two of said outputs for receipt of respective activation signals therefrom upon actuation of said respective indicators.