Patent US5572201A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5572201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alerting device and system for abnormal situations
Assignee: Federal Signal Corp
•
Filing: 1994-08-05
•
Granted: 1996-11-05
•
Expires: 2014-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A warning system for alerting a person to an emergency situation which includes a transmitter responsive to a visual or acoustic alerting system for transmitting an alarm signal on an RF carrier and a control signal on a sideband of the carrier. A tuneable receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts in a normal operating mode transfers to an emergency mode upon detection of the control signal and converts the alarm signal to an acoustic signal. In one embodiment, the visual or acoustic alerting system is a siren and light system of an emergency vehicle. In this embodiment, a transceiver is preferably included for dedicated communications among emergency vehicles. The range of both the transmitter and transceiver complement and are substantially the same as the effective range of the visual or acoustic alerting system.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul D. Graham
- 👤 Gregory A. Sink
- 👤 Jerry L. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/28; H04H20/33; H04H20/34; G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0965; H04H20/53; H04H20/59; H04H20/61; H04H60/00; H04H60/09; H04H60/13; H04H20/36; H04H2201/00; H04H2201/10; H04H2201/13; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for broadcasting an emergency warning throughout an area about a site, the system comprising: a source at the site of an audible or visual warning signal detectable by at least one of the human senses; a transmitter at the site for broadcasting an electromagnetic warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts, with at least part of the electromagnetic warning signal encoded in an RDS compatible format; a power amplifier within the transmitter whose power rating provides an effective range of the electromagnetic warning signal that complements an effective range of the audible or visual signal and is approximately coextensive therewith; and, means for detecting the electromagnetic warning signal within is effective range and in response thereto tuning the receiver to a carrier frequency of the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for broadcasting an emergency warning throughout an area about a site, the system comprising: a source at the site of an audible or visual warning signal detectable by at least one of the human senses; a transmitter at the site for broadcasting an electromagnetic warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts, with at least part of the electromagnetic warning signal encoded in an RDS compatible format; a power amplifier within the transmitter whose power rating provides an effective range of the electromagnetic warning signal that complements an effective range of the audible or visual signal and is approximately coextensive therewith; and, means for detecting the electromagnetic warning signal within is effective range and in response thereto tuning the receiver to a carrier frequency of the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic warning signal includes both the carrier frequency modulated by a signal within an audible frequency range and a sideband of the carrier frequency encoded in the RDS compatible format.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 including an interface linking the source of the audible or visual warning signal and the transmitter to provide a timed relationship between a broadcasting of the audible or visual warning signal and the broadcasting of the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the timed relationship is a synchronized broadcasting of the audible or visual and electromagnetic warning signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 including a variable gain control for controlling the power rating of the power amplifier in response to a vehicle operating parameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter includes at least two antenna configurations responsive to a user control for selecting a particular shape of an effective broadcast area of the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the site of the source and transmitter is a mobile vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the site of the source and transmitter is a fixed and stationary platform.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the interface includes a user input for both actuating the source to broadcast the audible or visual warning signal and keying the transmitter to broadcast the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the tunable bandwidth is selected from the two bandwidths of 54 KHz to 160 KHz and 87.5 MHz to 108.0 MHz when the transmitter is broadcasting in the United States.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the means for tuning the receiver includes circuitry responsive to electrical signals from a front end of the receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the vehicle operating parameter is speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
A signalling system on-board an emergency vehicle for providing an advanced warning of the vehicle's approach, the system comprising: a transmitter for broadcasting a first emergency warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts; a transceiver for broadcasting or receiving a second emergency warning signal intended to provide an emergency vehicle-to-emergency vehicle link outside the tunable bandwidth of the standard radio receiver; source of the first and second emergency warning signals; and a processor responsive to an input at a user interface for keying the transceiver and the transmitter to broadcast the first and second emergency warning signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
A signalling system on-board an emergency vehicle for providing an advanced warning of the vehicle's approach, the system comprising: a transmitter for broadcasting a first emergency warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts; a transceiver for broadcasting or receiving a second emergency warning signal intended to provide an emergency vehicle-to-emergency vehicle link outside the tunable bandwidth of the standard radio receiver; source of the first and second emergency warning signals; and a processor responsive to an input at a user interface for keying the transceiver and the transmitter to broadcast the first and second emergency warning signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The signalling system of claim 13 wherein the first emergency warning signal includes control signals in an RDS compatible format, which are propagated by a sideband of a carrier frequency.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The signalling system of claim 14 wherein the transmitter includes a modulator for modulating the carrier frequency with an alerting signal in an audible range of frequencies.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The signalling system of claim 13 including a sensor on-board the vehicle for detecting a value of a parameter indicative of an operating status of the vehicle and providing a signal representing the value to the processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The signalling system of claim 16 wherein the second emergency warning signal broadcast by the transceiver includes information regarding the value of the parameter indicative of the vehicle's operating status.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus at a site interfaced to a system for broadcasting emergency warning signals from the site in the form of sound or light, the apparatus comprising: a controller for detecting a change in an operating status of the sound or light system; a transmitter responsive to the controller for transmitting (1) an RF carrier frequency F 0 modulated by an audio signal containing emergency information and (2) a sideband frequency of the carrier frequency F 0 modulated by RDS-encoded information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus at a site interfaced to a system for broadcasting emergency warning signals from the site in the form of sound or light, the apparatus comprising: a controller for detecting a change in an operating status of the sound or light system; a transmitter responsive to the controller for transmitting (1) an RF carrier frequency F 0 modulated by an audio signal containing emergency information and (2) a sideband frequency of the carrier frequency F 0 modulated by RDS-encoded information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 18 including a receiver for demodulating the modulated RF carrier frequency F 0 and the modulated sideband frequency, the receiver including means responsive to the RDS-encoded information in the sideband frequency for broadcasting the audio signal as an acoustic signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the site is a fixed and stationary site.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the site is a mobile vehicle.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for broadcasting an emergency warning throughout an area about a site, the system comprising: a source at the site of an audible or visual warning signal detectable by at least one of the human senses; a transmitter at the site for broadcasting an electromagnetic warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts, with at least part of the electromagnetic warning signal encoded in an RDS compatible format; a power amplifier within the transmitter whose power rating provides an effective range of the electromagnetic warning signal that complements an effective range of the audible or visual signal and is approximately coextensive therewith; and an interface linking the transmitter and the source of the audible or visual warning signal to provide a timed relationship between the broadcasting of the audible or visual warning signal and the broadcasting of the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for broadcasting an emergency warning throughout an area about a site, the system comprising: a source at the site of an audible or visual warning signal detectable by at least one of the human senses; a transmitter at the site for broadcasting an electromagnetic warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts, with at least part of the electromagnetic warning signal encoded in an RDS compatible format; a power amplifier within the transmitter whose power rating provides an effective range of the electromagnetic warning signal that complements an effective range of the audible or visual signal and is approximately coextensive therewith; and an interface linking the transmitter and the source of the audible or visual warning signal to provide a timed relationship between the broadcasting of the audible or visual warning signal and the broadcasting of the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 22 including a variable gain control for controlling the power rating of the power amplifier in response to an operating parameter of the site.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the site is a vehicle and the operating parameter is speed.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for broadcasting an emergency warning throughout an area about a fixed and stationary site, the system comprising: a source of an audible or visual warning signal at the fixed and stationary site detectable by at least one of the human senses; a transmitter at the fixed and stationary site for broadcasting an electromagnetic warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts, with at least part of the electromagnetic warning signal encoded in an RDS compatible format; and, a power amplifier within the transmitter whose power rating provides an effective range of the electromagnetic warning signal that complements an effective range of the audible or visual signal and is approximately coextensive therewith.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for broadcasting an emergency warning throughout an area about a fixed and stationary site, the system comprising: a source of an audible or visual warning signal at the fixed and stationary site detectable by at least one of the human senses; a transmitter at the fixed and stationary site for broadcasting an electromagnetic warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts, with at least part of the electromagnetic warning signal encoded in an RDS compatible format; and, a power amplifier within the transmitter whose power rating provides an effective range of the electromagnetic warning signal that complements an effective range of the audible or visual signal and is approximately coextensive therewith.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 25 including an interface linking the transmitter and the source of the audible or visual warning signal to provide a timed relationship between a broadcasting of the audible or visual warning signal and the broadcasting of the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the timed relationship is a synchronized broadcasting of the audible or visual warning signal and the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the interface includes a user input for both actuating the source to broadcast the audible or visual warning signal and keying the transmitter to broadcast the electromagnetic warning signal.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for broadcasting an emergency warning throughout an area about a site, the system comprising: a source at the site of an audible or visual warning signal detectable by at least one of the human senses; a transmitter at the site for broadcasting an electromagnetic warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts, with at least part of the electromagnetic warning signal encoded in an RDS compatible format; a power amplifier within the transmitter whose power rating provides an effective transmission area of the electromagnetic warning signal that complements an effective range of the audible or visual signal and is approximately coextensive therewith; and the transmitter including at least two antenna configurations responsive to a user control for selecting a particular shape of the transmission area.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for broadcasting an emergency warning throughout an area about a site, the system comprising: a source at the site of an audible or visual warning signal detectable by at least one of the human senses; a transmitter at the site for broadcasting an electromagnetic warning signal within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts, with at least part of the electromagnetic warning signal encoded in an RDS compatible format; a power amplifier within the transmitter whose power rating provides an effective transmission area of the electromagnetic warning signal that complements an effective range of the audible or visual signal and is approximately coextensive therewith; and the transmitter including at least two antenna configurations responsive to a user control for selecting a particular shape of the transmission area.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
130 words
A signalling system on-board an emergency vehicle for providing an advanced warning of the vehicle's approach, the system comprising: a transceiver for providing an emergency vehicle-to-emergency vehicle electromagnetic link; a transmitter for broadcasting an emergency warning signal to non-emergency vehicles within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts; a signal source for the transceiver and transmitter; and, a processor responsive to an input at a user interface for keying the transceiver and the transmitter to broadcast the emergency signals; and, a sensor on-board the vehicle for detecting a value of a parameter indicative of an operating status of the vehicle and providing a signal representing the value to the processor such that the emergency vehicle-to-emergency vehicle link includes information regarding the value of the parameter.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
130 words
A signalling system on-board an emergency vehicle for providing an advanced warning of the vehicle's approach, the system comprising: a transceiver for providing an emergency vehicle-to-emergency vehicle electromagnetic link; a transmitter for broadcasting an emergency warning signal to non-emergency vehicles within a tunable bandwidth of a standard radio receiver for receiving commercial broadcasts; a signal source for the transceiver and transmitter; and, a processor responsive to an input at a user interface for keying the transceiver and the transmitter to broadcast the emergency signals; and, a sensor on-board the vehicle for detecting a value of a parameter indicative of an operating status of the vehicle and providing a signal representing the value to the processor such that the emergency vehicle-to-emergency vehicle link includes information regarding the value of the parameter.
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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) | 1999-11-05 | 2000-05-06 | 2000-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-05 | 2004-05-06 | 2004-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-05 | 2008-05-06 | 2008-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |