Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Safety and protection of systems and devices – With specific quantity comparison means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-15
2004-05-18
Nguyen, Matthew V. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Safety and protection of systems and devices
With specific quantity comparison means
C307S066000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06738244
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As annunciators for remotely stationed internal combustion engines become more and more sophisticated, the management of power for activating annunciator circuits becomes more demanding. Existing annunciators are powered from the capacitive discharge (CD) ignition or a magnetic pickup from a fly wheel magnet, for example, from intermittent sources, such as photoelectric generators and from long-life batteries. The distribution of power from these sources to maximize battery life has already been considered. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,181,883; 4,336,463; 5,563,456; and 6,144,116.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, according to the present invention, there is provided an annunciator for an internal combustion engine comprising annunciator and shutdown circuits. The annunciator has input terminals for being powered by first and second power supplies, the second power supply being a long-life battery power supply. The annunciator comprises sensor input circuits sensing electrically detected conditions and generating fault signals in response thereto, a digital display, and switches for outputting a shutdown signal. At the heart of the annunciator and shutdown circuit is a logic device including a programmed microcontroller, which, in response to fault signals generated by the sensor inputs, causes output of a shutdown signal through the switches. The logic device is also configured to cause a digital display to display fault conditions. The annunciator and shutdown circuit is configured into normal and low power modes. In a normal mode, the entire circuit is powered. In the low power mode, the digital display and only portions of the logic device are powered. The logic device is designed to respond to fault signals causing the annunciator and shutdown circuit to switch to the low power mode upon sensing a fault signal has occurred.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4181883 (1980-01-01), Beeghly et al.
patent: 4336463 (1982-06-01), Beeghly
patent: 4467144 (1984-08-01), Wilkerson et al.
patent: 5563456 (1996-10-01), Berger
patent: 6144116 (2000-11-01), Berger et al.
“Operating Manual FlexiGuard safety control System”, AMOT Controls, Form 1081, Rev. 5, 03-94, pp. 1-66.
Altronic, Inc.
Nguyen Matthew V.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
LandOfFree
Annunciator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Annunciator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Annunciator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3213009