Communications: electrical – Systems – Manual alarm telegraph; e.g. – other than signal box type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-30
2001-12-04
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Systems
Manual alarm telegraph; e.g., other than signal box type
C340S517000, C340S506000, C340S514000, C340S533000, C340S538000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06326880
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to controllable electrical units. More particularly, the invention pertains to ambient condition detectors responsive to various control signals generated by external actions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Remotely activated test systems for use with ambient condition detectors have been disclosed in Bellavia et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,244, entitled Test Initiation Apparatus With Continuous or Pulse Input. Such systems have been used to remotely activate a switch to initiate a self-test of the respective detector or to temporarily silence a detector. Such systems, while useful, have been intended to carry out a predetermined unchangeable function.
It would be desirable to be able to reconfigure a selected process to be carried out by a detector in response to a predetermined input. Preferably such flexibility could be incorporated without substantially increasing the manufacturing cost or complexity of the respective detector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An electrical unit incorporates control circuitry coupled to a control switch. The control switch defines a selected identifier, when closed, which could be detected by the control circuitry and used to identify a process to be executed. The identified process can be stored in a memory unit coupled to the control circuitry.
The contents of the memory unit can be loaded from a data stream received from a remote source. The received data stream can be stored in selected locations of the memory unit. A closure of a control switch can in turn cause the control circuitry to carry out the downloaded and stored process in the memory unit.
The control switch can be implemented as a normally open mechanical switch. The switch can be closed in response to manual operation. Alternately, a reed relay or switch could be used which could be closed or opened in response to an adjacent magnetic field. The switch can also be responsive to incident electromagnetic energy such as from a source of RF signals or a beam of incident light.
In one embodiment, closure of the switch can be used to select one of a plurality of prestored processes based on one or more existing conditions. For example, the state of various control signals of the control circuitry in combination with the switch closure can determine which process from the plurality is selected. In this way, different functions or different processes can be carried out depending on the circumstances.
In one aspect the unit can include an ambient condition sensor and interface circuitry for purposes of communicating with a remote control device. The control circuitry can be implemented with a local programmed processor. Process sequences to be executed can be downloaded to the processor from the control device.
The actuatable control switch can be used to cause different functions to be carried out when closed. These functions include:
1. initiating a self-test of some or all of the unit, such as an ambient condition sensor;
2. transmitting a predetermined message, previously programmed via the downloaded information;
3. initiating an indication of a parameter value such as sensitivity, or address or any other parameter specified via the downloaded information;
4. silencing the unit locally.
In yet another aspect, a plurality of functions can be downloaded to the unit. Activating or closing the switch for a time interval less than a preset amount can be used to select one member of the plurality of functions. Activating the switch for a longer time interval can be used to select another member of the plurality. Similarly, switch closures can be coded to generate a binary sequence over a predetermined period of time to specify yet another process or processes from the plurality.
In a further aspect, where the control circuitry has been implemented with a programmed processor, processes to be carried out or executed can be stored in non-volatile memory coupled to the processor. In response to a switch closure(s), the processor can access a predetermined register. The contents of the register can specify the process to be executed. The contents of the register, along with the members of the plurality of processes can be downloaded to the unit from a remote, common control device.
A plurality of units can be coupled by wireless or wired media to the control device. The control device can, in turn, download a plurality of functions, or processes, specifying identifiers to respective units. One or more sets of executable instructions, which define the various functions or processes, can also be downloaded to respective units.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 4380760 (1983-04-01), Kornblit
patent: 4383251 (1983-05-01), Perelli et al.
patent: 4567477 (1986-01-01), Cormier
patent: 4827244 (1989-05-01), Bellavia et al.
patent: 5093651 (1992-03-01), Thomas
patent: 5121101 (1992-06-01), Jakubowski et al.
patent: 5243330 (1993-09-01), Thuillard
patent: 5442336 (1995-08-01), Murphy et al.
patent: 5568129 (1996-10-01), Sisselman et al.
patent: 5625345 (1997-04-01), Stark et al.
patent: 5705979 (1998-01-01), Fierro et al.
patent: 5721529 (1998-02-01), Warner et al.
Pittway Corporation
Pope Daryl
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
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