Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-02
2004-04-13
Tong, Nina (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S458000, C315S24100S, C315S20000A, C315S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06720883
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to warning devices and more particularly to a warning device including a status and function indicator circuit having a visual indicator such as an LED for indicating the status and function of the device including a status output device.
2. Background
A wide variety of equipment, including mobile emergency, maintenance and law enforcement vehicles, employ warning devices including audible and visual signaling or warning devices. Audible warning devices may include back up or other devices intended to alert individuals to motion or other environmental conditions. Visual warning devices may include flashing or flash simulating devices. Flashing devices may include strobe lights that operate by illumination of a gas charged discharge tube. The discharge or flash tube is susceptible to failure and may require periodic servicing or replacement. Nevertheless, service personnel may assume that a failure of the flash tube is an indicator of a failure of some other component of the device and, rather than replacing the flash tube, will remove and replace the device with another unit.
It may be advantageous to provide a warning device including a status and function indicator circuit having a visual indicator such as an LED for indicating the status and function of the device. Similarly, it may be advantageous to provide a warning device including a status and function indicator circuit including a visually perceptible status output device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a warning device including a status and function indicator circuit for indicating the status and function of the warning device.
The warning device comprises an output signal device. Warning devices may include audible and visual signaling or warning devices. Audible warning devices may include back up alarms or other devices intended to audibly alert individuals to motion or other environmental conditions. In an audible warning device, the output signal device comprises a transducer. Visual warning devices may include flashing or flash simulating devices. Flashing devices may include strobe lights that operate by illumination of a gas charged discharge tube. In a visual warning device, the output signal device comprises an incandescent bulb, a discharge tube or LED.
The status and function indicator circuit includes a status output device. In one embodiment of the invention, the status output device may be configured as a visually perceptible status output device, for instance, a light emitting diode (LED). The LED and associated circuitry is configured to indicate both proper operation of the visual warning device and, in the event of a device failure, will indicate whether the fault lies with circuitry for the visual warning device or simply with the flash tube.
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Kuhr Hans J.
Tewell Tony J.
Electronic Controls Company
Holland Joseph W.
Tong Nina
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