Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Problem ~ Prior Art
It is currently the practice to provide illuminated signs in places of
puBlic access, e.g. exit signs, directional signs, and various other signs which
are intended to instruct the public of the various exits and~or areas of shelter
and the like. Because of the development of fire codes and emphasis on public
safety, building codes have ~een adopted in many areas that require such illumi-
nated signs to remain illuminated at all times, even in the event of a power
fatlure. This has been attalned by either incorporating a self contained battery
means within the sign or connecting the sign by separate sets of ~ires to an al-
lQ ternate source of emergency electrical power whic~ may be eitheT a centrally
located AC or DC source. Such signs are generally provided in buildings to aid
in emergency situations, e.g. fire. However, in case of emergency, such signs
are of little or no value to the public if they cannot be seen or in the event
they are obscured By smoke or by some physical structure, or cannot be seen by
vi~sual handicapped persons.
Ob~ects
An object of this invention is to provide illuminated signs such as now
required in many public buildings so as to further increase public safety by pro-
viding such signs with the capacity to announce intelligent audio messages and/or
2a instructions in time of need or emergency.
Another ob~ect is to provide such signs with a plurality of different
prerecorded voice messages which ean be predeterminately selected or activated by
an appropriate sensor or detector which is responsive to a particular condition
e.g. heat, smoke, gas, power failure and the like.
Another object is to provide an audio-visual device capable of increas-
ing public safety by lessening the possibility of panic and confusion in cases of
emergency.
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Another object is to provide an audio-visual device which is rela-
tively simple in construction, can be readily fabricated and which is positive
in operation.
Another object is to provide an electric audio-visual system which
is rendered operative even though there has been a power failure.
Brief Summary of the Invention
The foregoing objects and other features and advantages are obtained
by an audio-visual communicating system for monitoring and announcing an audible
message upon the detection of a predetermined monitored condition comprising
a sign means, an AC lamp and a DC lamp for illuminat ng said sign means, a
message storing means having one or more messages; a playback amplifier and
associated speaker, an electrical circuit electrically connecting said
message storing device to said playback ampliEier and associated speaker and
for selectively energizing said AC or DC lamps, said electrical circuit inclu--
ding a primary power source and a secondary power source, said secondary power
source comprising a storage battery; a charging circuit included in said
electrical circuit for maintaining a charge on said battery, and said AC lamp
being in circuit so as to be energized by said primary power source, and said
DC lamp being in circuit so as to be energized by said battery upon failure
2~ of said primary power source, switch means disposed in said circuit for ener-
gizing said message storing means and said DC lamp in the event of a failure
of said primary power source whereby said message storing device is rendered
operative to transmit an audio message to said speaker, one or more detectors
corresponding in number at least to the number of said stored messages con-
nected in circuit with said message storing device whereby each detector moni-
tors a predetermined condition, means operatively connected to each detector
and with said message storing device for activating said message storing de-
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vice to sound the message monitored by said detector upon the sensing of a
condition monitored by said detector, and means for de-energizing said circuit
when the detector de-senses the monitored condition.
Features
A feature of this invention resides in the provisions of an illumin-
ated sign which includes a recording device which is rendered responsive to
the happening of a predetermined monitored or sensed condition to give an
audible intelligent message so as to minimize panic and confusion in case of
emergencies such as fire and the like.
Another feature resides in the provision of an audio-visual communi-
cating system which is electrically operated and which is capable of operation
even in the event of a power failure.
Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an
illuminated sign which has the capability of making one or more audible intel-
ligent messages corresponding to a particular sensed or monitored condition.
Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an
illuminated emergency sign which is also capable of making audio announcements
of predetermined conditions upon the happening of such predetermined condition
automatically whether or not such condition is accompanied by a general power
failure.
Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent
when considered in view of the drawings and specification in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram of an electrical circuit embodying the inven-
tion.
Figure 3 is a section view of the device of Figure 1.
Referring to the drawings and detail specification; there is illus-
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trated a device 10 which comprises an illuminated sign, e.g. an exit sign
which is commonly used in public buildlngs and the like to indicate to the
public the various egresses of such buildings. While the device 10 is illus-
trated as an "exit sign" it will be understood that the device 10 may contain
other printed informa-
-3a-
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tive material e.g~ stairway, elevator, escalator, or any other printed message
as desired. ~ecause o~ various safety~codes, such signs are required to be
illuminated. ~or this reason suc~ slgns 10 are frequently provided with a suit-
a~le lamp or li~ght ~ulfi located within the sign housing 11~
In accordance with this invention such sign 10 is provided with a re-
cording device 12 disposed in an accessory housing 13 from which the sign housing
11 depends, and a mounting bracket 14 is connected to housing 13. Operatively
associated wit~ the recording device 12 is a play~ack amplifier 15 and associated
speaker 16. As ~es* seen in Pigure 1, the ~ousing 13 is provided with a speaker
gri~d 17 adjacent to the speaker 16. lncluded on the accessory housing 13 also
is an indicator light 18 and a series of test buttons 19, 20, 21, ~ 22 as will be
hereinafter described.
pigure 2 illustrates t~e circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment~ In-
cluded in the circuit diagram is a recording device illustrated in the form of a
tape transport 23 having an endless tape loop 24, and a sensing foil 25. As will
~e hereinafter described, the tape loop 24 contains a plurality of prerecorded
message which will ~e sounded or ~roadcasted upon the happenlng of a monitored or
$ensed condition~ Associated with the tape loop 24, are a plurality of playback
or pi~c~-up Heads 26, 27, 28, ~ 29, one such head ~eing operatively associated with
2a a corresponding prerecorded message~ Also included in the circuit are a plurality
o~ detectors or contact closure inputs 50, 51, and 52 which are responsive to cor-
responding external alarms for sensing various conditions, such as fire, smoke,
~eat, or ot~er selected monitored condition~ Associated with the respective con-
tact closure inputs 50, 51, and 52 are control relay coils 53, 54, and 55 and
associated contacts~ Test s-~itches 20, 21, and 22 are also provided for testing
t~e respective contact closure -lnput circuits~
The circuit also includes a stand~y~rec~argea~le battery 34 and
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associated charging circuit 44 including a charging resistor 35 and associated
diodes. A stepdown power transformer 36 couples the primary power source 37 e.g.
a generator or AC line current to the standby battery or secondary power source
34. Maintained in the primary power circuit are one or more lamps 38 and 39
which may 6e physically disposed within the sign housing 11 to illuminate the
sign. The secondary power source has in its circuit one or more D.C. lamps 41
and 42 which may also be physically associated within the sign and which D.C.
lamps 41 and 42 are energized in the event o a power failure of the primary
source 37. Connected in circuit of the primary 37 is a test switch 19.
Referring more specifically to the circuit diagram of Figure 2, leads
42 and 43 connect the primary winding o~ the stepdown transformer 36 in circuit
with the primary power source. Connected in parallel between leads 42 and 43
are one or more lamps 38 and 39. A test switch 19 is provided for testing the
primary power circuit. Such test switch 19 can be physically located on housing
13 o~ the sign la.
The secondary windings of the transformer 36 are suitably connected
through a charging circuit 44 to a storage battery 34. It will be understood
that the charging circuit includes a charging resistor 35 and associated diodes
28, 28A, 2g and 29A. An indicator light 18 is connected in parallel with the
2~ charging resistor which is energized ~henever the battery 34 is on charge. How-
ever, the charging circuit may take other forms.
Connected in circuit with the secondary winding of the transformer is
a relay coil 46, which is energized when the test switch 19 is closed and the
primary power source is operative. The relay coil 46 is co-operatively associ-
ated with normally open contacts 46A and 46B. Contacts 46A are in circuit with
~ne or more D.C. lamps 41 and 42. Contacts 46B are in circuit with the motor of
the tape transport 23, the playback amplifier 15; and a relay coil 47. The ar-
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rangement ~s sucH that when there is a failure of the primary power source orwhen the test switch 19 is momentarily opened; the relay coil 46 is de-energized
causing contacts 46A and 46B to close. The closing of contact 46A energizes the
emergency D.C. lamps 41, 42, which are supplied with power by the battery 34.
The closing of contacts 46B energizes the tape transport and relay coil 47 and
amplifier 15. Activation of the relay coil 47 effects the closing of ~ts con-
tacts 47A.
To effect the actuation of a given play back head for transmitting a
particular message upon the sensing of a particular monitored condition; there is
la lncluded in the respective play back circuits a sensor or detector contacts 50,
51, and 52 and an associated relay coil 53, 54, and 55 each operating two sets
of relay contacts and each set including an open contact and a closed contact;
e.g. 53A', 53A"~and 53B', 53B"; 54A', 54A";and 54B', 54B"; and 55A', 55A";and
55~', 55B". The arrangement is such that whatever a particular sensor or detect-
or contacts 50, 51, or 52 are closed by the actuation of a suitable alarm; its
connected relay coil is energized causing the associate pair of closed contacts
to open and the open contacts to close thereby causing the associated playback
head to be rendered operative. For example, if the alarm controlling detector
contacts 50 is actuated to cause contacts SO to close, its associated relay coil
2a 53 is energized thereby causing contacts 53A' and 53B' to close and contact 53A"
and 53B" to open. When this occurs, the playback head 27 is placed in operation,
and the audible message associated with the closing of the sensor contacts 50 is
played.
In the illustrated circuit such audible message is played whether or
not the primary power source is operative. When the condition monitored by the
alarm activating sensor ccntacts 50 is removed, the associated relay coil 53 is
de~energized causing its associated contacts 53A' and 53B' to return to their
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normal position. W~en this occurs, playback head 26 is rendered operative and
its assc)ciated message is played until the sensing foll 25 on the endless tape
loop 24 closes the contacts 56 to return the device to a stand~ mode as will be
hereinafter descri~ed.
Accordingly, t~e activation o~ playback heads 28 ~ 29 are similarly
activated upon the closing of their respective sensor contacts 51 ~ 52 in re-
sponse to the activa~ion of their respective alarm upon the sensing of a parti-
cular monitored condition.
To test the respective sensing circuits, a sensing or testing switch
20, 21 ~ 22 is disposed in a series of each set of sensing contacts 50, 51 ~ 52,
respectively.
When a selected recorded message has ended, the foil 25 on the endless
tape loop will effect the closing of contacts 56 thereby energizing relay coil
58 which will open its associated contacts 58A. As contact 58A opens, relay coil
47 is de-energized to result in opening of its contacts 47A; whereupon relay coil
47 is de-energized to effect the opening of contacts 47A to place the unit in a
standby condition.
~rom the foregoing description the operation of the audio-visual com-
municating system or device is as follows:
Under normal operation conditions or when operating under standby con-
ditions, which is identified by the presence of its primary source or utility
power 37, and its absence of any alarmed condition, the A.C. lamps 38, 39, in the
device 10 are energized and the rechargeable battery 34 is being continuously
charged by the transformer 32 and associated charging circuit which includes the
charging resistor 35 and associated dioder 27A and 27B. To indicate battery
charging, the indicator lamp or light 18 wired in parallel with the charging
resistor~
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~ en the utility~or primary power source is lost or has failed for any
reason or when the test switc~ 19 is momentarily opened to test the circuit, the
relay coil 46 is de-energi~ed and effects the closing of its contacts 46A and
46B. The closings of contacts 46A energizes the emergenc~ D.C. lamps 41 and 42
which function to maintain t~e device 10 illuminated and the closing of contacts
46B energizes the transport mechanism 12 and the associated playback amplifier
15. Closing of contacts 46B also energizes relay coil 47 which effect the clos-
ing of its contacts 47A. With poweT now being supplied by the battery and with
the closing of contacts 47A; the palyback head 26 is selected to effect the an-
nouncement of the message track on tape 24 by transmission to the amplifier
through contact 53B", 54B" and 55R" to the loudspeaker 16. T~e selected message
it will be understood would be one appropriate for announcing the conditions or
instructions associated with the condition noticed i.e. failure of the primary
power source.
When the primary or utility source of power is re-established coil 46
is re-energized thus effecting the opening of contacts 46A and 46B. Opening of
contacts 46A de-energize the D.C. lamps 41 and 42. Coil 47 is maintained ener-
gized by current flowing through leads 34A and 34B to maintain its contacts 47A
closed until the sensing foil 25 advances to a position at the end of the select-
2~ ed recorded message to close contacts 56 which effects the de-energization of
relay coil 58. Upon de-energization of coil 58, its contacts 58A open. Coil 47
is de-energized opening contacts 47A and coil 58 is de-energized to close con-
tacts 58A. Thus when the device is placed in a stand-by condition until either
the utility power source 37 again fails or until one or more of the sensing con-
tacts 50, 51, or 52 are closed. In stand-by the tape transport or loop is posi-
tioned to start at the beginning of a recorded message.
In the event the sensing contacts 5~ are closed ~y~the actuation of a
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specific alarm; which is to monitor a particular condition upon the happening ofsuch condition, or if test switch 2~ is closed, relay coil 53 is energized which
causes contacts 53A' and 53B' to close. Upon the closing of contacts 53A' and
S3B', playback head 27 is selected for operation and the associate message re-
sponsive to the closing of contacts 50 is played whether or not the primary power
source is present. ~en the alarm causing the closing of contacts 50 is removed,
playback head 26 is re-selected and rendered operative to effect the playing of
its recorded message until the sensing foil 25 effects the closing of the con-
tacts 56 whereby the device is returned to a stand~Ety condition as hereinabove
described.
In case contacts 51 as closed by an alarm monitoring another condition
or If test switch 21 is closed, the relay coil 54 is actuated to close relay
contacts 54A' and 54B'. Upon the closing of contacts 54A' and 54B' playback head
28 is selected whether or not utility or primary power source 37 is operative or
whether or not external contact 50 is closed. When the alarm activating contacts
51 is removed, relay coil 54 is de-energized causing its contacts to return to
their respective initial position wlth playback head 26 remaining active until
the sensing foil 25 returns to a closing position for contacts 56~ thus returning
the device to a stand-by mode as hereinbefore described.
2~ contacts 52 are closed ~y the actuation of an alarm monitoring a
condi~tion to be sensed thereby or if switch 22 is closed; relay coil 55 is ener-
gi~zed to close relay contacts S5A', 55Bt. Upon the closing of these contacts,
playback head 2~ is activated without regard to the status of the other alarm
or the utility power source 37. U~on t~e removal of the alarmed condition acti-
vat~ng contacts 52, playback head 26 is re-energi~ed as hereinbefore described,
and tXe de~ce b`ei~ng ~e~urned to s*and~b~condi~tion ~en the fo~l 25 causes t~e
closing of contacts 56 upon completion of the recorded message.
~ rom the foregoing descriptIon and shot~ng of the electrical diagram
of Figure 2, it will ~e noted that only one playback head can be activated at a
time, and each head is given a specific priority according to the lmportance of
the alarm function which is prearranged upon the installation of the ~mit. For
example, the alarm ass~ciated with t~e closing of contacts 52 can hold the high-
es~t priority-and will override any other alarm which may actuate contacts 51 or
50. The alarm with associated contacts 51 will have a higher priority than the
alarm associated with contacts 50; but can be over~i~den b.y~the alarm associated
w~th contacts 52
la ~he alarm associated w-it~ contacts~5a will have a higher priority than
the power failure of source 37, but may ~e overridden by the closing of either
contacts 51 or 52. The power ~ailure is given the lowest priority and it can be
overrldden by the presence of any other alarm activity contacts 50, 51, or 52.
In each case, however, the corresponding recorded message is played as herein-
before described.
While the illustrated embodiment has been described with a tape trans-
port as the recording device, it will be understood that other forms of recording
or message devices may be used in lieu of a tape recorde~ For example, the
audible voice messages may originate from such sources as mechanical transcrip-
2~ tion, magnetic tape loop as shown, cassette, cartridge, reels, compu*er drum,disc, digitally stored intelligence in an integrated circuit read-only-memory
~ROM), charge coupled devices, '~ubble" memory or live microphone. It will also
be understood that the device may be a wholly self-contained unit or that a
plurality of units can be wired so that the secondary power source can be a
centrally located power system or an alternate source of A.C. power other than
that of the primary source.
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W~i~le the inventi~on ~as~een descri~ed ~ith respect to a particular
embodiment, various modification and variation can ~e made without departing
~rom the spirit or scope o~ the invention.
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