American District Telegraph Company

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Lifeline Systems, Inc.

Martin E Henderson

Aaron A Galvin

John K Guscott

Roy L Harvey

Richard M Reich

Kenneth E Beeson

James B Edson

Alan David Brav

Michael Bellomo

Alan D Brav

William G MacIver

William J Lautzenheiser

Anson William Wooding

Richard A Simonetti

A personal emergency response system (PERS) includes a base unit () and one or more extension units (). The base unit includes a speaker (), a microphone (), a telephone interface circuit (), a microcontroller (), and an autodialer (). Each extension unit includes a speaker (), a microphone (), a telephone interface circuit (), and a controller () without an autodialer. The base unit controller () and the extension unit controller () are programmed such that in a help mode, the base unit controller and the extension unit controller assume a master/slave relationship.

Speakerphone and extension speakerphone for use in personal emergency response system

The present invention provides a personal emergency response system having a home communicator with fully integrated capabilities to provide messages and reminders on a timed basis for the well being, safety and comfort of the subscriber as well as providing the emergency response capabilities of present systems. The invention may be embodied in a small tabletop device which can include a speakerphone and other telephone functions and which is plugged into the telephone line at the subscriber's home or other facility. The unit includes microprocessor-based circuitry including an internal clock and data storage for containing control and message information. Data storage can be via a digital storage chip such as an EPROM. The invention serves as an interactive attendant for the subscriber by which the subscriber can have an increased sense of security in the ability to summon help in the event of an emergency, and in being provided with timely reminders in the course of daily activities.

Reminder phone

Zone indication is provided for a facility monitoring and control system by providing the system's sensors and control unit with counters which are simultaneously incremented with clock pulses delivered to the sensors via the multi-wire interconnect cable from the system's control unit. Each sensor output circuit has enabling circuitry connected, as with jumper pins, to a counter output corresponding to a predetermined number or count, and this number or count identifies the sensor. In one embodiment, each sensor output is enabled only during the occurrence of the corresponding count or number from its counter as the counters are incremented through their cycle. When the sensors are used to sense alarm conditions, the sensor sending an alarm signal is identified when an alarm condition signal exists simultaneously with a particular count from the counter at the control unit, with the particular count indicating which sensor is sending the alarm signal. When zone indication is utilized in conjunction with remote data gathering, data is transmitted between counter clock pulses. Should transmission of complex data be required, the counter clock pulses are inhibited and complex data is then read out from the sensor actuated when the counter clock pulses are inhibited, with the complex data read out at a rate governed by a different type of pulsed signal transmitted to the sensor. In one embodiment, zone indication signals are made compatible with sensor control signals so as to establish compatibility with previously installed in-place systems. This greatly facilitates retrofitting existing systems with non-home-run zoning.

Non-home run zoning system

A system for providing a distinctive indication that a system, such as a security system, is in a test mode in which the distinctive indication includes audible and/or visual indications that a test sequence has been initiated, followed by testing of the system during the test sequence, with test results being indicated by altering the format of the audible or visible signal. In one embodiment involving a security system, a periodic signal is changed to a steady state signal when a sensor has been violated, thereby to provide a reminder that the system is in the test mode followed by instantaneous communication to the user of not only the operability of the sensor but also both the transmission of the sensor's output to a central control unit and the operability of this control unit itself.

System for test sequence annunciation

Growing community of inventors

Wayland, MA, United States of America

Martin E Henderson