The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 18, 1998
William P Tanguay, Downers Grove, IL (US);
Ranco Inc. of Delaware, , DE (US);
Abstract
In order to facilitate determination of which of a plurality of dangerous condition warning devices is issuing an audio failing battery signal, the device incorporates a circuit including: a processor, an audio annunciator such as a horn, at least one visual indicator such as an LED and a processor controlled, periodically invoked battery condition determining procedure to check the output voltage of the battery under load. If a low battery condition is detected, the horn is driven to issue an audio warning (e.g., a pulse of about 10 milliseconds duration every minute) and the LED is driven to issue a distinctive series brief flashes (e.g., five flashes of about 10 milliseconds each spaced about 500 milliseconds apart), the first flash being issued in coordination with the issuance of each brief audio warning. Thus, the single device having the failing battery can be quickly identified by the visual indication, thereby eliminating the uncertainty which is experienced when only an audio failing battery indication is employed.