Maintenance warning inhibitor based on time of day
US8963730B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 2013 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B21/185
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an apparatus that issues maintenance warnings, such as the low-battery audio warnings issued by smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, a system for insuring that warnings are issued only at times of day when it is likely that residents will be awake, so as not to interrupt sleep. In the simplest embodiments, the system may comprise an oscillator, a 24-hour timer, and control logic, most of which may be contained in a microcontroller. One embodiment allows manual selection of the time of day of inhibiting warnings by pressing a pushbutton once. In other embodiments the starting time for the issuing a warning is close to the time of day at which the battery was installed, or the time of day that the detector was last tested. The latter embodiments are automatic, and require no user configuration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.