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US4290056A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Protective system

Assignee: ELLSWORTH CHOW AND MURPHY Inc
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Filing: 1979-07-05
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Granted: 1981-09-15
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Expires: 1999-07-05
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Abstract

Abstract A domestic protective system which utilizes existing household AC power lines to conduct system signals between remote stations or zones and a master receiver. The system signals are established by a single carrier frequency and include a data pulse of this frequency under normal conditions, and no data pulse under malfunction conditions. Locations of zones originating system data signals are identified by time delays established prior to data transmission from each zone, this delay triggered and synchronized by data transmissions transmitted from other zones.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vincent Y. S. Chow

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 13:07
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B25/00; G08B25/01; G08B25/04; G08B25/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 215 words
A protective system having at least two remote stations and a master receiver all connected by a common AC power line, said protective system comprising: (a) at least one monitoring means connected to each remote station for detecting an alarm or normal condition at said monitoring means; (b) timing means; (c) signal generating means within each remote station responsive to said monitoring means and said timing means for producing and transmitting on said AC power line alarm and normal data transmission signals representing alarm or normal conditions; (d) each of said alarm and normal data transmission signals comprising a data pulse of greater duration than one cycle of the AC power wave form wherein said data pulse is not synced to or dependent upon said AC power wave form; (e) said signal generating means transmitting said data pulse after a time delay established by said timing means unique for each remote station; (f) transmission sensing means within said master receiver for detecting alarm or normal data transmission from each remote station; (g) control signal generating means within said master receiver responsive to said master signal sensing means for producing control data transmission signals; and (h) signal sensing means within each remote station responsive to data transmissions from each remote station and from said master receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 215 words
A protective system having at least two remote stations and a master receiver all connected by a common AC power line, said protective system comprising: (a) at least one monitoring means connected to each remote station for detecting an alarm or normal condition at said monitoring means; (b) timing means; (c) signal generating means within each remote station responsive to said monitoring means and said timing means for producing and transmitting on said AC power line alarm and normal data transmission signals representing alarm or normal conditions; (d) each of said alarm and normal data transmission signals comprising a data pulse of greater duration than one cycle of the AC power wave form wherein said data pulse is not synced to or dependent upon said AC power wave form; (e) said signal generating means transmitting said data pulse after a time delay established by said timing means unique for each remote station; (f) transmission sensing means within said master receiver for detecting alarm or normal data transmission from each remote station; (g) control signal generating means within said master receiver responsive to said master signal sensing means for producing control data transmission signals; and (h) signal sensing means within each remote station responsive to data transmissions from each remote station and from said master receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 57 words
A protective system as in claim 1 wherein each normal data transmission signal comprises a single carrier frequency data pulse and each alarm data transmission signal comprises a modulated single carrier frequency data pulse, said single carrier frequency of the normal data transmission signal being equal to said single carrier frequency of the alarm data transmission signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A protective system as in claim 1 wherein said transmission sensing means further detects for the absence of an alarm or normal data transmission signal from each remote station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
A protective system as in claim 1 wherein each remote station transmits at least one data pulse during a complete cycle of operation, the data pulse from each remote station being transmitted in a different time period than the datea pulse from each other remote station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 52 words
A protective system as in claim 4 including memory means within said signal generating means for storage of data of an alarm condition when detected at said monitoring means for use in producing and transmitting a second alarm data transmission signal within said cycle of operation for verification of said alarm condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
A protective system as in claim 5 wherein said control data transmission signals includes a verification signal transmitted from said master receiver upon detection by said transmission sensing means of an alarm data transmission signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
A protective system as in claim 6 wherein said verification signal comprises a digitally coded pulse train, said digitally coded pulse train identifying the remote station transmitting an alarm data transmission signal detected by said transmission sensing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 45 words
A protective system as in claim 7 including verification signal detecting means within said signal sensing means for encoding said digitally coded pulse train and being operable to reset said timing means for transmission of a second data transmission only from the identified remote station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 45 words
A protective system as in claim 5 wherein said control data transmission signals include a master reset signal transmitted from said master receiver upon detection by said transmission sensing means of all data transmissions from all remote stations indicating completion of one cycle of operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 42 words
A protective system as in claim 1 wherein said monitoring means includes at least one switching means and said signal generating means includes means to detect a change in status of said switching means, the change in status representing an alarm condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 60 words
A protective system as in claim 10 wherein said monitoring means further comprises at least one resistive means connected to said at least one switching means establishing a known impedance of said monitoring means and said signal generating means further including means to detect a change in impedance of said known impedance, the change of impedance representing an alarm condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
A protective system as in claim 4 wherein said timing means is contained within each remote station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 59 words
A protective system as in claim 12 wherein said timing means, within each remote station which has not transmitted data during a cycle of operation, is reset thereby also resetting said unique time delay for each remote station upon detection by said signal sensing means within each remote station of a data transmission signal from each other remote station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 40 words
A protective system as in claim 13 including inhibit means within each remote station to prevent resetting of said timing means upon detection by said signal sensing means within each remote station of that remote station's own data transmission signal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 130 words
A method of operating a remote station in a protective system receiver all connected by a common AC power line, comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring resistance levels at alarm detection stations connected to each remote station; (b) producing a single carrier frequency signal within each remote station; (c) detecting a change or no change in said resistance levels, a change in resistance level indicating an alarm condition and no change in resistance level indicating a normal condition; and (d) transmitting a data pulse of duration greater than one cycle of said AC power waveform after a time delay unique for and identifying each remote station wherein said data pulse comprises said single carrier frequency under a normal condition and comprises said single carrier frequency modulated under an alarm condition.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 130 words
A method of operating a remote station in a protective system receiver all connected by a common AC power line, comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring resistance levels at alarm detection stations connected to each remote station; (b) producing a single carrier frequency signal within each remote station; (c) detecting a change or no change in said resistance levels, a change in resistance level indicating an alarm condition and no change in resistance level indicating a normal condition; and (d) transmitting a data pulse of duration greater than one cycle of said AC power waveform after a time delay unique for and identifying each remote station wherein said data pulse comprises said single carrier frequency under a normal condition and comprises said single carrier frequency modulated under an alarm condition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 66 words
A method as in claim 15 wherein the operation of each remote station further comprises the steps of: (a) detecting transmission signals present on the AC power waveform originating from each remote station and from the master receiver; and (b) resetting said time delay prior to transmitting said data pulse within a cycle of operation upon detection of a data pulse from each other remote station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 105 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein the operation of each remote station further comprises the steps of: (a) resetting said time delay after transmitting said data pulse within a cycle of operation upon detection of a special inquiry pulse from said master receiver; (b) transmitting a second data pulse for verification of a prior data pulse transmitted within the same cycle of operation after said time delay has been reset upon detection of said special inquiry pulse; and (c) resetting said time delay after transmitting said data pulse within a cycle of operation upon detection of a master reset signal from said master receiver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 167 words
A remote station for use in a protective system having at least two such remote stations and a master receiver all connected by a common AC power line, said remote station comprising: (a) at least one monitoring means for detecting an alarm or normal condition at said monitoring means; (b) timing means; (c) signal generating means responsive to said monitoring means and said timing means for producing and transmitting on said AC power line alarm and normal data transmission signals representing alarm or normal conditions; (d) each of said alarm and normal data transmission signals comprising a data pulse of greater duration than one cycle of the AC power wave form wherein said data pulse is not synced to or dependent upon said AC power wave form; (e) signal sensing means responsive to data transmissions from each remote station and from said master receiver; and (f) means to reset said timing means upon detection by said signal sensing means of data transmission signals from other remote stations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 167 words
A remote station for use in a protective system having at least two such remote stations and a master receiver all connected by a common AC power line, said remote station comprising: (a) at least one monitoring means for detecting an alarm or normal condition at said monitoring means; (b) timing means; (c) signal generating means responsive to said monitoring means and said timing means for producing and transmitting on said AC power line alarm and normal data transmission signals representing alarm or normal conditions; (d) each of said alarm and normal data transmission signals comprising a data pulse of greater duration than one cycle of the AC power wave form wherein said data pulse is not synced to or dependent upon said AC power wave form; (e) signal sensing means responsive to data transmissions from each remote station and from said master receiver; and (f) means to reset said timing means upon detection by said signal sensing means of data transmission signals from other remote stations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 30 words
A remote station as in claim 18 further comprising memory means within said signal generating means for storage of data of an alarm condition when detected at said monitoring means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 33 words
A remote station as in claim 19 further comprising verification signal detecting means operable to reset said timing means for transmission of a second data transmission of that stored in said memory means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 57 words
A remote station as in claim 18 wherein each normal data transmission signal comprises a single carrier frequency data pulse and each alarm data transmission signal comprises a modulated single carrier frequency data pulse, said single carrier frequency of the normal data transmission signal being equal to said single carrier frequency of the alarm data transmission signal.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-09-14 1985-03-16 1985-09-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-09-14 1989-03-16 1989-09-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-09-14 1993-03-16 1993-09-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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