AU8610298A - Composite battery-transmitter - Google Patents

Description

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P/00/0oII Regulation 3 .2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

Invention Title: Composite Battery-Transmitter Th e following statement is a flil description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: .1 2!-09-98 11:21

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Title of Invention: Composite Battery-Transmitter Field of Invention: This invention relates to a composite battery-transmitter and relates particularly but not exclusively to a composite battery-transmitter for use in smoke detectors and other electronic devices.

-iackground of the Invention: Conventionally smoke detectors have been known in which a battery, most usually a rectangular 9V battery (such as Eveready 216, 522 or 1222 or Duracell MN1604) is used to supply current to sound an alarm when:activated by an ionisation chamber. Batteries -are typically .ued for convenience of installation and relative economy. Using batteri s obviatci the need to connect to an external power supply, and batteries may be readily replaced hen flat.

Howeverian improved smoke detector is envisaged wherein the smoke detector includes a transmitter. This is a highly desirable feature as the transmitted signal may be received by a nearby security system which can raise an alarm (eg through the conventional public :switchedtelephone network). This is particularly useful in situations in which the premises are unattended, or if the audio alarm is otherwise unlikely to be heard, such as during the night, or at a retirement home.

At present it is only known to achieve this functionality by replacing the conventional smoke detector with a purpose-built smoke detector which specifically incorporates these features. However, the applicant has conceived that it is possible to retrofit existing conventional smoke detectors with a composite battery-transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention. This modification is particularly elegant as it does not change the internal space of the smoke detector which might otherwise interfere with the smoke-detecting ability of the ionisation chamber. For this reason it substantially -2- 2i-09-98 11:21 ii, ia.

~ifr~~ B- conforms in this respect with the anticipated Australian Standard for wireless smoke detectors.

It is particularly desirable to recycle existing conventional smoke detectors rather than merely replacing them. This is because conventional smoke detectors contain radioactive materials in the ionisation chamber. Accordingly they should not be dismantled, destroyed or disposed of by untrained people. thus recycling of smoke detectors obviates disposal problems while being particularly convenient.

Summary of the Invention: According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a composite batterytransmitter four use in an electronic device having: terminal means; battery means capable of supplying energy to the electronic device through the 15 terminal means; and transmitter means capable of transmitting a signal, wherein the composite battery-transmitter has an external casing consistent with'the shape of a conventional battery.

It is preferred that the terminal means are adapted to receive connection terminals designed for a conventional 9V battery.

It is preferred that the composite battery-transmitter is adapted so that the transmitter means transmits a signal when the electronic device draws a substantial electrical current from the battery means.

It is preferred that the battery means includes one or more lithium-based batteries.

It is preferred that the conventional battery is a 9V battery.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a composite battery-transmitter four use inr an electronic smoke detector having: -3- 21-09-98 11:21 i

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terminal means; battery means capable of supplying energy to the smoke detector through the terminal means; and transmitter means capable of transmitting a signal, wherein the composite battery-transmitter has an external casing consistent with the shape of a conventional battery.

According to a filrther aspect of the present invention there is provided a composite battery-transmitter for use in a conventional smoke detector as part of an integrated security system.

Brief Description of the Views of the Drawings: In order that the nature and scope of the present invention may be better understood, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described specifically in particular relation to smoke detectors in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which: S. Figure 1 is a top view of the external casing of the composite battery-transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

20 Figure 2 is a side view of the external casing of the composite battery-transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

S"Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the composite battery-transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the circuit of the composite battery-transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a cutaway front vie of the structure of the composite battery-transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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s Figure 6 is a cutaway side view of the composite battery-transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the construction of the composite battery-transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the above listed diagrams, the following features are labeled as set out below: terminals battery stack 30 current sensor encoder supervision timer radio transmitter antenna 80 digital board analog board 100 external casing.

Detailed Description with Respect to the Drawings: The embodiment of the present invention described herein is in relation to 9V batteries, such as Eveready 216, 522 or 1222, or Duracell MN1604. Batteries of this type have substantially the following average dimensions: breadth: 25.5mm height: 44.5mm width: 16.5mm.

The external casing 100 of the composite battery-transmitter is approximately of these dimensions.

S 30 The composite battery-transmitter also has terminals 10 which are interchangeable with *hose of a 9V battery. These terminals on the electronic device and the composite battery- 21-09-98 l-I r

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transmitter are the known miniature snap fastener arrangement as used on 9V batteries and devices designed to use them. This is clearly shown in the accompanying figures.

In Figure 3 there is illustrated a schematic diagram showing the main functional features of the composite battery-transmitter.

The composite battery-transmitter includes a battery stack 20 to provide a 9V (nominal) battery supply to power the smoke detector. The battery stack 20 uses lithium batteries to achieve the necessary economy of space which is required to fit the circuitry within the required volume. Lithium batteries are also long-lived, requiring less frequent replacement than some other batteries.

The current sensor 30 monitors the load current drawn from the battery stack 20. If the load current is above a predetermined threshold, the encoder 40 is activated. The encoder 40 determines whether the load current is a pilot LED load current for indicating the operation of the smoke detector, or a smoke detector load current for sounding an alarm that the smoke detector has detected smoke. If the load current is a smoke detector load current, the encoder 40 generates a modulation code for the radio transmitter 60. This may be generally received by an appropriate corresponding receiver/decoder. The signal actually is transmitted by way of the antenna 70 connected to the radio transmitter The composite battery-transmitter is designed so that the load current at quiescent conditions is relatively low (in the order of a few microamps). This is designed to maximise the operational life of the lithium batteries in the battery stack 20. The load current at quiescent conditions (which may be typically 5gA) will be below the predetermined threshold and accordingly does not activate the encoder 40. When the load current exceeds the predetermined threshold, the encoder 40 is activated and responds accordingly. Filters are used so that the encoder 40 is not unnecessarily activated by load spikes. In Figure 4, this functionality is provided by C 14, R2 and C1. J-FET Q2, along 30 with R3 form a constant current source, which in conjunction with R4, forms a voltage reference which is used to sense the predetermined threshold of the load current.

-I.1 '-7 21-01-98 :21 The radio transmitter 6 0 uses a surface acOUSUCae(SW reotoervs tho~~e ran Ofbl radio frequencY source for commnunication of signals (alarm or othngerie~ e. thn the radio tranlsmiitter 60 should be sufficienitto reach a CO 0 Tre s uallyi1 be we e n/d30d aIn preferred embodiments the range of the radio transmitter 60 isusalbtee3Ofad Thecirui!)'of hecurefl snsor 30 is designed so that a minimal voltage drop Is placed in series with the lithium batteres in the bat-~' stack 2. th e si trermnl t o hie thvatr olage which is actually supplied to the load throuhtetrias1 hl lloingforrelabl deecton of the smoke detectorlodcret t h e all o wi tn g f o f thl ae tc p t e b a t r~ a s m itte r is c o n stru c te d in a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e circuit ilustrated in Figure 4. The circuityshwinFgr4 nldSatnsite mleans and a battery means as is knownf to the personi skilled in the art.

transmitter means includes a radio transmitter 60 and an antenna The composite batterytrasmifler also icludes a superviso t(lers 5hn0. Th honi .Figure 4. The supervision timer 50 draws a very low% curren ls th periodi Th e untiftof hesuerison timer 50 is to provide the enoe- ihtheprsiodctt~e- UP'9 signals to allow regular checking of the status ofte0 ipst atr~almte arid the smoke detector.

The, votg euaoalso shown in Figure 4) Provides- tbesplYvlaet h cur ae esr,encodeor 40n suervision timer 50 circuits. Diode DI provides p r e t n t he o 3 0 u r o eh co ma d sp o s i t e b a t t e r t r a s m i t t s h o u l d a r e v e r s e v o l t a g e b e applied to the load terminals 1. the terminls 10 are as hw nFgr sCI in Figure 4, the ileig circuty battr stack 20 and currentl sensory 0 re own chenat(~Yinthelowr prtiflof Figure 4. Above this the Circuit' b -oke naon 'o t Sch emat rcy i h e apper P ton an a a o b a d g and on a digital board 90. T e a a o 1 A

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board 80 contains circuitry for the radio transmitter 60 and antenna 70. The digital board contains circuitry for the encoder 40, and the supervision timer The current sensor 30 and the encoder 40 are able, in combination, to detect the switching of load current. By externally modulating a load onto the composite battery-transmitter terminals 10, it is possible that coded information can be 'sent' to the composite batterytransmitter. This may be used to program information such as a unique identification code (ID) for each composite battery-transmitter, the Type of radio coding to be used during transmission, or any other relevant information.

The composite battery-transmitter may also be programmed into a 'shipping mode' where circuit activity is minimised and radio transmission is halted. This is appropriate and desirable during periods where the composite battery-transmitter is to be inactive, such as during delivery to retail outlets, or while being held in storage.

"While the circuitry of the composite battery-transmitter is disclosed herein in relation to a particular preferred embodiment, any appropriate arrangement which is sufficiently compact to fit within the external casing of the composite battery-transmitter may fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus it is to be understood that the battery S 20 means and transmitter means of the present invention are not limited to those described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Many other embodiments are possible.

Furthermore, additional functionality may be provided which is within the scope of the present invention. For example, a transmission protocol may be established to enable communication of various information to a receiver.

Also, there may be additional terminal means to receive other inputs/outputs. Integrated semiconductor circuits may be incorporated to provide relatively sophisticated functionality, as could be provided by a person skilled in the art.

21099-8- 11:1 21-9-98 11:2 77 The present invention is of course not limited to 9V batteries and may applied with success to other battery size/shape/voltages.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in relation to smoke detectors, it is to be understood that the present invention has far broader application to many other electronic devices and eleztronic systems.

Embodiments of the present invention may be adapted for use in devices/systems such as residential and automotive security alarm systems, surveillance devices, children's toys, remote control devices and the like.

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211-9-98 11-21

Claims (6)

1. A Composite battery-tr sm itter-for uena lcrncdvc aie terminal means; uei neetoi eOeaig means capable Of supplying energy to the electronic deice througth means; and g h transmitter means capable Of transmitting a signial. wvherein the composite battery..transmitter has an external casingcostetwh hsap of a conventional battery, ,cnitntwt h hp

2. A composi~e battery-transmilter as claimed in claim Iweentetria en are adapted to receive connection terminals desie fo a Wcon eina thV aterya ~n

3. A com osit bateryran m~ Her as claim ed In claim I or claim 2 wherin the tran mittr me ns tans Its a1 signal when the electronic device draws a substantial I i electrical Current from the battery means.. A Composie batteyn-an Imtter as claimed in an y one Of the Precedingca m wherein the battery means includes one or more lithium-based batteries. 20

5. A composite batr-rnmte as claimed in any one Of the Preceding claims *wherein the battery means isa9Vbtey

6. 9Vpoit batr-i a tten 6. A omposte bateryt a itj er as claimned in any one of the preceding claims wherein the elect-onic device is a smroke detector. 7~ A com osit bateiy '4ite-for use in a conventional sm oke detector as part oanitgrat security system. 8& A composite batteTY-11ansmitter substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying rwn drawings

21-CV-9S 11:21 9. An integrated security system including at least one smoke detector, wherein at least one smoke detector is powered by a composite battery-transmitter substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Abdel-Aziz Radwan By His Patent Attorney Allen Evans of Evans Rose Dated 21 September, 1998 1