Warning System And Method

Abstract

A warning device particularly useful for the deaf or partially deaf comprising a mechanical vibration generator responsive to signals produced by a trigger signal generator to which it is operatively connected, the trigger signal generator being responsive to various external sources of different natures, such as an alarm clock, a door bell or a car horn.

Description

The present invention relates to a warning system and method.

An object of the invention is to provide a warning system and method adapted to overcome the drawbacks of known systems and methods making use of an audio signal for getting one or more persons' attention.

Such audio known systems besides the fact that they are incapable of warning one or more individuals only in a group of people, are totally inoperative for handicapped people, for example the totally or partially deaf.

The present invention proposes a method of getting one or more persons' attention which is characterized by the application of a mechanical vibration as warning means to which the individual(s) to be warned are directly or indirectly subjected.

The warning system according to the invention therefore comprises a fixed or variable frequency mechanical vibration generator operatively connected by a physical or nonphysical connection to a signal generator for triggering the vibration generator.

The invention will be fully understood from the description which follows, made by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system according to the invention ;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the system according to the invention for another embodiment ;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system according to the invention for still another embodiment ;

FIG. 4 is a view in perpsective from the front of a device according to the invention constructed in the form of an alarm clock ;

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 4 of the device illustrated in this figure, certain portions having been removed for the sake of clarity ; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view in perspective of a device similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4 but for another embodiment.

A warning system according to the invention (FIG. 1) comprises a mechanical vibration generator 12 electrically or electronically operated which upon reception of a signal emitted by a trigger signal generator 10 to which it is operatively connected by a connection shown schematically at 11, produces mechanical vibrations of a fixed or variable frequency to call the attention of an individual to be warned, the person being in direct or indirect contact therewith.

The generator 10 may be triggered by any suitable means.

When the generator is controlled by means of different natures, it preferably comprises a selector means 13 to make it responsive to a particular desired external source such as shown schematically at 14 for a sound or audio signal, at 15 for a light source and at 16 for an electrical signal of an appropriate nature.

The mechanical vibration generator is, for example as shown in FIG. 1, an eccentric vibrator comprising an electric motor 38 adapted to be supplied by a current source such as a battery 39, the electric motor having a shaft 40 carrying eccentrically a disc 71 or the like. The invention is of course not limited to this type of vibration generator and may include a purely mechanical or electrical operated device.

Similarly, the operative connection between the trigger signal generator 10 and the vibration generator 12 may be a physical connection, such as an electric conductor, or a nonphysical connection, for example such as an electromagnetic wave.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a mechanical vibration generator 30 is connected by conductors 31, 32, 33, etc., to trigger signal generators 34, 35, 36 respectively -- responsive to external sources of different natures -- for commanding the vibration generator 30 which comprises means schematically shown at 37 for identifying signals emitted by the generators 34-36, for example as a function of the signal emitted by each one of the generators.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a trigger signal generator 20 is connected by conductors 21, 22, 23, etc. to mechanical vibration generators 24, 25, 26, etc. adapted to be controlled independently of one another and/or at the same time as one another from a control station 27 comprising means schematically shown at 28 for selecting and controlling as well as means schematically shown at 29 for monitoring the generator(s) 24-26 selected and activated.

When the system according to the invention is used as a warning device for one or more deaf or partially deaf individuals, the trigger signal generator preferably comprises a microphonic sensing device responsive to external sound signals, such as an alarm clock, a door bell or a car horn.

In one embodiment, the device according to the invention is an alarm clock for use in particular for deaf or partially deaf individual. The signal generator for triggering the vibrator of the system is, in this case, means responsive to the ringing of a common alarm clock connected by a conductor to the motor of the vibrator whose input circuit preferably comprises a transistorized electronic amplifier for its control.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the trigger signal generator is an electric timer 40 housed in a case 41 having a dial with an hour hand 43 and a minute hand 44 visible on the face 45 of the case 41. The dial of the timer 40 also has an indicator 46 for indicating the instant, an electric switch 47 must be closed in a manner known per se which comprises a fixed contact 48 connected to an electric current source 49, such as a battery, and a movable contact 50 at one of the terminals of an electric motor 51 having a rotational speed which may be of the order of 1,500 RPM and having a shaft 52 carrying an eccentric weight 53 for generating mechanical vibrations. The battery 49 is connected by a circuit 54 to the timer 40 and by a circuit 55 to the motor 51 and to the timer 40.

In order to use the device, a person who is deaf or partially deaf and who desires to be awakened, for example, at 7 o'clock adjusts the dial pointer 46 of the timer to the number 7, then places the whole device in his bed, for example under his pillow. At 7 o'clock, the timer 40 brings the movable contact 50 of the switch 47 into contact with the fixed contact 48, the motor 51 is energized and the vibrator comprising the combination of the motor and the eccentric weight 53 produces a mechanical vibration which awakens the user.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the electric timer is housed in a case 60 having a dial 62 on its face 61, the timer being connected by a wire 63 to another case 64 in which is housed a vibrator, and if necessary the electric supply battery therefor. In order to use such an alarm clock for a physically handicpped person, for example a deaf or partially deaf individual, it is simply necessary to place the case 64 under the pillow or the like and maintain the case 60 with a dial constantly visible on an adjacent night table.

Claims

What we claim is :

1. A warning unit comprising a small size casing adapted to be applied in close juxtaposition to a body of a person, a silent mechanical vibration generator housed in said casing, an electrically operated timepiece having a dial and hands and setting mechanism housed in said casing, means operatively connecting said timepiece to said silent mechanical vibration generator, a window in said casing to show the dial and hands of said timepiece, and battery means located in said casing for energizing said silent vibration generator and said timepiece, said vibration generator including a motor, a rotatable shaft drivingly connected to said motor, an eccentric weight mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, first circuit means connecting said battery to said timepiece, second circuit means connecting said battery to said motor for said silent mechanical vibration generator, a normally opened switch in said second circuit means, means for closing said switch responsive to a predetermined time setting selected in said timepiece.