Security audio visual emergency system

A conventional lamp having a tubular yoke around the bulb that supports a lamp shade is converted into a security system by a simple physical electrical and mechanical coupling of two modules, eliminating wiring and installation tools. The first module, referred to as the bulb module, is screwed into the bulb socket and contains line voltage components and supports the light bulb; the second module, the probe module, contains low voltage circuitry, an audio alarm, a pigtail power connector, a light switch, and an extendable sensor probe. Upon sensing an abnormal condition, such as smoke, the bulb flashes on and off and a warning sound is provided by the audio alarm, giving both visual and audio alarm in one self-contained unit.

RELATED PATENT 
Applicant herein is patentee in and owner of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,093,943 
entitled "Sequential Power Distribution Circuit", hereafter "Knight 
patent", and is applicant in, and owner of, application Ser. No. 945,463 
filed Sept. 25, 1978, hereafter "Knite application", and now U.S. Pat. No. 
4,290,057 which patent and application are commonly owned with this 
application and are incorporated herein by reference in the manner as set 
forth below. The circuits in the foregoing patent and application will be 
referred to collectively hereinafter as "Knight circuits", and "sequential 
power distribution circuits". 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention is in the field of security systems and covers the physical 
installation and arrangement of two modules that combine electronic 
circuitry therein, and an extendable sensor probe, with existing building 
wiring to convert a conventional lamp into a self-contained security 
warning system with sound and flashing light to provide both audio and 
visual alarm from a single appliance. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In the art of security detection devices, particularly smoke detectors, it 
is common practice to put a smoke sensor near the ceiling of a room for 
earliest detection, and intrusion sensors, particularly the ultrasonic 
types, are best nearer the ceiling than the floor for greater scanning, 
sensitivity, and aiming. These sensors are usually housed with related 
A.C. power supplies and electronic circuitry that either requires A.C. 
wiring or battery power to provide portability and placement flexibility, 
and to eliminate costly wiring. But, even more important, is the fact that 
the smoke sensor must be placed high, while A.C. outlets generally are 
found low, along the baseboard floor level, and dangling A.C. wiring 
connecting the two are dangerous and present poor decor. Another 
disadvantage arises in replacing worn out D.C. batteries. The ultrasonic 
intrusion sensor often is placed on a table or a bookshelf where crowding 
inhibits placement and positioning. 
There is a need, therefore, to utilize conventional appliances or fixtures 
already found in the home, and to provide a simple, physical conversion, 
using no installation tools or wiring, to furnish a security detection 
system that operates on building line voltage A.C. power with constantly 
charged D.C. back-up, and provide an extendable probe for sensor aiming 
and positioning, to give not only audio warning but visual A.C. lighting 
to see in the dark and flash to alert help. This invention serves that 
need and converts the ordinary lamp into a self-contained security audio 
visual emergency system. It is desired in such a system to utilize 
existing building wiring, to provide adjustable sensor positioning, to 
utilize the light bulb of the lamp at line voltage as the visual alarm, to 
provide an audio alarm and to provide D.C. power for back-up power and for 
power for load or bulb failure alarms, to provide for incorporation of 
optional state of the art electronic controls such as radio, clock, or 
weather or emergency alert, and for citizen band reception and 
transmission. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The most common house lamp is constructed with a vertical socket for the 
light bulb, a detachable yoke that is made of oppositely bowed tubular 
metal uprights that pass up and around the bulb and are welded at the top 
to the swivel bracket and finial bolt. The shade rest is a circular wire 
hoop with three or four wire spokes meeting at the center and welded to 
the shade washer. The shade is attached to the shade rest and positioned 
on the lamp by slipping the shade washer over the finial bolt and locking 
it down with the finial hut. 
This type of lamp is converted to a lamp of this invention by using two 
modules. After the light bulb is removed, a bulb module is screwed into 
the empty light bulb socket and the light bulb is then screwed into a bulb 
module socket. The modules contain a sequential power distribution series 
switching circuit providing economy, low component count, and automatic 
features as load (bulb) and power failure alarms with a constant D.C. 
battery recharging circuit. The sequential power distribution circuit is 
as disclosed in the aforementioned Knight patent and application; while 
parallel circuits can be used, they are not feasible. The bulb module 
switches line voltage (120 V) to the bulb and provides low voltage to the 
processing circuits in the second or probe module. The bulb and probe 
modules contain the Knight circuits. 
The probe module is an enclosure approximately six inches long and one inch 
high. It is shaped like a bow-tie, thinner at the middle, so that heat 
from the light bulb rises with minimal restrictions at the center of the 
lamp while components located at the wider ends remain cooler. This shape 
also minimizes light loss at the central top portion of the shade. 
At the bottom center of the probe module is a threaded hole and the entire 
module is screwed down on the finial thread bolt after the shade has been 
removed. The module's bow-tie shape greatly facilitates turning and 
tightening the unit with the fingers. On the top surface of the module is 
an extendable sensor probe mounted off center of the lamp axis and a 
second finial bolt is located at the center axis. When the lampshade is 
replaced, the shade washer will, again, slip over the second bolt and be 
locked down with the finial nut. Care must be taken to allow the sensor 
probe to pass vertically up through and between any two spokes of the 
shade rest. 
The probe may be designed to extend a maximum of three feet. For most 
combinations of table heights and table lamp heights, and for floor lamp 
heights, the sensor probe on top of the probe module can extend upwardly 
and position a sensor some six inches beneath an eight foot high ceiling, 
adequately meeting all sensor position specifications. 
After the probe module has been mounted, a pigtail conductor is plugged 
into the bulb module connecting power between the two modules. The probe 
module receives low voltage to operate its processing circuits and meets 
Underwriters Laboratories low voltage requirements. 
The lamp is now operational. An on/off switch is located in the probe 
module and a switch pull cord conveniently hangs below the shade. This 
eliminates the awkward fumbling and reaching under the shade looking for 
either a push-pull or turn knob switch on the lamp socket. The 
conventional lamp switches are always left "on" so that the sensor 
circuitry receives power even when the light bulb is off. 
The probe module contains a battery compartment to house a rechargeable 
battery. The aforementioned Knight circuits work both on A.C. alone or 
A.C. with D.C. back up. Also, the battery supplies alarm power when the 
building power or lamp bulb fails. When the lamp cord is plugged into the 
A.C. outlet, the battery begins to charge. 
The probe module also contains the audio components, such as a radio P.M. 
speaker or a solid state transducer, to sound an alarm. Sound ports may be 
located at either end of the probe module for sound regulation; they may 
also be used for air ventilation of the module itself. 
The sensor probe carries at its end a capsule for housing a sensor and LED 
and also carries electrical wires to the sensor and the LED power 
indicator light. The probe may be of telescoping design comprised of 
tubular telescoping sections or otherwise extendable such as a device 
having plug end sections, folding sections, and the like, the primary 
purpose being to house circuit wires and physically support the sensor or 
sensors. The probe may also contain an antenna wire or be made of antenna 
material to receive a radio signal to operate an optional radio in the 
probe module or any remote control added to the module. In the same 
fashion, the probe may be used as a transmitting antenna for a C.B. 
transmitter or other signal transmission. Further, one or more sensors 
each for sensing one of a plurality of security breaches may be housed in 
the capsule. 
The above describes the conversion of an existing conventional lamp. For a 
lamp specifically made or custom built, incorporating the features of this 
invention, the probe module would be an integral lamp part. The bulb 
module circuit and line voltage, could be placed in the lamp base, or 
pedestal, and the light bulb installed in its normal bulb socket. However, 
low voltage would still be required for the sensor and processing 
circuits, as defined in the aforementioned Knight circuits. The pigtail 
conductor carrying the low voltage could be passed through the yoke tubing 
directly into the probe module and the on/off light switch designed into 
the lamp base. 
Therefore, objects of this invention include providing: a building 
appliance or light fixture with a security detection alarm system; 
conversion of a conventional appliance, such as a lamp, to such a system 
by the simple physical addition of two modules, one module operating at 
line voltage and the other module operating at low voltage, such 
conversion requiring no tools or wiring changes; an extendable, aiming 
probe carrying a security detection sensor at its end, to position the 
sensor for maximum sensitivity; an audio and visual alarm of a security 
breach, the visual alarm utilizing a conventional lamp or lighting fixture 
bulb that is otherwise used for conventional lighting; and an audio alarm 
for building line voltage failure or for bulb failure. These and other 
objects and advantages will become more apparent in the following 
description, aided by the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional table lamp, as modified by this 
invention, is shown having a base 20, pedestal 21, and socket 22, with 
on/off switch 23. A support yoke 25 is made of two pieces of oppositely 
bowed yoke metal tubing 26 and 27 connecting at their top ends to yoke 
swivel washer 28 and finial bolt 35. Lamp shade rest 30 is typically a 
wire hoop having three or four wire spokes meeting centrally at, and 
welded to, the center shade washer 44. Frame 30 supports lampshade 34. 
Power cord 31 having plug 31a conducts house current at line voltage of 
120 V A.C. to the lamp when plug 31a is inserted in a conventional wall 
outlet, not shown. 
Converting the ordinary lamp is accomplished by installing two modules, 
bulb module 33 and probe module 32. Threaded end 33a of bulb module 33 is 
screwed into socket 22 and an ordinary bulb 24 is then screwed into the 
threaded socket 33b in the top of bulb module 33, making contact with the 
module's internal 120 V A.C. switching circuits as disclosed in the 
aforementioned Knight circuits. 
Probe module 32 is installed by screwing the entire unit onto final bolt 35 
and tightly against washer 28. Pigtail conductor 36 is permanently 
connected to probe module 32. Conductor 36 feeds through sleeve guide 43 
for maintaining protective stiffness at module 32 and for directing the 
pigtail safely outside the confines of tubular yoke members 26 and 27 and 
away from hot bulb 24. Conductor 36 terminates in plug 38 which is 
inserted into bulb module 33 completing a power connection between the two 
modules 32, 33. Bulb module 33 provides low voltage to the probe module 32 
through conductor 36. 
Lamp shade 34 is carefully placed on the added finial bolt 42, allowing 
telescoping probe 39 to pass through and between any two spokes of shade 
rest 30, and shade rest washer 44 slips over finial bolt 42 resting on top 
of probe module 32. Finial cap nut 29 is screwed on the bolt 42 locking 
shade 34 on lamp. 
Extendable probe 39 carries at its end rotatably mounted capsule 39a and is 
pulled up and extended to a desired height to properly position sensor 40. 
Sensor 40 is mounted in capsule 39a and may be any of heat, fire, smoke, 
intrusion, or other emergency or security sensors that are commercially 
available. Probe 39 and/or sensor 40 may be rotated for aiming and to 
maximize sensitivity. LED (light emitting diode) light indicator 41 is 
also mounted in capsule 39a and shows power is on and sensor 40 is 
operating. 
Referring to FIG. 2, probe module 32 has a battery compartment 47 to 
contain rechargeable battery 46, typically, 9 V NiCd, offering easy access 
for maintenance and close proximity to logic circuits for operating any 
optional controls that may be built into the module 32, such as a timer, 
clock/radio, weather alert, C.B., (citizens band) radio, scanner, etc. 
Also, the Knight circuits may be incorporated to indicate power failure, 
load (bulb) failure and provide audio alarms. Audio transducer 51, such as 
a P.M. speaker, piezoelectric disc, or the like, is housed at one end or 
probe module 32, FIG. 2, with sound ports 37 provided. Transducer 51 
corresponds to alarm 70 in the Knight circuits. 
Pull cord 49 (FIG. 1) operates switch 48 in module 32, which may operate 
the bulb 24 at one half power as disclosed in the Knight circuits. Switch 
23 remains on at all times. If switch 23 is turned off, the power failure 
feature of the Knight circuits will activate an audio alarm, providing a 
safety feature. FIG. 1 shows cord 49 extending below shade 34, offering 
convenient switching and eliminating the awkward reaching under the shade 
and fumbling blindly for the switch. 
The following will describe the contents of modules 32, 33, making 
reference to the circuitry of FIG. 1 of the aforereferenced Knight patent 
and FIG. 6 of the aforereferenced Knight application. 
Module 33 contains triac 54 and resistances 43, 43a, and 51, in the Knight 
circuits, as referenced in the patent and application. Bulb 24 in the 
instant invention is the primary load 22 in the Knight circuits and plug 
31a in the instant invention connects to line voltage as represented by AC 
power source 20 in the Knight circuits. 
Module 32, sensor 40, and LED 41 comprise the remaining circuitry in the 
Knight circuits. Sensor 40 comprises detection circuit 64 in the Knight 
circuits and LED 41 comprises LED 128 in FIG. 6 of the Knight application. 
Diode 62 in FIG. 1 of the Knight patent could be replaced by an LED to 
provide LED 41. The remaining circuitry in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the Knight 
patent and application, respectively, is in module 32. 
The connection points between module 32 and module 33 are made at points A, 
B, C, in FIGS. 1 and 6 in the Knight patent and application, respectively; 
connector 26 is a three wire cable to make the necessary connections. The 
connection points between module 32 and capsule 39a are, for the circuit 
of FIG. 1 of the Knight patent, points 68, 66, and the anode of diode 62, 
it being understood diode 62, in the Knight patent, has been replaced in 
this application by LED 41. 
The connection points between modules 32, 33 for the circuit of FIG. 6 in 
the Knight application, are points 61, 68, and the anode of LED 128. A 
three wire conductor is threaded up probe 39 to make these connections. 
Pull cord 49 operates switch 46 in the Knight circuits between the off/on 
positions, the "on" position being when blade 44 is contacting terminal 
48. If desired, a three-position rotary switch may be used in module 32 to 
move blade 44 in the Knight circuits sequentially to terminal 56, to the 
center "off" position, and to terminal 48, with each pull of cord 49 
moving blade 44 sequentially one position. Terminal 56 is for night light 
60 in the Knight circuits, and a similar night light 60 may be used in the 
present invention by conveniently mounting on module 32 and would operate 
when blade 44 is at terminal 56, as described for the Knight circuits in 
the Knight patent and application. Battery 46 in the present invention 
corresponds to battery 124 in the FIG. 6 embodiment of the Knight 
application. 
The probe module 32 offers an easy and simple arrangement for remote 
control. Pull cord 49 may be replaced with a low voltage, flexible 
electrical conductor 45, shown in dashed lines, FIG. 1, feeding through 
sleeve 48, and with ample length, drops down to table top level and 
connects to modular manually controlled remote control 50. Control 50 
contains manually controlled switches, dials, indicators, or the like, and 
associated circuitry, to control probe module 32 circuit functions, e.g. 
on/off switch, dimmer, resets, and the like, or optional function modes, 
e.g. clock, radio, C.B. radio, and the like. The remote control 50 is very 
light since the power supply for the controlled functions is located in 
the probe module 32, namely, the constantly charged battery 46, and power 
is fed through conductor 45, saving weight, space, and providing 
convenience of operation from chair or bedside. 
Probe 39 may also be an antenna to send, as well as receive, signals. 
Therefore, remote control 50 may be a microphone to activate a transmitter 
housed in probe module 32 and send broadcasts via the probe 39 antenna for 
citizen band communication, low-power paging, remote wireless control of 
appliances, and the like. The probe 39, and sensor 40, and LED 41, and 
modules 32, 33 may be adapted for use with other appliances such as a 
kitchen range hood, or the like. Also, module 33 may be used in any 
building light fixture, such as a ceiling or wall mounted light fixture, 
and module 32 may be mounted onto the wall or ceiling adjacent the 
fixture. 
Probe 39 may be extendable by motorized means, not shown, controlled by a 
switch in module 32, or controlled automatically to extend or retract when 
pull cord 49 is actuated to turn bulb 24 "off" and "on", respectively. 
Thus, when a room is occupied, and bulb 24 is "on", probe 39 would be 
automatically retracted to an inconspicuous position, and when bulb 24 is 
"off", as it would be when the room is unoccupied, probe 39 would 
automatically be extended to its maximum sensitivity position. A manual 
override switch may be provided to extend or retract probe 39 regardless 
of bulb 24 operation. Further, threaded end 33a and socket 33b in module 
33 may be sized to fit any socket thread and bulb thread, respectively, 
and in any combination of sizes to accommodate any and all bulb and socket 
size combinations. 
The foregoing description of specific apparatus is made by way of example 
only and not as a limitation of the scope of this invention. In the 
following claims, the term "sequential power distribution" refers to the 
aforementioned Knight circuits.