Patent Publication Number: US-10325481-B2

Title: Building device having an address programming interface

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The subject matter of the present application is related to the subject matter in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/720,282, titled “Alarm Pull Station Having A Removable Actuator Cover,”. This related application was filed on the same day as the present application by one or more of the same inventors as the present application and commonly assigned herewith to Siemens Schweiz AG. The entirety of this related application is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed, in general, to network addressable building safety and automation devices and, more particularly, to a building device such as a fire alarm pull station having an address programming interface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Building automation systems encompass a wide variety of systems that aid in the monitoring and control of various aspects of building operation. Building safety and automation systems include fire safety systems, security systems, lighting systems, and HVAC systems. Each of these systems may have a control panel or station that communicates over a network with network addressable devices or terminal equipment (“Building Devices”). 
     The unique communication address of such a conventional addressable Building Device is typically manually set using a dip switch or may be preprogrammed in a memory of the device during factory manufacturing of the device as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,693,529 for use in a fire alarm system. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,693,529, a factory preprogrammed device may have its address in memory changed based on a command message transmitted from a control panel after the Building Device is installed. But dip switches, fixed rotary switches or other types of switches located within a Building Device are not often easily accessible once the Building Device has already been installed on a wall or ceiling. Moreover, reprogramming the Building Device using a control panel requires the network connection to the Building Device to be complete and operational, which does not allow for convenient or cost effective installation of such devices, for example, for a fire alarm system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,619,125 discloses that a mobile programming device may be used to wirelessly communicate with a notification safety device (i.e., one type of Building Device) in a fire alarm system to program the address of such notification device after installation but prior to establishing network communication with a fire panel. However, such an arrangement requires the safety device to have a wireless interface that may be expensive and be programmed to be responsive to a corresponding mobile programming device. 
     Certain conventional addressable Building Devices have address programming limitations once the device is electrically connected to a network and installed on a building wall or other infrastructure since the electrical connections are not exposed for access after installation. For example, conventional addressable manual pull stations are affixed to vertical building walls by attachment to a standard single or double gang electrical switch box located on the wall. The pull station is attached to the box by using standard mounting screws. Electrical connections (i.e., for data communication over power lines) between the pull station and fire panel are made via screw terminals located on the rear of the pull station device. Address programming of the pull stations is accomplished by connecting a device programming unit (DPU) such as available from Siemens Industry, Inc., Building Technologies Division, to the pull station via network terminal connections accessible from the back of the pull station. The pull station is typically programmed with a unique address before connecting to the fire panel and mounting the pull station to the wall box. 
     However, in order to change the address of such a conventional addressable pull station after installation, the door that serves as the alarm actuator has to be opened to access the mounting screws, and the pull station has to be removed from the wall to gain access to the network terminal connections. The power/network wiring to the network terminal connections on the conventional addressable pull station must then be disconnected. The programming device (DPU) can then be connected via a plug or other type of connector to the network terminal connections of the pull station. However, depending on the loop configuration of the power/network wiring, this procedure is disruptive since it stops the operation of some or all other devices connected on that branch of the fire panel. Furthermore, the opening of the pull station door causes a fire alarm to be initiated by a corresponding fire control panel that does not have a means to otherwise discriminate between a normal activation by the pull station and maintenance or address reprogramming condition. Moreover, resetting an activated pull station also requires that the door that functions as the alarm actuator to be opened. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improvement in pull stations or other Building Devices in a fire safety system or building automation system that addresses the foregoing problems, including enabling address programming of such a device after installation without having to remove the device from the wall or other building infrastructure on which it was installed, having to manually disconnect the device from the power/network terminal connections before connecting it to a PDU, inhibiting initiating a fire alarm upon opening the door or actuator of a pull station type Building Device, eliminating need to open the door or actuator to reset such a pull station, and providing means to signal to a fire control panel to distinguish between a normal fire alarm condition from a maintenance or address programming condition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Various disclosed embodiments relate to building devices, including fire safety devices such as a manual pull station, that have an address programming interface for programming the building device from the front or back. 
     Disclosed embodiments provide a building device that comprises a mounting base, a plurality of external terminals, a plurality of internal terminals, a first plurality of normally closed switches having a common control input, and an actuator. The mounting base has a front surface and a rear surface. The front surface defines a plurality of connector channels extending towards the rear surface of the base. The mounting also has a first and a second of the connector channels spaced apart and sized to each receive a respective prong of a connector plug attached to a programming device. The plurality of external terminals are disposed on the rear surface of the mounting base. The first plurality of normally closed switches has a common control input. Each switch of the first plurality of switches connects a respective one of the external terminals to a respective one of the internal terminals when the common control input is deactivated. The actuator is connected to the common control input and disposed in proximity of the connector channels such that the connector plug engages the actuator to activate the common control input of the first plurality of normally closed switches when the first and the second connector channels each receive a respective prong of the connector plug. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description that follows. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure in its broadest form. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words or phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, whether such a device is implemented in hardware, firmware, software or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that such definitions apply in many, if not most, instances to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. While some terms may include a wide variety of embodiments, the appended claims may expressly limit these terms to specific embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like objects, and in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a block diagram of a building system in which various embodiments are implemented, where building devices are wired to a network in the other building system in accordance with an isolator operational mode; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a block diagram of another building system in which various embodiments are implemented, where building devices are wired to a network in the building system in accordance with a polarity insensitive operational mode; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front perspective view of a manual alarm pull station employed in the building system of  FIG. 1A or 1B  and in which various embodiments of the present disclosure are implemented, where the alarm pull station is depicted in a normal state; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the manual alarm pull station of  FIG. 2 , where the alarm pull station is depicted in an alarm state; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of the manual alarm pull station of  FIG. 2 , where the alarm pull station is depicted in a maintenance state in accordance with the removal of an actuator cover from a mounting base of the alarm pull station and connector channels of an address programming interface of the alarm pull station are shown for front access; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cam assembly of the manual alarm pull station of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a back, sectional view of the manual alarm pull station taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2  when the alarm pull station is in the normal state, where a cam of the cam assembly is rotated to a first cam position and a plunger of a actuator switch of the alarm pull station is in a first pre-determined plunger position corresponding to the normal state; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an expanded view of the actuator switch as depicted in  FIG. 6  where the plunger of the actuator switch is biased to the first pre-determined plunger position corresponding to the normal state; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a back, sectional view of the manual alarm pull station taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 3  when the alarm pull station is in the alarm state, where the cam is rotated to a second cam position and the plunger of the actuator switch is in a second pre-determined plunger position corresponding to the alarm state; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an expanded view of the actuator switch as depicted in  FIG. 8  where the plunger of the actuator switch is biased to the second pre-determined plunger position corresponding to the alarm state; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a back, sectional view of the manual alarm pull station taken along the line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 4  when the alarm pull station is in the maintenance state, where the cam is rotated to a third cam position and the plunger of the actuator switch is in a third pre-determined plunger position corresponding to the maintenance state to enable the cover to be removed; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an expanded view of the actuator switch as depicted in  FIG. 10  where the plunger of the actuator switch is biased to the third pre-determined plunger position corresponding to the maintenance state; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a back perspective view of the manual alarm pull station of  FIG. 1 , where the connector channels of the address programming interface of the alarm pull station are shown for rear access; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a back perspective view of the actuator switch coupled to a control circuit board of the alarm pull station, where a microprocessor of the control circuit is shown operatively coupled to the address programming interface and the connector channels; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a block schematic of one embodiment of the address programming interface that may be employed in the alarm pull station or other building device; and 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a block schematic of another embodiment of the address programming interface that may be employed in the alarm pull station or other building device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1A through 15 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged device or system. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure include improved Building Devices in a fire safety system or building automation system, including fire safety devices such as a manual fire alarm pull station, that have an address programming interface that is accessible from the front or back of the Building Device. Disclosed embodiments also provide that the improved Building Devices that are manual fire alarm pull stations may have a removable actuator cover to facilitate access to the address programming interface from the front or back of the pull station. Disclosed embodiments further provide that manual alarm pull stations may include an actuator switch operatively coupled to the actuator cover to signal when the pull station is a normal state, an alarm mode, or a maintenance mode corresponding to when the cover has been removed. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a block diagram of a building system  100 , such as a fire safety system or building automation system, in which various embodiments of Building Devices are implemented. In this illustrative embodiment, the building system  100  includes a building system controller  110 , such as a fire safety system panel or building automation system controller and one or more networks  120  of Building Devices  130   a - n  and  132   a - n  that include an addressable programming interface as described herein. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , the Building Devices  130   a - n  may be alarm condition detectors (also referenced as “D” in  FIG. 1A ) that are monitored by the system controller  110 , such as smoke detectors or manual fire alarm pull stations embodying aspects of the present invention. When an alarm condition is sensed, the system controller  110  signals the alarm, via the network  120 , to the appropriate Building Devices  132   a - n , such as an addressable notification appliance (also referenced as “NA” in  FIG. 1A ). 
     As shown, all of the Building Devices  130   a - n  and  132   a - n  are coupled across a pair of communication lines  140  and  142  of the network  120 , which may be power lines that also carry communications between the system controller  120  and the Building Devices  130   a - n  and  132   a - n . As described in detail herein, the Building Devices  130   a - n  and  132   a - n  may have an address programming interface that enables the respective Building Device to be programmed with an address after installation but without disabling communication between the system controller  120  and other Building Devices on the network  120 . Note, although the Building Devices  132   a - n  are depicted in  FIG. 1A  as notifications appliances on the same loop circuit or network  120  as Building Devices  130   a - n  that are depicted as alarm condition detectors, the notifications appliances employing aspects of the present invention may be disposed on a separate loop circuit or network (i.e., a notification appliance circuit (NAC) network) from the alarm condition detectors. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , the Building Devices  130   a - n  and  132   a - n  in the building system  100  are wired to a network in the building system in accordance with an isolator operational mode. As further described in detail herein, the Building Devices  130   a - n  and  132   a - n  that operate in the isolator operational mode have three external terminals (e.g.,  1204 ,  1206  and  1208  in  FIG. 12 ) and an network isolator switch or relay (e.g., switch  1436  in  FIG. 14  or switch  1536  in  FIG. 15 ). The network isolator switch selectively isolates the respective Building Device (e.g.,  130   a ) from a first communication line  140 , while allowing the next Building Device (e.g.,  132   a ) on the network  120  to remain connected to the first communication line  140 . 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates a block diagram of another building system  100 ′ that is consistent with the building system  100 , except the Building Devices  134   a - n  and  136   a - n  are wired to the network  120  and the building system controller  112  in the building system  100 ′ in accordance with a polarity insensitive operational mode. As described in detail herein, the Building Devices  134   a - n  and  136   a - n  may have an address programming interface similar to Building Devices  130   a - n  and  132   a - n  that enables the respective Building Device to be programmed with an address after installation but without disabling communication between the system controller  120  and other Building Devices on the network  120 . Note, although the Building Devices  136   a - n  are depicted in  FIG. 1B  as notifications appliances on the same loop circuit or network  120  as Building Devices  134   a - n  that are depicted as alarm condition detectors, the notifications appliances employing aspects of the present invention may be disposed on a separate loop circuit or network (i.e., a notification appliance circuit (NAC) network) from the alarm condition detectors. 
     As further described in detail herein, the Building Devices  134   a - n  and  136   a - n  that operate in the polarity insensitive operational mode may have three external terminals (e.g.,  1204 ,  1206  and  1208  in  FIG. 12 ) but only require two terminals (e.g.,  1204  and  1206 ) to couple to the first communication line  140  and second communication line  142 , respectively. When operating in polarity insensitive operational mode, each Building Device can still isolate itself from the network via internal switches (e.g.,  1420   a ,  1420   b  in  FIGS. 14 and 1520   a  and  1520   b  in  FIG. 15 ) while other Building Devices (e.g.,  134   a ) remain connected to the network  120 . 
       FIGS. 2 through 15  depict views of a manual alarm pull station  200  and components thereof employed as one of the Building Devices  130   a - n  in the building system of  FIG. 1A  in which various embodiments of the present disclosure are implemented. Although an alarm pull station is shown and described herein, aspects and features of the disclosed alarm pull station may be embodied on other Building Devices  130   a - n  and  132   a - n.    
     The alarm pull station  200  comprises a mounting base  202  having a mounting surface  204  for mounting or installing the pull station  200  on a wall or other structure of a building. The alarm pull station  200  includes a cover  206  that functions as an actuator cover for the pull station  200 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the cover  206  is in sliding engagement with the mounting base  202  and biased by a biasing device (e.g.,  602  in  FIG. 6 ) of an actuator switch (e.g.  402  in  FIG. 6 ) in cooperation with a rotatable cam (e.g.  404  in  FIG. 6 ) to cooperatively retain the alarm pull station  200  in a normal state. As further described in detail herein, a person may exert a pre-determined downward force on the cover  206  to counter the bias of the biasing device  602  and cause the alarm pull station  200  to switch to an alarm state as shown in  FIG. 3 . Moreover, a person such as a facility administrator, may insert a key (not shown in figures) into a keyed slot (e.g.  502  in  FIG. 5 ) of a lock mechanism (e.g.  504  in  FIG. 5 ) employed in the cam assembly (e.g.  500  in  FIG. 5 ) and turn the key to rotate the cam  404  to a position as shown in  FIG. 4 , enabling the cover  206  to be removed in cooperation with the biasing device  602  of the actuator switch  402  and causing the alarm pull station  200  to switch to a maintenance state. 
     The cover has an external surface  405  and an internal surface  406  that define a cavity  407  there between. The cavity  407  may function as a user hand grip of the cover  206  to enable a person to pulldown the cover to actuate the alarm pull station to switch to the alarm state. 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , the alarm pull station  200  may include a door  208  that is coupled to the cover  206  to provide a two-stage actuation for the pull station  200 . In this embodiment, the door  208  is configured to be selectively pushed into the cavity  407  formed in the cover  206  by a person before the person applies the downward force on the cover  206  to counter the bias of the biasing device  602  and trigger the alarm pull station to switch to the alarm state as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Turning again to  FIG. 4 , a front perspective view of the manual alarm pull station  200  is shown, where the alarm pull station  200  is in a maintenance state with the actuator cover  206  removed from the mounting base  202  and connector channels  408  and  409  of an address programming interface  410  of the alarm pull station are accessible from the front of the mounting base  202 . In  FIG. 4 , the address programming interface  410  is shown in dashed block to reflect that the address programming interface that includes the connector channels  408  and  409  may be a component of the alarm pull station that is attached to the rear of the base  202  and/or integral to the base  202  as described in further detail herein. The connector channels  408  and  409  are defined by a front surface  418  of the mounting base  202  and extend towards a rear surface ( 1202  in  FIG. 12 ) of the mounting base  202 . The first connector channel  408  and the second connector channel  409  are spaced apart and sized to each receive a respective prong ( 1402  or  1404  in  FIG. 14 ) of a connector plug ( 1406  in  FIG. 14 ) attached to a programming device. As described in further detail herein, the connector channels  408  and  409  may extend between the front and the rear surfaces  418  and  1202  of the mounting base such that the first and the second connector channels  408  and  409  may each receive a respective prong of the connector plug  1406  from either the front or the rear surfaces  418  and  1202  of the mounting base. 
     In embodiments disclosed herein, the base  202  includes one or more tabs  412   a ,  412   b ,  412   c , and  412   d  extending from the base  202 . The tabs  412   a ,  412   b ,  412   c , and  412   d  may extend from left side and right side walls  414  and  416  of the base  202  or may be a bracket extending from the front surface  418  of the base  202  such as the L-shaped brackets shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The cover  206  includes one or more flanges  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c , and  420   d  disposed about the cover to slidingly engage the tabs  412   a ,  412   b ,  412   c , and  412   d  on the base to selectively retain the cover to the mounting base  202 . In one embodiment, one or more (or each) of the flanges  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c , and  420   d  has a respective stop element  422   a ,  422   b ,  422   c , and  422   d  disposed such that, when a pre-determined downward force is exerted on the cover  206  that counters the bias of the biasing device (e.g.,  602  in  FIG. 6 ), each of the one or more flanges  422   a ,  422   b ,  422   c , and  422   d  of the cover  206  slides downward relative to the tab of the mounting base  202  until the corresponding tab  412   a ,  412   b ,  412   c , and  412   d  engages the stop element  422   a ,  422   b ,  422   c , and  422   d  of the respective flange  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c , and  420   d . Stop elements  422   a  and  422   c  of the flanges  420   a  and  420   c  are not in view in the figures but may have structure consistent with stop elements  422   b  and  422   c  of the flanges  420   b  and  420   d  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In  FIGS. 2-4 , a three axis (“x”, “y” and “z”) coordinate system is shown in relationship to the alarm pull station  200 . In this coordinate system, the mounting surface  204  of the mounting base  202  forms a plane parallel to or in the “x” and “y” axis plane, and the cam  404  of the cam assembly  504  is rotatable to a plurality of pre-determined cam positions about an axis “z” that is substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface  204 . 
     In one embodiment, the actuator switch  402  is disposed and attached to the base  202  (directly or via control circuit board  1212  as depicted in  FIG. 12 ) at a location below the cam assembly  504  and below the cavity  407  of the cover  206  when the cover  206  is selectively in sliding engagement with the base  202  of the alarm pull station  200 . The actuator switch  402  has a plunger  424  and a status indicator  426  that is disposed to be viewable through a corresponding status window or opening  428  in the cover. As described in further detail herein, the biasing device  602  of the actuator switch  402  is coupled to the plunger  424  to bias the plunger  424  in a direction towards the cam  404 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , a cam assembly  500  that may be employed in the manual alarm pull station  200  is shown. The cam assembly  500  includes the lock mechanism  504  having the keyed slot  502 . The cam assembly  500  also includes a rotational biasing device  506  such as a torsion spring that has an end  507  attached to the base  202 . The rotational biasing device  506  biases the cam  404  to rotate in a first rotational direction (e.g., clock wise direction) about the axis “z” that is perpendicular to the mounting surface  204  of the base  202  when the cam assembly  500  is installed in or on the base  202 . The keyed slot  502  of the lock mechanism  504  is configured to receive a corresponding key and configured to rotate the cam  404  in a second rotational direction opposite (e.g., counter clock wise direction) to the first rotational direction when the key is received in the keyed slot  502  and turned in the second rotational direction. The lock mechanism  504  is configured to selectively lock the cam  404  in one of the pre-determined cam positions (e.g., the third cam position) when the key is received in the keyed slot  502  and turned in the second rotational direction. 
     In one embodiment, the cam has an end  508  that has a first portion  506   a  having a first length (L 1 ) and a second portion  506   b  having a second length (L 2 ) that is longer than the first length (L 1 ). As disclosed herein, the first portion  506   a  engages an upper protuberance ( 604  in  FIG. 6 ) or upper inner edge ( 606  in  FIG. 6 ) of the cover  206  formed by cavity  407  when the cam  404  is in a first of the pre-determined cam positions (i.e., first cam position depicted in  FIG. 6 ) corresponding to the normal state of the alarm pull station  200  and the second portion engages the upper protuberance  604  or upper inner edge  606  of the cover  206  when the cam is in a second of the pre-determined cam positions (i.e., the second cam position depicted in  FIG. 8 ) corresponding to the alarm state of the alarm pull station  200 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , a back, sectional view of the manual alarm pull station  200  is shown taken along the line  6 - 6  of the pull station as depicted in  FIG. 2  when the alarm pull station is in the normal state. As shown in  FIG. 6  and other figures, the cover  206  has a lower protuberance  604  extending from the lower inner edge  606  of the cover  206  defined by a lower wall ( 430  best viewed in  FIG. 4 ) of the cavity  407  and an upper protuberance  608  disposed above the lower protuberance  604  and extending from the upper inner edge  610  of the cover  206  defined by an upper wall ( 432  best viewed in  FIG. 4 ) of the cavity  407 . The lower protuberance  604  (or the lower inner edge  606  itself) of the cover  206  selectively engages the plunger  424  to bias the cover  206  in a direction towards the cam  404 . The upper protuberance  608  (or the upper inner edge  610  itself) of the cover  206  selectively engages the cam  404  when the cam  404  is rotated (via the rotational biasing device or key mechanism) to the first cam position as shown in  FIG. 6  or to the second cam position as shown in  FIG. 8 . One or more of the flanges  422   a ,  422   b ,  422   c , and  422   d  are disposed on the cover  206  to slidingly engage respective a respective one of the tabs  412   a ,  412   b ,  412   c , and  412   d  on the base  202  to selectively retain the cover  206  to the mounting base  202  in cooperation with the plunger  424  biasing the lower protuberance  604  of the cover  206  and the cam  404  engaging the upper protuberance  608  of the cover  206 . 
     To place the alarm pull station in the normal state as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , a key may first be inserted into the key slot  502  and turned such that the cam  404  is rotated to the third cam position or other position away from the plunger  424  to enable insertion of the cover  206 . The cover  206  is positioned between and aligned with the left side wall  414  and right side wall  416  of the base  202  and moved downward until the lower protuberance  604  or the lower inner edge  606  of the cover  206  engages the plunger  424 . The biasing device  602  of the actuator switch  402  is coupled to the plunger  424  to normally bias the plunger  424  in a direction towards the cam  404 . Therefore, to place the alarm pull station in the normal state, a person applies a downward force on the cover  206  to counter the bias of the biasing device  602  on the plunger  424  and compress the biasing device  602  with the plunger to move the cover  206  downward until the flanges  422   a ,  422   b ,  422   c , and  422   d  of the cover  206  capture or engage the tabs  412   a ,  412   b ,  412   c , and  412   d  of the base  202 . At this point, the cam  404  is rotated to the first cam position as shown in  FIG. 6  and the counter bias downward force on the cover  206  is removed. Once the counter bias downward force is removed, the biasing device  602  biases the plunger  424  upward to correspondingly move the cover  206  while engaging the lower protuberance  604  of the cover  206  until the lower portion  508   a  of the end of the cam  404  engages the upper protuberance  608  or upper inner edge  610  of the cover  206 . While the cover  206  is moved upward, the flanges  422   a ,  422   b ,  422   c , and  422   d  of the cover  206  remain in sliding engagement with the tabs  412   a ,  412   b ,  412   c , and  412   d  of the base  202  to retain the cover  206  to the base  202 . Accordingly, when in the normal state, the cam  404  is rotated to the first cam position and the plunger  424  of the actuator switch  402  is in a first pre-determined plunger position corresponding to the normal state such that the cam  404  in cooperation with the biasing device  602  of the actuator switch  402  biasing the plunger  424  to enable the cover  206  to be selectively retained in sliding engagement to the base  202 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an expanded view of the actuator switch  402  with the plunger  424  biased to the first pre-determined plunger position corresponding to the normal state of the alarm pull station  200  as depicted in  FIG. 6 . The actuator switch  402  has a body  702  to which the biasing device  602  is attached at one end. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the body  702  may define an internal chamber  702  in which the biasing device  602  is disposed and attached. The plunger  424  has an inner end  706  attached to the biasing device  602 . The actuator switch  402  also has a plurality of contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c  disposed on the body  702  along a path (P) corresponding to a direction of movement of the plunger  424 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c  may be disposed along an inner wall  710  of the chamber  704 . 
     The actuator switch  402  further includes a conductor arm  712  attached to the inner end  706  of the plunger  724 . The conductor arm  712  is disposed in relation to the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c  such that the conductor arm  712  connects to one or more of the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c  when the plunger  424  is moved to a respective one of the a plurality of pre-determined plunger positions. The conductor arm  712  has a contact end  714  that is sized to connect to one or simultaneously to two of the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c  when the plunger  424  is moved to a respective one of the plurality the pre-determined plunger positions. The conductor arm  712  or at least the contact end  714  of the conductor arm may be comprised of any metal, metal alloy, or material that has electrical conductor properties. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the plunger  424  has an external end  716  that the lower protuberance  604  or lower inner edge  606  of the cover  206  selectively engages to bias the cover  206  in a direction towards the cam  404 . When the lower protuberance  604  or lower inner edge  606  of the cover  206  engages the external end  714  of the plunger  424  and the cam  404  is rotated to the first cam position as shown in  FIG. 6 , the cam  404  (or the lower portion  508   a  of the end of the cam  404 ) biases the upper protuberance  608  or upper inner edge  610  of the cover  206  to retain the plunger  424  in the first of the pre-determined plunger positions corresponding to the normal state for the alarm pull station. 
     When the plunger  424  is in the first of the pre-determined plunger positions, the conductor arm  712  contacts at least or only the second  708   b  of the plurality of contacts to signal the normal state for the alarm pull station  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the plunger  424  is in the second of the pre-determined plunger positions, the conductor arm  712  contacts the second contact  708   b  and the third contact  708   c  to signal the alarm state for the alarm pull station  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , when the plunger  424  is in the third of the pre-determined plunger positions, the conductor arm  712  contacts the first contact  708   a  and the second contact  708   b  to signal the maintenance state for the alarm pull station  200 . 
     As further described herein, the alarm pull station  200  has a microprocessor ( 1304  in  FIG. 13 ) that is operatively connected to each of the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c . The microprocessor  1304  in  FIG. 13  is operatively configured to detect when the conductor arm  712  is only connected to one of the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  or  708   c  (e.g., only the second contact  708   b  as shown in  FIG. 7 ) to signal when the actuator switch  402  has been switched to identify the normal state of the alarm pull station  200 . The microprocessor  1304  is also operatively configured to detect when the conductor arm  712  is simultaneously connected to both of the first and second contacts  708   a  and  708   b  to signal when the actuator switch  402  has been switched to a state corresponding to the maintenance state of the alarm pull station  200 . The microprocessor  1304  in  FIG. 13  is also operatively configured to detect when the conductor arm  712  is simultaneously connected to both the second contact  708   b  and the third contact  708   c  to signal when the actuator switch  402  has been switched to identify the alarm state of the alarm pull station  200 . 
     However, the actuator switch  402  and microprocessor  1304  as disclosed in the embodiments may be employed in other Building Devices where the microprocessor  1304  is operatively configured to detect the conductor arm  712  of the actuator switch  402  connecting to one or simultaneously to two of the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c  when the plunger  424  of the actuator switch  402  is moved to a respective one of the a plurality of pre-determined plunger positions to signal a corresponding state for the Building Device. 
     The status indicator  426  of the actuator switch  402  may be a multicolored lamp or LED array to display the current state of the actuator switch  402  based on the connection of the conductor arm  712  to one or simultaneously to two of the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c  where each state is reflected with a different color lamp or LED. In one implementation, the microprocessor  1304  may be operatively connected to the status indicator  426  of the actuator switch  402  to cause the status indicator  426  to display a different color corresponding to the detected signal from the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c  reflecting the connection of the conductor arm  712  to one or simultaneously to two of the contacts  708   a ,  708   b  and  708   c.    
     The actuator switch  402  may include a second conductor arm  718  attached to the external end  716  to the plunger  424  and a second plurality of contacts  720   a  and  720   b  disposed on the body  702  along a path (P) corresponding to a direction of movement of the plunger  424 . The second conductor arm  718  is disposed in relation to the contacts  720   a  and  720   b  such that the second conductor arm  712  simultaneously connects to the contacts  720   a  and  720   b  is moved to a respective one of the a plurality of pre-determined plunger positions corresponding to an auxiliary state or condition of the actuator switch  402  or the alarm pull station  200 . 
     When the plunger  424  is in the first of the pre-determined plunger positions as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  and a pre-determined downward force is exerted on the cover  206  to exceed the bias of the biasing device  602  on the plunger  424 , the one or more flanges  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c , and  420   d  of the cover  206  slide downward relative to the corresponding tabs  412   a ,  412   b ,  412   c , and  412   d  while retaining the cover  206  to the mounting base  202  and the cam  404  rotates from the first cam position (as depicted in  FIG. 6 ) to the second cam position (as depicted in  FIG. 8 ) based on the rotational biasing device  506 . When the second cam position is reached, the lock mechanism  504  has a lever to selectively engage and lock the cam  404  in the second cam position. 
     When in the second cam position as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the cam  404  (or the upper portion  508   b  of the end of the cam  404 ) biases the upper protuberance  608  or the upper inner edge  610  of the cover  206  to retain the plunger  424  in a second of the pre-determined plunger positions corresponding to the alarm state for the alarm pull station. As previously described herein, when the plunger  424  is in the second of the pre-determined plunger positions, the conductor arm  712  that is attached to the inner end of the plunger  424  contacts the second and a third contacts  708   b  and  708   c  to signal the alarm state for the alarm pull station. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the cam  404  is selectively rotatable to a third cam position away from the upper protuberance  608  and upper inner edge  610  of the cover  206  where the cam  404  does not engage either the upper protuberance  608  or the upper inner edge  610  to remove the cam&#39;s downward counter bias on the plunger  424  and the biasing device  602  of the actuator switch  402 . When the cam  404  is in the third cam position, the biasing device  602  biases the plunger  424  upward to a third of the pre-determined plunger positions as shown in  FIG. 11  corresponding to the maintenance state for the alarm pull station  202  and the plunger  424  correspondingly moves the cover  206  a pre-determined distance towards the cam  404  such that each flange  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c , and  420   d  is no longer slidingly engaged to the corresponding tabs  412   a ,  412   b ,  412   c , and  412   d  on the base  202  and the cover  206  is removable from the base  202  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10 . When the plunger  424  is in the third of the pre-determined plunger positions as depicted in  FIG. 11  and previously described herein, the conductor arm  712  contacts the first and the second contacts  708   a  and  708   b  to signal the maintenance state for the alarm pull station. 
     When the cover  206  is removed and the alarm pull station  200  is in the maintenance state in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, a person such as a facility administrator can advantageously access the address programming interface  410  from the front of the mounting base  202  without having to remove and disconnect the mounting base  202  from the network  120  connection to the system controller  150 . However, if the alarm pull station  200  or other Building Device employing the disclosed address programming interface  410  has not yet been installed on a wall or structure of the building, then the address programming interface  410  may be accessed from the rear of the mounting base  202  as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a back perspective view of the alarm pull station  200 , where the first and second connector channels  408  and  409  of the address programming interface  410  of the alarm pull station  200  are shown for rear access.  FIG. 13  illustrates a back perspective view of the actuator switch  402  coupled to a control circuit board  1212  of the alarm pull station. The microprocessor  1304  of the alarm pull station  200  is disposed on the control circuit board  1212  and is a component of the control circuit thereon such that the microprocessor  1304  is shown operatively coupled to the address programming interface  410  and the connector channels  408  and  409 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the alarm pull station  200  has a plurality of external terminals  1204 ,  1206  and  1208  disposed on the rear surface  1202  of the mounting base  202 . In one implementation as shown in  FIG. 12 , the rear surface  1202  of the mounting base  202  may be the rear surface of an extension housing  1210  for a control circuit board  1212  of the mounting base  202 . The connector channels  408  and  409  extend from the front surface  418  of the base through the control circuit board  1212  to the rear surface  1210  of the mounting base  202  or the extension housing  1210  of the mounting base  202 . 
     Depending on the operational mode that the alarm pull station  200  is to implement (e.g., isolator operational mode or polarity insensitive operational mode), the communication lines  140  and  142  of the network  120  may be connected to a different pair of the three external terminals  1204 ,  1206 , and  1208  of the base  202  prior to installation of the base  202  to a wall or structure of the building. 
     When operating in the isolator operational mode, the communication lines  140  and  142  of the network  120  from the system controller  112  or previous Building Device may be connected to a first pair of the external terminals corresponding to the first and third external terminals  1204  and  1208  of the base  202 . The other or second external terminal  1206  is wired to the first external terminal  1204  of the next Building Device on the network  120  to enable the first communication line  140  to be selectively connected internally between the respective pull station  200  or Building Device to the next Building Device or to be selectively connected to the first terminal  1204  via a isolator switch  1436  or  1536  to isolate the respective pull station  200  or Building Device from the network  120 . When connected to the external terminals  1204 ,  1206  and  1208 , the communication lines  140  and  142  are switched via the address programming interface  410  for connection to corresponding plurality of internal terminals of the alarm pull station  200  as described herein. 
     When operating in the polarity insensitive operational mode, the communication lines  140  and  142  of the network  120  may be connected a second or different pair of the external terminals corresponding to first and second external terminals  1204  and  1206  of the base  202  prior to installation of the base  202  to a wall or structure of the building. When operating in the polarity insensitive operational mode, the third external terminal  1208  may remain unused or a third wire for another input/output or axillary signal for the alarm pull station  200  may be connected to the third external terminal  1208 . When connected to the external terminals  1204 ,  1206  and  1208 , the communication lines  140  and  142  as well as the axillary signal are switched via the address programming interface  410  for connection to corresponding plurality of internal terminals of the alarm pull station  200  as described herein. 
     Embodiments  1400  and  1500  of the address programming interface  410  of the alarm pull station  200  are depicted in  FIGS. 14 and 15  that enables the alarm pull station  200  (or any Building Device employing such address programming interface) to be programmed via a device programming unit (DPU) from the front or back of the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  1400  includes a plurality of internal terminals  1414 ,  1416  and  1418 . The alarm pull station or Building Device also includes a first plurality of normally closed switches  1420   a ,  1420   b  and  1420   c  having a common control input  1422 . Each switch  1420   a ,  1420   b  and  1420   c  of the first plurality of switches  1420   a ,  1420   b  and  1420   c  connects a respective one of the external terminals  1204 ,  1206  and  1208  to a respective one of the internal terminals  1414 ,  1416  and  1418  when the common control input  1422  is deactivated. The alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  1400  further includes an actuator  1424  connected to the common control input  1422  and disposed in proximity of the connector channels  408  and  409  such that the connector plug  1406  engages the actuator  1424  to activate the common control input  1422  of the first plurality of normally closed switches  1420   a ,  1420   b  and  1420   c  when the first and the second connector channels  408  and  409  each receive a respective prong  1402  and  1404  of the connector plug  1422 . In this implementation of the address programming interface  1400 , the actuator  1424  may be a paddle switch, slide switch or other mechanical actuator that has a mechanical or electrical output connected to the common control input  1422 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , each of the internal terminals  1414  and  1416  (that may be switched via corresponding switches  1420   a  and  1420   b  to corresponding external terminals  1204  and  1206  to connect to communication lines  140  and  142 ) has a contact  1426  or  1428  disposed within a respective one of the first and second connector channels  408  and  409  such that each prong  1402  and  1404  of the connector plug  1406  electrically connects to the contact  1426  or  1428  of one of the internal terminals  1414  or  1416  when received by the respective one of the first and second connector channels  408  and  409 . In the implementation shown in  FIG. 14 , each of the contacts  1426  and  1428  disposed with the connector channels  408  and  409  is connected to a corresponding internal terminal  1414  or  1416  via an internal wire lead  1430  or  1430  disposed on or within the control circuit board  1212 . 
     As previously noted, a pair of the external terminals  1204 ,  1206  and  1208  are each connected to respective network communication line  140  or  142 . For example, when configured for isolator operational mode, the communication lines  140  and  142  are connected to a first pair corresponding to the first and third external terminals  1204  and  1208  of the base  202 . When configured for polarity insensitive operational mode, the communication lines  140  and  142  are connected to a second or different pair corresponding to the first and second external terminals  1204  and  1206  of the base  202 . 
     The alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  1400  may further comprise a normally open switch  1436  that has an activation input  1438  connected to the common control input  1422  of the first plurality of switches  1420   a ,  1420   b  and  1420   c . When activated, the normally open switch  1436  selectively connects the first and second external terminals  1204  and  1206  to form a network communication line bypass of the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  1400 . In one implementation, the normally open switch  1436  is employed by the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device when configured for isolator operational mode. In this implementation, the activation input  1438  of the normally open switch  1436  may be connected to the common control input  1422  via the controller  1304  such that the controller  1304  enables the activation input  1438  of the normally open switch  1436  by the common control input  1422  of the first plurality of switches  1420   a ,  1420   b  and  1420   c  when the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device is in the isolator operational mode. 
     The address programming interface  1500  depicted in  FIG. 15  may also be employed in the alarm pull station or other Building Device. The address programming interface  1500  is consistent with the embodiment of the address programming interface  1400  in  FIG. 14 . For example, the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  1500  includes a plurality of internal terminals  1414 ,  1416  and  1418  and a first plurality of normally closed switches. However, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 , the first plurality of normally closed switches  1520   a ,  1520   b  and  1520   c  are solid state switch devices such as a transistor or FET type switches that have a respective gate  1504 ,  1506  or  1508  connected to a common control input  1522  either directly or via the microprocessor  1304 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , each switch  1520   a ,  1520   b  and  1520   c  connects a respective one of the external terminals  1204 ,  1206  and  1208  to a respective one of the internal terminals  1414 ,  1416  and  1418  when the common control input  1522  is deactivated to drive the gate  1504 ,  1506  and  1508  to close the respective switch  1520   a ,  1520   b  and  1520   c . The alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  1500  further includes an electronic or non-mechanical contact  1550  that is disposed in proximity to the connector channels  408  and  409  such that the contact  1550  may engage a corresponding contact  1552  disposed on the plug  1406  when the prongs  1402  and  1404  of the plug  1406  are received by or inserted into the connector channels  408  and  409 . The microprocessor  1304  is operatively connected to and adapted to detect the engagement of the contacts  1550  and  1552  and to deactivate the common control input  1522  and drive the gates  1504 ,  1506  and  1508  to close the respective switch  1520   a ,  1520   b  and  1520   c  when the prongs  1402  and  1404  are received by or inserted into the connector channels  408  and  409 . Thus, in the implementation shown in  FIG. 15 , the contact  1550  disposed in proximity to the connector channels  408  and  409  functions in combination with the microprocessor  1034  as an electronic actuator for the address programming interface  1500 . In an alternative embodiment, one of the contacts  1426  or  1428  disposed in the connector channels  408  and  409  may be employed as an electronic actuator that is operatively connected and monitored by the microprocessor  1304  to detect when a corresponding prong  1402  or  1404  of the plug  1406  of the device programming unit engages the respective contact  1426  or  1428  (i.e., detects a short) and, upon detecting such engagement, triggers the common control input  1522  to close the switches  1520   a ,  1520   b  and  1520   c.    
     The alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  1500  may also comprise a normally open solid state switch  1536  that has an activation gate input  1538  connected to the common control input  1522  of the first plurality of solid state switches  1520   a ,  1520   b  and  1520   c . When activated, the normally open switch  1536  selectively connects the first and second external terminals  1204  and  1206  to form a network communication line bypass of the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  1500 . In one implementation, the normally open solid state switch  1536  is employed by the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device when configured for isolator operational mode. In this implementation, the activation gate input  1538  of the normally open switch  1536  may be connected to the common control input  1522  via the controller  1304  such that the controller  1304  enables the activation gate input  1538  of the normally open switch  1536  by the common control input  1522  of the first plurality of switches  1520   a ,  1520   b  and  1520   c  when the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device is in the isolator operational mode. 
     Thus, disclosed embodiments provide distinct technical advantages over present systems. In particular, the address programming interfaces  410 ,  1400 , or  1500  disclosed here advantageously enable the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  410 ,  1400 , or  1500  to be programmed with a network address without having to manually disconnect the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device from the network  120  by disconnecting the communication lines  140  and  142  from the external terminals  1204  and  1206 . This advantage is achieved by the address programming interface  410 ,  1400  or  1500  by inserting the prongs  1402  and  1404  of the plug  1406  of the device programming unit into the connector channels  408  and  409  from either the front or rear of the alarm pull station  200  or Building Device employing the address programming interface  410 ,  1400  or  1500 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that, for simplicity and clarity, the full structure and operation of all building systems and building devices (such as manual pull stations) suitable for use with the present disclosure is not being depicted or described herein. Instead, only so much of a building system and building device as is unique to the present disclosure or necessary for an understanding of the present disclosure is depicted and described. The remainder of the construction and operation of building systems  100  and  100 ′ and building devices such as manual pull station  200  may conform to any of the various current implementations and practices known in the art. 
     It is important to note that while the disclosure includes a description in the context of a fully functional system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that at least portions of the mechanism of the present disclosure are capable of being distributed in the form of instructions contained within a machine-usable, computer-usable, or computer-readable medium in any of a variety of forms, and that the present disclosure applies equally regardless of the particular type of instruction or signal bearing medium or storage medium utilized to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of machine usable/readable or computer usable/readable mediums include: nonvolatile, hard-coded type mediums such as read only memories (ROMs) or erasable, electrically programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), and user-recordable type mediums such as floppy disks, hard disk drives and compact disk read only memories (CD-ROMs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs). 
     Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions, variations, and improvements disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure in its broadest form. 
     None of the description in the present application should be read as implying that any particular element, step, or function is an essential element which must be included in the claim scope: the scope of patented subject matter is defined only by the allowed claims. Moreover, none of these claims are intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC § 112 unless the exact words “means for” are followed by a participle.