Patent ID: 7030748

Claim:
An adverse condition detection apparatus operable to detect at least the presence of smoke and generate a visual alarm signal and an audible alarm signal to indicate the presence of smoke, the apparatus comprising: a smoke sensor operable to detect the presence of smoke and generate a detection signal; a control unit coupled to the smoke sensor for receiving the detection signal, the control unit being operable to control the generation of both the visual alarm signal and the audible alarm signal during the generation of the detection signal; an audible indicator coupled to the control unit, wherein the control unit activates the audible indicator to generate the audible alarm signal upon detection of smoke; and a visual indicator coupled to the control unit, the visual indicator being operable to generate the visual alarm signal upon detection of smoke, wherein the visual indicator is an LCD screen selectively operable to display the visual alarm signal such that the visual alarm signal visually simulates a characteristic of smoke.