Abstract: Monitoring system for an emergency stop circuit controlling a number of machines in a factory, to determine the location of an actuated stop button. The stop circuit consists of a supply line to a self-latching contactor and there is an emergency stop button in the circuit at each machine. A monitoring line runs parallel to the supply line and is connected to each section between adjacent stop buttons by high value resistors. When a voltage is applied to the supply line a current appears in the monitoring line whose magnitude depends upon the position of the actuated stop button and thus is connected to a voltage which is applied to a series of comparators driving light emitting diodes. Each comparator is provided with a different reference voltage from a resistive chain and since the L.E.D.'s are connected between the outputs of successive comparators along the chain, only the L.E.D. whose position represents the position of the actuated button is illuminated.

Abstract: A warning system for a printing press to warn the operator upon the exceeding, or departure from, a desired set of running conditions which includes a plurality of remote condition transducers which, in the simplest form of the invention, are in the form of switches. Coupled to the transducers are respective signal generators each of which generates an acoustic signal which has a distinctive quality as compared to all of the other acoustic signals. A loudspeaker common to all of the signal generators is audible at the control station. The distinctiveness of the signal serves to promptly inform the operator which of the running conditions has been exceeded so that corrective action may be taken. In a second embodiment of the invention the transducers produce output control signals which vary in magnitude with the condition, and the corresponding acoustic signal generator produces a signal having a distinctive first quality when the control signal exceeds a threshold level.

Abstract: Each alarm unit has a sensing circuit which supplies a signal in the presence of a particular problem such as smoke, heat, or equipment failure. The signal energizes an electronic switching device, to couple power to a horn which then produces an alerting tone. The output of the sensing circuit is also coupled by a resistor to electronic switching devices in the other alarm units in the system, so that the occurrence of a problem at one location activates the horn in each alarm unit.

Abstract: A method for performing binary integration of fixed cell radar alarm data. n order to determine whether M cell alarms have occurred in the last N processing intervals a memory is provided which is N bits wide by K words long, where K is the number of cells. Binary 1's are placed in memory positions corresponding to timing intervals at which alarms have occurred and binary 0's are placed in positions corresponding to timing intervals at which alarms have not occurred. A serial comparison with a register having M bits stored is made to determine which of the words contains at least M binary 1's.

Abstract: A smoke alarm network for buildings and the like comprises a plurality of stations having a smoke detector alarm unit installed in each. Station switching members are connected at each station, and a central control panel is provided with switching members connected with each of the stations and responsive to identifiably indicate alarm signals sent by the station detectors to the control panel. An alert switch is mounted on the control panel and is operably connected with each detector-alarm unit for selectively activating the alarm positioned at one or more of the stations.

Abstract: A plurality of electrostatic copying machines (12), (13), (14), (16) are interconnected by bus lines (19), (21), (22). Each copying machine (12), (13), (14), (16) is provided with a sensor unit (23) for sensing various status parameters of the copying machine (12), (13), (14), (16) such as whether the copying machine (12), (13), (14), (16) is available for use, the copy sheet size, the number of copies made, the number of copy sheets remaining, etc. Each copying machine (12), (13), (14), (16) is further provided with a display unit (17) for displaying the status parameters of all of the copying machines (12), (13), (14), (16). A microcomputer (31) is provided at one of the copying machines (12) for storing and processing the status parameters and producing a hard copy.

Abstract: In a building with multiple apartments, wherein there is a "call button and reply," i.e. a communication circuit between the apartments and a lobby area of said building, additional use is made of most of the wiring of said circuit for security purposes. Moreover, in its implementation, the circuit includes a separate light or other emergency signalling device that is associated with each of the apartment call button contacts, so that when said light is illuminated, this not only indicates the existence of an emergency in an apartment but said particular apartment, as distinguished from all the other apartments, is also automatically identified because of its association with said particular call button.

Abstract: A driver circuit designed to respond to one or more of a set of signals by conducting during transitory or other time variations of the signals but by otherwise remaining non conducting. The circuit includes an output driver and provisions for introducing a set of input signals. The output driver is actuated by a first resistance/capacitance network, the first network being responsive to any time variation of one or more of the input signals. The actuation by the first network of the output driver is inhibited by a second resistance/capacitance network after a period of time during which all of the input signals remain time invariant. The circuit further includes a light producing, audible or other alarm device driven by the output driver. The alarm device indicates the presence of a transitory or other time varying input signal. The circuit may also include a capacitor or other filter separating the first network from the second network.

Abstract: A standard picture such as a circle, of which the magnitude can be varied in response to the present value of a main plant data signal (or significant data), is displayed in a picture-plane of a display means. The present values of a large amount of plant data being monitored is displayed along the above-mentioned standard picture. When all of the plant data represents the normal state to the present value of the significant data, a picture constructed by plotting spots which indicates the plant data in a picture plane of display means, may be identified with the standard picture. Thus, the present value of the significant data can be determined by the magnitude of the standard picture, and whether the plant state is normal or abnormal can be determined by the picture constructed by plotting the spots of the plant data.

Abstract: A series of signals are derived from respective transducers, fault detection switches, cubicle door interlock switches and the like at appropriate places in an industrial plant or apparatus. The signals are taken to a system which monitors them for the presence of a fault indicating signal or other signal of interest. The system has a series of scanner devices which are controlled by a logic circuit so as to scan the signals one after the other in a repetitive sequence. Since the transducers, switches and such may be linked one with another so that, when one is producing a fault signal, others later in the sequence may also produce such a signal, the logic system operates so that when a fault signal is located, a further scanning sequence is gone through so that there is located the first transducer or switch in the sequence which is producing a fault signal. This transducer or switch is then identified by a numeric or alpha-numeric display device.

Abstract: A single composite cable is deployed between adjacent monitoring stations r sensing an intruder. A number of piezoelectric elements disposed in the cable provide electrical intrusion signals when they are disturbed. Power and triggering pulses for the stations are fed through the cable by a pair of electrical conductors and optical signals representative of the intrusion signals are fed through at least one optical fiber. As a result, the composite cable is relatively lightweight and compact to simplify deployment and it avoids the problems normally associated with crosstalk.

Abstract: A security system consists of a central digital processor system, e.g., a general purpose computer, to which plural remote units are connected by a digital communications link, e.g., telephone. The remote units include plural alarm sensors such as intrusion and heat sensors. In a data base of the central processor system are stored segments of data associated uniquely with remote premises having the remote units. The processor system includes a terminal for delivering alarm message reports, such as to a law enforcement agency. Specifically, the remote units have interrogation circuitry for interrogating the sensors to determine if they have been tripped, logic circuitry for causing transmission to the central processor system via the communications link of a sensor alarm data message in digital format signifying the sensor address and its tripped status.

Abstract: A control circuit for an intrusion or other event responsive alarm device, generates an operating signal for the alarm device in response to a signal provided by a sensor. A plurality of such control circuits are ganged together, each receiving sensor signals from different sensors. The alarm device is a single unit which is responsive to the operating signal from each control circuit. The alarm device, once activated into its alarm mode by an operating signal, provides an alarm output signal to the control circuits. The control circuit which is providing the operating signal becomes latched off in response to the alarm output signal and does not respond to further sensor signals. The alarm system continues to respond to operating signals initiated by sensors associated with the rest of the control circuits. When the cause of the alarm has been resolved, the latched off control circuit is reset.

Abstract: A system for detecting intruder motion in selectable zones of a defined area is disclosed. The system is principally used as a line protector to detect intruders in the vicinity of a fence or wall and may be used as a virtual fence by employing a narrow-beam antenna and deep range coverage to detect an intruder crossing its line of sight. The system utilizes a transmitter for periodically sweeping the area to be protected and a receiver incorporating a narrow band filter which is variable to select a plurality of overlapping zones within the protected area, the presence of a reflective target in a selected zone resulting in a corresponding output signal. Means are provided to store such output signals from each zone and to compare received signals with previously-stored signals to detect differences in the target pattern of each zone.

Abstract: A simply installable, economical, room of a motel or hotel unit is provided in each room and an electrical device to be protected is connected to the room unit without the need for any modification of the device. The room unit is of sufficient sensitivity to sense various conditions indicative of an attempted theft, including the difficult to sense condition of cutting the power cord of the electrical device when the device is off. Each room unit is responsive to the detection of a condition indicating an attempted theft to produce a unique alarm signal which is coupled back to the AC power lines. The power supply lines of a plural phase AC power system customarily provided in the hotel or motel are used to transmit the alarm signals from the room units to receiving means for detection, and spare telephone lines which are customarily also available are used to transmit the detected alarm signals from the receivers to a central monitoring location.

Abstract: A monitor system for construction vehicles comprises a plurality of sensors provided on each of the vehicles and each being for a different one of check points of the vehicle. A sensor provided on each of the vehicles transmits a one-channel signal indicating an abnormal condition occurred at at least one of the sensors and a monitor station responsive to the signal transmitted from at least one of the vehicles identifies the abnormal condition and the vehicles on which the latter occurs.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring gas content on a site, to provide an indication if an undesirable gas content occurs, comprises a transmitter for feeding ultrasonic waves through the gas to a receiver. The ultrasonic waves are frequency-modulated and the phase of the modulation at the receiver relative to that at the transmitter is monitored. Either the relative phase is maintained constant, for example by a phase-locked loop so that the modulation frequency varies as a function of the gas content, or the frequency is maintained constant and the phase varies with the gas content. Any appreciable change in the frequency or phase may indicate a potentially undesirable change in the gas content. A plurality of transmitter/receiver pairs can be enabled in sequence to monitor a large area, the respective frequencies or phase displacements being monitored by a central processor.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of switches is connected in parallel with an impedance and the switches are coupled to form a series circuit. A reference voltage is coupled to one end of the series circuit and a termination impedance is coupled to the other end to form a voltage divider. The voltage divider ratio is determined by the switches that are operated and the divided voltage is coupled to an analog-to-digital converter producing a binary output signal that indicates which combination of switches is operated. Another embodiment of the invention uses a constant current generator instead of a termination impedance to provide linear ratios in the voltage divider.

Abstract: A pair of acoustic detectors are moved through a well to detect sound at various levels within the well. Electrical signals indicative of the detected sound are applied from the acoustic detectors by way of a conductor cable to uphole recording equipment including an amplifier, spectrum analyzer, crosscorrelator, and recorder. The spectrum analyzer provides frequency spectrums of the amplified signals from the acoustic detectors. The crosscorrelator provides an indication of the time differential between the traveltimes of acoustic noise to the acoustic detectors for use in the location of flow leaks through or behind the well casing.

Abstract: A selected predetermined coded alarm is provided indicative of the one of a plurality of leads on which a signal indicative of an alarm condition may appear. If a station coded alarm should be initiated during the transmission of a coded alarm, the coded alarm is immediately terminated and the station coded alarm is given priority and transmitted immediately. Upon completion of the station coded alarm, the coded alarm being transmitted at the time of the receipt of the station coded alarm is transmitted with the new transmission starting at the start of its code irrespective of the status of the transmission at the time of the interruption. Appropriate delays are provided between codes and code elements. The plurality of leads are sequentially scanned, but once a transmitted code is transmitted, it is not retransmitted on a subsequent scan unless a reset signal has been provided. Each transmitted code is repeated a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a plurality of identified electric signals and the order in which they occur, comprising an electric pulse generator which generates an electric pulse upon receiving each electric signal, a serial counter which is incremented upon receiving an electric pulse from the generator, a data latch pulse system associated with each electric signal and which operates upon receiving the electric signal, a parallel data latch system which is operated by the data latch pulse system, and which accepts and holds the serial data held in the serial counter upon receiving the electric signal, a display decoder connected to the output of the parallel data latch system, and at least one display unit connected to the display decoder and displaying the number held in the serial counter upon receiving the electric signal.

Abstract: A central console monitoring system for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of remote stations distributed in a matrix array comprising: (a). a matrix array of remote stations; (b). a matrix array of two families of intersecting energy waveguides; (c). a signaling system utilizing wave energy sources, energy waveguides, energy beam splitters, energy beam couplers, energy beam combiners, and energy wave detectors; and (d). a display of linear visual display elements which intersect in a matrix pattern which indicates, in microcosm, the macrocosmic matrix array of the remote stations.