Abstract: A cost effective system for testing smoke detectors and determining and communicating the operating characteristics thereof, advantageously uses existing circuitry components in a secondary communication function. With this arrangement, a low powered RF reporting signal is transmitted from the smoke detector and can be received within several feet of the detector. Preferably the RF signal is produced by a pulsed input signal provided to an existing coil which is part of the circuitry used to produce and/or report alarm signals. A receiving arrangement is also disclosed which can be located in close proximity to a smoke detector which has been activated to report the operating characteristics thereof. These characteristics can then be analyzed to determine whether preventive maintenance is appropriate.

Abstract: A cost effective system for testing smoke detectors and determining and communicating the operating characteristics thereof, advantageously uses existing circuitry components in a secondary communication function. With this arrangement, a low powered RF reporting signal is transmitted from the smoke detector and can be received within several feet of the detector. Preferably the RF signal is produced by a pulsed input signal provided to an existing coil which is part of the circuitry used to produce and/or report alarm signals. A receiving arrangement is also disclosed which can be located in close proximity to a smoke detector which has been activated to report the operating characteristics thereof. These characteristics can then be analyzed to determine whether preventive maintenance is appropriate.

Abstract: A security system for monitoring and detecting security breaches in a home comprises a central monitor and a plurality of remote sensors for one or more of fire, smoke, intrusion, appliance operation and the like. Each of the sensors has a transmitter for transmitting an electronic message when the sensor goes into an alarm condition. The central monitor has a receiver to receive the electronic messages. An electronic microprocessor system decodes the received electronic message and takes the necessary course of action in accordance with a programmable scheme retained in electronic memory of the microprocessor system. The central monitor has a speech synthesizer responding to inputs from the microprocessor system. A keyboard is provided on the central monitor for allowing a user to interact with the security system. The microprocessor system is programmable via the keyboard to permit the user to customize the programmable scheme to render it unique to the user.

Abstract: A security system for sensing the status of various security detectors used in, for example, home security such as fire, intrusion, emergency and appliance operation protection is disclosed. The detectors transmit, usually via radio frequency, various messages to a central monitor. To enable proper communication, the transmitters are programmed to transmit messages unique to the originating detector. The transmitters may be programmed at one station and then moved to the detector for insertion therein. During this transport, it is important that a volatile memory of the transmitter be retained. This is accomplished by a low power source. A disarming device is provided to disarm the transmitter during transport to prevent the transmitter from draining a short term power source by transmitting a message. This avoids the loss of any programmed information in the evaporative memory.