Patents by Inventor Leigh Austin Laughlin

Leigh Austin Laughlin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Security detector with optical data transmitter
    Patent number: 5691699
    Abstract: A security detector including an optical emitter and a controller for determining detector specific values of predetermined parameters and operating the emitter to transmit a code representing the values. The controller periodically initiates test cycles of the detector, determines the detector specific values, and operates the emitter to transmit a bit stream including an alpha-numeric code representing the values. For a smoke detector, the parameters include atmospheric density, information for determining detector sensitivity and alarm threshold. The emitted radiation is in the visible spectrum and the controller operates the emitter to transmit one code at rates perceptible to humans and another code imperceptible to humans. The imperceptible code provides machine readable information as bytes of alpha-numeric characters. Other features include a method and an optical reader for decoding and displaying the transmitted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Burton Warner Vane, Leigh Austin Laughlin