# US 10,769,937 B2 · System and method for charging supplemental power units for alarm notification devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,769,937 B2 - Document ID: US10769937B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/990,125 - Filed: 2018-05-25 - Published: 2018-09-27 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-30 - Assignees: Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP - Applicants: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH - Inventors: Mark P. Barrieau; Andreas Brenner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769937B2 ## CPC - G08B 29/181: {due to failing power supply} - G08B 17/06: Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch - G08B 29/145: {of fire detection circuits} - G08B 25/04: using a single signalling line, e.g. in a closed loop - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A system and method for providing supplemental power to a notification unit of a device in a fire alarm system. The notification unit generates alert signals for indicating an alarm. The device includes a power unit for providing the supplemental power to the notification unit and a device controller for charging the power unit. The device controller charges the power unit in response to receiving a charging synchronization signal from a system controller of the system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, comprising: a notification unit for generating alert signals that indicate an alarm; a power conditioning circuit for providing conditioned electrical power; a power unit for providing supplemental power to the notification unit; and a device controller for charging the power unit in response to receiving a charging synchronization signal from a system controller; a transceiver for communicating with the system controller; and a power switch, wherein the device controller directs the power switch to shift between a communication mode in which the power unit is disconnected from the power conditioning circuit and the notification unit, a charging mode in which the power unit is connected to the power conditioning circuit based on the charging synchronization signal, and an activation mode in which the notification unit is connected to the power unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a smoke/heat sensor unit or a manually activated unit for detecting a fire condition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device controller monitors a state of charge of the power unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the power switch is a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a field-effect transistor (FET), an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), or a relay. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device controller directs the power switch to shift between the communication mode, the charging mode, and the activation mode in response to receiving a communication synchronization signal, the charging synchronization signal, and an alarm synchronization signal, respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the device controller sends data to and receives data from the system controller when the power switch is in the communication mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the power unit is charged when the power switch is in the charging mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the power unit provides the supplemental power to the notification unit when the power switch is in the activation mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the power unit is a supercapacitor or a rechargeable battery. ### Claim 10 An alarm system, comprising: a device for generating alert signals that indicate an alarm, wherein the device comprises a power conditioning circuit for providing conditioned electrical power, a power switch, a power unit for providing supplemental power to a notification unit and a device controller for charging the power unit; and a system controller for controlling the device; a transceiver for communicating with the system controller wherein the device controller charges the power unit in response to receiving a charging synchronization signal from the system controller and controls the power switch to shift between a communication mode in which the power unit is disconnected from the power conditioning circuit and the notification unit, a charging mode in which the power unit is connected to the power conditioning circuit, and an activation mode in which the notification unit is connected to the power unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the device is a notification appliance device or a notification/detector combination device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the device controller sends data to and receives data from the system controller after the device receives a communication synchronization signal from the system controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the power unit provides the supplemental power to the notification unit in response to the device receiving an alarm synchronization signal from the system controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the system controller is a control panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the power unit is a supercapacitor or a rechargeable battery. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the power unit is charged from power supplied by the system controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising an energy harvesting unit for supplying additional power for charging the power unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the energy harvesting unit is configured to harvest energy using an RF power receiver, an inductive coupling circuit, or a photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 19 A method for providing supplemental power to a notification unit of a device, comprising: a system controller sending a charging synchronization signal to the device; a device controller of the device charging a power unit in response to the device receiving the charging synchronization signal; the system controller sending an alarm synchronization signal to the device; and the power unit providing supplemental power to the notification unit in response to the device receiving the alarm synchronization signal, wherein when the system controller polls a group of devices for a status change and at least one device of the group of devices has the status change; then the system controller polls a byte group of devices from the group of devices; the system controller polls a nyble group of devices from the byte group of devices that responded to the byte group polling; the system controller polls a two bit pair of devices from the nyble group of devices that responded to the nyble group polling; and the system controller polls a device of the two bit pair of devices. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the power unit comprises an energy harvesting unit.