# US 12,008,890 B2 · Fire alarm speaker circuits for dual-purpose spaces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,008,890 B2 - Document ID: US12008890B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/971,493 - Filed: 2022-10-21 - Published: 2023-04-27 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-22 - Assignees: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH - Applicants: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH - Inventors: Joseph Piccolo, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008890B2 ## CPC - G08B 3/10: using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission - G08B 17/00: Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion - H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04R 27/00: Public address systems (circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; {monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007}; amplifiers H03F) - H04R 29/007: {for public address systems (public address systems per se H04R27/00)} - H04R 2227/003: Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet - H04R 2227/005: Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A method for selectively transmitting audio signals in a fire alarm system includes receiving, by a Notification Appliance Circuit (NAC) selecting device, an audio signal for transmission over a first NAC or a second NAC. Each of the first NAC and the second NAC includes respective groupings of one or more NAC appliances. The NAC selecting device receives a selection signal from a Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) electronically connected to the NAC selecting device. The selection signal identifies one or more NAC appliances that should be moved from a first grouping corresponding to the first NAC to a second grouping corresponding to the second NAC. The NAC selecting device selectively transmits the audio signal to one of the first NAC and the second NAC based on the selection signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A Notification Appliance Circuit (NAC) selecting device in a fire alarm system, comprising: at least two input ports electrically coupled with at least two NACs, wherein each of the at least two NACs includes respective groupings of one or more NAC appliances and wherein each of the two or more NACs is configured to transmit a corresponding audio signal received from a Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP); a selection input port electrically coupled with the FACP for receiving a selection signal, wherein the selection signal identifies one or more NAC appliances from the at least two NACs that should be moved from a first grouping corresponding to one of the at least two NACs to a second grouping corresponding to a different one of the at least two NACs; and an output port electrically coupled with the at least two NACs configured to transmit the corresponding audio signal based on the selection signal received from the FACP. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The NAC selecting device of claim 1, wherein the selection signal is generated by the FACP based on a predetermined schedule. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The NAC selecting device of claim 1, wherein the one or more identified NAC appliances are physically located in a notification zone serving a dual purpose. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The NAC selecting device of claim 1, wherein the selection signal is generated by the FACP based on a user input received via a user interface of the FACP. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The NAC selecting device of claim 1, wherein the NAC selecting device is configured to monitor integrity of the at least two NACs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The NAC selecting device of claim 5, further comprising an output port electronically coupled with the FACP configured to transmit supervision status of the groupings of one or more NAC appliances corresponding to the at least two NACs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The NAC selecting device of claim 1, wherein the one or more NAC appliances comprise individually addressable speaker devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The NAC selecting device of claim 1, wherein the NAC selecting device is electrically coupled with the FACP using a Signal Line Circuit(SLC). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The NAC selecting device of claim 1, wherein the corresponding audio signal comprises one of: a prerecorded announcement message or a live announcement message. ### Claim 10 A method for selectively transmitting audio signals in a fire alarm system, the method comprising: receiving, by a Notification Appliance Circuit (NAC) selecting device, an audio signal for transmission over a first NAC or a second NAC, wherein each of the first NAC and the second NAC includes respective groupings of one or more NAC appliances; receiving, by the NAC selecting device, a selection signal from a Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) electronically coupled with the NAC selecting device, wherein the selection signal identifies one or more NAC appliances that should be moved from a first grouping corresponding to the first NAC to a second grouping corresponding to the second NAC; and selectively transmitting, by the NAC selecting device, the audio signal to one of the first NAC and the second NAC based on the selection signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method claim 10, wherein the selection signal is generated by the FACP based on a predetermined schedule. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, the one or more identified NAC appliances are physically located in a notification zone serving a dual purpose. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the selection signal is generated by the FACP based on a user input received via a user interface of the FACP. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising monitoring integrity of the first NAC and the second NAC by the NAC selecting device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting supervision status of the first grouping of the one or more NAC appliances and the second grouping of the one or more NAC appliances to the FACP by the NAC selecting device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more NAC appliances comprise individually addressable speaker devices. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the NAC selecting device is electrically coupled with the FACP using a Signal Line Circuit(SLC). ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the corresponding audio signal comprises one of: a prerecorded announcement message or a live announcement message.