Method and apparatus for monitoring battery back-up power in an alarm system
AssigneeSimplexGrinnell LP
InventorMark P. Barrieau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alarm system with improved power is provided. The improved power comprises at least two batteries. Each battery has the capacity to individually back up the alarm system for a standby period. The alarm system selects either battery and operates from that battery. A switching network is coupled to a power source and to the batteries. The switching network is capable of transferring one battery to charge and the other battery to discharge, with the discharge battery providing power to the alarm system. A battery charger circuit is powered from a power source. The battery charger circuit is used to charge the battery that is not powering the alarm system. Circuitry and software can be provided to monitor the health of the batteries.
Claims26
An alarm system comprising:
- a system controller;
- at least one of an alarm and a detector interconnected with the system controller;
- at least two batteries interconnected with the system controller, the alarm system selecting a battery from the at least two batteries and operating from the selected battery, each of the at least two batteries having a capacity to individually back up the alarm system for a standby period;
- a battery charger powered from a power source and interconnected with the system controller;
- and
- a switching network coupled to the battery charger and to the at least two batteries, the switching network being capable of transferring one battery to charge and the other battery to discharge, the battery being discharged providing power to the alarm system, and the battery charger used to charge the battery that is not providing power to the alarm system.
A method of providing power to an alarm system comprising:
- providing at least two batteries that are interconnected with a system controller within the alarm system;
- selecting a battery from the at least two batteries and operating the alarm system from the selected battery;
- when the battery operating the alarm system reaches a discharge level, switching the batteries so that a previously charged battery from the at least two batteries is now operating the alarm system;
- and recharging the previous battery operating the alarm system.
A method of monitoring power in an alarm system comprising:
- providing a battery to operate the alarm system, the alarm system comprising at least a system controller and at least one of an alarm and a detector, the battery and the at least one of an alarm and a detector interconnected with the system controller;
- alternatively charging and discharging the battery, the discharge of the battery being used to power the alarm system;
- and
- monitoring the charging and discharging of the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.