Supplemental alert generation device

A supplemental alert generation device configured to monitor, and to supplement an audible alarm generated by, a detector/alert device, the supplemental alert generation device comprising:

• a monitoring circuit that monitors the detector/alert device, said monitoring circuit configured to initiate an analysis of a detected audio signal in response to determining that a sound level of the detected audio signal satisfies a threshold, said analysis capable of determining whether the detected audio signal represents said audible alarm generated by the detector/alert device;
• a supplemental alert generator that generates a supplemental alert signal in response to the monitoring circuit detecting the audible alarm, said supplemental alert signal having a fundamental frequency and multiple harmonics, said fundamental frequency falling in a range of 400 to 700 hertz;
• an audio speaker that outputs an audible representation of the supplemental alert signal, said audio speaker mounted to a speaker enclosure structure to form a sealed speaker enclosure assembly;
• and
• a battery source that powers the monitoring circuit and the supplemental alert generator;
• wherein the supplemental alert generation device is mounted to a ceiling within four feet of the detector/alert device.

A method implemented by a supplemental alert generation device to supplement an audible alarm generated by a detector/alert device, the method comprising:

• while operating in a learn mode, detecting an audible alarm generated by the detector/alert device, and selecting a sound level threshold for subsequent monitoring of the detector/alert device;
• subsequently, in response to detecting that the sound level threshold is satisfied, initiating a signal analysis of a received audio signal to determine whether the received audio signal matches a pattern corresponding to the audible alarm of the detector/alert device;
• in response to determining that the received audio signal matches the pattern, generating a supplemental alert signal having a fundamental frequency and multiple harmonics, said fundamental frequency falling in a range of 400 to 700 hertz;
• applying the supplemental alert signal to an audio speaker to produce an audible supplemental alarm, said audio speaker coupled to a speaker enclosure structure to form a sealed speaker enclosure assembly;
• said method, including detecting the audible alarm, selecting the sound level threshold, initiating the signal analysis, generating the supplemental alert signal, and applying the supplemental alert signal to the audio speaker, performed with the supplemental alert generation device mounted to a ceiling within four feet of the detector/alert device.