Importance

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Abstract

A battery operable dangerous condition warning device adapted to issue an alarm when a sensed dangerous condition exceeds a predetermined status incorporates a monitoring device circuit including: a processor, a dangerous condition sensor, a horn, a battery condition monitoring procedure cooperating with the processor to periodically check the integrity of the battery for detecting a first battery integrity condition in which battery failure can be expected after a relatively long period and a second battery integrity condition in which battery failure is imminent. The circuit further implements an audio low battery warning generator adapted to drive the horn to issue a distinctive audio warning (e.g., a single pulse of about 10 milliseconds duration each minute) in response to the detection of both the first and second battery integrity conditions A manually-actuable switch coupled to the processor permits inhibiting drive to the horn for a predetermined period if the first battery integrity condition is detected; however, actuation of the switch after the second battery integrity condition has been detected is prevented from temporarily inhibiting the drive to the horn. A visual battery condition indicator may also be provided to identify which of a plurality of dangerous condition warning devices in a given installation is experiencing the failing battery.

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First Claim