Importance

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Abstract

A signaling device for annunciating in a hallway of a building a status of a monitored person or object is provided. The signaling device includes at least two vertically stacked sections for announcing a status of the monitored person or object with each section announcing a status of a different condition. Each section includes a solid-state, light-emitting device (LED) that is supported such that when the device is mounted to the wall of the hallway a beam of light from the LED is substantially aimed at a wall opposing the wall to which the device is mounted. A pair of opposing planar surfaces extends along diverging planes and is supported over each LED to receive the LED's beam of light. Each of the planar surfaces extends at an angle approximately equal to a characteristic optical beam angle of the beam of light. This arrangement causes light from the light beam to substantially uniformly illuminate an entirety of each of the planar surfaces when viewed from an angle approximately perpendicular to a direction in which the beam of light is aimed. Each of the planar surfaces has an area sufficient to be easily viewed at a location in the hallway remote from where the device is mounted such that one planar surface of the pair is easily seen from one end of the hallway and the other planar surface is easily seen from the other end of the hallway. The signaling device further includes a lens for diffusing light reflected from the planar surfaces.

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First Claim