Methods and apparatus for providing power to a notification appliance circuit
View Patent ↗An arrangement for use in a safety notification system includes primary and secondary power sources and a voltage converter. The primary power source provides power to a notification appliance circuit of a notification system. The secondary power source includes at least one battery. The voltage converter is coupled between the battery and the notification appliance circuit of the notification system, and is configured to generate a regulated DC voltage from an output voltage generated by the second power source. In general, the secondary power source is employed when the primary power source is not available or otherwise is not functioning. However, the secondary power source may also be employed in other circumstances.
1. An arrangement for use in a safety notification system, comprising:
a) a primary power source, the primary power source providing power to a notification appliance circuit of a notification system;
b) a secondary power source including at least one battery;
c) a voltage converter coupled between the battery and the notification appliance circuit of the notification system, the voltage converter configured to generate a regulated DC voltage from an output voltage generated by the secondary power source.
2. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the output voltage of the at least one battery exceeds the minimum rated voltage for the notification appliance circuit.
3. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein:
the secondary power source includes two twelve-volt rated batteries; and
the voltage converter provides an output of at least about 26 volts.
4. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein
the voltage converter comprises a boost converter.
5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein an output voltage of the primary power source and the regulated DC voltage exceeds a nominal voltage of the secondary power source.
6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the voltage converter is configured to generate the regulated DC voltage when the output voltage generated by the secondary power source varies by as much as five volts.
7. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein:
the secondary power source includes three twelve-volt rated batteries; and
the voltage converter provides an output of less than 28 volts.
8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the notification appliance circuit comprises a plurality of spaced-apart notification appliances.
9. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the voltage converter is configured to provide power to the notification appliance circuit of the notification system when the primary power source becomes unavailable.
10. An arrangement for use in a safety notification system, comprising:
a) a primary power source, the primary power source providing at least 24 volts DC to a notification appliance circuit of a notification system;
b) a secondary power source including at least one battery, the secondary power source having a useful life defined by an output voltage exceeding 20.4 volts;
c) a voltage converter coupled between the battery and the notification appliance circuit of the notification system, the voltage converter configured to generate a DC voltage of at least 24 volts from the output voltage generated by the secondary power source during the useful life of the secondary power source.
11. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein:
the secondary power source includes two twelve-volt rated batteries; and
the voltage converter provides an output of at least about 26 volts.
12. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein
the voltage converter comprises a boost converter.
13. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein an output voltage of the primary power source and the regulated DC voltage exceeds a nominal voltage of the secondary power source.
14. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the voltage converter comprises a switching converter.
15. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the voltage converter further comprises:
a MOSFET switch;
an input inductance coupled between a converter input and the MOSFET switch;
a rectifier coupled between a converter output and the MOSFET switch;
a capacitor coupled between the converter output and a reference voltage; and
a PWM control unit coupled to a gate of the MOSFET switch.
16. The arrangement of claim 15 , further comprising:
a controllable switch coupled between the secondary power source and the converter input, the controllable switch having a control terminal;
an enable circuit having a logical enable input, the enable circuit operable coupled to the control input of the controllable switch.
17. The arrangement of claim 16 , further comprising a control circuit, the control circuit configured to:
obtain an indication that the primary power source is malfunctioning;
generate, responsive the obtained indication, the enable signal such that the controllable switch controllably connects the secondary power source to the voltage converter.
18. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the notification appliance circuit includes a plurality of spaced-apart notification appliances of the safety notification system.
19. The arrangement of claim 18 , further comprising the plurality of spaced-apart notification appliances.
20. An arrangement for use in a safety notification system, comprising:
a) a primary power source, the primary power source providing power to a plurality of spaced-apart notification appliances in a notification appliance circuit of a notification system;
b) a secondary power source including at least one battery;
c) a voltage converter coupled between the battery and the notification appliance circuit of the notification system, the voltage converter configured to generate a regulated DC voltage from an output voltage generated by the secondary power source, wherein the generated DC voltage provides power to the plurality of spaced-apart notification appliances when the primary power source becomes unavailable.