Systems, apparatus and methods for automatically testing security alarm devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12567320-B2
Application number	US-202318721551-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2023
Priority date	Jan 25, 2022
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods for automatically testing security alarm devices are disclosed according to various embodiments. In one example, a disclosed system comprises: a plurality of test chambers coupled on a frame, wherein each of the test chambers is configured to house a corresponding one of a plurality of security alarm devices to be tested; and a test computer coupled to the frame, wherein the computer has a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for automatically testing the plurality of security alarm devices at the same time using a test software, wherein each of the plurality of security alarm devices is connected to the test computer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A system for automatically testing security alarm devices, comprising:
a plurality of test chambers coupled on a frame, wherein each of the test chambers is configured to house a corresponding one of a plurality of security alarm devices to be tested; and a test computer coupled to the frame, wherein the computer has a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for automatically testing the plurality of security alarm devices at the same time using a test software, wherein each of the plurality of security alarm devices is connected to the test computer; and wherein before the testing: the test computer automatically pairs each security alarm device with a corresponding user account under control of the test software.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the plurality of security alarm devices is at least one of: a home security alarm device, a security camera, or a motion sensor device.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the testing comprises testing at least one of:
capability of each security alarm device to communicate via a UBS cable; capability of each security alarm device to measure temperature; capability of each security alarm device to validate battery voltage; a Wi-Fi connection of each security alarm device; a microphone of each security alarm device; a speaker of each security alarm device; button functions of each security alarm device; a motion sensing function of each security alarm device; or LED functions of each security alarm device.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein after the testing:
a report of test results of the testing is automatically generated in association with the corresponding user account and uploaded to a database by the test computer; and the test computer automatically un-pairs each security alarm device from the corresponding user account under control of the test software.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user monitor electrically connected to the test computer and configured for providing test results of the plurality of security alarm devices.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of radio frequency (RF) shielded cabinets each contained in a respective one of the plurality of test chambers therein.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:
each of the plurality of security alarm devices is wirelessly connected to a base station device inside the respective test chamber; the base station device is wire-connected to a tablet corresponding to the respective test chamber; and the tablet is placed outside the test chambers and is wire-connected to the test computer via a network switch.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:
each of the plurality of security alarm devices is wirelessly connected to a single board computer inside the respective test chamber; and the single board computer is wire-connected to the test computer via a network switch.

9 . A system for automatically testing a plurality of electronic devices, comprising:
a plurality of radio frequency (RF) shielded cabinets coupled to a frame, wherein each of the RF shielded cabinets comprises: a mounting device configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of electronic devices; a unique identifier associated with each of the plurality of RF shielded cabinets; an antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with the corresponding one of the plurality of electronic devices; and an interface configured to allow passage of an electrical signal from the antenna through a wall of the RF shielded cabinet to a terminal mounted on the outside of the RF shielded cabinet; a test computer coupled to the frame, wherein the test computer includes a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and wherein the test computer is operably connected to the terminal of each of the plurality of RF shielded cabinets; a display coupled to the frame, wherein the display is operably connected to the test computer; wherein the test computer is configured to simultaneously test each of the plurality of electronic devices wherein each of the plurality of electronic devices includes an identity code; a scanning device operably connected to the test computer, wherein the scanning device is configured to read, for each of the plurality of RF shielded cabinets and the corresponding one of the plurality of electronic devices, the unique identifier of the RF shielded cabinet and the identity code of the corresponding electronic device, and transmits the unique identifiers and the identity codes to the test computer; wherein the test computer receives the unique identifiers and the identity codes from the scanning device and associates each unique identifier with the identity code of the corresponding electronic device, and associates each of the identity codes with a predetermined test procedure for that identity code; and wherein the test computer sends a signal to the plurality of RF shielded cabinets to test the plurality of electronic devices based on the associated identity code.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of electronic devices is tested simultaneously.

11 . The system of claim 9 wherein results of the testing of the plurality of electronic devices are shown on the display.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein a first set of electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices have a first identity code and a second set of electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices have a second identity code, and wherein the test computer sends a first signal to the plurality of RF shielded cabinets associated with the first set of electronic devices, and wherein the test computer sends a second signal to the plurality of RF shielded cabinets associated with the second set of electronic devices.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first signal includes first instructions for testing the first set of electronic devices using a first predetermined test procedure and the second signal includes second instructions for testing the second set of electronic devices using a second predetermined test procedure.

14 . The system of claim 13 , whereupon after completion of the first predetermined test procedure for each of the electronic devices in the first set, the test computer disassociates, for each of the plurality of RF shielded cabinets associated with the first set of electronic devices, the unique identifier from the identity code of the corresponding electronic device.

Assignees

• Communications Test Design Inc

Inventors

• Campbell James
• Davis Nidhin
• Dameron Patrick

Classifications

• G05B1/01

  electric · CPC title

• G08B29/02 Primary

  Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems · CPC title

• G08B25/10

  using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G08B29/126

  of annunciator circuits · CPC title

• G08B29/14

  checking the detection circuits · CPC title