A detection system for measuring one or more conditions within an area. At least one fiber optic cable transmits light wherein the at least one fiber optic cable defines a plurality of nodes arranged to measure the one or more conditions. A control system communicates with the at least one fiber optic cable such that scattered light and a time of flight record is transmitted from the at least one fiber optic cable to the control system. The control system includes a detection algorithm operable to identify a portion of the scattered light associated with each of the plurality of nodes. When determining an alert, the control system transmits data associated with a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at each of the plurality of nodes to a cloud computing environment and, in return, receives a notification based on the data transmitted.

A detection system for measuring one or more conditions within an area. At least one fiber optic cable transmits light wherein the at least one fiber optic cable defines a plurality of nodes arranged to measure the one or more conditions. A control system communicates with the at least one fiber optic cable such that scattered light and a time of flight record is transmitted from the at least one fiber optic cable to the control system. The control system includes a detection algorithm operable to identify a portion of the scattered light associated with each of the plurality of nodes. When determining an alert, the control system transmits data associated with a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at each of the plurality of nodes to a cloud computing environment and, in return, receives a notification based on the data transmitted.

A smoke detector with a surface mounted emitter configured to emit light substantially vertically and a surface mounted receiver configured to receive light at an angular distance less than 90° reflected by ambient materials, and a method of operating the smoke detector are provided. The angular distance at which the light is reflected by the ambient materials generates a back scatter effect. The smoke detector includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving the ambient materials, a supporting structure (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)) disposed adjacent to the housing, an emitter mounted substantially vertically to an upper surface of the supporting structure, and a receiver mounted substantially vertically to the upper surface of the supporting structure. The smoke detector may also include a controller configured to receive output signals from the receiver (to determine whether a current condition of the chamber indicates a need to trigger an alarm).

A smoke detector with a surface mounted emitter configured to emit light substantially vertically and a surface mounted receiver configured to receive light at an angular distance less than 90° reflected by ambient materials, and a method of operating the smoke detector are provided. The angular distance at which the light is reflected by the ambient materials generates a back scatter effect. The smoke detector includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving the ambient materials, a supporting structure (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)) disposed adjacent to the housing, an emitter mounted substantially vertically to an upper surface of the supporting structure, and a receiver mounted substantially vertically to the upper surface of the supporting structure. The smoke detector may also include a controller configured to receive output signals from the receiver (to determine whether a current condition of the chamber indicates a need to trigger an alarm).

There is provided a smoke detector including a light source, a reflective surface, a light sensor and a processor. The light sensor receives reflected light when the light source emits light toward the reflective surface, and generates a reference detection signal when there is no smoke. The processor receives the detection signal from the light sensor, and automatically selects a set of predetermined condition thresholds according to a profile of the detection signal to be compared with the detection signal thereby determining whether to generate an alarm according to the comparison result.

There is provided a smoke detector including a light source, a reflective surface, a light sensor and a processor. The light sensor receives reflected light when the light source emits light toward the reflective surface, and generates a reference detection signal when there is no smoke. The processor receives the detection signal from the light sensor, and automatically selects a set of predetermined condition thresholds according to a profile of the detection signal to be compared with the detection signal thereby determining whether to generate an alarm according to the comparison result.

A method and apparatus (1) for monitoring particles flowing in a stack are disclosed. The method comprises emitting light from a light source along an optical path for scattering from the particles, rotating a rotatable monitoring assembly (15) mounted in the optical path, and detecting the scattered light using a detector. The rotatable monitoring assembly (15) contains at least two in apertures, and the method further comprises rotating the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into a plurality of different configurations. In an operation configuration, light passes through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) and into the stack unimpeded. In a zero-check configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) blocks the light from reaching the stack. In a span-check configuration, light of varying intensity passes from the light source through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into the stack. In a contamination-check configuration, the light is reflected through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) onto the detector, without entering the stack. In the safety-shutter configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) protects optical components in the instrument from particles in the stack.

A method and apparatus (1) for monitoring particles flowing in a stack are disclosed. The method comprises emitting light from a light source along an optical path for scattering from the particles, rotating a rotatable monitoring assembly (15) mounted in the optical path, and detecting the scattered light using a detector. The rotatable monitoring assembly (15) contains at least two in apertures, and the method further comprises rotating the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into a plurality of different configurations. In an operation configuration, light passes through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) and into the stack unimpeded. In a zero-check configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) blocks the light from reaching the stack. In a span-check configuration, light of varying intensity passes from the light source through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into the stack. In a contamination-check configuration, the light is reflected through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) onto the detector, without entering the stack. In the safety-shutter configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) protects optical components in the instrument from particles in the stack.

A method of operating a detection system includes switching the system from a normal mode for sensing smoke to a high sensitivity mode for sensing airborne particles, such that in the high sensitivity mode the detection system is configured to discriminate between particles of diameters less than 2.5 micrometers and 10 micrometers. Transmitting light from one or more light sources of the detection system into a monitored space, and detecting scattered light at one or more light sensing devices of the detection system. The detection of scattered light is indicative of one or more indoor air quality conditions in the monitored space.

A method of operating a detection system includes switching the system from a normal mode for sensing smoke to a high sensitivity mode for sensing airborne particles, such that in the high sensitivity mode the detection system is configured to discriminate between particles of diameters less than 2.5 micrometers and 10 micrometers. Transmitting light from one or more light sources of the detection system into a monitored space, and detecting scattered light at one or more light sensing devices of the detection system. The detection of scattered light is indicative of one or more indoor air quality conditions in the monitored space.