Patent classifications
G08B17/107
Smoke detector with integrated sensing
A smoke detector and method for testing a smoke detector are provided. The smoke detector includes a housing defining a chamber, an emitter, and a receiver. The housing includes an inlet port and an outlet port configured to allow an airflow to pass through the chamber. The emitter is configured to emit light into the chamber. The receiver is configured to receive light reflected by ambient materials in the airflow passing through the chamber. The smoke detector includes an entry point and an exit point, defining a channel therebetween. At least a portion of the airflow passes through the channel. The channel is in fluid communication with a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect at least one of a pressure differential and a mass flow of the airflow. The smoke detector and method for testing the smoke detector enable in situ testing of the smoke detector.
Smoke detector with integrated sensing
A smoke detector and method for testing a smoke detector are provided. The smoke detector includes a housing defining a chamber, an emitter, and a receiver. The housing includes an inlet port and an outlet port configured to allow an airflow to pass through the chamber. The emitter is configured to emit light into the chamber. The receiver is configured to receive light reflected by ambient materials in the airflow passing through the chamber. The smoke detector includes an entry point and an exit point, defining a channel therebetween. At least a portion of the airflow passes through the channel. The channel is in fluid communication with a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect at least one of a pressure differential and a mass flow of the airflow. The smoke detector and method for testing the smoke detector enable in situ testing of the smoke detector.
IMPROVEMENTS TO SMOKE DETECTORS
A smoke detector of the type that depends on the scattering of light by smoke particles comprising a chamber (301) configured to receive smoke particles from an environment in which the smoke detector is required to detect smoke, a source of light (202) configured to project light therefrom such that light that is received by the chamber is scattered by the smoke particles, an optical element (207) configured to receive light as has been scattered by the smoke particles, and, a photodetector (208) configured to detect at least some of the received scattered light, the smoke detector characterized in that upon receiving the scattered light, the optical element (207) is configured to selectively differentiate between required scattered light that is derived from a subset of predefined directions with respect to the angle of incidence upon the optical element and scattered light that is derived from other directions in order to thereby filter out the light that is not required and thereby redirect the required scattered light onto the photodetector (208).
IMPROVEMENTS TO SMOKE DETECTORS
A smoke detector of the type that depends on the scattering of light by smoke particles comprising a chamber (301) configured to receive smoke particles from an environment in which the smoke detector is required to detect smoke, a source of light (202) configured to project light therefrom such that light that is received by the chamber is scattered by the smoke particles, an optical element (207) configured to receive light as has been scattered by the smoke particles, and, a photodetector (208) configured to detect at least some of the received scattered light, the smoke detector characterized in that upon receiving the scattered light, the optical element (207) is configured to selectively differentiate between required scattered light that is derived from a subset of predefined directions with respect to the angle of incidence upon the optical element and scattered light that is derived from other directions in order to thereby filter out the light that is not required and thereby redirect the required scattered light onto the photodetector (208).
Operating a scanning smoke detector
Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media for operating a scanning smoke detector are described herein. One apparatus a laser emitter configured to emit a beam of light, a rotational component configured to rotate the emitter such that the beam periodically scans across an area, and a light receiver configured to receive a reflected portion of the beam of light and determine a presence of smoke particles in the area based on the reflected portion. The smoke detection apparatus can be configured to operate at a first power level, decrease the beam to a second power level responsive to a determination that an object in the area is in a path of the beam, and increase the beam to the first power level responsive to a determination that the object is no longer in the path of the beam.
Operating a scanning smoke detector
Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media for operating a scanning smoke detector are described herein. One apparatus a laser emitter configured to emit a beam of light, a rotational component configured to rotate the emitter such that the beam periodically scans across an area, and a light receiver configured to receive a reflected portion of the beam of light and determine a presence of smoke particles in the area based on the reflected portion. The smoke detection apparatus can be configured to operate at a first power level, decrease the beam to a second power level responsive to a determination that an object in the area is in a path of the beam, and increase the beam to the first power level responsive to a determination that the object is no longer in the path of the beam.
Spatial and temporal pattern analysis for integrated smoke detection and localization
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 and, in return, receives a notification based on the data transmitted to the cloud computing environment.
Spatial and temporal pattern analysis for integrated smoke detection and localization
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 and, in return, receives a notification based on the data transmitted to the cloud computing environment.
Compensator in a detector device
A detector device includes a light source disposed within a chamber, a sensor disposed within the chamber, a compensator circuit electrically coupled with the sensor, and a controller. The controller is operable to receive a sensor signal generated by the sensor, determine a compensation factor to adjust the sensor signal, and generate a compensation offset signal based on the compensation factor. The controller is further operable to output the compensation offset signal to the compensator circuit to produce a compensated sensor signal as an adjustment to the sensor signal, energize the light source, monitor the compensated sensor signal with respect to an alarm limit, and trigger an alarm event based on the compensated sensor signal exceeding the alarm limit.
Compensator in a detector device
A detector device includes a light source disposed within a chamber, a sensor disposed within the chamber, a compensator circuit electrically coupled with the sensor, and a controller. The controller is operable to receive a sensor signal generated by the sensor, determine a compensation factor to adjust the sensor signal, and generate a compensation offset signal based on the compensation factor. The controller is further operable to output the compensation offset signal to the compensator circuit to produce a compensated sensor signal as an adjustment to the sensor signal, energize the light source, monitor the compensated sensor signal with respect to an alarm limit, and trigger an alarm event based on the compensated sensor signal exceeding the alarm limit.