A SENSOR SYSTEM FOR A BUILDING

Abstract

A sensor system for a building, the sensor system comprising a plurality of sensor units and a processing unit wherein the sensor units each comprise a plurality of electronic components which are provided either directly or indirectly via a substrate, on a surface of an external component of the building, or embedded within an external component of the building; and wherein each sensor unit comprises a sensor operable to monitor a building parameter, and a communication module operable to output a signal comprising data indicative of the monitored building parameter to the processing unit.

Claims

1. A sensor system for a building, the sensor system comprising a plurality of sensor units and a processing unit: wherein the sensor units each comprise a plurality of electronic components which are provided either directly or indirectly via a substrate, on a surface of an external component of the building, or embedded within an external component of the building; and wherein each sensor unit comprises: a sensor operable to monitor a building parameter; and a communication module operable to output a signal comprising data indicative of the monitored building parameter to the processing unit.

2. A sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external component of the building comprises a cladding panel provided on or over an exterior surface of the building, and wherein one or more of the sensor units are be embedded within a cladding panel, or are provided on an internal or external surface of the cladding panel.

3. A sensor system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensor units are provided embedded within or on a surface of a window frame forming part of an external surface of the building.

4. A sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensor units comprise a substrate on which one or more electronic components are provided, the substrate comprising a strip, film or sheet in which the or each sensor and communication module is embedded or connected.

5. (canceled)

6. A sensor system of claim 1, wherein one or more sensor units comprise printed electronics printed directly onto the external component of the building.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. A sensor system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensor units comprise one or more of: a smoke sensor, a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; an air quality sensor; and a movement sensor.

10. A sensor system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensor units are powered via an internal power supply, and comprise a solar cell operatively coupled to or forming part of the sensor unit, and configured to power operation of the sensor unit by charging an internal power supply.

11. (canceled)

12. A sensor system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive signals from the plurality of sensor units indicative of one or more building parameters; and generate and output a control signal for causing operation of a subsystem of a building management system in dependence on the monitored building parameter.

13. A sensor system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the processing unit is operable to cause operation of an internal or external alarm.

14. A sensor system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the processing unit is operable to cause operation of an external tire suppression subsystem, wherein the external fire suppression subsystem comprises a plurality of moveable fire suppression units provided on one or more tracks on the exterior of the building, the units being moveable along said track(s) to a desired location on the exterior of the building as determined by the processing unit of the sensor system based on signals received from one or more sensor units.

15. A sensor system of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is operable to cause operation of an external evacuation subsystem, wherein the external evacuation subsystem comprises at least one external elevator moveable with respect to the exterior surface of the building along one or more tracks on the exterior of the building to a desired location on the exterior of the building as determined by the processing unit of the sensor system based on signals received from one or more sensor units.

16. A sensor system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the processing unit is operable to cause operation of a window control subsystem, the window control subsystem being operable to control opening and closing of one or more windows within the building in dependence on the building parameter(s) monitored by the one or more sensor units of the sensor system.

17. A sensor unit for use in a sensor system according to claim 1, the sensor unit comprising: a sensor operable to monitor a building parameter; and a communication module operable to output a signal comprising data indicative of the monitored building parameter to a processing unit of the sensor system.

18. (canceled)

19. An external fire suppression system for a building, the external fire suppression system comprising: one or more external suppression units located on an exterior of the building configured to release a fire suppression agent onto an exterior surface of the building.

20. An external fire suppression system of claim 19, comprising an external suppression unit positioned at or proximal to the roof of the building, the suppression unit being configured to release the fire suppression agent under gravity onto the exterior of one or more sides of the building.

21. An external fire suppression system of claim 19, comprising a plurality of moveable fire suppression units, the moveable fire suppression units being provided on one or more tracks on the exterior of the building and being moveable along said track(s) to a desired location on the exterior of the building.

22. An external evacuation system for a building, the external evacuation system comprising: one or more external evacuation elevators, each external elevator being moveable with respect to an exterior surface of the building.

23. An external evacuation system as claimed in claim 22, wherein each external elevator is provided on one or more tracks on the exterior of the building, and is moveable along said track(s) to a desired location on the exterior of the building.

24. An external evacuation system of claim 23, wherein each external elevator is operable to move between exit points on the building to enable evacuation of occupants of the building in the event of a fire or the like.

25. A sensor system as recited in claim 1, wherein the building includes a building management system having a plurality of subsystems controllable in dependence on operation of the sensor system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0062] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0063] FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of building incorporating multiple aspects of the present invention;

[0064] FIG. 2 is a schematic overview of an embodiment of a sensor system of the invention;

[0065] FIGS. 3A-3C are a series of diagrams illustrating embodiments of a sensor unit of the invention for use as part of the sensor system of FIG. 2; and

[0066] FIG. 4 is a schematic overview of an embodiment of a building management system of the invention.

[0067] In general, the present invention relates to a sensor system 100 and building management system 200 for a building 10, with the sensor system 100 being operable to monitor one or more building parameters via sensor units 12 distributed across the exterior of the building 10, and appropriate actions performed based on the sensed parameters, including operating various subsystems of the building management system 200 which may include a fire suppression subsystem 201, an external evacuation subsystem 202 and a window control subsystem 203.

[0068] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary building 10, where various embodiments of the present invention may function. As shown, the building 10 is a high-rise building having thirty floors.

[0069] The building 10 is provided with a plurality of sensor units 12 forming a sensor system 100. Each sensor unit 12 includes a sensor 30 for monitoring a building parameter and communication module 32 for communicating with a processing unit 34 of the sensor system 100, specifically by outputting signals indicative of the monitored parameter back to the processing unit 34 for further processing. The communication module 32 preferably comprises a wireless communication module 32 configured to communicate with the processing unit 34 over a wireless communication network, such as a WiFi network. The sensor units 12 also include an internal power source in the form of a rechargeable battery (not shown) powered via one or more solar cells (not shown).

[0070] In the illustrated embodiment, the sensors 30 of each sensor unit 12 comprise low cost microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors 30. Advantageously, such sensors are relatively cheap to manufacture, are lightweight and are small in size, enabling large scale industrial manufacture, and implementation on the building 10 at a reasonable cost. Each sensor unit 12 is configured to monitor one or more building parameters, including temperature, air quality, gases (e.g. CO2 levels) and movement. The sensor units 12 can include one or multiple sensors, the invention is not limited in this sense.

[0071] Here, the sensor units 12 are embedded in a cladding panel 14 on the exterior surface of the building 10, specifically in a cladding panel 14 situated below a corresponding window 16 of the building 10. The sensor units 12 may take any one of a number of different forms. For instance, the sensor units 12 can include a sensor unit 112 which comprises electronic circuitry printed or otherwise fabricated directly onto a surface of the cladding panel 114 (FIG. 3A). Such embodiments may be particularly suited to a sensor system 100 which is incorporated into the building 10 during construction of the building and/or cladding panels 114. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor units 12 can include a sensor unit 212 comprising electronic circuitry printed or otherwise fabricated on a (optionally flexible) substrate 213 (FIG. 3B), with the substrate being configured to be coupled or otherwise fixed to, or embedded within, the external component of the building, e.g. to the cladding panel 14. The substrate can, for instance, comprise an adhesive region. Where the substrate comprises a flexible substrate, this may advantageously form a sensor unit 212 in the form of a flexible “patch” which may be quickly and easily stuck onto an external component of the building, e.g. the cladding panel 14. This may be particularly suited to “retrofit” applications, where the sensor system 100 can be quickly and easily set up on an existing building 10 by simply affixing the sensor units 212 thereto. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor units 12 can include an individual boxed sensor unit 312 (FIG. 3C) adapted to be attached to or embedded in the surface of a cladding panel 14. Again, this may be particularly suited to “retrofit” applications, where the sensor system 100 can be quickly and easily set up on an existing building 10 by simply affixing the sensor units 312 thereto.

[0072] The building 10 includes a fire suppression subsystem 201 forming part of the building management system 200 and which is controllable under the operation of the sensor system 100 as described herein. The fire suppression subsystem 201 includes a number of fire suppression units 18a, 18b, 18c each operable to release a suppression agent 20 (e.g. water) onto the exterior of the building 10. A supply line 22 is provided which supplies the units 18a, 18b, 18c with the suppression agent 20 from a reservoir, here located at the top of the building 10. Advantageously, the suppression units 18a, 18b, 18c are provided on a series of vertical and horizontal tracks 26, 28 and are moveable along those tracks in order to position the units 18a, 18b, 18c as desired—e.g. proximal to a location of a fire as detected by sensor units 12.

[0073] The building 10 also includes an external evacuation subsystem 202 forming part of the building management system 200 and which is controllable under the operation of the sensor system 100 as described herein. The external evacuation subsystem 202 includes a number of evacuation pods 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d normally located at or on the roof of the building 10. Advantageously, the evacuation pods 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d are each operable to move along the tracks 26, 28 to move to a position at or proximal to a window 16 or other exit point on the building 10, enabling occupants within the building to board the pods 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d and thereby evacuate the building. The movement of the pods 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d is preferably triggered by the sensor units 12 upon detection of a building condition requiring an evacuation—e.g. detection of a fire at a particular location within the building 10.

[0074] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the sensor system 100 further.

[0075] The sensor system 100 includes a plurality of sensor units 12a, 12b, 12c and a processing unit 34 operably connected to one another. Here, the sensor units 12a, 12b, 12c and processing unit 34 are communicable wirelessly over a wireless communication network, providing greater flexibility over the positioning of the sensor units 12a, 12b, 12c across the building 10.

[0076] Each sensor unit 12a, 12b, 12c includes respective sensors 30a, 30b, 30c in the form of MEMS sensors 30a, 30b, 30c each configured to monitor a building parameter (e.g. temperature, humidity, air quality). Further, each sensor unit 12a, 12b, 12c includes respective communication modules 32a, 32b, 32c operable to communicate over a wireless communication network with the processing unit 34, specifically to send signals comprising data indicative of the monitored building parameter for further processing by the processing unit 34.

[0077] The processing unit 34 includes an electronic processor 36, electrical input 38 and electrical output 40. The processor 36 is configured to access a memory device 42 having instructions stored therein, and execute those instructions for performing aspects of the invention as will be described herein. The electrical input 38 is configured to receive signals from sensor units 12a, 12b, 12c for processing by the processing unit 34, and specifically by the processor 26. The electrical output 40 is configured to output control signals for causing operation of one or more subsystems of the associated building management system, e.g. the fire suppression subsystem 201, external evacuation subsystem 202 or a window control subsystem 203 in dependence on the monitored building parameter(s).

[0078] Here, each of the sensors 30a, 30b, 30c comprises a temperature sensor. The output signal from the sensor units 12a, 12b, 12c are therefore indicative of an ambient temperature associated with the location of those units 12a, 12b, 12c on the building. For example, a current-voltage characteristic of the output signal from sensor unit 12a, 12b, 12c may be dependent on the ambient temperature. The current-voltage characteristic can be interpreted (e.g. by the processing unit 36) to extract the sensed ambient temperature. Where the monitored ambient temperature exceeds a certain threshold this may be indicative of the presence of a fire at a particular location of the building 10, and appropriate actions may therefore be initiated.

[0079] In a variant, one or more sensors 30a, 30b, 30c can comprise an air quality sensor. The output signal from the associated sensor unit 12a, 12b, 12c in such instances may be indicative of relative level of a pollutant in at a particular location of the building 10. As will be appreciated, this may involve monitoring a level of a particular pollutant, group of pollutants or a general air quality measure affected by numerous different pollutants. A current-voltage characteristic of the output signal from the sensor unit(s) 12a, 12b, 12c may be dependent on the relative level of the pollutant measured. The current-voltage characteristic can be interpreted (e.g. by the processing unit 36) to extract the sensed pollutant level. The presence of a pollutant may simply relate to the air quality of the building's environment, or in some instances the monitored pollutant may directly correlate to the presence of a fire (e.g. increased CO2 levels). Using this information, appropriate actions may be taken—e.g. for poor air quality one or more windows of the building may be closed via window control subsystem 203, or in the event of a fire, the fire suppression subsystem 201 and/or external evacuation subsystem 202 may be triggered.

[0080] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the sensor system 100 further, and its incorporation into the building management system 200.

[0081] The building management system 200 includes a building management controller 50 operably connected to the processing unit 34 of the sensor system 100. Again, the processing unit 34 and building management controller 50 may be communicable wirelessly over a wireless communication network, providing greater flexibility, but could equally be connected over a wired connection, as will be appreciated.

[0082] The building management controller 50 includes an electronic processor 52, electrical input 54 and electrical output 56. The processor 52 is configured to access a memory device 58 having instructions stored therein, and execute those instructions for performing aspects of the invention as will be described herein. The electrical input 54 is configured to receive control signals from the processing unit 34 of the sensor system 100 and operate in accordance with those control signals to take appropriate action based on the parameter(s) monitored by the sensors 30a, 30b, 30c of respective sensor units 12a, 12b, 12c. The electrical output 56 is configured to output control signals for controlling operation of subsystems of the building management system 100, which include the fire suppression subsystem 201, the external evacuation subsystem 202 and a window control subsystem 203.

[0083] Each subsystem 201, 202, 203 includes respective subsystem controllers 60a, 60b, 60c, each comprising respective electronic processors 62a, 62b, 62c, electrical inputs 64a, 64b, 64c and electrical outputs 66a, 66b, 66c. The inputs 64a, 64b, 64c are each configured to receive control signals from the building management controller 50, those control signals being processed by respective processors 62a, 62b, 62c to determine the action instructed by the building management controller 50. Each subsystem controller 60a, 60b, 60c uses respective electrical outputs 66a, 66b, 66c to output control signals for controlling operation of one or more components of the respective subsystem 201, 202, 203.

[0084] For instance, the subsystem controller 60a for the fire suppression subsystem 201 is operable to output control signals for controlling the position and/or operation (e.g. dispensing of suppression agent) from one or more of the fire suppression units 18a, 18b, 18c. As described herein, this may involve causing movement of one or more units 18a, 18b, 18c along the vertical and/or horizontal tracks 26, 28 on the exterior of the building 10 to move the unit(s) into position at or proximal to the location of a suspected fire as determined by sensor system 100, before causing release of the fire suppression agent onto the exterior of the building 10 in an attempt to control the fire.

[0085] The subsystem controller 60b for the fire suppression subsystem 202 is operable to output control signals for controlling the position and/or operation of one or more of the external evacuation pods 24a, 24b, 24c. As described herein, this may involve causing movement of one or more pods 24a, 24b, 24c 18c along the vertical and/or horizontal tracks 26, 28 on the exterior of the building 10 to move the pods into position at or proximal to the location of a suspected fire as determined by sensor system 100, or indeed any exit point on the building 10 where occupants may need to be evacuated from.

[0086] The subsystem controller 60c for the window control subsystem 203 is operable to output control signals for controlling the operation of one or more windows 16 on the building 10. As described herein, this may involve causing one or more windows 16 of the building 10 to close upon detection of a drop in air quality as determined by one or more sensor units 12a, 12b, 12c positioned at or proximal to those windows. In a variant, a further subsystem controller may be operable to control operation of a heating, air conditioning and/or ventilation system of the building 10, for example based on one or more parameters including air quality or ambient temperature for occupant safety or comfort. In a further variant, a subsystem controller may be operable to cause output of an alarm or alert based on the monitored parameters—e.g. to notify occupants of the building of a possible fire or other emergency situation, and/or to notify one or more external parties (e.g. an emergency service provider).

[0087] The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.