Detector unit with multiple integrated sensing systems and visually pleasing housing

• US 10,013,861 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Honjo, Shigefumi, Filson, John Benjamin, Daniels, Eric B., Bould, Fred, Mittleman, Adam, Goldenson, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US15/607,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20180012468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 340628-632
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a multi-sensing hazard detector for detecting potential dangers may include a back plate and a front casing that is coupled with the back plate to define a housing. A circuit board and a plurality of components may be positioned within the housing. The circuit board may be communicatively coupled with the components. The components may include, among other components, an alarm device, an occupancy sensor, and a smoke chamber. The alarm device may be activatable upon the detection of a potential hazard to warn an occupant of a potential danger, the occupancy sensor may be configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects external to the hazard detector, and the smoke chamber may be configured to detect the presence of smoke to cause a triggering of the alarm device. The housing may comprise a volume of less than 1024 cubic centimeters.

Claims

1. A multi-sensing hazard detector for use in a building or structure for detecting potential dangers therein, the multi-sensing hazard detector comprising:

a housing having an interior region within which a plurality of components of the multi-sensing hazard detector are at least partially contained, the housing having a plurality of openings through which air flows so that the air is accessible to the components within the interior region of the housing, wherein the housing of the multi-sensing hazard detector comprises a volume of less than about 1024 cubic centimeters;

a circuit board coupled with the housing and having the plurality of components communicatively coupled therewith, the plurality of components including;

an alarm device communicatively coupled with the circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon the detection of a potential hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger;

first communications circuitry configured for wireless communications according to a first wireless protocol; and

second communications circuitry configured for wireless communications according to a second wireless protocol characterized by lower power relative to said first wireless protocol;

a light source; and

one or more light dispersion components configured to receive light from the light source and to provide a halo appearance of light emanating about at least a portion of the housing, the light source and light dispersion being configured so that a color of the halo appearance of light is adjustable to indicate one or more of;

a status or issue within the building or structure;

a status or issue with the multi-sensing hazard detector;

or

a status or potential issue with another appliance or component within the building or structure;

wherein said halo appearance of light is characterized in that said light source and at least a portion of the light dispersing components are disposed behind a front-facing component of the multi-sensing hazard detector, such that the light emitted by the light source appears to emanate from behind and around said front facing component to provide the halo appearance of light.

2. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein said multi-sensing hazard detector further comprises an outwardly facing PIR sensor including a Fresnel lens configured for omnidirectional coverage from a zero-facing angle.

3. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes a user-pressable button, and wherein said one or more light dispersion components are arranged such that the halo appearance of light is disposed entirely around the button.

4. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the light source includes a plurality of LED lights capable of emitting multiple colors of light.

5. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein said front facing component comprises a user-pressable button.

6. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein said first wireless protocol includes an 802.11 protocol.

7. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein said second wireless protocol includes one of an 802.15 communications protocol, a low-power mesh networking communications protocol, or a 6LowPAN communications protocol.

8. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector further comprises an occupancy sensor that is configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector.

9. A multi-sensing hazard detector for use in a building or structure for detecting potential dangers therein, the multi-sensing hazard detector comprising:

a housing having an interior region within which a plurality of components of the multi-sensing hazard detector are at least partially contained, the housing having a plurality of openings through which air flows so that the air is accessible to the components within the interior region of the housing, wherein the housing of the multi-sensing hazard detector comprises a volume of less than about 1024 cubic centimeters;

a circuit board coupled with the housing and having the plurality of components communicatively coupled therewith, the plurality of components including;

an alarm device communicatively coupled with the circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon the detection of a potential hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger;

first communications circuitry configured for wireless communications according to a first wireless protocol; and

second communications circuitry configured for wireless communications according to a second wireless protocol characterized by lower power relative to said first wireless protocol;

a light source; and

one or more light dispersion components receiving light from the light source and providing a halo appearance of light emanating about at least a portion of the housing, wherein the halo appearance of light is adjustable to indicate one or more of;

a status or issue within the building or structure;

a status or issue with the multi-sensing hazard detector;

or

a status or potential issue with another appliance or component within the building or structure;

wherein said halo appearance of light is characterized in that said light source and at least a portion of said one or more light dispersion components are disposed behind a front-facing component of the multi-sensing hazard detector, such that the light emitted by the light source appears to emanate from behind and around said front facing component to provide the halo appearance of light.

10. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 9, wherein said multi-sensing hazard detector further comprises an outwardly facing PIR sensor including a Fresnel lens configured for omnidirectional coverage from a zero-facing angle.

11. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 9, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes a user-pressable button, and wherein said one or more light dispersion components are arranged such that the halo appearance of light is disposed entirely around the button.

12. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 9, wherein the light source includes a plurality of LED lights capable of emitting multiple colors of light.

13. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 9, wherein said front facing component comprises a user-pressable button.

14. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 9, wherein said first wireless protocol includes an 802.11 protocol.

15. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 9, wherein said second wireless protocol includes one of an 802.15 communications protocol, a low-power mesh networking communications protocol, or a 6LowPAN communications protocol.

16. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 9, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector further comprises an occupancy sensor that is configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector.