System and method for providing temporary power to intermittent units

• US 10,276,035 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Feltham, Robert, Chiarizio, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US15/864,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20180130341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 340509, 340628, 340632, 340635, 340638, 340521, 340541
• 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 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/043 of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for providing temporary power to an intermittent unit of a fire alarm system device. The intermittent unit is intermittently activated. The fire alarm system device includes a power storage unit for providing temporary power to the intermittent unit and a voltage converter for providing power at a voltage required by the intermittent unit. The fire alarm system device also includes a power control circuit for discharging the power storage unit through the intermittent unit when the intermittent unit first is activated and then switching to enable the voltage converter to power the intermittent unit.

Claims

1. A notification device, comprising:

an intermittent unit that is intermittently activated;

a power storage unit for providing temporary power to the intermittent unit;

a power supply unit for providing power required by the intermittent unit; and

a power control circuit for discharging the power storage unit through the intermittent unit and enabling the power supply unit to power the intermittent unit.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a system controller; and

a battery for providing power to the power supply unit.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit provides power to charge the power storage unit.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wired network interface for receiving power from a system network and supplying power to the power supply unit.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising

one or more batteries for providing power to the power supply unit and/or a device controller;

and

one or more battery control circuits for testing the batteries by periodically discharging the batteries through test load resistors under the control of the device controller to assess battery reliability.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the power control circuit tests the power storage unit by periodically discharging the power storage unit via a test load resistor under the control of a device controller to assess a capacity of the power storage unit.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the power storage unit is a supercapacitor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the intermittent unit is a strobe and/or a horn.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising an output control circuit for activating the intermittent unit by grounding the intermittent unit under control of a device controller.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit includes a back feed protection unit to ensure that the power storage unit discharges through the intermittent unit.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a device controller that controls the power control circuit to recharge the power storage unit less frequently than once a day.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a device controller that controls the power control circuit to discharge the power storage unit through the intermittent unit until a current requirement of the intermittent unit is below a maximum current output for the power supply unit.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the intermittent unit instantly operates when the power control circuit discharges the power storage unit through the intermittent unit which decreases a response time between detection of a fire condition and the operation of the intermittent unit.

14. A notification system, comprising:

one or more notification devices, each of the devices including;

an intermittent unit that is intermittently activated, a power storage unit for providing power to the intermittent unit, a power supply unit for providing power to the intermittent unit, a power control circuit for discharging the power storage unit through the intermittent unit for enabling the power supply unit and the power storage unit to power the intermittent unit, and a back feed protection unit of the power supply unit to ensure that the power storage unit discharges through the intermittent unit; and

a system controller for controlling the notification devices.

15. A method of operation of a notification device, the method comprising:

intermittently activating an intermittent unit of the notification device;

after activation, providing temporary power to the intermittent unit from a power storage unit under control of a power control circuit; and

providing power from a power supply unit.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising charging the power storage unit with the power supply unit.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving power from a system network and supplying power to the power supply unit.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising

providing power to the power supply unit and/or a device controller with one or more batteries;

and

periodically testing the batteries by discharging the batteries through test load resistors to assess battery reliability.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the intermittent unit is a strobe and/or a horn.

19. A method of operation of a notification device, the method comprising:

intermittently activating an intermittent unit of the notification device;

after activation, providing temporary power to the intermittent unit from a power storage unit;

providing power from a power supply unit; and

testing the power storage unit by periodically discharging the power storage unit through a test load resistor to assess a capacity of the power storage unit.