Hazardous condition detector with wireless communication interface

• US 10,636,269 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2019
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomson IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thompson Mug Company, LLC
• Inventors: Lacy, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Application Number:
  US16/376,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20190311595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 340540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/007 Wireless interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1016 using wireless transmission calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A hazardous condition detection device includes a small and lightweight main body having connectors along one side for securement to a building wall or ceiling. A detection unit is positioned within the main body and includes sensors such as a smoke detection sensor, a heat detection sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a radon detection sensor, a natural gas detection sensor, and/or a propane detection sensor. An alarm unit is positioned within the main body for generating an audiovisual alarm indication. A controller having a wireless interface is positioned within the main body and communicates with an externally located processor enabled device.

Claims

1. A hazardous condition detection device, comprising:

a main body that is configured to be secured onto a building wall or ceiling;

an alarm unit that is positioned within the main body, said alarm unit being configured to generate at least one of an audible or visual alarm notification;

a detection unit that is positioned within the main body, said detection unit being configured to detect a presence of a hazardous condition;

a battery;

a controller having a wireless interface that is positioned within the main body, said controller including functionality for receiving a notification from the detection unit and activating one or both of the alarm unit and the wireless interface; and

a mobile application for execution on a processor enabled device, said application being encoded with instructions for allowing the processor enabled device to communicate with the wireless interface of the controller,

wherein the controller further includes functionality for monitoring a power level of the battery, and for selectively operating the alarm unit when the power level is beneath a user defined threshold, and

said controller further including functionality for communicating a type of hazardous condition present in the notification transmitted to the mobile application, and for simultaneously transmitting a notification containing the type of hazardous condition present to a third party device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes functionality for communicating a type of hazardous condition present in the notification transmitted to the mobile application.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the mobile application includes functionality for deactivating the alarm unit on the main body upon receipt of the notification.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises:

at least one of a smoke detection sensor, a heat detection sensor, a carbon monoxide detection sensor, a radon detection sensor, a natural gas detection sensor, and a propane gas detection sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises:

at least two of a smoke detection sensor, a heat detection sensor, a carbon monoxide detection sensor, a radon detection sensor, a natural gas detection sensor, and a propane gas detection sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises:

at least three of a smoke detection sensor, a heat detection sensor, a carbon monoxide detection sensor, a radon detection sensor, a natural gas detection sensor, and a propane gas detection sensor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises:

each of a smoke detection sensor, a heat detection sensor, a carbon monoxide detection sensor, a radon detection sensor, a natural gas detection sensor, and a propane gas detection sensor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the alarm unit comprises both a speaker and at least one light.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the controller includes functionality for instructing the speaker to communicate a type of hazardous condition detected by the detection unit.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the mobile application is encoded with instructions for showing the power level of the battery.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the mobile application is encoded with instructions for providing an audiovisual alert on the processor enabled device when the power level of the battery is beneath a user defined threshold.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile application includes functionality for deactivating the alarm unit on the main body upon receipt of the notification, and for cancelling the notification to the third party device.