Processor based wireless detector

• US 20020021223A1
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Jen, Hsing C., Baricovich, Deborah R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,445,292 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/628
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply

Abstract

An energy efficient, easily manufacturable, multi-sensor detector incorporates a smoke sensor and a thermal sensor. A single die programmed processor with integrally formed storage circuits for programs and parameters senses sensor signals, from different types of sensors, during a common activation cycle and processes those signals during the same cycle. The processor can also monitor the condition of an energy supplying battery and provide modulation signals to an audible output device. Other detector functions can be interleaved between output device modulation signals to minimize the cost of the programmed processor and thereby provide the required functionality very cost effectively.

Claims

1. A detector comprising:

at least one ambient condition sensor;

an audible output device for producing an interrupted audio tonal pattern having predetermined on and off intervals; and

a control circuit coupled to the sensor and to the device wherein in response to the presence of a selected, sensed ambient condition the control circuit drives the output device in accordance with the predetermined on and off intervals and wherein during the on intervals the control circuit is substantially completely dedicated to providing electrical energy for driving the output device and wherein during off intervals the control circuit carries out different, non-driving functions.

2. A detector as in claim 1 which includes a wireless output circuit, coupled to the control circuit.

3. A detector as in claim 2 which includes a replaceable power source coupled to a voltage increasing circuit.

4. A detector as in claim 3 wherein the power source comprises a battery.

5. A detector as in claim 4 which includes a voltage multiplier circuit coupled between the battery and the output device.

6. A detector as in claim 1 which incorporates a second, different, sensor wherein the control circuit comprises executable instructions for establishing a sampling cycle and for sampling both sensors during the sampling cycle.

7. A detector as in claim 6 wherein the executable instructions implement at least one stabilization interval prior to sampling the sensors.

8. A detector as in claim 7 which includes a third sensor, substantially identical to the second sensor and comprising executable instructions for sampling the third sensor during the sampling cycle.

9. A detector as in claim 8 wherein one sensor comprises a smoke sensor and another comprises a heat sensor.

10. A detector as in claim 6 wherein the control circuit comprises a programmed processor configured with an intermittent active cycle which includes the sampling cycle and wherein the control circuit requires a first power level during each active cycle and a substantially reduced power level between active cycles thereby reducing average required power.

11. A detector as in claim 10 which includes executable sensitivity compensation instructions wherein different degrees of compensation are achieved in a substantially common time interval.

12. A detector as in claim 10 which includes executable sensor signal processing instructions which respond to a non-alarm indicating ambient condition from one of the sensors to adjust an alarm indicating threshold for that sensor.

13. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the one sensor is a thermal sensor and the other is a smoke sensor.

14. A detector as in claim 13 which incorporates a second thermal sensor.

16. A system as in claim 15 wherein the detectors each include a replaceable energy source with an output port which is coupled to the multiplier circuit.

17. A system as in claim 15 wherein some detectors include a common die for at least a processor and non-volatile storage of executable instructions and parameter values.

18. A system as in claim 17 wherein the storage comprises at least one of flash memory, PROM and EEPROM on the common die.

19. A system as in claim 15 wherein the control circuit comprises executable instructions for, in part, carrying out as one different control function, processing signals received from the sensor.

20. A system as in claim 19 wherein the instructions establish at least one sample interval having a predetermined period.

15. A system comprising:

a common control panel;

a plurality of wireless ambient condition detectors in wireless communication with the panel wherein the detectors each include;

a control circuit.

a wireless interface coupled to the control circuit;

at least one ambient condition sensor coupled to the control circuit;

an alarm indicating tonal output device, coupled to the control circuit wherein the output device is intermittently drivable during selected spaced apart intervals; and

a multiplier circuit coupled to the control circuit and to the output device, wherein the control circuit drives the multiplier circuit during the spaced apart intervals, substantially to the exclusion of carrying out different control functions, and, wherein the control circuit carries out the different control functions between the spaced apart intervals.

21. A detector comprising:

a control circuit.

a wireless interface coupled to the control circuit;

at least one ambient condition sensor coupled to the control circuit;

an alarm indicating tonal output device, coupled to the control circuit wherein the output device is intermittently drivable during selected spaced apart intervals; and

a multiplier circuit coupled to the control circuit and to the output device, wherein the control circuit drives the multiplier circuit during the spaced apart intervals, substantially to the exclusion of carrying out different control functions, and, wherein the control circuit carries out the different control functions between the spaced apart intervals.

22. A detector as in claim 21 which includes a replaceable energy source with an output port which is coupled to the multiplier circuit.

23. A detector as in claim 21 which includes a single die for at least a processor and non-volatile storage of executable instructions and parameter values.

24. A detector as in claim 23 wherein the storage comprises at least one of flash memory, PROM and EEPROM on the die.

25. A detector as in claim 21 wherein the control circuit comprises executable instructions for, in part, carrying out as one different control function, processing signals received from the sensor.

26. A detector as in claim 23 wherein the processor exhibits an active interval having a predetermined period and wherein executable instructions carry out sensor sampling and signal processing during the interval.

27. A detector as in claim 26 wherein executable instructions carry out a fixed time interval compensation process irrespective of degree of compensation.

29. An apparatus as in claim 28 wherein some of the executable instructions comprise modulation instructions for audible output device drive signals.

30. An apparatus as in claim 29 wherein other instructions process output signals from first and second different ambient condition sensors.

31. An apparatus as in claim 28 wherein some of the instructions comprise wireless communication instructions.

32. An apparatus as in claim 28 wherein some of the instructions comprise analog-to-digital conversion instructions.

33. An apparatus as in claim 30 wherein other instructions implement a battery test function during time intervals not associated with ambient condition sensing.

34. An apparatus as in claim 30 which includes first and second different ambient condition sensors, each of which is coupled to an input port.

35. An apparatus as in claim 34 wherein the sensors output analog signals and the input port comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

36. An apparatus as in claim 34 which includes executable instructions for activating both sensors at substantially the same time.

37. An apparatus as in claim 36 wherein the processor is only activated to execute instructions during predetermined intervals and wherein sensor output signals are acquired and processed during the same interval during which the sensors are activated.

38. An apparatus as in claim 37 which includes instructions for carrying out a sensor compensation process.

39. An apparatus as in claim 38 wherein differing degrees of compensation are implemented during substantially the same elapsed time.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a semiconductor die;

a programmable processor formed on the die;

first and second different types of storage formed on the die and coupled to the processor wherein instructions, executable by the processor, are stored in some of the storage locations and parameter values are stored in other locations;

a digital input/output port formed on the die and coupled to the processor; and

at least one ambient condition sensor coupled to the processor.

40. An energy efficient, wireless ambient condition detector comprising:

first and second different types of fire sensors;

programmed control circuitry for energizing both types of sensors, in part simultaneously, during a plurality of spaced apart, active, time intervals of the control circuitry wherein the circuitry includes executable instructions for compensating one of the sensors, over a range, during a substantially constant temporal interval wherein the circuitry repetitively enters energy saving inactive intervals which bound the members of the plurality;

a wireless interface for communication of status information to a displaced alarm system control panel; and

battery monitoring circuitry, coupled between a battery and the control circuitry wherein the control circuitry executes instructions for evaluating the energy remaining in the battery.

41. A detector as in claim 40 wherein one sensor is a smoke sensor and another is a thermal sensor wherein the executable instructions energize the smoke sensor for a longer, overlapping interval than the thermal sensor is energized.

42. A detector as in claim 41 which includes an audible output device and an interface coupled between the output device and the control circuitry wherein executable instructions drive the interface and the sounder during a plurality of spaced apart active intervals, temporally displaced from active intervals wherein the sensors are energized.

43. A detector as in claim 42 wherein the interface includes a voltage multiplier circuit.