Infrared communication system and method

• US 20050128079A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Berezowski, Andrew G., Testa, Dominick A., Bohanon, Mark C., Hawkinson, Daniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,242,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.220
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal

Abstract

A wireless communications capability enables field personnel to communicate with remote a control console of a distributed system. A hand held communications unit generates console related messages that are coupled, via local devices, to the remote console.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

control circuitry;

interface circuitry, coupled to the control circuitry, for at least transmitting information from the control circuitry, via a medium to a displaced location;

a first sensor of incident radiant energy coupled to the control circuitry, the control circuitry coupling incoming signals from the sensor to the interface circuitry to be forwarded via the medium.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 with the sensor responsive to incident infrared-type signals.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 which includes a second, ambient condition sensor.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 where the ambient condition sensor comprises at least one of a smoke sensor, a flame sensor, a thermal sensor, or a gas sensor.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4 with the sensor of radiant energy responsive to infra-red signals.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 where the medium comprises at least one of a wired medium or a wireless medium.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 which includes a housing which carries the control circuitry, the interface circuitry and the sensor.

8. An apparatus as in claim 4 which includes a housing which carries the control circuitry, the interface circuitry and the at least one sensor.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8 which includes a separate, manually manipulatable source of radiant energy directable at the first sensor.

10. A communications method comprising:

establishing a plurality of spaced apart nodes;

originating a wireless communication directed to one of the nodes from a location proximate to another of the spaced apart nodes;

receiving the communication at the one node; and

transmitting the received communcation to the another node.

11. A method as in claim 10 which includes:

determining that the received communication is not directed to the receiving node.

12. A method as in claim 11 where the transmitting step is responsive to the determining step.

13. A method as in claim 10 which includes communicating with at least one common node.

14. A method as in claim 13 where the wireless communication is directed to the one common node.

15. A method as in claim 14 which includes forwarding the communication from the receiving node to the common node.

16. A method as in claim 13 where the wireless communication is directed to a node different than the receiving node.

17. A method as in claim 16 where the wireless communication is directed to the receiving node.

18. A method as in claim 16 where the wireless communication is directed to a plurality of different nodes.

19. A method as in claim 12 which includes sensing at least one type of ambient condition at a plurality of nodes.

20. A system comprising:

a plurality of spaced apart nodes, the nodes communicate via a medium;

at least one of the nodes includes a receiver of wireless communications from a displaced source and circuitry for determining that the at least one node is not a final recipient of the received communication.

21. A system as in claim 20 where the nodes each include circuitry for communicating with one another via the medium.

22. A system as in claim 21 where at least some of the nodes include at least one ambient condition sensor.

23. A system as in claim 22 where at least some of the sensors selected from a class which includes smoke sensors, gas sensors, flame sensors, thermal sensors, location sensors, and movement sensors.

24. A system as in claim 22 which includes a common control element.

25. A system as in claim 24 where at least some of the nodes include circuitry for distinguishing received communications for nodes from those for the common control element.