Hazardous condition detector with integral wireless connectivity infrastructure device

• US 20050253709A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Maple Chase Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Maple Chase Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Baker, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US11/129,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253709A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.260
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A hazardous condition detector device that includes wireless communication capability for expanding the connectivity range of a wireless network. The hazardous condition detector includes a unitary housing that includes both a wireless communication device and a hazardous condition detection circuit. The combined hazardous condition detector and wireless infrastructure device is mounted within a building in an optimal location to enhance the interconnectivity range of the wireless network. The hazardous condition detection circuit is operable to sense the presence of a hazardous condition and generate an alarm signal. The hazardous condition detector forms part of a combined hazardous condition detection and wireless computer network infrastructure that both enhances the wireless connectivity with a building and satisfies building code-required hazardous condition detection parameters.

Claims

1. A combined condition detector and wireless network infrastructure device, comprising:

a housing;

a condition detection circuit contained within the housing and operable to generate an alarm signal upon detection of a predetermined condition; and

a wireless communication device contained within the housing, the wireless communication device operable to receive wireless network communication signals and transmit the wireless network communication signals.

2. The combined detector of claim 1 wherein the housing is configured to mount to a mounting bracket of a condition detector.

3. The combined detector of claim 1 wherein the condition detection circuit detects a hazardous condition and generates an audible alarm signal upon detection of the hazardous condition.

4. The combined detector of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device is a wireless repeater operable to receive wireless network communication signals and retransmit the wireless network communication signals.

5. The combined detector of claim 4 wherein the wireless repeater receives a WI-FI network communication signals and retransmits the WI-FI network communication signals.

6. The combined detector of claim 3 wherein the hazardous condition detection circuit is operable to detect the presence of smoke.

7. The combined detector of claim 3 wherein the hazardous condition detection circuit is operable to detect both smoke and carbon monoxide.

8. The combined detector of claim 1 wherein the condition detection circuit detects movement.

9. A combined hazardous condition detection and wireless connectivity system for use within a building having a detector infrastructure, the system comprising:

a wireless network router positioned within the building and operable to transmit and receive wireless communication signals; and

at least one combined hazardous condition detector and wireless repeater positioned within the building to receive the wireless communication signals from the wireless router and retransmit the wireless communication signals for receipt by a peripheral device within the building,

wherein the combined hazardous condition detector and wireless repeater includes a hazardous condition detection circuit operable to generate an alarm signal upon the detection of a hazardous condition.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless repeater and the hazardous condition detection circuit are contained within a unitary housing.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the housing is configured for mounting to a mounting bracket of a hazard detector.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the hazardous condition detection circuit and the wireless repeater are coupled to a line voltage of the detector infrastructure.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the detector infrastructure includes at least one hazard detector in conductive communication with the combined hazardous condition detector and wireless repeater, the hazard detector being operable to generate an alarm signal upon detection of the hazardous condition.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless communication signals are WI-FI signals.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the hazardous condition detector circuit generates the alarm signal upon detection of smoke.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the hazardous condition detector circuit generates the alarm signal upon detection of smoke or carbon monoxide.

17. A combined hazardous condition detector and wireless network infrastructure device for use in a building having a plurality of hazard detectors interconnected by a detector infrastructure, the combined detector comprising:

a housing;

a hazardous condition detection circuit contained within the housing and operable to generate an alarm signal upon detection of a hazardous condition; and

a wireless repeater contained within the housing, the wireless repeater being operable to receive wireless network communication signals and retransmit the wireless network communication signals,

wherein both the hazardous condition detection circuit and the wireless communication device are connected to the detector infrastructure.

18. The combined detector of claim 17 wherein the hazardous condition detection circuit and the wireless repeater are coupled to a line voltage of the detector infrastructure.

19. The combined detector of claim 18 wherein the combined hazardous condition detector and wireless repeater is in conductive communication with at least one hazard detector through the detector infrastructure.

20. The combined detector of claim 17 wherein the housing is configured to be received by a mounting bracket of one of the hazard detectors.

21. A wireless computer network infrastructure device, comprising:

a housing;

a wireless repeater contained within the housing, the wireless repeater being operable to receive wireless computer network communication signals and retransmit the wireless computer network communication signals; and

a condition detection circuit contained within the housing and operable to generate an alarm signal upon the detection of a predetermined condition.

22. The infrastructure device of claim 21 wherein the wireless computer network communication signals are transmitted using WI-FI.

23. The infrastructure device of claim 21 wherein the wireless computer network communication signals are transmitted using Bluetooth.

24. The infrastructure device of claim 21 wherein the condition detection circuit detects a hazardous condition and generates an audible alarm upon the detection of the hazardous condition.

25. The infrastructure device of claim 21 wherein the condition detection circuit detects a security condition and generates an alarm indication signal upon the detection of the security condition.