Detection system and method for determining an alarm condition therein

• US 20060192669A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: May & Scofield LLC
• Original Assignee: May & Scofield LLC
• Inventors: Allen, Les
• Granted Patent: US 7,482,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/522
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1009 Sonic sensors; Signal treatment therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/183 Single detectors using dual technologies G08B13/1672, G08B13/2448, G08B13/2494 take precedence

Abstract

A method (300) for determining an alarm condition for a confined space comprises detecting motion or an intrusion (305) in the confined space by a secondary sensor and generating (310) an alarm signal by the secondary sensor in response to detected motion or an intrusion. The method further comprises the steps of determining (315) whether the alarm signal represents a false alarm condition; and inhibiting (325) a primary sensor in response to a determined false alarm condition. The provision of a secondary sensor is used to identify false alarms and inhibit operation of the primary sensor or alarm in response thereto.

Claims

1. A method for determining an alarm condition for a confined space, the method characterised by the steps of:

detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the confined space by a secondary microphone sensor;

generating an alarm signal by the secondary microphone sensor in response to detected low frequency acoustic signals;

determining whether the alarm signal represents a false alarm condition; and

inhibiting a primary sensor in response to a determined false alarm condition.

2. A method according to claim 1 further characterised in that the step of determining whether the alarm signal represents a false alarm condition comprises discriminating between various types of signal-source.

3. A method according to claim 2 further characterised in that the step of discriminating between a type of alarm signal source, comprises a step of filtering a detected alarm signal into one of two or more frequency bands.

4. A method according to claim 3 further characterised in that the two or more frequency bands comprises one at low frequency representing an alarm signal from the secondary microphone sensor, and one at high frequency representing an alarm signal from the primary sensor.

5. A method according to claim 1 further characterised in that the alarm signal comprises stochastic information corresponding to one or more sensors.

6. A method according to claim 1 further characterised in that the step of determining whether the alarm signal represents a false alarm condition comprises determining whether the alarm signal exceeded a threshold or trigger level.

7. A method according to claim 6 further characterised in that the threshold or trigger level for the secondary microphone sensor is set below a threshold level at which the same signal source would cause a trigger of the primary sensor.

8. A method according to claim 1 further characterised in that the step of inhibiting comprises a step of inhibiting a primary sensor for a pre-determined time.

9. A method according to claim 1 further characterised by a step of triggering an alarm in response to an alarm signal being generated by a primary sensor and a secondary microphone sensor.

10. A detection system determining an alarm condition for a confined space and arranged to perform the method steps of claim 1.

11. A detection system for determining an alarm condition within a confined space comprising a primary alarm sensor, the detection system characterised by:

a secondary alarm microphone sensor arranged to generate an alarm signal in response to detected low frequency acoustic signals in the confined space; and

a signal processor operably coupled to the primary alarm sensor and secondary alarm microphone sensor, and configured to determine whether the alarm signal represents a false alarm condition and inhibit operation of the primary alarm sensor in response to a determined false alarm condition.

12. A detection system according to claim 11 further characterised in that the primary alarm sensor comprises a primary detector that is an ultrasonic transmitter.

13. A detection system according to claim 11 further characterised in that the signal processor is arranged to determine whether the alarm signal represents a false alarm condition by discriminating between various types of signal sources.

14. A detection system according to claim 13 further characterised by a filter operably coupled to the signal processor and arranged to discriminate between various types of signal source by filtering alarm signals having different frequency responses into one or more frequency bands.

15. A detection system according to claim 13 further characterised in that the signal processor interprets an alarm signal filtered at a low frequency as representing an alarm signal from the secondary sensor, and a signal filtered at a high frequency as representing an alarm signal from the primary sensor.

16. A detection system according to claim 11 further characterised in that the alarm signal comprises stochastic information corresponding to one or more sensors.

17. A detection system according to claim 11 further characterised in that a single detector with a wideband frequency response performs the function of the primary detector and the secondary detector.

18. A microphone detector arranged to generate an alarm signal in response to detected low frequency acoustic signals in a confined space in the detection system according to claim 11.

19. A signal processor arranged to process detected low frequency acoustic signals in the detection system according to claim 11.