PHOTOELECTRIC SMOKE SENSOR AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

• US 20090009348A1
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mizuo, Kazuhiro
• Application Number:
  US12/167,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009348A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/630
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/107 for detecting light-scattering due to smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details

Abstract

In a photoelectric smoke sensor, a casing has a bottom cover section in which a plurality of holes are formed. The bottom cover section having the holes has a function of allowing smoke to flow into and out of a smoke detecting section and preventing insects from entering the smoke detecting section from outside of the smoke detecting section. Thus, smoke is smoothly introduced from the lower side of the smoke detecting section into the smoke detecting section and there is no necessity of installing a large insect screen at the entrance of smoke flowing from the outside.

Claims

1. A photoelectric smoke sensor comprising:

a casing having a smoke detecting section into which smoke is introduced and a labyrinth section located around the smoke detecting section to block light traveling from outside of the smoke detecting section toward the smoke detecting section while allowing smoke to flow from outside of the smoke detecting section into the smoke detecting section;

a light-emitting section emitting light to the smoke detecting section; and

a light-receiving section receiving scattered light scattered by smoke in the smoke detecting section,

wherein the casing has a bottom cover section in which a plurality of holes are formed, the holes preventing insects from entering the smoke detecting section from outside while allowing smoke to flow into and out of the smoke detecting section.

2. A photoelectric smoke sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom cover section, the smoke detecting section, and the labyrinth section of the casing are integrally molded.

3. A photoelectric smoke sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing has a plurality of protrusion sections, said protrusion sections each protruding into the smoke detecting section and having an acute angled tip.

4. A photoelectric smoke sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the protrusion sections has two branch tips.

5. A photoelectric smoke sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the protrusion sections crosses a straight line connecting the light-emitting section with the light-receiving section and extends from the bottom cover section of the casing to a top end of the casing.

6. A photoelectric smoke sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

at least one of the protrusion sections does not cross a straight line connecting the light-emitting section with the light-receiving section and extends from the bottom cover section of the casing to a level of a top end of the light-emitting section; and

the top end of the light-emitting section is nearer to the bottom cover section than the top end of the casing is.

7. A photoelectric smoke sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protrusion sections protrude into the smoke detecting section by dimensions which are not larger than dimensions to reach a half width region of a beam emitted by the light-emitting section.

8. A photoelectric smoke sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protrusion sections protrude into the smoke detecting section by dimensions which are not larger than dimensions to reach a half width region in a light-receiving visual field of the light-receiving section.

9. A photoelectric smoke sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the casing has a light-blocking protrusion located in front of the light-receiving section to prevent reflected light from the protrusion sections and/or the inner wall of the smoke detecting section from entering the light-receiving section.

10. Electronic equipment comprising a photoelectric smoke sensor according to claim 1.