WIRELESS SMOKE AND FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090109016A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Derrick U. Hall, Herbert H.B. Baker, Joseph J. Kindler, Shawnfatee Bridges
• Original Assignee: Derrick U. Hall, Herbert H.B. Baker, Joseph J. Kindler, Shawnfatee Bridges
• Inventors: Baker, Herbert H B, Bridges, Shawnfatee, Kindler, Joseph J., Hall, Derrick U.
• Granted Patent: US 7,733,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion

Abstract

A smoke detector system employs smoke detectors that enter a “lockout period” following receipt of an alarm signal, during which time a detector will not receive a RF alarm signal and will not transmit a RF alarm signal after a certain period of time if that detector does not detect, or no longer detects, a dangerous condition. The lockout period is of sufficient duration to prevent re-transmission of a RF alarm signal by a detector even though it may have received a RF alarm signal from another detector(s). Hence, after a short period of time, no RF alarm signals will be received or transmitted and each detector resets, unless a dangerous condition is detected.

Claims

1. In a RF wireless alarm system having a plurality of detectors for detecting smoke or fire, wherein each detector is capable of sensing the presence of smoke or fire and providing an alert in response thereto from an integral alarm, transmitting a wireless alarm signal in response to detecting smoke or fire, receiving alarm signals transmitted by other detectors and providing the alert from the integral alarm in response thereto, and transmitting alarm signals in response to receipt of alarm signals from another detector, a method comprising:

after a first detector has received a transmitted alarm signal, discontinuing receipt of any alarm signal from any detector for a period of time (“

lockout period”

);

transmitting alarm signals from the first detector for a period of time (“

transmission period”

) after the first detector received a transmitted alarm signal;

discontinuing transmission of alarm signals from the first detector, and

again receiving and transmitting the alarm signal from the first detector if the alarm signal is received from a second detector after the lockout period has expired;

whereby, during the lockout period, any detector that initiated the alarm signal (“

initiating detector”

) is able to discontinue transmission of its alarm signal if the smoke or fire condition causing the transmission of the alarm signal from the detector has abated, without responding to alarm signals from the first detector that would otherwise cause alarm signal transmission from the initiating detector when no detector senses a smoke or fire condition.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission period is shorter than the lockout period.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission period ends before the lockout period ends.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lockout period is adjustable.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission period is adjustable.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the timer is adjustable.

6. A RF wireless alarm system having a plurality of detectors for detecting smoke or fire, wherein each detector is capable of sensing the presence of smoke or fire and providing an alert in response thereto from an integral alarm, transmitting a wireless alarm signal in response to detecting smoke or fire, receiving alarm signals transmitted by other detectors and providing the alert from the integral alarm in response thereto, and transmitting alarm signals in response to receipt of alarm signals from another detector, each said detector unit comprising:

a locking device capable of preventing the receipt of alarm signals;

a timer; and

an unlocking device to allow the receipt of alarm signals.