Detection Device System and Device Thereof

• US 20100271220A1
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Tuttle, Darin D., Edwards, Scott R., Fish, Richard T. JR., Pattok, Greg R., Stirling, Christopher D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,232,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/628
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/103 using a light emitting and receiving device
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A detection device and detection device system are provided, wherein the detection device includes a housing, a first detector device and a second detector device. The first detector device is configured to detect at least one smoke particle. A second detector device configured to detect at least one gas particle, wherein the first detector device and the second detector device are substantially enclosed in the housing. The detection device further includes an audible enunciator configured to emit an audible noise when at least one of the first and second detector devices detect at least one smoke and gas particle, and a test button, wherein the audible enunciator emits an audible sound when the detection device is operating improperly and the test button is activated.

Claims

1. A detection device comprising:

a housing;

a first detector device configured to detect at least one smoke particle;

a second detector device configured to detect at least one gas particle, wherein said first detector device and said second detector device are substantially enclosed in said housing;

an audible enunciator configured to emit a first audible sound when said first detector device detects at least one smoke particle, and a second audible sound when said second detector device detects at least one gas particle;

a test button, wherein said audible enunciator emits a third audible sound when said detection device is operating improperly and said test button is actuated; and

a receptacle configured to receive a conductor that communicatively connects the detection device with a second detection device, wherein signals corresponding to said first and second audible sounds are communicated to said second detector, while a signal corresponding to said third audible sound is not communicated to said second detector.

2. The detection device of claim 1, wherein said gas particle detected by said second detector device is a carbon monoxide particle.

3. The detection device of claim 1, wherein said audible enunciator is a single audible enunciator, such that said single audible enunciator is configured to emit each of said first, second, and third audible sounds.

4. The detection device of claim 1 that is communicatively connected to at least a second detection device in a detection device system.

5. The detection device of claim 4, wherein said detection devices of said detection device system are substantially synchronized, such that when said smoke particle is detected by said first detector device of said detection device in said detection device system, said audible enunciator of said detection devices that are communicatively connected emit said first audible sound at substantially the same time.

6. The detection device of claim 4, wherein said detection devices of said detection device system are substantially synchronized, such that when said gas particle is detected by said second detector device of said detection device in said detection device system, said audible enunciator of said detection devices communicatively connected emit said second audible sound at substantially the same time.

7. The detection device of claim 1 that is communicatively connected to at least said second detection device in a detection device system, wherein said conductor for said communicative connection is a tandem electrical conductor.

8. The detection device of claim 7, wherein a tandem signal is communicated across said tandem electrical conductor, such that substantially all said detection devices of said detection device system that are communicatively connected are substantially synchronized.

9. The detection device of claim 7, wherein data is communicated between said detection devices of said detection device system utilizing said tandem electrical conductor.

10. The detection device of claim 1, wherein a sensitivity of one of said first and second detector devices is altered based upon detection of at least one particle by the other of said first and second detector devices.

11. The detection device of claim 1, wherein said audible enunciator is configured to emit a plurality of audible sounds based upon detection of at least one of said smoke particle and said gas particle so that at least a portion of said plurality of audible sounds are prioritized, such that when said smoke and gas particles are detected, said audible enunciator emits said audible sound having a higher prioritization.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said audible sound that corresponds to detection of said smoke particle has a higher prioritization than said audible sound that corresponds to detection of said gas particle.

13. The detection device of claim 1 further comprising an indicator device configured to indicate an operating condition of a detection device.

14. The detection device of claim 13, wherein said indicator device is a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit light external to said housing.

15. The detection device of claim 14, wherein said LED emits said light when at least one of said smoke particle and said gas particle are detected.

16. The detection device of claim 13, wherein said indicator device at least periodically emits light, such that said emitted light is monitored for diagnostics of said operating condition.

17. The detection device of claim 1 further comprising a test chamber enclosed in said housing, wherein said first and second detector devices detect said smoke particle and said gas particle, respectively, in said test chamber.

18. The detection device of claim 17 further comprising a cage enclosed in said housing, wherein said cage substantially encloses said test chamber to substantially prevent non-smoke, non-gas particles from entering said test chamber.

19. The detection device of claim 1, wherein said first detector device is a smoke obscuration detector.

20. The detection device of claim 1 further comprising hardware circuitry configured to receive electrical power having a voltage potential of one of one hundred twenty volts (120 V) and nine volts (9 V).

21. A detection device system comprising:

a plurality of detection devices, wherein at least one detection device of said plurality of detection devices comprises;

a housing;

a smoke detector device configured to detect a smoke particle;

a carbon monoxide detector device configured to detect a carbon monoxide particle, wherein said smoke detector device and said carbon monoxide detector device are substantially enclosed in said housing; and

an audible enunciator configured to emit a first audible tonal pattern when said smoke detector device detects said smoke particle, and emit a second audible tonal pattern when said carbon monoxide detector device detects said carbon monoxide particle; and

a tandem electrical conductor adapted to communicatively connect at least a portion of said plurality of detection devices, such that a signal corresponding said smoke detector detecting a smoke particle and said carbon monoxide detector detecting a carbon monoxide particle are communicated over said tandem electrical conductor.

22. The detection device system of claim 21, wherein said plurality of detection devices are substantially synchronized, such that when said smoke particle is detected by said smoke detector device, said audible enunciator of said plurality of detection devices that are communicatively connected emit said first audible tonal pattern at substantially the same time.

23. The detection device system of claim 21, wherein said plurality of detection devices are substantially synchronized, such that when said carbon monoxide particle is detected by said carbon monoxide detector device, said audible enunciator of said plurality of detection devices that are communicatively connected emit said second audible tonal pattern at substantially the same time.

24. The detection device system of claim 21, wherein a tandem signal is communicated across a said tandem electrical conductor, such that said plurality of detection devices are substantially synchronized.

25. The detection device system of claim 21, wherein data is communicated between said plurality of detection devices utilizing said tandem electrical conductor.

26. The detection device system of claim 21, wherein a sensitivity of at least one of said first and second detection devices of at least one detection device is altered based upon said data received from another said detection device.

27. The detection device system of claim 21, wherein said first audible tonal pattern emitted by said audible enunciator when said smoke particle is detected has a higher priority than said second audible tonal pattern emitted by said audible enunciator when said carbon monoxide particle is detected, such that when both said smoke and carbon monoxide particles are detected, said first audible enunciator emits said audible sound having said higher prioritization.

28. The detection device system of claim 21, wherein said audible enunciator of at least one of said plurality of detection devices further comprises a single piezoelectric speaker configured to emit each of said first and second tonal patterns.

29. The detection device system of claim 21, wherein said plurality of detection devices comprises a detection device communicatively connected to said at least one detection device and configured to detect only said smoke particle and emit said second audible tonal pattern when a signal indicating detection of said carbon monoxide particle is received from said tandem electrical conductor.

30. The detection device system of claim 21, wherein said plurality of detection devices comprises a detection device communicatively connected and configured to detect only said carbon monoxide particle and emit said first audible tonal pattern when a signal indicating detection of said smoke particle is received from said tandem electrical conductor.

31. A detection device comprising:

a housing;

a first detector device configured to detect at least one smoke particle;

a second detector device configured to detect at least one gas particle, wherein said first detector device and said second detector device are substantially enclosed in said housing; and

an indicator device configured to indicate an operating condition of a detection device, wherein said indicator device at least periodically emits light that is monitored for diagnostics of said operating condition.

32. The detection device of claim 31, wherein said indicator device is a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit light external to said housing.

33. The detection device of claim 32, wherein said LED emits said light when at least one of said smoke particle and said gas particle are detected.

34. The detection device of claim 31, wherein said gas particle detected by said second detector device is a carbon monoxide particle.

35. The detection device of claim 31 further comprising an audible enunciator configured to emit a first audible sound when said first detector device detects said smoke particle, and emit a second audible sound when said second detector device detects said gas particle.

36. The detection device of claim 35 further comprising a test button, wherein said audible enunciator emits an audible sound when said detection device is operating improperly and said test button is actuated.

37. The detection device of claim 31 that is communicatively connected to at least a second detection device in a detection device system, wherein said communicative connection is a tandem electrical conductor.

38. The detection device of claim 31, wherein a sensitivity of one of said first and second detector devices is altered based upon detection of at least one particle by the other of said first and second detector devices.