SUPERVISED INTERCONNECT SMOKE ALARM SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20130285805A1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Pattok, Greg R., Tuttle, Darin D., Edwards, Scott R., Christian, David E., Newhouse, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,607,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• 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 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/04 using a single signalling line, e.g. in a closed loop

Abstract

A smoke alarm system for providing interconnect supervision between detectors includes smoke detectors configured so that an interconnect line extends between each of the of smoke detectors. In one embodiment using a wired connection, each of the smoke detectors includes an interconnect input and an interconnect output for connecting the smoke detectors into a loop configuration. Similarly, the system may also operate to provide interconnect supervision in a wireless manner such that each of the smoke detectors are polled on a periodic basis. Thus, the smoke alarm system uses interconnect supervision for alerting other detectors of a smoke and/or carbon monoxide alarm as well as altering other detectors to a fault condition.

Claims

1. A supervised interconnect hazard alarm system for providing interconnect supervision comprising:

a plurality of notification appliances; and

wherein the plurality of notification appliances are each interconnected to form a loop configuration using at least one interconnect line extending therebetween for providing supervision between the plurality of devices without the use of a central control panel.

2. A supervised interconnect hazard alarm system as in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of notification appliances receive data from the at least one interconnect line via an interconnect input and sends data via an interconnect output.

3. A supervised interconnect hazard alarm system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of notification appliances change a signal state on an output of the interconnect line so that each the plurality notification appliances will detect a change in state on a respective interconnect input.

4. A supervised interconnect hazard alarm system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of notification appliances will sound an interconnect alert if a change in state on the at least one interconnect line is not detected within a predetermined time period.

5. A supervised interconnect hazard alarm system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one interconnect line is used to indicate a fault condition.

6. A supervised interconnect hazard alarm system as in claim 1, wherein the interconnect line is a wireless connection.

7. A supervised interconnect hazard alarm system as in claim 1, wherein the system detects at least one of the presence of smoke or carbon monoxide (CO).

8. A hazardous environment condition notification appliance system comprising:

a plurality of notification appliances;

an interconnect line extending between each of the plurality of notification appliances; and

wherein each of the plurality of notification appliances include an interconnect input and an interconnect output for connecting the plurality of interconnect appliances into a loop configuration for detecting operational status between each one of the plurality of interconnect appliances.

9. A hazardous environment condition notification appliance system as in claim 8, wherein each of the notification appliances receives data from the interconnect input and sends data via the interconnect output for alerting the plurality of notification appliances of at least one alarm type.

10. A hazardous environment condition notification appliance system as in claim 8, wherein the plurality of notification appliances change a logic state on its interconnect output so that at least one remaining plurality of notification appliances will detect a change in logic state on their respective interconnect input.

11. A hazardous environment condition notification appliance system as in claim 10, wherein the plurality of notification appliances will sound an interconnect alert if a change in state on the interconnect input is not detected within a predetermined time period.

12. A hazardous environment condition notification appliance system as in claim 11, wherein the interconnect alert indicates a fault on the interconnect line.

13. A hazardous environment condition notification appliance system as in claim 8, wherein the interconnect line is a wireless communication.

14. A notification appliance comprising;

an interconnect input connector configured to receive an input signal from a first remote notification appliance;

an interconnect output connector configured to transmit an output signal to a second remote notification appliance; and

a processor in communication with the interconnect input and the interconnect output, the processor configured to determine if the input signal is received within a predetermined time period so to indicate the first remote notification appliance is operating properly.

15. A notification appliance as in claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of the plurality of notification appliances detects a change in signal state so that a fault condition can easily be detected during polling by other of plurality of notification devices.

16. A notification appliance as in claim 14, wherein power to the notification appliance is supplied via at least one power bus and battery backup.

17. A notification appliance as in claim 14, wherein the notification appliance can detect at least one of smoke, fire, heat or carbon monoxide (CO).

18. A notification appliance as in claims 14, wherein the notification appliance is a visual strobe alarm.