Wireless Device Networks With Smoke Detection Capabilities

• US 20140340216A1
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Puskarich, Paul G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,123,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• 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 17/107 for detecting light-scattering due to smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/11 using an ionisation chamber for detecting smoke or gas
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm

Abstract

An electronic device may include a smoke detector. The electronic device may use the smoke detector to monitor for the presence of smoke. In response to detecting smoke with the smoke detector, the electronic device may issue an alert or take other suitable action. The electronic device may transmit alerts to nearby electronic devices and to remote electronic devices such as electronic devices at emergency services facilities. Alerts may contain maps and graphical representations of buildings in which smoke has been detected. Motion detectors and other sensors and circuitry may be used in determining whether electronic devices are being used by users and may be used in determining where the electronic devices are located. Alerts may contain information on the location of detected smoke and building occupants.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a housing in which the display is mounted;

a smoke detector; and

communications circuitry configured to transmit data to external equipment in response to detecting smoke with the smoke detector.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one port, wherein the smoke detector is mounted within the housing adjacent to the port and is configured to monitor for smoke through the port.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the port comprises a speaker port having mesh with openings and wherein the smoke detector is configured to receive the smoke through the openings in the mesh of the speaker port.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the port comprises a connector port in the housing.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display comprises a touch screen display.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the smoke detector comprises a light source and a light detector.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the smoke detector comprises an ionizing detector.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the electronic device is device selected from the group consisting of:

a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a computer monitor, and a television.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the communications circuitry comprises wireless communications circuitry.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the wireless communications circuitry comprises cellular telephone transceiver circuitry.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the wireless communications circuitry comprises wireless local area network transceiver circuitry.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 9 further comprising satellite navigation system receiver circuitry configured to receive signals to determine the location of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a motion sensor.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 further comprising a proximity sensor.

15. A method, comprising:

monitoring for smoke with a smoke detector in a portable electronic device of a user; and

in response to detecting that smoke is present with the smoke detector, transmitting an alert to external electronic equipment.

16. The method defined in claim 15 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a cellular telephone and wherein monitoring for the smoke comprises using a smoke detector in the cellular telephone to monitor for the smoke.

18. The method defined in claim 15 wherein transmitting the alert comprises transmitting an alert that contains a map that includes a geographic location of detected smoke.

19. The method defined in claim 15 wherein transmitting the alert comprises transmitting a graphic representation of a building.

20. The method defined in claim 19 wherein transmitting the graphic representation of the building comprises transmitting at least one label indicating where the portable electronic device is located within the building relative to detected smoke.

17. The method defined in claim 17 wherein the external electronic equipment comprises emergency services equipment at an emergency services facility and wherein wirelessly transmitting the alert comprises transmitting an alert to the emergency services equipment.

21. A cellular telephone, comprising:

a housing;

a display on the housing; and

control circuitry coupled to the display; and

a smoke detector coupled to the control circuitry.

22. The cellular telephone defined in claim 21 further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit commands to fire suppression equipment.

23. The cellular telephone defined in claim 21 further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit an alert to an electronic device that directs the electronic device to display a map on which a location at which smoke has been detected by the smoke detector is labeled.

24. The cellular telephone defined in claim 21 further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit an alert to an electronic device that directs the electronic device to display a graphic representation of a building in which smoke has been detected by the smoke detector.

25. The cellular telephone defined in claim 21 comprising:

a motion detector coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether a user of the cellular telephone is using the cellular telephone within a building at least partly based on data from the motion detector; and

wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit an alert to an electronic device that contains an interactive prompt, wherein the alert directs the electronic device to display a graphic representation of a building in which smoke has been detected by the smoke detector, and wherein the graphic representation of the building includes a label representing the user.