Smoke Detectors with Wireless Local Area Network Capabilities

• US 20150077248A1
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Eck, Arthur B.
• Application Number:
  US14/029,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20150077248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• 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 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus is configured to provided smoke detection and wireless local area network capabilities at each location thereof. This apparatus may replace existing smoke detector devices and/or be used in new construction so as to provide both smoke detection and wireless local area network capabilities in an area proximate to the apparatus. Carbon monoxide (CO) and/or carbon dioxide (CO₂) monitoring and alarm may also be incorporated into this apparatus. Local area network capabilities may be wireless local area network (WLAN), e.g., WiFi per IEEE 802.11 standard, etc. The smoke detector apparatus may be used as an Ethernet transceiver, wireless router, wireless repeater, etc., and may be coupled to a wired or wireless local area network Ethernet switch or router that may further be used to provide Internet capabilities in combination with an Internet modem coupled to Internet access, e.g., fiber optic, cable, DSL, etc., supplied by an Internet provider.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting smoke and providing wireless local area network communications, comprising:

a logic device;

a smoke sensor coupled to the logic device;

an audio amplifier coupled to the logic device;

a speaker coupled to the audio amplifier;

network store and forward logic and memory;

a communications interface coupled to the network store and forward logic, wherein the communications interface comprises a wireless interface coupled to a radio frequency antenna; and

a power supply coupled to and powering the logic device, the network store and forward logic, communications interface and audio amplifier;

wherein when the smoke sensor detects smoke the logic device generates at least one smoke alarm tone through the audio amplifier and to the speaker, and a smoke alarm signal through the communications interface; and

wherein the network store and forward logic through the communications interface communicates with at least one wireless digital device located in an area proximate to a respective one of the plurality of apparatus and a local area network (LAN) such that digital information content transfers between the at least one wireless digital device and the local area network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communications interface further comprises a wired interface coupled to a wired communications bus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wired communications bus is an Ethernet local area network.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communications interface is adapted to communicate with a wireless local area network (WLAN).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the WLAN portion of the communications interface is IEEE 802.11 standard compliant.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the smoke sensor is an ionization chamber smoke sensor.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the smoke sensor is an optical smoke sensor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the communications interface and the network store and forward logic comprise a WLAN router.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the communications interface and the network store and forward logic comprise a WLAN transceiver.

10. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the communications interface and the network store and forward logic comprise a WLAN repeater.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless digital device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a tablet touch screen computer, a wireless home entertainment device, and a smart cell phone.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a carbon monoxide sensor.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a carbon dioxide sensor.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the logic device, and the network store and forward logic and memory are provided by a microcontroller.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the logic device comprises a microcontroller.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the logic device is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

17. A system for providing smoke detection and wireless local area network (WLAN) communications, said system comprising:

a plurality of apparatus providing smoke detection and wireless local area network (WLAN) communications, each of the plurality of apparatus comprising

a logic device,

a smoke sensor coupled to the logic device,

an audio amplifier coupled to the logic device,

a speaker coupled to the audio amplifier,

network store and forward logic and memory,

a communications interface coupled to the network store and forward logic, wherein the communications interface comprises a wireless interface coupled to a radio frequency antenna, and

a power supply coupled to and powering the logic device, the network store and forward logic, communications interface and audio amplifier;

wherein when the smoke sensor detects smoke the logic device generates at least one smoke alarm tone through the audio amplifier and to the speaker, and a smoke alarm signal through the communications interface; and

wherein the network store and forward logic through the communications interface communicates with at least one wireless digital device located in an area proximate to a respective one of the plurality of apparatus and a local area network such that digital information content transfers between the at least one wireless digital device and the local area network.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the local area network is an Ethernet local area network.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the local area network is the WLAN.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one wireless digital device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a tablet touch screen computer, a wireless home entertainment device, and a smart cell phone.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of apparatus comprise an Ethernet router.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of apparatus comprise an Ethernet transceiver.

23. The system according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of apparatus comprise an Ethernet repeater.