Multi-zone microprocessor fire control apparatus
First Claim
1. A fire control system including a plurality of zones, each zone associated with a smoke detector and arranged in at least a two wire loop, with said smoke detector positioned across said two wires to provide a low impedance condition upon detection of smoke indicative of a fire in that zone and to provide a high impedance when smoke is not detected, comprisingbiasing means for each loop to allow a current to flow in each loop indicative of a normal condition as distinguished from a low impedance condition across said loop as caused by said smoke detector;
- multiplexer means having one input for each loop and having a control input to provide at an ouptut the condition of each loop in a selected sequence as controlled by a signal applied to said control input;
a microprocessor means having output means coupled to said multiplexer control input for controlling the same;
comparator means having inputs coupled to said multiplexer output and outputs coupled to said microprocessor means to enable said microprocessor to store the condition of each loop indicative of each zone and as to whether said loop is in a normal condition or a low impedance condition;
a keyboard coupled to said microprocessor means for causing said microprocessor to recognize selected key depressions indicative of a one man test mode, whereby when said mode is recognized said microprocessor means responds to low impedance conditions of selected loops as being intentionally implemented during a predetermined period to notify a user of said test mode in order to verify an intentional implemented low impedance condition of said loop as caused by an associated smoke detector with said microprocessor coupled to said biasing means to interrupt said current flow in said loop for a given period to allow said intentional condition to clear back to normal indicative of the completion of said one man test mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a multi-zone microprocessor fire control apparatus. The control apparatus employs a microprocessor which monitors a plurality of zones. Each zone may be associated with a smoke detector and which smoke detector will provide a predetermined condition when smoke is present in a zone. The microprocessor is controlled to monitor each zone by scanning the zones in a predetermined sequence. The microprocessor is associated with the key pad. According to the present invention, the key pad is accessed by a serviceman who inserts a given code into the key pad indicative of a one man test mode. The microprocessor recognizes the selection of this mode and therefore anticipates receiving an alarm condition due to the fact that the serviceman, after accessing the key pad, will enter a selected zone to provide an intentional alarm at that zone. Based on the fact that the microprocessor recognizes the selection of this one man test mode, the microprocessor will expect an alarm from the selected zone and will notify the serviceman by providing an audible alarm after the serviceman has intentionally caused the alarm. In this manner the serviceman can access each of the zones selected to verify proper operation by intentionally causing an alarm at each zone without causing the system to provide a normal output alarm signal which would occur upon the existence of true smoke conditions in a zone. There are other modes of operation during this test mode which enable the microprocessor to selectively inform a serviceman of conditions at selected zones by enabling the serviceman to repair such conditions as necessary.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fire control system including a plurality of zones, each zone associated with a smoke detector and arranged in at least a two wire loop, with said smoke detector positioned across said two wires to provide a low impedance condition upon detection of smoke indicative of a fire in that zone and to provide a high impedance when smoke is not detected, comprising
biasing means for each loop to allow a current to flow in each loop indicative of a normal condition as distinguished from a low impedance condition across said loop as caused by said smoke detector; -
multiplexer means having one input for each loop and having a control input to provide at an ouptut the condition of each loop in a selected sequence as controlled by a signal applied to said control input; a microprocessor means having output means coupled to said multiplexer control input for controlling the same; comparator means having inputs coupled to said multiplexer output and outputs coupled to said microprocessor means to enable said microprocessor to store the condition of each loop indicative of each zone and as to whether said loop is in a normal condition or a low impedance condition; a keyboard coupled to said microprocessor means for causing said microprocessor to recognize selected key depressions indicative of a one man test mode, whereby when said mode is recognized said microprocessor means responds to low impedance conditions of selected loops as being intentionally implemented during a predetermined period to notify a user of said test mode in order to verify an intentional implemented low impedance condition of said loop as caused by an associated smoke detector with said microprocessor coupled to said biasing means to interrupt said current flow in said loop for a given period to allow said intentional condition to clear back to normal indicative of the completion of said one man test mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a fire control system in a one man test mode to enable a sole serviceman to test said system, said system including a plurality of zones, each zone associated with an alarm device whereby activation of said device causes a predetermined condition to appear at a zone output where said zones are monitored by a microprocessor, said microprocessor coupled to a key pad for causing said microprocessor to recognize commands from said key pad as inserted by said keys being depressed, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a code in said key pad indicative of said one man test mode; deciphering said code to inform said microprocessor of the selection of said one man test mode; accessing a selected zone to cause said device to provide said predetermined condition; causing said microprocessor to recognize said predetermined condition to verify said condition as implemented by accessing said device; providing a predetermined signal upon recognition by said microprocessor to enable said serviceman to verify said system operation and removing said predetermined condition from said accessed zone; and enabling said microprocessor to recognize said removed predetermined condition to provide a second signal upon said removal to inform said serviceman of the same. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a fire control system of the type including a plurality of zones to be monitored, each zone associated with a smoke detector and arranged as a two wire loop with said smoke detector positioned across said two wires to provide a short upon detection of smoke, with each zone monitored by processing means operative to scan said zones in a determined sequence to respond to the condition of each loop in each zone in order to determine the presence of an alarm in said zone manifested by said smoke detector activation providing a short across said wires, whereby if said alarm continues said processing means will provide an output indicative of said alarm, the combination therewith of apparatus for testing system operation in a one man test mode, comprising:
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first means coupled to said processing means and operative to inform said processing means of said selection of said one ma test mode; means responsive to said selection to cause said processing means to wait a given period before providing an alarm output during said one man test mode to enable a serviceman to intentionally provide an alarm in a zone by activating said associated smoke detector; second means coupled to said processing means operative to cause said processing means to provide an output indicative of said intentionally provided alarm to thereby notify said serviceman of the same. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification