Fire alarm display

• US 5,189,394 A
• Filed: 12/19/1990
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grinnell Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Grinnell Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Walter, Ronald, Chadwick, Brian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/630,079
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 340/525, 340/506, 340/286.13, 340/286.14, 340/518, 364/144, 364/146
• US Class Current: 340/525
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A computer-based display apparatus is provided for a fire alarm system having sensors located at various positions in a building or area. The display apparatus includes a computer with associated memory and display, as well as a facility for obtaining one or more screen images of the layout of the building or area from graphical representations of the layout, such as drawings, photographs or CAD generated data. The screen images are stored in memory for display on the computer display. The display apparatus also comprises a software facility for superimposing the positions of the sensors on the displayed layouts.

Claims

1. Display apparatus suitable for use with a fire alarm system having a plurality of sensors positioned at various locations within an area layout, the display apparatus comprising:

(i) computer means for storing information relating to said area layout, said computer means having a memory;

(ii) input means for deriving said information relating to said area layout from at least one pre-existing documentary graphic representation of said area layout, said input means storing in said memory said information as at least one screen image, said input means including a scanning device for scanning said documentary graphic representation and providing an output thereof in digital form to said memory;

(iii) superposition means for adding data relating to said locations of said sensors to said at least one screen image stored in said memory; and

(iv) visual display means connected to said computer means for selectively displaying said superpositioned stored screen image so as to display said layout including said locations of said sensors.

2. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said area layout comprises a building layout.

3. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said superposition means comprises a software facility for superposing said positions of said sensors on said screen image stored in said computer memory.

4. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said superposition means includes a facility for recording related information of said sensors, such that if a sensor is activated, the recorded related information of the activated sensor is displayed on said visual display means when said screen image including said activated sensor is displayed.

5. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensors are connected to control means, and wherein said display apparatus further comprises an interface circuit connected between said control means and said computer for providing protocol conversion of date communication between said control means and said computer.

6. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said interface circuit includes hardware means for preventing unauthorized copying of software.

7. A method of displaying information relating to an area layout of a fire protection system having a number of sensors at various locations within a building, the method comprising the steps of:

deriving first information relating to said area layout of the building from at least one pre-existing documentary graphic representation;

converting said first information into digital form;

storing said first information in the memory of a computer in distinguishable files wherein each of said files contains information relating to said layout of the building;

adding second information relating to characteristics of said sensors to said first information stored in the memory of said computer; and

selectively displaying on a display device connected to said computer said first and second information so that positions of sensors are superimposed on the displayed layout of said building.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said characteristics of said sensors comprise positions of said sensors.

9. A fire alarm system comprising:

(i) a plurality of sensors adapted to be deployed at selected locations in an area layout;

(ii) control means for monitoring conditions of said sensors connected to said sensors;

(iii) computer means for storing information relating to said area layout having a memory and a visual display;

(iv) an interface circuit connected between said control means and said computer means;

(v) input means for deriving information relating to said area layout from a pre-existing documentary graphical representation of said layout and storing said information in said memory; and

(vi) means for storing the position of said sensors in said memory such that upon display of said stored layout on a visual display said stored positions of said sensors are thereon.