Combination fire/intrusion alarm detectors using active infared elements

• US 5,420,567 A
• Filed: 02/02/1993
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank Schwarz
• Original Assignee: Frank Schwarz
• Inventors: Schwarz, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/012,432
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 340/521, 340/522, 340/630, 340/555, 340/556, 340/565, 340/578
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems

Abstract

A integrated IR detector for detecting both motion and fire/smoke includes in one embodiment a single source of IR radiation and separate IR sensors for sensing motion and smoke. The separate sensors are coupled by their outputs to separate amplifier circuits and provide separate outputs indicating motion (intrusion) detection and smoke detection. The entire arrangement of IR source and dual sensors are mounted in a single housing and powered by a common power supply. In a second embodiment, a single passive IR motion detector having a pair of phase opposed series connected sensors is coupled to a circuit for detecting motion (intrusion) while one of the pair of sensors is coupled to a circuit for sensing changes in ambient temperature. The circuit for detecting ambient temperature changes includes logic analysis and time constant filtering to produce an alarm signal only when ambient temperature changes exceed a preset threshold rate of degrees per second. Common power supplies and control units are disclosed which allow coupling alarm signals on a single two-wire or four-wire circuit.

Claims

1. A detector for detecting both smoke and motion, comprising:

a) a source of infrared radiation focused to a narrow beam directing infrared radiation in a first direction;

b) a first infrared sensor which senses said infrared radiation directed in said first direction;

c) a second infrared sensor independent of said first infrared sensor and arranged relative to said source of infrared radiation such that said infrared radiation directed in said first direction is not detected by said second sensor unless said infrared radiation is scattered by airborne particulate matter passing between said source of infrared radiation and said second infrared sensor;

d) first circuit means coupled to said first infrared sensor for providing an intrusion alarm signal when said first infrared sensor fails to detect said infrared radiation directed in said first direction; and

e) second circuit means coupled to said second infrared sensor and independent of said first circuit means for providing a smoke alarm signal when said second infrared sensor detects scattered infrared radiation from said source of infrared radiation.

2. A detector according to claim 1, further comprising:

f) reflecting means for reflecting said infrared radiation directed in said first direction towards said first infrared detector.

3. A detector according to claim 2, wherein:

said source of infrared radiation and said first infrared sensor are arranged substantially parallel to each other and said reflecting means is located a first distance from said source of infrared radiation.

4. A detector according to claim 1, further comprising:

f) a single housing containing said source of infrared radiation, said first infrared sensor and said second infrared sensor.

5. A detector according to claim 4, wherein:

said housing contains said first and second circuit means.

6. A detector according to claim 1, wherein:

said first circuit means includes an operational amplifier biased to provide a change in output voltage when said first infrared sensor fails to sense said infrared radiation directed in said first direction; and

said second circuit means includes an operational amplifier biased to provide a change in output voltage when said second infrared sensor senses said scattered infrared radiation from said source of infrared radiation.

7. A detector according to claim 1, further comprising:

modulator means coupled to said first and second circuit means for modulating said intrusion alarm signal and said smoke alarm signals on at least one direct current voltage supply wire.

8. An alarm system comprising:

(a) an infrared detector which detects both smoke and motion, said infrared detector comprising,

(1) a source of infrared radiation focused to a narrow beam directing infrared radiation in a first direction,

(2) a first infrared sensor which senses said infrared radiation directed in said first direction,

(3) a second infrared sensor arranged relative to said source of infrared radiation such that said infrared radiation directed in said first direction is not sensed by said second sensor unless said infrared radiation is scattered by airborne particulate matter passing between said source of infrared radiation and said second infrared sensor,

(4) first circuit means coupled to said first infrared sensor for providing an intrusion alarm signal when said first infrared sensor fails to detect said infrared radiation directed in said first direction,

(5) second circuit means coupled to said second infrared sensor for providing a smoke alarm signal when said second infrared sensor senses scattered infrared radiation from said source of infrared radiation, and

(6) modulator means coupled to said first and second circuit means for modulating said intrusion alarm signal and said smoke alarm signal on at least one direct current voltage supply wire;

b) power supply means including said at least one direct current voltage supply wire for supplying power to said detector;

c) control unit means for receiving said intrusion alarm signal and said smoke alarm signal; and

d) demodulator means for demodulating said intrusion alarm signal and said smoke alarm signal from said at least one direct current voltage supply wire.

9. A smoke and motion detector, comprising:

a) a source of infrared radiation focused to direct a beam of infrared radiation in a first direction;

b) a first infrared sensor which senses said infrared radiation directed in said first direction, said first infrared sensor being housed in a housing having an outer wall having at least a first opening for receiving said infrared radiation directed in said first direction and a second opening for receiving ambient atmosphere;

c) a beam splitter means located between said source of infrared radiation and said first infrared sensor for splitting said beam of infrared radiation such that a portion of said beam is directed in a second direction;

d) a second infrared sensor arranged relative to said source of infrared radiation and said beam splitting means for detecting infrared radiation directed in said second direction;

e) first circuit means coupled to said first infrared sensor for providing a smoke alarm signal when said first infrared sensor senses that said infrared radiation directed in said first direction is obscured by particulate matter in said ambient atmosphere between said source of radiation and said first sensor; and

f) second circuit means coupled to said second infrared sensor for providing an intrusion alarm signal when said second infrared sensor fails to detect infrared radiation from said source of infrared radiation.

10. A detector according to claim 9, further comprising:

g) reflecting means reflecting said infrared radiation directed in said second direction towards said second infrared sensor.

11. A detector according to claim 10, wherein:

said source of infrared radiation and said first infrared sensor are arranged substantially coaxial to each other;

said first and second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other;

said second infrared sensor is arranged substantially parallel to said second direction; and

said reflecting means is located a first distance from said second infrared sensor.

12. A detector according to claim 9, further comprising:

h) a single housing containing said source of infrared radiation, said first infrared sensor and said second infrared sensor.

13. A detector according to claim 12, wherein:

said housing contains said first and second circuit means.

14. A detector according to claim 9, wherein:

said first circuit means includes an operational amplifier biased to provide a change in output voltage when said first infrared sensor fails to detect said infrared radiation directed in said first direction; and

said second circuit means includes an operational amplifier biased to provide a change in output voltage when said second infrared sensor fails to detect said infrared radiation directed in said second direction.

15. A detector according to claim 9, further comprising:

modulating means coupled to said first and second circuit means for modulating said intrusion alarm signal and said smoke alarm signal on at least one direct current voltage supply wire.

16. An alarm system, comprising:

(a) an infrared sensor for detecting both smoke and motion, said infrared sensor comprising,

(1) a source of infrared radiation focused to direct a beam of infrared radiation in a first direction,

(2) a first infrared sensor which senses said infrared radiation directed in said first direction,

(3) a housing which houses said first infrared sensor, said housing having an outer wall having at least a first opening for receiving said infrared radiation directed in said first direction and a second opening for receiving ambient atmosphere,

(4) a beam splitter means located between said source of infrared radiation and said first infrared sensor for splitting said beam of infrared radiation such that a portion of said beam is directed in a second direction,

(5) a second infrared sensor arranged relative to said source of infrared radiation and said beam splitter which senses infrared radiation directed in said second direction,

(6) first circuit means coupled to said first infrared sensor for providing a smoke alarm signal when said first infrared sensor'"'"'s sensing of said infrared radiation directed in said first direction is obscured by particulate matter in said ambient atmosphere between said source of radiation and said first detector,

(7) second circuit means coupled to said second infrared sensor for providing an intrusion alarm signal when said second infrared sensor fails to detect infrared radiation from said source of infrared radiation;

b) power supply means for supplying power to said detector;

c) control unit means for receiving said intrusion alarm signal and said smoke alarm signal.

17. An alarm system according to claim 16, further comprising:

d) modulator means for modulating at least one of said fire alarm signal and said intrusion alarm signal on a direct current voltage supply wire;

e) demodulator means in conjunction with said control unit means for demodulating said one of said fire alarm signal and said intrusion alarm signal from said direct current voltage supply wire, wherein said direct current voltage supply wire supplies said power from said power supply means to said infrared detector.