Apparatus and method for discrimination of fire types

• US 5,726,633 A
• Filed: 09/29/1995
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wiemeyer, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/536,805
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 340/587, 340/522, 340/628, 340/629, 340/630
• US Class Current: 340/587
• 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 29/183 Single detectors using dual technologies G08B13/1672, G08B13/2448, G08B13/2494 take precedence

Abstract

A multiple sensor smoke detector includes at least an ionization and a photoelectric sensor. Outputs from the sensors are fed to circuitry for generating continuously variable coefficients. One coefficient corresponds to each sensor output. Respective coefficients and sensor outputs are multiplied in multiplier circuitry to produce processed outputs. The processed outputs are combined in a summing circuit to produce at least one output value indicative of a level of detected smoke. The coefficient generating circuitry, the multiplier circuitry and the combining circuitry could be implemented in a programmed microprocessor. The coefficient generating circuitry could be implemented using prestored membership functions indicative of various types of fires.

Claims

1. A variable sensitivity detector comprising:

at least first and second, different, ambient condition sensors for generating respective first and second outputs indicative of respective sensed ambient conditions;

coefficient circuitry, responsive to said outputs, for forming continuously variable first and second weighing coefficients for respective of said outputs;

circuitry for combining said weighing coefficients with respective of said outputs, thereby forming respective first and second weighted outputs; and

circuitry for summing said weighted outputs thereby forming a processed output value.

2. A detector as in claim 1 wherein said coefficient circuitry includes at least first membership function circuitry associated with respective of said outputs.

3. A detector as in claim 2 wherein said coefficient circuitry includes second membership function circuitry.

4. A detector as in claim 2 wherein said coefficient circuitry includes circuitry for determining first and second centroid values, wherein each of said centroid values is associated with a respective one of said weighing coefficients.

5. A detector as in claim 1 wherein said first and second sensors include respective first and second fire detectors.

6. A detector as in claim 1 wherein said first and second sensors include at least one smoke sensor.

7. A detector as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said sensors includes a temperature sensor.

8. A detector as in claim 1 wherein said coefficient circuitry includes circuitry for forming a ratio of said first and said second sensor outputs.

9. A detector as in claim 8 wherein said coefficient circuitry includes circuitry for forming a logarithm of said ratio.

10. A fire detector with a sensitivity parameter which varies in accordance with fire type, the detector comprising:

a first type of fire sensor for generating a first fire output;

at least a second type of fire sensor for generating a second fire output;

circuitry, coupled to said sensors, for processing said outputs and for producing first and second, varying coefficients wherein said processing circuitry includes circuitry for storing at least one membership function indicative of fire type and

circuitry for combining said fire outputs with respective ones of said coefficients thereby forming first and second processed outputs.

11. A detector as in claim 10 which includes a comparator for comparing at least one of said processed outputs to a threshold value.

12. A detector as in claim 10 wherein said processed outputs are combined to form at least one composite output.

13. A detector as in claim 12 which includes comparison circuitry and wherein said composite output is compared to at least one fire indicative threshold value.

14. A detector as in claim 10 wherein said sensors each include a smoke detector.

15. A detector as in claim 10 wherein said circuitry for processing includes circuitry for storing a second membership function.

16. A detector as in claim 10 wherein said processing circuitry includes circuitry for forming at least one ratio of said fire outputs.

17. A detector as in claim 10 wherein said processing circuity includes circuitry for storage of at least first and second membership functions.

18. A detector as in claim 10 wherein said processing circuitry includes a programmed digital processor.

19. A detector as in claim 18 wherein said programmed processor includes circuitry for storage of first and second membership functions.

20. A variable sensitivity detector comprising:

a plurality of ambient condition sensors for generating respective ambient condition outputs;

a storage unit for storing a set of predetermined production rules;

circuitry for processing said outputs, in response to said production rules, thereby producing a plurality of continuously variable coefficients; and

circuitry for combining respective ones of said outputs with respective ones of said coefficients thereby producing a plurality of adjusted outputs.

21. A detector as in claim 20 which includes:

circuitry for combining said adjusted outputs.

22. A detector as in claim 21 wherein said circuitry for combining said output includes a summer.

23. A detector as in claim 22 wherein said summer includes digital addition circuitry.

24. A detector as in claim 20 wherein said combining circuitry includes a multiplier.

25. A method of detecting the presence of different ambient conditions comprising:

storing a set of predetermined rules pertaining to at least first and second different ambient conditions;

sensing at least first and second different ambient conditions and generating respective first and second indicia indicative thereof;

implementing the prestored rules to process the indicia thereby providing first and second coefficients wherein each of the coefficients is indicative of the level of one of the ambient conditions relative to the other.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein producing the coefficients includes predetermining a centroid value wherein a determined value is indicative of a respective output.

27. A method as in claim 25 wherein the ambient conditions are combined with the respective indicia thereby producing first and second combined outputs wherein the combined outputs are each indicative of the level of the respective ambient condition.

28. A method as in claim 27 which includes summing the combined outputs.

29. A method as in claim 28 which includes comparing the summed outputs to a threshold.