Fire detector having wide-range sensitivity
First Claim
1. A fire detector for detecting a fire condition, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each sensor detecting radiation in a corresponding spectral band and outputting an analog signal in response to the detected radiation, the analog signals having a minimum magnitude and a maximum magnitude;
a converter system associated with the sensors for converting each analog signal to a digital signal, the converter system having a sensitivity range including the minimum magnitude and the maximum magnitude of the analog signals; and
a processor coupled to the converter system for using each digital signal to output an accurate detection signal for a fire condition in an environment which concurrently induces the minimum magnitude in the analog signal of one of the sensors and the maximum magnitude in the analog signal of a different one of the sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiation detector having wide-range sensitivity is provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a radiation detector for detecting a radiation condition is provided. The radiation detector includes a plurality of sensors each of which detect radiation in a spectral band and output an analog signal in response to the amount of radiation in the spectral band, a converter system associated with each of the sensors for converting each analog signal to a digital signal, and a processor coupled to the converter system for using the digital signals to output a detection signal. The converter system has a sensitivity range which includes a minimum magnitude and a maximum magnitude of the analog signals. The processor can detect the radiation condition in an environment which concurrently induces the minimum magnitude in the analog signal of one of the sensors, and the maximum magnitude in the analog signal of a different one of the sensors. The radiation detector may, for example, be a fire detector which detects fire conditions such as unwanted or potentially dangerous fires or flames.
20 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fire detector for detecting a fire condition, comprising:
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a plurality of sensors, each sensor detecting radiation in a corresponding spectral band and outputting an analog signal in response to the detected radiation, the analog signals having a minimum magnitude and a maximum magnitude; a converter system associated with the sensors for converting each analog signal to a digital signal, the converter system having a sensitivity range including the minimum magnitude and the maximum magnitude of the analog signals; and a processor coupled to the converter system for using each digital signal to output an accurate detection signal for a fire condition in an environment which concurrently induces the minimum magnitude in the analog signal of one of the sensors and the maximum magnitude in the analog signal of a different one of the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A radiation detector for detecting a radiation condition, comprising:
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a plurality of sensors, each sensor detecting radiation in a corresponding spectral band and outputting an analog signal in response to the detected radiation, the analog signals having a minimum magnitude and a maximum magnitude; a converter system associated with the sensors for converting each analog signal to a digital signal, the converter system having a sensitivity range including the minimum magnitude and the maximum magnitude of the analog signals; and a processor coupled to the converter system for using each digital signal to output an accurate detection signal for a radiation condition in an environment which concurrently induces the minimum magnitude in the analog signal of one of the sensors and the maximum magnitude in the analog signal of a different one of the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification