Process and system for flame detection

• US 6,046,452 A
• Filed: 07/31/1996
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fire Sentry Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Castleman, David A., Selstad, Chris A., Lapp, Theodore R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANIG, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US08/690,067
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 250/339.15, 250/341.5, 250/346, 250/252.1 A, 340/577, 340/578, 340/587
• US Class Current: 250/339.15
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/22 Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/24 Self-calibration, e.g. compensating for environmental drift or ageing of components

Abstract

The present invention provides a highly sensitive, intelligent, reliable, and effective process and system for detecting fire, which may be used in any industrial or other environment. The process and system for flame detection in accordance with the present invention features wide infrared spectrum sensitivity, which facilitates increased sensitivity to any sign of a flame or fire. The process and system of the present invention utilizes digital processing and analysis of data, calibration of operation parameters from temperture data, an intelligent controller (microprocessor) for discriminating against false alarms, and an elaborate multi-stage alarm system, selectively triggered by the controller.

Claims

1. A fire detection system, comprising:

a sensor array including a sensor for visible energy, a sensor for near band IR, and a sensor for wide IR, for providing sensor signals;

a temperature sensor for providing signals indicative of ambient temperature conditions;

a controller coupled to said sensor array and said temperature sensor for receiving said sensor signals from said sensor array and said signals from said temperature sensor, said controller calibrating operation parameters for said fire detection system in accordance with said signals from said temperature sensor, and processing said sensor signals to determine one of three conditions associated therewith; and

a multi-stage alarm system coupled to said controller, said controller selectively activating a select one of three relays of said multi-stage alarm system, depending upon said one of three conditions determined by said controller.