System for monitoring operability of fire event sensors

• US 6,351,212 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adam Q. Lynch
• Original Assignee: Adam Q. Lynch
• Inventors: Lynch, Adam Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/512,153
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/505, 340/507, 340/508, 340/514, 340/517, 340/518, 340/628, 340/601, 340/632
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/043 of fire detection circuits

Abstract

A system for monitoring the operability of fire event sensors having a programmable logic circuit which automatically and continuously analyzes whether readings obtained from fire event sensors satisfy multiple predetermined parameters. Parameters defining operability may include the mere receipt of a signal from a sensor, elapsed time between a request for data by the circuit and receipt of said data, substantive quality of signals, sensor sensitivity, strength of power source, or other parameters. The parameters are modifiable to facilitate many different types of sensors without the addition of any additional circuitry. The system also monitors operability of the self-checking routine itself as well as checking the circuitry of a fire detection unit and strength of power source.

Claims

1. A device for determining the efficacy of an air condition detector utilizing at least one sensor to provide a data signal corresponding to a preselected parameter of a condition of the ambient air, said device comprising:

an alarm;

a programmable logic circuit capable of evaluating input data supplied thereto, said circuit including means for requesting a receipt of said input data from the at least one sensor and means for generating an output signal to energize said alarm;

a power source for said alarm and programmable logic circuit;

means for providing said input data to said circuit for evaluation indicative of an elapsed time between a time of a request by said circuit requesting means for said input data and a time of receipt by said circuit of said requested input data, said circuit including means for comparing said elapsed time to a predetermined time parameter, said circuit generating said signal for energizing said alarm if said elapsed time is at an undesirable relationship with said time parameter, whereby to continuously monitor the operation of said detector.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said circuit further comprises means utilizing said input data from the at least one sensor for evaluating a desired qualitative operation of the at least one sensor in the detector, said circuit generating said signal for energizing said alarm if said evaluated sensor data indicates an undesirable operation of the at least one sensor.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for determining a desired qualitative operation of the at least one sensor comprises a preselected parameter in said logic circuit indicative of said data type measured by the at least one sensor, said data type parameter utilized in said logic circuit evaluation for comparison with input data from the sensor indicative of the data type measured by the at least one sensor.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said data type parameter is a preselected condition of the ambient air measured by the at least one sensor.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said preselected data type parameter includes a value of said data type measured by the at least one sensor, said circuit generating said signal for energizing said alarm if a value of said input data is at an undesirable relationship with said data type parameter value.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for providing data indicative of operation of said power source, said circuit generating said signal for energizing said alarm if said evaluated power source data includes an inoperability of said power source.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for providing data indicative of operation of said power source comprises a preselected parameter in said logic circuit indicative of an operation of said power source, said power source parameter utilized in said logic circuit evaluation for comparison with said input data indicative of operation of said power source.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source is a battery.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means for verifying that said logic circuit has evaluated an operation of the at least one sensor within a predetermined time period.

10. A method for determining the efficacy of an air condition detector utilizing at least one sensor to provide a signal corresponding to a preselected parameter of a condition of the ambient air, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an alarm;

providing a programmable logic circuit;

providing a power source for said alarm and programmable logic circuit;

demanding from the at least one sensor in the detector data indicative of sensor operation for receipt by said circuit;

measuring an elapsed time between a time of said data demand and a receipt of said data by said circuit for evaluation indicative of a desirable operation of the at least one sensor in the detector;

providing said elapsed time to said circuit for comparison to a predetermined time parameter;

energizing said alarm if said measured elapsed time is at an undesirable relationship with said time parameter; and

repeating said above steps to continuously monitor the efficacy of said detector.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

providing the logic circuit with a second preselected parameter corresponding to the type of ambient air condition to be sensed by the at least one sensor;

comparing the type of said data provided to said circuit by the at least one sensor with said second parameter;

energizing said alarm generated if the data type of said second parameter and data type of said sensor data are at an undesirable relationship.

12. The method as claim in claim 11 wherein said predetermined second parameter includes a value of said data type, said signal for energizing said alarm generated if said input data provided to said circuit for evaluation indicative of operation of the at least one sensor is at an undesirable relationship with said second parameter.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

providing data to said circuit for evaluation indicative of operation of said power source;

energizing said alarm if the evaluated power source data indicates an inoperability of said power source.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said step of providing data to said circuit for evaluation indicative of operation of said power source includes comparing said data indicative of operation of said power source with a predetermined parameter indicative of the desired operation of said power source, said signal for energizing said alarm generated if said provided power source data is at an undesirable relationship with said powe4r source strength parameter.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the step of verifying that said steps of claim 10 have been performed by said logic circuit within a predetermined time period.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said predetermined time parameter corresponds to a maximum elapsed time between said demand from the at least one sensor and said receipt of the demanded data.

17. A method for determining the efficacy of an air condition detector utilizing at least one sensor to provide data corresponding to a preselected parameter of a condition of the ambient air, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an alarm;

providing a programmable logic circuit;

providing a power source for said alarm and programmable logic circuit;

providing data to said circuit for evaluation indicative of operation of said power source;

energizing said alarm if the evaluated power source data indicates an inoperability of said power source;

providing data to said circuit indicative of operation of the at least one sensor in the detector, said data including a first parameter in said logic circuit corresponding to the type of data to be sensed by the at least one sensor upon a proper operation thereof and data measured by the at least one sensor;

utilizing said logic circuit to compare said first parameter with said data measured by the at least one sensor;

generating a signal in said logic circuit if said data type sensed by the at least one sensor does not match said first parameter, said signal energizing said alarm; and

repeating said above steps to continuously monitor the efficacy of said detector.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

demanding data from the at least one sensor for receipt by said circuit;

measuring an elapsed time between a time of said data demand and said receipt of said data by said circuit;

providing said elapsed time to said logic circuit for comparison to a predetermined time parameter; and

generating a signal in said logic circuit for energizing said alarm if said elapsed time is at an undesirable relationship with said time parameter.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said relationship comprises that said elapsed time is not less than said maximum time parameter.