Hush disable feature for photoelectric smoke alarm

• US 6,642,849 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maple Chase Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Maple Chase Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Kondziolka, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/014,686
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628, 340/629, 340/634, 340/636.15, 340/517, 340/506, 340/514, 340/515, 340/521, 340/527, 340/516
• US Class Current: 340/628
• 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 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 of fire detection circuits

Abstract

A hush mode disabling device for a smoke alarm having a self-test function, a hush mode that engages upon activation of the self-test function to silence or desensitize the smoke alarm for a predetermined period of time, and a remote self-test controller. An improvement includes a hush mode disabler for determining whether the self-test function has presently been activated by the remote self-test controller and for disabling the hush mode if the self-test function has presently been activated by the remote self-test controller.

Claims

1. A hush mode disabling device for a smoke alarm having a self-test function, a hush mode that engages upon activation of the self-test function to silence or desensitize the smoke alarm for a predetermined period of time, and a remote self-test controller, wherein an improvement comprises:

a hush mode disabler for determining whether the self-test function has presently been activated by the remote self-test controller and for disabling the hush mode if the self-test function has presently been activated by the remote self-test controller.

2. The hush mode disabling device of claim 1, wherein the hush mode disabler comprises a semiconductor transistor.

3. The hush mode disabling device of claim 2, wherein the semiconductor transistor is an NPN-type transistor.

4. The hush mode disabling device of claim 2, wherein the semiconductor transistor comprises:

a collector connected to a hush mode sensitivity level configuration input provided on the smoke alarm;

an emitter connected to a fixed voltage level; and

a base connected to the remote self-test controller

wherein, when the remote self-test controller energizes the base of the transistor, the fixed voltage level is seen on the hush mode sensitivity level configuration input, causing the hush mode to be substantially disabled.

5. The hush mode disabling device of claim 4, wherein the fixed voltage level is set at circuit ground.

6. A self-contained smoke alarm connected to a centralized fire alarm system, comprising:

a self-test function;

a self-test button for activating the self-test function;

a hush mode, whereby the self-contained smoke alarm is desensitized for a predetermined period of time after the self-test function is activated;

a remote self-test controller, whereby the self-test function of the self-contained smoke alarm can be activated through the centralized fire alarm system from a location remote to the self-contained smoke alarm; and

a remote hush disabling means for disabling the hush mode when the self-test function is activated by the remote self-test controller.

7. The self-contained smoke alarm of claim 6, wherein the hush mode disabling means comprises a semiconductor transistor.

8. The self-contained smoke alarm of claim 7, wherein the semiconductor transistor is an NPN-type transistor.

9. The self-contained smoke alarm of claim 7, wherein the semiconductor transistor comprises:

a collector connected to a hush mode sensitivity level configuration input provided on the self-contained smoke alarm;

an emitter connected to a fixed voltage level; and

a base connected to the remote self-test controller

wherein, when the remote self-test controller energizes the base of the transistor, the fixed voltage level is seen on the hush mode sensitivity level configuration input, causing the hush mode to be substantially disabled.

10. The hush mode disabling device of claim 9, wherein the fixed voltage level is set at circuit ground.

11. A hush mode disabling circuit for a smoke alarm having a hush mode connected to a remote self-test controller, the disabling circuit comprising:

a collector connected to a hush mode sensitivity level configuration input provided on the smoke alarm;

an emitter connected to a fixed voltage level; and

a base connected to the remote self-test controller

wherein, when the remote self-test controller energizes the base of the transistor, the fixed voltage level is seen on the hush mode sensitivity level configuration input, causing the hush mode to be substantially disabled.

12. A smoke alarm with a hush mode comprising:

a smoke alarm;

a smoke alarm self-test means for performing a self-test of the operation of the smoke alarm;

a remote self-test controlling means for activating the self-test means from a remote location;

a hush means for disabling or desensitizing the smoke detection means for a predetermined period of time after the self-test means has been activated; and

a hush disabling means for deactivating the hush means when the self-test means has been activated by the remote self-test activation means.