Fire system implemented with power line communications

• US 6,822,555 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Marman, Douglas H., Mansfield, Amos R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/229,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.03, 340/310.04, 340/310.05, 340/310.06, 340/538, 340/310.07, 340/310.08
• US Class Current: 340/538.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/06 using power transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

An electric power line communication system operates with an electric power distribution system to provide through premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among receiving devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines. A power line transceiver is designed to transmit and receive through the premises power distribution lines modulated carrier signals conveying information over the communication links. The power line transceiver operates in a transmitter mode as an intentional radiator to emit modulated carrier signals by transmitting them at a frequency band and a power level sufficient to form by electrical conduction a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device.

Claims

1. A life safety system using an electric power line communications system operatively associated with premises power distribution lines of an electric power distribution system to provide through the premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among modulated carrier signal receiving devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines to convey hazardous condition alarm signals, comprising:

multiple hazardous condition detectors adapted for placement and receiving electric power at different locations where premises power distribution lines are routed to make electric power available, each of the detectors having an identification address and producing a hazardous condition signal in response to detection of a hazardous condition in the location of the detector, the identification addresses in association with the power distribution lines contributing to establishment of communication links among the detectors;

a power line transceiver operatively associated with each detector and designed to transmit and receive over the premises power distribution lines modulated carrier signals conveying information over the communication links, the power line transceiver operating in a transmitter mode as an intentional radiator to emit the modulated carrier signals by transmitting them at a frequency band and a power level sufficient to form by electrical conduction a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is electrically coupled to the premises power distribution lines, and to form by at least one of electrical induction a communication link by coupling across electric power distribution line phases or electromagnetic radiation a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines; and

the transceiver of each detector that produces the hazardous condition signal emitting a modulated carrier alarm signal over the premises power distribution lines for delivery to other ones of the detectors by the communication links to enable production of alarm signals at the premises locations of the detectors.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the modulated carrier signals conveying information include an acknowledgment signal verifying receipt by the power line transceiver of the information conveyed.

3. The system of claim 1, in which the identification addresses of the multiple detectors include addresses identifying a group of the detectors at premises locations in a defined space to prevent enabling production of alarm signals by a detector not included in the group.

4. The system of claim 3, in which the premises locations in a defined space include an area in a multiple dwelling unit.

5. The system of claim 3, in which the premises locations in a defined space include an area in a multiple building complex.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system domain controller to which the multiple detectors are operatively connected to provide remote monitoring of the multiple detectors.

7. The system of claim 6, in which the system domain controller monitors the alarm signals produced.

8. The system of claim 6, in which the system domain controller polls the detectors to verify proper establishment of their communication links.

9. The system of claim 6, in which the system domain controller communicates with the detectors to verify their operating conditions.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising a device that is capable of establishing a communication link to a remote monitoring station.

11. The system of claim 10, in which the device includes a telephone dialer or a modem.

12. The system of claim 6, further comprising a monitoring control unit that responds to the system domain controller by direct premises power line connection or an electromagnetic radiation communication link.

13. The system of claim 6, in which the system domain controller communicates to a security system information obtained by the remote monitoring.

14. The system of claim 6, in which the system domain controller responds to the hazardous condition signal by delivering to the detectors a reset signal that prevents the enablement of production of alarm signals until there is a recurrence of the hazardous condition signal after a predetermined time.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controllable light switch device that responds to the emitted hazardous condition signal sent over the power distribution lines by activating for purposes of emergency lighting a lamp that illuminates an occupant evacuation path in response to the detector that produced the hazardous condition signal.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote annunciator that responds to the hazardous condition signal by producing a warning signal that is perceptible to an occupant in the vicinity of the remote annunciator.

17. The system of claim 16, in which the remote annunciator includes one of a visual device or an audio device.

18. The system of claim 16, in which the remote annunciator is configured to indicate a premises location of the device that produced the hazardous condition signal.

19. The system of claim 18, in which the premises location is a region of a multiple dwelling unit.

20. The system of claim 1, in which the transceivers of the other ones of the detectors respond to a signal that interrupts or terminates the production of alarm signals by selected ones of the multiple detectors associated with the location where the hazardous condition arose.

21. The system of claim 20, in which each of the multiple detectors further comprises, in operative association with its corresponding transceiver, an actuator providing the signal that interrupts or terminates the production of alarm signals by selected ones of the multiple detectors associated with the location where the hazardous condition arose.

22. The system of claim 1, in which the transceivers of the other ones of the detectors enable receipt from an actuator operatively connected to the premises power distribution lines a signal that interrupts or terminates the production of alarm signals.

23. The system of claim 1, in which the modulated carrier signals conveying information include detector programming signal information.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a computer to which the multiple detectors are operatively connected at least partly over the premises power distribution lines to form a communication link for the detector programming signal information.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising a security system to which the multiple detectors are operatively connected at least partly over the premises power distribution lines to form a communication link for the detector programming signal information.

26. The system of claim 1, in which each of the detectors includes battery back-up apparatus to provide electric power to the detector and thereby maintain its operation in an absence of electric power on the premises power distribution lines.

27. The system of claim 1, in which the hazardous condition detectors include smoke detectors.

28. The system of claim 1, in which the hazardous condition detectors include hazardous gas detectors.

29. The system of claim 1, in which the hazardous condition detectors include at least one smoke detector and at least one hazardous gas detector.

30. The system of claim 1, in which the other ones of the devices respond to a signal that interrupts or terminates the communication of alarm signals.

31. The system of claim 30, in which each detector further comprises, in operative association with its corresponding transceiver, an actuator providing the signal that interrupts or terminates the communication of alarm signals.

32. The system of claim 1, in which the modulated carrier signals conveying information include detector programming signal information.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising a computer to which each of a number of the one or more detectors is operatively connected at least partly over the premises power distribution lines to form a communication link for the detector programming signal information.

34. The system of claim 32, further comprising a security system to which each of a number of the one or more detectors is operatively connected at least partly over the premises power distribution lines to form a communication link for the detector programming signal information.

35. A life safety system using an electric power line communications system operatively associated with premises power distribution lines of an electric power distribution system to provide through the premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among modulated carrier signal receiving devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines to convey hazardous condition alarm signals, comprising:

multiple hazardous condition devices placed at or near different locations where premises power distribution lines are routed to make electric power available, each of the devices having an identification address and the multiple devices including one or more hazardous condition detectors, each detector producing a hazardous condition signal in response to detection of a hazardous condition in the location of the detector, the identification addresses in association with the power distribution lines contributing to establishment of communication links among the devices;

a power line transceiver operatively associated with each detector and designed to transmit and receive over the premises power distribution lines modulated carrier signals conveying information over the communication links, the power line transceiver operating in a transmitter mode as an intentional radiator to emit the modulated carrier signals by transmitting them at a frequency band and a power level sufficient to form by electrical conduction a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is electrically coupled to the premises power distribution lines, or to form by at least one of electrical induction a communication link by coupling across electric power distribution line phases or electromagnetic radiation a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines; and

the transceiver of each detector that produces the hazardous condition signal emitting a modulated carrier alarm signal over the premises power distribution lines for delivery to other ones of the devices by the communication links to enable communication of alarm signals at the premises locations of the devices in response to detection of a hazardous condition.

36. The system of claim 35, in which the modulated carrier signals conveying information include an acknowledgment signal verifying receipt by the power line transceiver of the information conveyed.

37. The system of claim 35, further comprising a controllable light switch device that responds to the emitted hazardous condition signal sent over the power distribution lines by activating for purposes of emergency lighting a lamp that illuminates an occupant evacuation path in response to the detector that produced the hazardous condition signal.

38. The system of claim 35, in which one of the devices comprises a remote annunciator that responds to the hazardous condition signal by producing a warning signal that is perceptible to an occupant in the vicinity of the remote annunciator.

39. The system of claim 38, in which the remote annunciator includes one of a visual device or an audio device.

40. The system of claim 35, in which each of a number of the one or more detectors includes battery back-up apparatus to provide electric power to the detector and thereby maintain its operation in an absence of electric power on the premises power distribution lines.

41. The system of claim 35, in which the one or more hazardous condition detectors include a smoke detector.

42. The system of claim 35, in which the one or more hazardous condition detectors include a hazardous gas detector.

43. The system of claim 35, in which the hazardous condition devices include a telephone dialer, an off/on switch, or both of them.

44. A life safety system using an electric power line communications system operatively associated with premises power distribution lines of an electric power distribution system to provide through the premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among modulated carrier signal receiving devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines to convey hazardous condition alarm signals, comprising:

multiple hazardous condition devices placed at or near different locations where premises power distribution lines are routed to make electric power available, each of the devices having an identification address and the multiple devices comprising one or more hazardous condition detectors that include a remote annunciator;

each detector producing a hazardous condition signal in response to detection of a hazardous condition in the location of the detector, the remote annunciator responding to the hazardous condition signal by producing a warning signal that is perceptible to an occupant in the vicinity of the remote annunciator, and the identification addresses in association with the power distribution lines contributing to establishment of communication links among the devices;

a power line transceiver operatively associated with each detector and designed to transmit and receive over the premises power distribution lines modulated carrier signals conveying information over the communication links, the power line transceiver operating in a transmitter mode to emit the modulated carrier signals by transmitting them at a frequency band and a power level sufficient to form by electrical conduction a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is electrically coupled to the premises power distribution lines, or to form a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is located in proximity or connected to the premises power distribution lines; and

the transceiver of each detector that produces the hazardous condition signal emitting a modulated carrier alarm signal over the premises power distribution lines for delivery to other ones of the devices by the communication links to enable communication of alarm signals at the premises locations of the devices in response to detection of a hazardous condition.

45. The system of claim 44, in which the remote annunciator includes one of a visual device or an audio device.

46. The system of claim 44, in which the remote annunciator includes a controllable light switch.

47. The system of claim 44, further comprising a controllable light switch device that responds to the emitted hazardous condition signal sent over the power distribution lines by activating for purposes of emergency lighting a lamp that illuminates an occupant evacuation path in response to the detector that produced the hazardous condition signal.

48. The system of claim 44, in which the other ones of the devices respond to a signal that interrupts or terminates the communication of alarm signals.

49. The system of claim 48, in which each detector further comprises, in operative association with its corresponding transceiver, an actuator providing the signal that interrupts or terminates the communication of alarm signals.