Gateway device to interconnect system including life safety devices

• US 7,385,517 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Silver, Travis, Buchholz, Matthew J., Burnette, Stan, Andres, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu; Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/253,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628, 340506-508, 340/539.1, 340/539.14
• US Class Current: 340/628
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/04 using a single signalling line, e.g. in a closed loop
• 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: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A life safety device can include a sensor configured to sense a hazardous condition, an interconnect module configured to communicate the hazardous condition to a wired life safety device using one or more wires, and a transceiver module configured to wirelessly communicate the hazardous condition to a wireless life safety device.

Claims

1. A system including a plurality of life safety devices, the system comprising:

a plurality of wired life safety devices configured to sense a hazardous condition, wherein each of the wired life safety devices is connected to one or more of the other wired life safety devices using one or more wires, and wherein each of the wired life safety devices communicates with one or more of the other wired life safety devices using the wires;

at least one wireless life safety device configured to sense the hazardous condition; and

a gateway life safety device including a sensor configured to sense the hazardous condition, wherein the gateway life safety device is wired to at least one of the wired life safety devices, and wherein the gateway life safety device communicates with one or more of the wired life safety devices using the wires, and wherein the gateway life safety device communicates wirelessly with the wireless life safety device;

wherein the wired life safety devices communicate with the wireless life safety device through the gateway life safety device;

wherein the gateway life safety device enters a master mode if the gateway life safety device is in an alarm none mode and the life safety device senses the hazardous condition, the gateway life safety device sending out a wired alarm signal to the wired life safety device and a wireless alarm signal to the wireless life safety device, and the gateway life safety device remaining in the master mode until the gateway life safety device no longer senses the hazardous condition;

wherein the gateway life safety device enters a hardwire slave mode if the gateway life safety device is in the alarm none mode and the life safety device receives a wired interconnect signal from the wired life safety device, the gateway life safety device sending out the wireless alarm signal to the wireless life safety device, and the gateway life safety device remaining in the hardwire slave mode until the wired interconnect signal times out; and

wherein the gateway life safety device enters a wireless slave mode if the gateway life safety device is in the alarm none mode and the life safety device receives a wireless interconnect signal from the wireless life safety device, the gateway life safety device sending out the wired alarm signal to the wired life safety device, and the gateway life safety device remaining in the wireless slave mode until the wireless interconnect signal times out.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway life safety device further comprises:

a battery configured to provide backup power;

an interconnect module configured to communicate the hazardous condition to the wired life safety devices using the wires; and

a transceiver module configured to wirelessly communicate the hazardous condition to the wireless life safety device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway life safety device further comprises an alarm module, wherein the gateway life safety device is configured to alarm using the alarm module when the gateway life safety device senses the hazardous condition.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the hazardous condition is smoke or gas.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wires connecting the wired life safety devices and the gateway life safety device include a three-wire interconnect.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway life safety device is configured to receive a wired alarm signal from one of the wired life safety devices, wherein the gateway life safety device is configured to receive a wireless alarm signal from the wireless life safety device, and wherein the gateway life safety device is configured to alarm when the gateway life safety device receives either the wired alarm signal or the wireless alarm signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the gateway life safety device is configured to send the wired alarm signal to the wired life safety devices when the gateway life safety device receives the wireless alarm signal from the wireless life safety device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the gateway life safety device is configured to send the wireless alarm signal to the wireless life safety device when the gateway life safety device receives the wired alarm signal from one of the wired life safety devices.