Smoke detection and laser escape indication system utilizing a control master with base and satellite stations

• US 7,592,923 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safari Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: L.I.F.E. Support Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Lax, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/187,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 340627-634, 340/500, 340/528, 340/532
• 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 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

A smoke detection and escape indication system includes a master controller in communication a base unit and a satellite unit. The base unit and the satellite unit are each in wireless communication with one another and include a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a sensor for detecting a hazard and an escape indication mechanism. The base unit and the satellite unit cooperate to indicate an escape route by coordinating respective escape indication mechanisms in the event that one of the units detect a hazard.

Claims

1. A smoke detection and escape indication system, comprising:

a master controller;

a base unit in communication with the master controller; and

a satellite unit in communication with the master controller and in wireless communication with the base unit, the base unit and the satellite unit each include a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a sensor and an escape indication mechanism;

wherein the base unit and the satellite unit cooperate to indicate an escape route in the event of a detected hazard.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter communicate by radio frequency, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller is hardwired to the base unit or the satellite unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller includes a wireless receiver and a wireless transmitter that communicates with the base unit or the satellite unit by radio frequency, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller activates the base unit or the satellite unit in response to a hazard detected by the opposite unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit and the satellite unit communicate by multiple path communication through the master controller.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller regulates the maintenance of the base unit or the satellite unit.

8. The system of claim 1, including a graphical user interface coupled to the master controller for displaying the base unit, the satellite unit, or the detected hazard.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the graphical user interface displays a path to the detected hazard.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit and the satellite unit cooperate to identify an exit by coordinating respective escape indication mechanisms.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the escape indication mechanism comprises a laser cannon, a speaker, a strobe light or a wireless camera.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the laser cannon provides a lighted path, the speaker issues an audible alarm, the strobe light illuminates an exit, or the wireless camera records pictures or video.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the audible alarm comprises a prerecorded message.

14. The system of claim 1, including multiple base units and multiple satellite units distributed throughout a structure.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a photoelectric detector, an ionization detector or a carbon monoxide detector.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit and the satellite unit include different sensors or different escape indication mechanisms.

17. A smoke detection and escape indication system, comprising:

a master controller;

a base unit in communication with the master controller; and

a satellite unit in communication with the master controller and in wireless communication with the base unit, the base unit and the satellite unit each include a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a sensor and an escape indication mechanism;

wherein the base unit and the satellite unit communicate by multiple path communication through the master controller and cooperate to indicate an escape route by coordinating respective escape indication mechanisms in the event of a detected hazard.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter communicate by radio frequency, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the master controller is hardwired to the base unit or the satellite unit and includes a wireless receiver and a wireless transmitter that communicates with the base unit or the satellite unit by radio frequency, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the master controller activates the base unit or the satellite unit in response to a hazard detected by the opposite unit.

21. The system of claim 17, including a graphical user interface coupled to the master controller for displaying the base unit, the satellite unit, or the detected hazard, wherein the master controller regulates the maintenance of the base unit or the satellite unit.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface displays a path to the detected hazard.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the escape indication mechanism comprises a laser cannon that provides a lighted path, a speaker that issues an audible alarm comprising a prerecorded message, a strobe light that illuminates an exit or a wireless camera that records pictures or video.

24. The system of claim 17, including multiple base units and multiple satellite units distributed throughout a structure.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a photoelectric detector, an ionization detector or a carbon monoxide detector and wherein the base unit and the satellite unit include different sensors or different escape indication mechanisms.

26. A smoke detection and escape indication system, comprising:

a master controller;

a base unit in communication with the master controller;

a satellite unit in communication with the master controller and in wireless communication with the base unit by radio frequency, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, the base unit and the satellite unit each include a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a sensor and an escape indication mechanism;

wherein the base unit and the satellite unit communicate by multiple path communication through the master controller and cooperate to indicate an escape route in the event of a detected hazard by coordinating respective escape indication mechanisms; and

a graphical user interface coupled to the master controller for displaying the base unit, the satellite unit, or the detected hazard, wherein the master controller activates the base unit or the satellite unit in response to a hazard detected by the opposite unit.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the master controller is hardwired to the base unit or the satellite unit and includes a wireless receiver and a wireless transmitter that communicates with the base unit or the satellite unit by radio frequency, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, the master controller regulates the maintenance of the base unit or the satellite unit.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the graphical user interface displays a path to the detected hazard.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the escape indication mechanism comprises a laser cannon that provides a lighted path, a speaker that issues an audible alarm comprising a prerecorded message, a strobe light that illuminates an exit or a wireless camera that records pictures or video when the base unit or the satellite unit activate in response to the detected hazard, and wherein the sensor comprises a photoelectric detector, an ionization detector or a carbon monoxide detector.

30. The system of claim 26, including multiple base units and multiple satellite units distributed throughout a structure, wherein the base unit and the satellite unit include different sensors or different escape indication mechanisms.