Automatic garage door response system for carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide and smoke detection

• US 7,710,284 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northcoast Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Edward Cogan, James Heidenreich, Thomas A. Dzurko
• Inventors: Dzurko, Thomas A., Cogan, Edward, Heidenreich, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson; Bradley E
• Application Number:
  US11/710,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 340/632, 73/232
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms

Abstract

A garage monitoring system is provided that determines if the garage door is opened or closed, and will not issue a move door command if the garage door is already opened and it will not issue a move door command if smoke is detected first. The system'"'"'s sequence of operation is can thus be described as follows:

• • a. If CO is detected first, high concentration, sound alarm and open door immediately.
  • b. If CO is detected first, low concentration, sound alarm and wait a time period to see if smoke alarm activates. If smoke alarm does not activate, open garage door, otherwise do not change the position of the garage door.
  • c. If smoke is detected first, sound alarm and do not change the position of the garage door.

Claims

1. A garage monitoring and control system for use with an automatic garage door opening mechanism comprising:

a controller configured to generate a door move command for moving a garage door between an open and a closed position;

a smoke detector configured to sense the presence of smoke within the garage and generate an audible alarm when smoke reaches a predetermined level in the garage;

a carbon monoxide detector configured to sense the presence of carbon monoxide within the garage and generate an audible alarm when carbon monoxide reaches a predetermined level in the garage; and

a garage door position sensor for determining whether the garage door is in an open or closed condition;

wherein said door move command of said controller is generate as follows;

a. If CO is detected first, high concentration, sound alarm and open door immediately;

b. If CO is detected first, low concentration, sound alarm and wait a time period to see if smoke alarm activates; and

further if smoke alarm does not activate, open garage door, otherwise do not change the position of the garage door; and

c. If smoke is detected first, sound alarm and do not change the position of the garage door.

2. The garage monitoring and control system for use with an automatic garage door opening mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a heater electronically controlled by a thermal sensing means for maintaining said carbon monoxide detector above a minimum operational temperature.

3. The garage monitoring and control system for use with an automatic garage door opening mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a monitoring mechanism interfacing with the garage door opening mechanism, the monitoring system comprising an acoustic detector for sensing audible sounds.

4. The garage monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said garage door position sensor is selected from the group comprising:

a switch on a door rail or door assembly that tells the system whether the current position of the door is opened or closed;

an ultrasonic ranging means for determining the position of the door; and

an infrared ranging or other method to determine the position of the door.

5. The garage door monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a guard capable of allowing passage of CO to the CO sensing means and smoke to the smoke detector while inhibiting the migration of insects and dust.

6. The garage door monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising:

voice annunciation means for providing a voice generated audible alarm above a specified minimum level.

7. The garage door monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising:

light annunciator for providing a visual indicia of alarm.

8. The garage door monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising:

an audible alarm for remotely annunciating inside the user'"'"'s house.

9. The garage monitoring and control system for use with an automatic garage door opening mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

remote alarm sounder for interfacing a communication signal to a security system.

10. The garage door monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator that flashes intermittently to indicate normal CO detector operation and comes on steady to indicate a CO alarm.

11. The garage door monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising a smoke alarm test switch to test the operation of the smoke detector and is designed to be manually pressed.

12. The garage door monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a CO alarm test switch to test the operation of the CO detector and is designed to be manually pressed.

13. The garage monitoring and control system for use with an automatic garage door opening mechanism of claim 1, wherein said smoke alarm is annunciated when the system temperature exceeds approximately 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

14. The garage monitoring and control system for use with an automatic garage door opening mechanism of claim 1, wherein said smoke alarm is annunciated when the system temperature increases at a rate exceeding approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit per hour.

15. A garage monitoring and control system comprising:

a smoke detector configured to sense the presence of smoke within the garage and generate an audible alarm when smoke reaches a predetermined level in the garage;

a ruggedized carbon monoxide detector configured to sense the presence of carbon monoxide within the garage and generate an audible alarm when carbon monoxide reaches a predetermined level in the garage;

a heater electronically controlled by a thermal sensing means for maintaining said carbon monoxide detector above a minimum operational temperature; and

a first audible alarm for remotely annunciating the operation of the smoke detector inside the user'"'"'s house;

a second audible alarm for remotely annunciating the operation of the carbon monoxide detector inside the user'"'"'s house;

wherein said audible alarm is generate as follows;

a. If CO is detected first, high concentration, sound the second audible alarm;

b. If CO is detected first, low concentration, sound alarm and wait a time period to see if smoke alarm activates; and

d. If smoke is detected, sound the first audible alarm.

16. The garage door monitoring and control system of claim 15, further comprising:

a guard capable of allowing passage of CO to the CO sensing means and smoke to the smoke detector while inhibiting the migration of insects and dust.

17. The garage monitoring and control system for use with an automatic garage door opening mechanism of claim 15, further comprising:

Remote data communication means for interfacing with a telecommunications or internet network.