Separate-type detector with redundant synchronization feature

• US 7,968,837 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hochiki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hochiki Corporation
• Inventors: Nakajima, Satoshi, Itou, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn; Seung C
• Application Number:
  US12/280,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20090026354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 340/555, 340/556, 340/557
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/534 by measuring transmission alone, i.e. determining opacity
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/103 using a light emitting and receiving device

Abstract

An object is to provide a separated sensor capable of synchronizing a light transmitting unit with a light receiving unit, without using a control line.

There is provided a separated sensor including a light transmitting unit that transmits detection light to a monitoring area, and a light receiving unit that receives detection light transmitted by the light transmitting unit, the light transmitting unit and the light receiving unit laid out separately from each other. On one of the light transmitting unit and the light receiving unit, there is provided a synchronization-light transmitting unit that transmits, by wireless, synchronization light to synchronize the light transmitting unit with the light receiving unit. On the other of the light transmitting unit and the light receiving unit, there are provided a synchronization-light receiving unit that receives the synchronization light transmitted from the synchronization-light transmitting unit, and a synchronization-establishment processing unit that performs a predetermined process to establish the synchronization based on the synchronization light received by the synchronization-light receiving unit.

Claims

1. A separated smoke sensor comprising:

a light transmitting unit configured to wirelessly transmit detection light to a monitoring area; and

a light receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive detection light transmitted by the light transmitting unit to the monitoring area, determine presence of smoke in the monitoring area based on a detection amount of the received detection light, and output an accident-warning signal to a receiving device that is connected to the light receiving unit via a line when the light receiving unit determines that smoke is present;

wherein the light transmitting unit and the light receiving unit are laid out separately from each other and facing each other, sandwiching the monitoring area;

wherein the light transmitting unit is configured to receive electric power from a local power source connected to the light transmitting unit or from a battery incorporated within the light transmitting unit;

wherein the light receiving unit is configured to receive electric power from the receiving device;

wherein the light transmitting unit having a light source and a light-transmission control unit;

wherein the light source is configured to wirelessly transmit the detection light;

wherein the light-transmission control unit is configured to control transmission of the detection light by the light source by a predetermined transmission time at a predetermined light transmission interval;

wherein the light receiving unit includes;

a light receiving element configured to wirelessly receive the detection light transmitted by the light source and output a voltage or a current corresponding to an amount of the received detection light;

a synchronization-establishment processing unit configured to;

execute a predetermined process establishing synchronization between the light transmitting unit and the light receiving unit based on the detection light received by the light receiving element;

execute a predetermined light reception operation that receives the detection light by a predetermined reception time at a predetermined light reception interval different from the light transmission interval;

determine presence of reception of the detection light during the light reception operation, and when reception is determined; and

specify, as a synchronization timing, a timing that arrives at a same interval as the predetermined light transmission interval, based on a timing at which the detection light is received;

a light-extinction-amount calculation unit configured to calculate a light extinction amount of the detection light received by the light receiving element based on a voltage or current output by the light receiving element at the synchronization timing established by the synchronization-establishment processing unit; and

a smoke determining unit that determines the presence of smoke in the monitoring area based on the light extinction amount calculated by the light-extinction-amount calculation unit and a predetermined threshold value.

2. The separated smoke sensor according to claim 1, wherein the light reception interval is set shorter than the light transmission interval.

3. The separated smoke sensor according to claim 1, wherein the light reception interval is set longer than the light transmission interval.

4. The separated smoke sensor according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization-establishment processing unit changes the reception time of the detection light to a predetermined second light-reception time shorter than the light reception time, after specifying the synchronization timing.

5. The separated smoke sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the light receiving unit includes an amplifier configured to amplify the voltage or current output of the light receiving element, and

the synchronization-establishment processing unit starts the amplifier, and after passing a predetermined time when the output from the amplifier is stabilized, determines presence of a reception of the detection light based on the output from the amplifier.

6. The separated smoke sensor according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving unit includes an amplifier configured to amplify a voltage or current output of the light receiving element, and

the synchronization-establishment processing unit for determining presence of a reception of the detection light by setting the amplifier to a maximum amplification rate, and after establishing the synchronization, resets the amplifier to a predetermined amplification rate smaller than the maximum amplification rate.

7. The separated smoke sensor according to claim 1, comprising a synchronization-correction processing unit that performs a predetermined process of correcting the synchronization timing based on the detection light received by the light receiving element, after the synchronization-establishment processing unit establishes synchronization.

8. The separated smoke sensor according to claim 7, wherein the synchronization-correction processing unit compares the reception amount of the detection light received by the light receiving element with a predetermined value, thereby determining whether the detection light of a reception amount of a predetermined value or larger is received, and when the number of times when the synchronization light of a reception amount of the predetermined value or larger is not received becomes a predetermined number of times or larger, the synchronization-correction processing unit starts the synchronization establishment process by the synchronization-establishment processing unit or performs a predetermined process of notifying the occurrence of a correction trouble.

9. The separated smoke sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a casing for mounting the light receiving unit, the casing having a casing cover;

wherein the light receiving unit includes an instruction unit and a memory unit;

wherein the instruction unit is configured to receive an instruction for starting the predetermined process to establish the synchronization when the casing cover is closed;

wherein the memory unit configured to store a synchronization establishment flag for determining whether or not synchronization is established; and

wherein the synchronization-establishment processing unit is configured to execute the predetermined process when the synchronization establishment flag is not stored in the memory unit.