Smoke detector testing

• US 8,466,800 B1
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hs Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Billman, Bradly Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US12/247,417
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/540, 340/603, 340/627, 340/628, 340/633, 340/634
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 of fire detection circuits

Abstract

A testing device is provided that may be attachable and detachable from a smoke detector. The testing device may have a rod that pushes a testing button on the smoke detector. The testing device may have a light detector which will actuate the rod to push the testing button if the light from an appropriate remote control or other light source is directed onto it, in order to verify that the smoke detector is operating properly without manually pushing the testing button. The testing device may store a unique identifier (ID) and generate and transmit data pertaining to results of the testing of the smoke detector.

Claims

1. A detector testing method, comprising:

physically attaching a plurality of physically detachable testing devices to an associated plurality of preexisting detectors, wherein each of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices is powered by an associated one of the plurality of preexisting detectors;

detecting light at a first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices; and

in response to detecting the light, testing a first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors associated with the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices by remotely causing a rod on the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices to be actuated to push a testing button on the first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices has a unique identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising generating a first data set at the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices pertaining to a result of testing the first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors, the first data set comprising the unique identifier of the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices and the result of testing the first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing the first data set.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein storing the first data set comprises storing the first data set at a remote control or a computing device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting light at a second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices;

in response detecting the light at the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices, testing a second one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors associated with the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices;

generating a second data set at the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices pertaining to a result of testing the second one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors associated with the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices; and

providing the second data set to the remote control or the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the light comprises infrared light generated by a remote control or a computing device.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for detector testing, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions that:

detect light at a first one of a plurality of physically detachable testing devices, wherein each of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices is powered by an associated one of a plurality of preexisting detectors; and

in response to the light detected, test a first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors associated with the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices by remotely causing a rod on the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices to be actuated to push a testing button on the first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices has a unique identifier.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions that generate a first data set at the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices pertaining to a result of testing the first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors, the first data set comprising the unique identifier of the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices and the result of testing the first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions that store the first data set.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions that store the first data set comprise instructions that store the first data set at a remote control or a computing device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions that:

detect light at a second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices;

in response to the light detected at the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices, test a second one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors associated with the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices;

generate a second data set at the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices pertaining to a result of testing the second one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors associated with the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices; and

provide the second data set to the remote control or the computing device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the light comprises infrared light generated by a remote control or a computing device.

15. A detector testing system, comprising:

at least one subsystem that detects light at a first one of a plurality of physically detachable testing devices, wherein each of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices is powered by an associated one of a plurality of preexisting detectors; and

at least one subsystem that tests, in response to the detected light, a first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors associated with the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices by remotely causing a rod on the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices to be actuated to push a testing button on the first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices has a unique identifier.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising at least one subsystem that generates a first data set at the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices pertaining to a result of testing the first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors, the first data set comprising the unique identifier of the first one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices and the result of testing the first one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising at least one subsystem that stores the first data set.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one subsystem that stores the first data set comprises at least one subsystem that stores the first data set at a remote control or a computing device.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

at least one subsystem that detects light at a second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices;

at least one subsystem that tests, in response to the light detected at the second on of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices, a second one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors associated with the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices;

at least one subsystem that generates a second data set at the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices pertaining to a result of testing the second one of the associated plurality of preexisting detectors associated with the second one of the plurality of physically detachable testing devices; and

at least one subsystem that provides the second data set to the remote control or the computing device.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the light comprises infrared light generated by a remote control or a computing device.