Wireless device networks with smoke detection capabilities

• US 9,123,221 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Puskarich, Paul G.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US13/897,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20140340216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/107 for detecting light-scattering due to smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/11 using an ionisation chamber for detecting smoke or gas
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm

Abstract

An electronic device may include a smoke detector. The electronic device may use the smoke detector to monitor for the presence of smoke. In response to detecting smoke with the smoke detector, the electronic device may issue an alert or take other suitable action. The electronic device may transmit alerts to nearby electronic devices and to remote electronic devices such as electronic devices at emergency services facilities. Alerts may contain maps and graphical representations of buildings in which smoke has been detected. Motion detectors and other sensors and circuitry may be used in determining whether electronic devices are being used by users and may be used in determining where the electronic devices are located. Alerts may contain information on the location of detected smoke and building occupants.

Claims

1. A cellular telephone, comprising:

a display;

at least one port;

a housing in which the display is mounted;

a smoke detector; and

communications circuitry configured to transmit data to external equipment in response to detecting smoke with the smoke detector, wherein the smoke detector is mounted within the housing adjacent to the port and is configured to monitor for smoke through the port, wherein the port comprises a speaker port having mesh with openings and wherein the smoke detector is configured to receive the smoke through the openings in the mesh of the speaker port.

2. The cellular telephone defined in claim 1 wherein the display comprises a touch screen display.

3. The cellular telephone defined in claim 2 wherein the smoke detector comprises a light source and a light detector.

4. The cellular telephone defined in claim 2 wherein the smoke detector comprises an ionizing detector.

5. The cellular telephone defined in claim 1 wherein the communications circuitry comprises wireless communications circuitry.

6. The cellular telephone defined in claim 5 wherein the wireless communications circuitry comprises cellular telephone transceiver circuitry.

7. The cellular telephone defined in claim 5 wherein the wireless communications circuitry comprises wireless local area network transceiver circuitry.

8. The cellular telephone defined in claim 5 further comprising satellite navigation system receiver circuitry configured to receive signals to determine the location of the cellular telephone.

9. The cellular telephone defined in claim 1 further comprising a motion sensor.

10. The cellular telephone defined in claim 9 further comprising a proximity sensor.

11. A cellular telephone, comprising:

a housing;

a display on the housing;

control circuitry coupled to the display;

a port; and

a smoke detector coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the smoke detector is mounted in the port and is configured to monitor for smoke through the port.

12. The cellular telephone defined in claim 11 further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit commands to fire suppression equipment.

13. The cellular telephone defined in claim 11 further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit an alert to an electronic device that directs the electronic device to display a map on which a location at which smoke has been detected by the smoke detector is labeled.

14. The cellular telephone defined in claim 11 further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit an alert to an electronic device that directs the electronic device to display a graphic representation of a building in which smoke has been detected by the smoke detector.

15. The cellular telephone defined in claim 11 comprising:

a motion detector coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether a user of the cellular telephone is using the cellular telephone within a building at least partly based on data from the motion detector; and

wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit an alert to an electronic device that contains an interactive prompt, wherein the alert directs the electronic device to display a graphic representation of a building in which smoke has been detected by the smoke detector, and wherein the graphic representation of the building includes a label representing the user.

16. The cellular telephone defined in claim 11 further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit commands to a sprinkler system.

17. A method, comprising:

monitoring for smoke with a smoke detector in a cellular telephone, wherein monitoring for smoke with the smoke detector in the cellular telephone comprises monitoring for smoke through a port in the cellular telephone;

in response to detecting that smoke is present in a building with the smoke detector, transmitting an alert to an electronic device, wherein transmitting the alert comprises transmitting an interactive prompt, and wherein the interactive prompt provides an opportunity to contact a person who is associated with the building in which the smoke is detected by the smoke detector.

18. The method defined in claim 17, wherein transmitting the alert further comprises transmitting information about the person who is associated with the building.

19. The method defined in claim 18, wherein the information comprises the location of the person who is associated with the building.

20. The method defined in claim 17, wherein transmitting the alert further comprises transmitting an alert that contains a map that includes a geographic location of detected smoke.

21. The method defined in claim 17, wherein transmitting the alert further comprises transmitting a graphic representation of the building.

22. The method defined in claim 21, wherein transmitting the graphic representation of the building comprises transmitting at least one label indicating where the portable electronic device is located within the building relative to detected smoke.