Apparatuses, systems, and methods controlling testing optical fire detectors

• US 9,410,849 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Bell, Ken, Thebert, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUNBERG, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US14/160,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20150204727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 250/338.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0014 for sensing the radiation from gases, flames
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/028 using a charging unit or battery
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/084 Adjustable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0896 using a light source, e.g. for illuminating a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/53 Reference sources, e.g. standard lamps; Black bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 of fire detection circuits

Abstract

A testing device for testing infrared OFDs is provided. The testing device may comprise a body, an infrared source, a controller and a user input. The infrared source may be housed with the body. The controller may be operatively coupled to the infrared source. The controller may also be integral to the infrared source. The user input may be operatively coupled to at least one of the controller and the infrared source. The testing device may be configured to produce infrared emissions to simulate flaming fire.

Claims

1. An infrared testing device comprising:

a body,

a power source;

a first solid state infrared source in electronic communication with the power source and configured to produce a first infrared emission having a first wavelength,

wherein the first solid state infrared source is configured to switch on and off to achieve a flicker effect of a flame and to sweep through a plurality of infrared wavelengths;

a second solid state infrared source in electronic communication with the power source and configured to produce a second infrared emission having a second wavelength;

a third solid state infrared source in electronic communication with the power source and configured to produce a third infrared emission having a third wavelength;

a lens coupled to the body and configured to at least one of modify, filter or adapt emissions from at least one of the first solid state infrared source, the second solid state infrared source or the third solid state infrared source;

an active cooling circuit configured to reduce a cooling time of at least one of the first solid state infrared source, the second solid state infrared source, or the third solid state infrared source;

a controller operatively coupled to the first solid state infrared source, the second solid state infrared source and the third solid state infrared source,

wherein the controller is configured to operate the first solid state infrared source, the second solid state infrared source and the third solid state infrared source simultaneously in response to a first input, individually in response to a second input and in a preselected pattern in response to a third input; and

a user input operatively coupled to at least one of the controller and the infrared source.

2. The infrared testing device of claim 1, wherein the first infrared source, the second infrared source, and the third infrared source are arranged as an array.

3. The infrared testing device of claim 1, wherein the testing device is portable.

4. The infrared testing device of claim 1, wherein the testing device is battery powered.

5. The infrared testing device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first solid state infrared source, the second solid state infrared source or the third solid state infrared source is a MEMS based infrared source.

6. An in-factory testing system, comprising:

a testing device having a lens and an infrared source, the infrared source configured to emit a plurality of infrared emissions having wavelengths between 1 μ

m and 20 μ

m,

wherein the infrared source is configured to switch on and off to achieve a flicker effect of a flame and to sweep through the plurality of infrared wavelengths;

an active cooling circuit configured to reduce a cooling time of the infrared source;

a controller operatively coupled to the infrared source,

wherein the controller is configured to operate the infrared source to output various combinations of wavelengths based on an input,

wherein the lens is configured to at least one of modify, filter or adapt emissions from the infrared source;

a testing structure configured to retain the testing device at a specific orientation;

an infrared OFD; and

a support structure coupled to the infrared OFD and configured to hold the OFD in a predetermined orientation relative to the testing device.

7. The in-factory testing system of claim 6, wherein the infrared source is a MEMS device.

8. The in-factory testing system of claim 6, wherein the infrared source is an array of infrared sources.