Use of optical reflectance proximity detector for nuisance mitigation in smoke alarms

• US 9,454,895 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2015
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Holcombe, Wayne T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US14/594,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20150123804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628, 340/629, 340/630, 340/577, 340/578, 340/579, 340/580, 340/581, 340/582, 340/583, 340/584, 340/309.16, 340/527, 73/233.3, 73/233.5, 73/530.1, 250/200, 250/554, 116/67.R, 116/101, 116/216
• 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 17/103 using a light emitting and receiving device
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/11 using an ionisation chamber for detecting smoke or gas
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

Various methods, systems, and devices for identifying a low battery charge of a smoke detector are presented. For example, a device may include a smoke detection sensor that detect smokes and, in response to detecting smoke, generate a smoke detection signal. The device may include battery test circuitry that tests a charge level of a battery installed in the smoke detector device. The device may include an audio output device that outputs a low battery chirp in response to the battery test circuitry determining the charge level of the battery installed in the smoke detector device is low. Also, the device may include a proximity detector that monitors for a wave movement of an object within a distance of the smoke detector device and generates a proximity detection signal when the proximity detector detects the wave movement performed by an object within the distance of the smoke detector device.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a smoke detector having a low battery charge, the method comprising:

hearing, by a user from an unlocated smoke detector of a plurality of smoke detectors, a low battery chirp;

moving, by the user, in proximity to a first smoke detector of the plurality of smoke detectors, a first object to trigger a proximity-induced battery check of the first smoke detector, wherein the proximity-induced battery check of the first smoke detector is triggered using proximity sensor circuitry of the first smoke detector that uses electromagnetic reflection to detect a presence of the first object;

determining, by the first smoke detector, a first battery charge condition in response to detecting the first object moved in proximity to the first smoke detector;

outputting, by the first smoke detector, a first auditory indication indicative of the first battery charge condition being sufficient in response to the first object moved in proximity to the first smoke detector;

moving, by the user, in proximity to a second smoke detector of the plurality of smoke detectors, a second object to trigger a proximity-induced battery check of the second smoke detector, wherein the proximity-induced battery check of the first smoke detector is triggered using proximity sensor circuitry of the second smoke detector that uses electromagnetic reflection to detect a presence of the second object;

determining, by the second smoke detector, a second battery charge condition in response to the second object moved in proximity to the second smoke detector; and

outputting, by the second smoke detector, a second auditory indication indicative of the second battery charge condition being low in response to the second object moved in proximity to the second smoke detector, wherein the second smoke detector is identified by the user as the unlocated smoke detector.

2. The method for identifying the smoke detector having the low battery charge of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, by the second smoke detector, a low battery chirp periodically, wherein the low battery chirp has a frequency such that a half wavelength of the low battery chirp is shorter than a distance between the two ears of the user.

3. The method for identifying the smoke detector having the low battery charge of claim 1, wherein determining, by the first smoke detector, the first battery charge condition in response to detecting the first object moved in proximity to the first smoke detector comprises:

determining, by the first smoke detector, that a first battery low alarm of the first smoke detector is inactive.

4. The method for identifying the smoke detector having the low battery charge of claim 3, wherein determining, by the first smoke detector, the first battery charge condition in response to detecting the first object moved in proximity to the first smoke detector further comprises:

performing, by the first smoke detector, a battery charge check in response to the first smoke detector determining that the first battery low alarm of the first smoke detector is inactive.

5. The method for identifying the smoke detector having the low battery charge of claim 3, wherein determining, by the second smoke detector, the second battery charge condition in response to detecting the second object moved in proximity to the second smoke detector comprises:

determining, by the second smoke detector, that a second battery low alarm of the second smoke detector is active.

6. The method for identifying the smoke detector having the low battery charge of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the first smoke detector, proximity actuation caused by the first object moving in proximity to the first smoke detector;

in response to the proximity actuation, determining whether a first smoke alarm of the first smoke detector is active, wherein;

the first smoke alarm is active when smoke is detected by the first smoke detector, and

determining the first battery charge condition occurs in response to determining that the first smoke alarm is not active.

7. The method for identifying the smoke detector having the low battery charge of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting, by the second smoke detector, proximity actuation caused by the second object moving in proximity to the second smoke detector;

in response to the proximity actuation, determining whether a second smoke alarm of the second smoke detector is active, wherein;

the second smoke alarm is active when smoke is detected by the second smoke detector, and

determining the second battery charge condition occurs in response to determining that the second smoke alarm is not active.

8. The method for identifying the smoke detector having the low battery charge of claim 1, wherein the first object and the second object are the same object.

9. The method for identifying the smoke detector having the low battery charge of claim 8, wherein the first object and the second object are a hand of the user.

10. A smoke detector device, comprising:

a smoke detection sensor that detect smokes and, in response to detecting smoke, generate a smoke detection signal;

battery test circuitry that tests a charge level of a battery installed in the smoke detector device;

an audio output device that outputs a low battery chirp in response to the battery test circuitry determining the charge level of the battery installed in the smoke detector device is low; and

a proximity detector that monitors for of an object physically waved within a distance of the smoke detector device and generates a proximity detection signal when the proximity detector detects the wave movement performed by as the object within the distance of the smoke detector device, wherein;

the object is not actively self-illuminated; and

the proximity detection signal generated by the proximity detector causes a low battery audible indication to be output by the audio output device when the battery test circuitry indicates that the charge level of the battery is low.

11. The smoke detector device of claim 10, wherein the smoke detection sensor, the battery test circuitry, the audio output device, and the proximity detector are powered by the battery installed in the smoke detector device.

12. The smoke detector device of claim 10, wherein the audio output device generates the low battery chirp at a frequency such that a half wavelength of the low battery chirp is shorter than a distance between two ears of a person.

13. The smoke detector device of claim 10, wherein the battery test circuitry determines if a low battery alarm of the smoke detector device is active in response to the proximity detector detecting the wave movement of the object.

14. The smoke detector device of claim 13, wherein the battery test circuitry performs a battery charge check in response to determining that the low battery alarm is inactive.

15. The smoke detector device of claim 10, wherein the smoke detector device, in response to the proximity detector detecting the wave movement of the object, determines whether a smoke alarm of the smoke detector device is active, wherein the smoke alarm is active when smoke is detected by the smoke detector device.

16. The smoke detector device of claim 15, wherein

the battery test circuitry determines the charge level of the battery in response to determining that the smoke alarm is not active and the wave movement being detected by the proximity detector.

17. The smoke detector device of claim 15, wherein the object is a hand, such that the proximity detector is configured to monitor for the wave movement of the hand within the distance of the smoke detector device.

18. A method for identifying a low battery charge condition of a smoke detector device, the method comprising:

outputting a low battery chirp at a periodic interval indicative of the low battery charge condition of a battery installed in the smoke detector device;

monitoring for an object being waved within a distance of the smoke detector device using a proximity detector, wherein the smoke detector device uses proximity sensor circuitry that detects electromagnetic reflection of the object being waved within the distance of the smoke detector device;

generating a proximity detection signal in response to the wave movement being detected within the distance of the smoke detector device by the proximity detector;

determining, using battery test circuitry, the low battery charge condition is present in response to the proximity detection signal; and

outputting, an auditory indication of the low battery charge condition in response to the proximity detection signal and determining that the low battery charge condition is present, wherein the auditory indication of the low battery charge condition is distinct from the low battery chirp.

19. The method for identifying the low battery charge of the smoke detector device of claim 18, wherein determining, using the battery test circuitry, the low battery charge condition is present in response to detecting the wave movement comprises:

determining that a battery low alarm of the smoke detector device is active.

20. The method for identifying the low battery charge of the smoke detector device of claim 18, further comprising:

determining whether a smoke alarm of the smoke detector device is active in response to the wave movement being detected, wherein;

the smoke alarm is active when smoke is detected by the smoke detector device, and

determining, using the battery test circuitry, the low battery charge condition is performed in response to determining the smoke alarm is inactive.