Smoke detector with enhanced audio and communications capabilities

• US 9,520,042 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Eck, Arthur B.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US14/029,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20150077240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 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 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A smoke detector has enhanced audio and communications capabilities that allow audio content to be provided at each smoke detector location. This audio content may be music, intercom, doorbell actuation and radio programs. The smoke detector may also include a microphone for monitoring and two way communications between two or more smoke detectors, a intercom panel at a doorbell location, controlling lights in an area of the smoke detector with voice commands, and further providing for speakerphone answering and communications capabilities. Audio content and control may be provided to the smoke detector with a software program application running on a personal computer, tablet computer and a smart cell phone. A smoke detector may further be controlled with a Bluetooth or infrared handheld controller located in a area proximate to the smoke detector.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting smoke and having audio and communications capabilities, comprising:

a logic device;

a smoke sensor coupled to the logic device;

a local area network (LAN) communications interface coupled to the logic device, wherein the LAN communications interface is coupled to an Ethernet local area wired communications bus and/or wherein the LAN communications interface comprises a wireless interface coupled to a radio frequency antenna;

an audio amplifier coupled to the logic device;

a speaker coupled to the audio amplifier; and

a power supply coupled to and powering the logic device, communications interface and audio amplifier;

wherein the apparatus is configured to be installed in a dwelling;

wherein when the smoke sensor detects smoke the logic device generates at least one smoke alarm tone through the audio amplifier and to the speaker, and a smoke alarm signal through the communications interface;

wherein audio content is provided through the LAN communications interface, the logic device, the audio amplifier and to the speaker when there is not a current smoke alarm.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the LAN communications interface is adapted to communicate with a wireless local area network (WLAN).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the smoke sensor is an ionization chamber smoke sensor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the smoke sensor is an optical smoke sensor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the audio content is music.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone and an audio interface coupled to the logic device and providing an audio input thereto.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the audio content is selected from the group consisting of duplex communications between two smoke detectors, a doorbell location and a telephone.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a carbon monoxide sensor coupled to the logic device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a carbon dioxide sensor coupled to the logic device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an explosive gas detector coupled to the logic device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a hazardous gas detector coupled to the logic device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heat detector coupled to the logic device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a Bluetooth receiver adapted for control of the audio content coupled to the logic device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an infrared (IR) receiver adapted for control of the audio content coupled to the logic device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a removable memory module port coupled to the logic device and adapted for receiving a removable memory module.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the removable memory module port is a USB interface coupled to the logic device and the removable memory module is a solid state memory stick.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the removable memory module is a secure digital (SD) drive coupled to the logic device.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the logic device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a relative humidity sensor coupled to the logic device.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the logic device comprises a microcontroller.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the logic device is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

22. A system for communicating with smoke detectors having audio and communications capabilities, said system comprising:

a plurality of smoke detectors configured to be installed in a dwelling, each smoke detector comprising

a logic device,

a smoke sensor coupled to the logic device,

a local area network (LAN) communications interface coupled to the logic device, wherein the LAN communications interface is coupled to an Ethernet local area wired communications bus and/or wherein the LAN communications interface comprises a wireless interface coupled to a radio frequency antenna;

an audio amplifier coupled to the logic device,

a speaker coupled to the audio amplifier, and

a power supply coupled to and powering the logic device, the LAN communications interface and the audio amplifier;

wherein when a smoke sensor detects smoke the associated logic device generates at least one smoke alarm tone through the audio amplifier and to the speaker of the associated one of the plurality of smoke detectors, and a smoke alarm signal through the LAN communications interface;

wherein audio content is provided through the LAN communications interface, the logic device, the audio amplifier and to the speaker when there is not a current smoke alarm.

23. The system according to claim 22, where each of the plurality of smoke detectors further comprising a microphone and an audio interface coupled to the logic device and providing an audio input thereto.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the audio content is selected from the group consisting of duplex communications between two smoke detectors, a doorbell location and a telephone.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the audio content is selected from the group consisting of music, voice, and actuation of a doorbell button.

26. The system according to claim 23, wherein a control unit provides the audio content to the plurality of smoke detectors.

27. The system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a Bluetooth receiver adapted for coupling control information to the logic device; and

a Bluetooth controller for controlling the logic device of a smoke detector located in an area proximate to the Bluetooth controller.

28. The system according to claim 22, further comprising:

an infrared (IR) receiver adapted for coupling control information to the logic device; and

an IR controller for controlling the logic device of a smoke detector located in an area proximate to the IR controller.

29. The system according to claim 26, wherein the control unit is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a tablet touch screen computer, and a smart cell phone.

30. The system according to claim 23, wherein lights are controlled with voice commands to the smoke detector in an area of the lights.

31. The system according to claim 22, further comprising a removable memory module port coupled to the logic device and adapted for receiving a removable memory module.

32. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the logic device comprises a microcontroller.

33. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the logic device is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).