Detector unit with multiple integrated sensing systems and visually pleasing housing

• US 9,600,989 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Rogers, Matthew Lee, Honjo, Shigefumi, Filson, John Benjamin, Daniels, Eric B., Bould, Fred, Mittleman, Adam, Goldenson, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US14/485,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20150070181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 340628-632
• 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 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a multi-sensing hazard detector for detecting potential dangers may include a back plate and a front casing that is coupled with the back plate to define a housing. A circuit board and a plurality of components may be positioned within the housing. The circuit board may be communicatively coupled with the components. The components may include, among other components, an alarm device, an occupancy sensor, and a smoke chamber. The alarm device may be activatable upon the detection of a potential hazard to warn an occupant of a potential danger, the occupancy sensor may be configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects external to the hazard detector, and the smoke chamber may be configured to detect the presence of smoke to cause a triggering of the alarm device. The housing may comprise a volume of less than 1024 cubic centimeters.

Claims

1. A multi-sensing hazard detector for use in a building or structure for detecting potential dangers therein, the multi-sensing hazard detector comprising:

a back plate that is couplable with a wall or ceiling of the building or structure so as to secure the multi-sensing hazard detector relative thereto;

a front casing coupled with the back plate to define a housing having an interior region within which a plurality of components of the multi-sensing hazard detector are at least partially contained, the housing having a plurality of openings through which air flows so that the air is accessible to the components within the interior region of the housing;

a circuit board coupled with the housing and having the plurality of components communicatively coupled therewith, the plurality of components including;

an alarm device communicatively coupled with the circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon the detection of a potential hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger;

an occupancy sensor communicatively coupled with the circuit board, the occupancy sensor being configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector; and

a smoke chamber communicatively coupled with the circuit board and configured to detect the presence of smoke and to trigger the alarm device upon the detection of smoke;

wherein the housing of the multi-sensing hazard detector comprises a volume of less than about 1024 cubic centimeters; and

wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector is relatively flat so as not to extend excessively outwardly from the wall or ceiling, the multi-sensing hazard detector having a minimum aspect ratio defined as a thickness dimension thereof extending outwardly from the wall or ceiling divided by a longest lateral dimension perpendicular to said thickness dimension, the multi-sensing hazard detector having a maximum aspect ratio defined as a thickness dimension thereof extending outwardly from the wall or ceiling divided by a shortest lateral dimension perpendicular to said thickness dimension, wherein each of said minimum aspect ratio and said maximum aspect ratio is less than about 33%.

2. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector further comprises a cover plate coupled with the front casing so as to face an occupant of a room or area in which the multi-sensing hazard detector is positioned, wherein the total volume of the multi-sensing hazard detector including said cover plate is less than about 1024 cubic centimeters.

3. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the minimum aspect ratio is less than about 24% and the maximum aspect ratio is less than about 33%.

4. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein a lateral shape of the multi-sensing hazard detector in a plane perpendicular to the thickness dimension is generally square or rectangle.

5. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 4, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes readable lettering along a predetermined direction of a front surface thereof, whereby when mounted on a wall or ceiling a user recognizes a proper orientation of said multi-sensing hazard detector.

6. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 2, wherein the volume of the housing of the multi-sensing hazard detector is less than about 450 cubic centimeters.

7. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 6, wherein a thickness of the housing of the multi-sensing hazard detector and cover plate is less than 40 mm.

8. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 6, wherein the lateral dimension of the housing is between the range of about 120 mm and 190 mm.

9. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the back plate comprises a 110 mm ×

110 mm generally square configuration.

10. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a 134 mm ×

134 mm generally square configuration, and wherein the housing comprises a thickness of about 38 mm.

11. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the occupancy sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor, and wherein the plurality of components further include a passive infrared sensor that is configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector.

12. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the smoke chamber is mid-mounted with respect to the circuit board, said mid-mounting facilitating a flatness of said multi-sensing hazard detector so as to minimize said maximum and minimum aspect ratios.

13. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein said multi-sensing hazard detector further comprises an outwardly facing PIR sensor comprising a Fresnel lens configured for omnidirectional coverage from a zero-facing angle.

18. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes a light source that is configured to provide a halo appearance of light emanating about at least a portion of the housing, the light source being configured so that a color of the halo appearance of light is adjustable to indicate a potential issue within the building or structure, to indicate a potential issue with the multi-sensing hazard detector, or to indicate a potential issue with another appliance or component within the building or structure.

19. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 18, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes a button that is centered relative to the front casing and that is arranged with respect to the light source so that the halo appearance of light is disposed entirely around the button.

20. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 19, wherein the plurality of components communicatively coupled with the circuit board include an antenna and wireless communications circuitry that enables remote communication with the multi-sensing hazard detector.

21. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the front casing includes a plurality of holes arranged in a pattern that extends from a central portion of the front casing to a perimeter of the front casing.

22. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 21, wherein the plurality of holes are arranged so that the holes are spaced closer together near the central portion of the front casing in comparison to the perimeter of the front casing.

23. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 21, further comprising a speaker positioned within the interior region of the housing so as to be positioned behind the plurality of holes.

24. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 21, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes a light source that is configured to provide a halo appearance of light emanating about at least a portion of the housing, the light source being configured so that a color of the halo appearance of light is adjustable to indicate a potential issue within the building or structure, to indicate a potential issue with the multi-sensing hazard detector, or to indicate a potential issue with another appliance or component within the building or structure.

25. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 24, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes a button that is arranged with respect to the light source so that the halo appearance of light is disposed entirely around the button.

26. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 25, wherein the button is centered relative to the front casing.

27. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components communicatively coupled with the circuit board include an antenna and wireless communications circuitry that enables remote communication with the multi-sensing hazard detector.

28. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 27, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes a plurality of LED lights that project light from the multi-sensing hazard detector, a color of the projected light being variable to indicate a potential hazard or other issue related to the multi-sensing hazard detector or the building or structure within which the multi-sensing hazard detector is positioned.

29. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 28, wherein the plurality of LED lights are configured to project light from the front casing of the multi-sensing hazard detector.

30. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 29, wherein the LED lights are configured to provide a halo appearance of light about a central portion of the front casing.

31. The multi-sensing hazard detector of claim 30, wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector includes a button that is centered relative to the front casing and that is arranged with respect to the plurality of LED lights so that the halo appearance of light is disposed entirely around the button.

14. A method of using a multi-sensing hazard detector comprising:

providing a multi-sensing hazard detector comprising;

a back plate that is couplable with a wall or ceiling of the building or structure so as to secure the multi-sensing hazard detector relative thereto;

a front casing coupled with the back plate to define a housing having an interior region within which a plurality of components of the multi-sensing hazard detector are at least partially contained, the housing having a plurality of openings through which air flows so that the air is accessible to the components within the interior region of the housing;

a circuit board coupled with the housing and having the plurality of components communicatively coupled therewith, the plurality of components including;

an alarm device communicatively coupled with the circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon the detection of a potential hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger;

an occupancy sensor communicatively coupled with the circuit board, the occupancy sensor being configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector; and

a smoke chamber communicatively coupled with the circuit board and configured to detect the presence of smoke and to trigger the alarm device upon the detection of smoke;

wherein the housing of the multi-sensing hazard detector comprises a volume of less than about 1024 cubic centimeters; and

wherein the multi-sensing hazard detector is relatively flat so as not to extend excessively outwardly from the wall or ceiling, the multi-sensing hazard detector having a minimum aspect ratio defined as a thickness dimension thereof extending outwardly from the wall or ceiling divided by a longest lateral dimension perpendicular to said thickness dimension, the multi-sensing hazard detector having a maximum aspect ratio defined as a thickness dimension thereof extending outwardly from the wall or ceiling divided by a shortest lateral dimension perpendicular to said thickness dimension, wherein each of said minimum aspect ratio and said maximum aspect ratio is less than about 33%; and

operating the multi-sensing hazard detector within a building or structure to detect a potential hazard.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the minimum aspect ratio is less than about 24% and the maximum aspect ratio is less than about 33%.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the smoke chamber is mid-mounted with respect to the circuit board, said mid-mounting facilitating said flatness of said multi-sensing hazard detector so as to minimize said maximum and minimum aspect ratios.

17. A method for manufacturing a multi-sensing hazard detector comprising:

providing a back plate, the back plate being couplable with a wall or ceiling of a structure so as to secure the smoke detector to the structure;

coupling a front plate with the back plate so as to define a housing having an interior region within which a plurality of components of the multi-sensing hazard detector are at least partially contained, the housing having a plurality of openings through which air flows so that the air is accessible to the components within the interior region of the housing;

coupling a circuit board with the housing, the circuit board being configured to support and electrically couple one or more components of the multi-sensing hazard detector;

communicatively coupling an alarm device with the circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon the detection of a potential hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger;

communicatively coupling an occupancy sensor with the circuit board, the occupancy sensor being configured to detect the presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the multi-sensing hazard detector; and

communicatively coupling a smoke chamber with the circuit board, the smoke chamber being configured to detect the presence of smoke and to trigger the alarm device upon the detection of smoke, wherein coupling the smoke chamber with the circuit board comprises mid-mounting the smoke chamber with respect to the circuit board such that an outwardly facing surface of the smoke chamber is positioned outward of an outwardly facing surface of the circuit board and an inwardly facing surface of the smoke chamber is positioned inward of an inwardly facing surface of the circuit board, wherein smoke is flowable into the smoke chamber from both outward of the outwardly facing surface and inward of the inwardly facing surface of the circuit board;

wherein the housing of the multi-sensing hazard detector comprises a volume of less than about 1024 cubic centimeters.