Systems and methods for using multiple light detecting optoelectronic components of a hazard detection system to determine a smoke condition of an environment

• US 9,651,485 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Ho, Dietrich, Warren, Daniel Adam, Aina, Morakinyo John, Smith, Ian C., Gupta, Anurag, Goldenson, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US14/986,509
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 340628, 340629, 340630
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0205 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/06 Investigating concentration of particle suspensions by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/075 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0026 in gas, e.g. fog
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0046 in gas, e.g. smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/53 within a flowing fluid, e.g. smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/103 using a light emitting and receiving device
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/107 for detecting light-scattering due to smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for handling temperature variation with optoelectronic components of a hazard detection system are described herein. A power characteristic of an optoelectronic component of the hazard detection system may be used to determine a temperature of an environment of the hazard detection system. A power characteristic of an optoelectronic component of the hazard detection system may be used to determine a smoke condition of an environment of the hazard detection system. Optoelectronic components of the hazard detection system may be optically coupled to determine a smoke condition of an environment of the hazard detection system. Multiple optoelectronics of the hazard detection system may be operative to detect forward scatter and back scatter of one or more types of light to determine a characteristic of a hazard particle.

Claims

1. A hazard detection system comprising:

a chamber body defining a chamber space;

a first light subsystem;

a second light subsystem;

a third light subsystem; and

a processing subsystem, wherein;

the first light subsystem is operative to emit first light into the chamber space during a first period of a cycle;

the second light subsystem is operative to detect a first portion of the first light within the chamber space during the first period of the cycle;

the third light subsystem is operative to detect a second portion of the first light within the chamber space during the first period of the cycle;

the second light subsystem is operative to emit second light into the chamber space during a second period of the cycle;

the first light subsystem is operative to detect a first portion of the second light within the chamber space during the second period of the cycle;

the third light subsystem is operative to detect a second portion of the second light within the chamber space during the second period of the cycle; and

the processing subsystem is operative to determine a characteristic of a hazard particle within the chamber space based on the radiance of each one of the first portion of the first light;

the second portion of the first light;

the first portion of the second light; and

the second portion of the second light.

2. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein a wavelength of the first light is different than a wavelength of the second light.

3. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the hazard particle comprises at least one of:

a size of the hazard particle;

a color of the hazard particle; and

a composition of the hazard particle.

4. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the cycle is no more than ten seconds and is repeated.

5. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein:

the first portion of the first light comprises one of;

an obscuration portion of the first light;

a backscattered portion of the first light; and

a front scattered portion of the first light;

the second portion of the first light comprises another one of;

the obscuration portion of the first light;

the backscattered portion of the first light; and

the front scattered portion of the first light.

6. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein:

the first portion of the first light comprises a forward scattered portion of the first light;

the second portion of the first light comprises a backscattered portion of the first light;

the first portion of the second light comprises a forward scattered portion of the second light; and

the second portion of the second light comprises an obscuration portion of the second light.

7. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein:

the first portion of the first light comprises an obscuration portion of the first light;

the second portion of the first light comprises a backscattered portion of the first light;

the first portion of the second light comprises an obscuration portion of the second light; and

the second portion of the second light comprises a forward scattered portion of the second light.

8. The hazard detection system of claim 7, further comprising a fourth light subsystem, wherein:

the fourth light subsystem is operative to detect a third portion of the first light within the chamber space during the first period of the cycle;

the fourth light subsystem is operative to detect a third portion of the second light within the chamber space during the second period of the cycle;

the third portion of the first light comprises a forward scattered portion of the first light; and

the third portion of the second light comprises a backscattered portion of the second light.

9. The hazard detection system of claim 8, wherein the processing subsystem is operative to determine the characteristic of the hazard particle within the chamber space based on the radiance of each one of:

the first portion of the first light;

the second portion of the first light;

the third portion of the first light;

the first portion of the second light;

the second portion of the second light; and

the third portion of the second light.

10. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein:

the first light subsystem is operative to emit the first light along a first axis into the chamber space during the first period of the cycle;

the second light subsystem is operative to detect the first portion of the first light along a second axis within the chamber space during the first period of the cycle;

the third light subsystem is operative to detect the second portion of the first light along a third axis within the chamber space during the first period of the cycle;

the first axis is linear with the second axis; and

the first axis and the third axis form an angle between 5° and

65°

.

11. The hazard detection system of claim 10, wherein:

the second light subsystem is operative to emit the second light along a fourth axis into the chamber space during the second period of the cycle;

the first light subsystem is operative to detect the first portion of the second light along a fifth axis within the chamber space during the second period of the cycle;

the third light subsystem is operative to detect the second portion of the second light along a sixth axis within the chamber space during the second period of the cycle;

the fourth axis is linear with the fifth axis; and

the fourth axis and the sixth axis form an angle between 5° and

65°

.

12. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the first light subsystem comprises a diode operative to:

emit the first light into the chamber space during the first period of the cycle; and

detect the first portion of the second light within the chamber space during the second period of the cycle.

13. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the first light subsystem comprises:

a light emitting diode (LED) operative to emit LED light with an emitted magnitude during the first period of the cycle;

a light detecting diode; and

an optical coupling structure operative to;

enable a first portion of the emitted LED light with a detected magnitude to be detected by the light detecting diode during the first period of the cycle;

enable a second portion of the emitted LED light to be emitted as the first light into the chamber space during the first period of the cycle;

maintain a constant ratio between the value of the emitted magnitude and the value of the detected magnitude; and

enable the first portion of the second light to be detected by the light detecting diode during the second period of the cycle.

14. The hazard detection system of claim 13, wherein:

the first light subsystem further comprises a lens;

the first light is operative to be emitted into the chamber space via the lens; and

the optical coupling structure is at least one of;

positioned with the lens; and

a portion of the lens.

15. The hazard detection system of claim 13, wherein the processing subsystem is further operative to:

determine the current value of the detected magnitude based on the current value of a power characteristic of the light detecting diode;

compare the determined current value of the detected magnitude with a particular value;

dictate the value of a power characteristic of the LED based on the comparison; and

determine a current particular smoke condition within the chamber space based on the current radiance of the first portion of the first light.

16. The hazard detection system of claim 13, further comprising a die, wherein:

the LED is provided on the die; and

the light detecting diode is provided on the die.

17. The hazard detection system of claim 13, further comprising:

a package;

a first die provided on the package; and

a second die provided on the package, wherein;

the LED is provided on the first die; and

the light detecting diode is provided on the second die.

18. A method for operating a hazard detection system, wherein the hazard detection system comprises a chamber body defining a chamber space, a first optoelectronic subsystem, a second optoelectronic subsystem, a third optoelectronic subsystem, and a processing subsystem, the method comprising:

emitting first light into the chamber space from the first optoelectronic subsystem;

detecting a first portion of the first emitted light with the second optoelectronic subsystem;

detecting a second portion of the first emitted light with the third optoelectronic subsystem;

after the emitting the first light, emitting second light into the chamber space from one of the second optoelectronic subsystem and the third optoelectronic subsystem;

detecting a first portion of the second emitted light with the first optoelectronic subsystem;

detecting a second portion of the second emitted light with the other one of the second optoelectronic subsystem and the third optoelectronic subsystem; and

determining, with the processing subsystem, a characteristic of a hazard particle within the chamber space based on the radiance of each one of;

the first portion of the first light;

the second portion of the first light;

the first portion of the second light; and

the second portion of the second light.

19. A method for operating a hazard detection system, wherein the hazard detection system comprises a chamber body defining a chamber space, a first optoelectronic subsystem, a second optoelectronic subsystem, and a third optoelectronic subsystem, the method comprising:

emitting first light from the first optoelectronic subsystem into the chamber space;

detecting an obscuration portion of the first emitted light with the second optoelectronic subsystem;

detecting a backscattered portion of the first emitted light with the third optoelectronic subsystem;

after the emitting the first light, emitting second light from the second optoelectronic subsystem into the chamber space;

detecting an obscuration portion of the second emitted light with the first optoelectronic subsystem; and

detecting a forward scattered portion of the second emitted light with the third optoelectronic subsystem.

20. A method for operating a hazard detection system, wherein the hazard detection system comprises a chamber body defining a chamber space, a first optoelectronic subsystem, a second optoelectronic subsystem, a third optoelectronic subsystem, and a fourth optoelectronic subsystem, the method comprising:

emitting first light from the first optoelectronic subsystem into the chamber space;

detecting a backscattered portion of the first emitted light with the second optoelectronic subsystem;

detecting a forward scattered portion of the first emitted light with the third optoelectronic subsystem;

after the emitting the first light, emitting second light from the fourth optoelectronic subsystem into the chamber space;

detecting a forward scattered portion of the second emitted light with the second optoelectronic subsystem; and

detecting a backscattered portion of the second emitted light with the third optoelectronic subsystem.