Smart hazard detector providing follow up communications to detection events

• US 9,691,258 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sloo, David, Webb, Nicholas Unger, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Goldenson, Andrew W., Lee, Jeffery Theodore, Le Guen, Sophie, Fadell, Anthony Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US14/875,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20160104366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 340501, 340511, 340527, 3405391, 340577, 340588, 340628, 340632, 340 1324, 34028605, 34030916
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/34 by opening air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/02 by investigating impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/121 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity, of the fluid moisture content of the tested material G01N27/048
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array electrochemical electrode arrays G01N27/27
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 for CO, CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/46 Extracting features or characteristics from the video content, e.g. video fingerprints, representative shots or key frames
• 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 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 : responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 : Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 : Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 : Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 : Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/012 : using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 : using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 : Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 : Monitoring of the detection circuits
• 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 29/22 : Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 : by updating and storing reference thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 : indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 : from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 : based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 : Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

Ambient amount of a hazardous condition may be monitored. A mode may be set to a state indicative of the hazardous condition being present in the ambient environment. It may then be determined that the amount of the hazard in the ambient environment has dropped below an alarm criterion. A time period may then be tracked during which the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has remained below the alarm criterion. It may be determined that the time period has reached at least a threshold duration, during such time period the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector having remained below the alarm criterion. An indication of the hazardous condition easing may be output in response to the time period being at least the threshold duration.

Claims

1. A method for detecting that a hazardous condition is easing, the method comprising:

measuring, by a hazard detector, a first amount of the hazardous condition present in an ambient environment of the hazard detector;

setting, by the hazard detector, a mode of the hazard detector to a pre-alarm state based on the measured first amount of the hazardous condition;

measuring, by the hazard detector, a second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector, wherein the second amount is less than the first amount;

determining, by the hazard detector, based on the second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment, to set the mode to a non-alarm state; and

in response to determining, at least partially based on the second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment to set the mode of the hazard detector to the non-alarm state from the pre-alarm state or an alarm state, outputting an indication that the hazardous condition has eased, wherein;

the hazardous condition having eased indicates the hazardous condition in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has decreased in amount.

2. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, wherein the indication output comprises an auditory message that comprises speech being output by a speaker of the hazard detector.

3. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 2, further comprising:

accessing, by the hazard detector, a stored indication of a location at which the hazard detector is installed, wherein the auditory message comprises speech indicative of the location.

4. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, wherein the indication output comprises a light of the hazard detector outputting a color indicative of the non-alarm state.

5. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining, at least partially based on the first amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment to set the mode of the hazard detector to the pre-alarm state, outputting an indication of the pre-alarm state comprising an auditory message.

6. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 5, wherein outputting the indication of the pre-alarm state comprising outputting pulsing light of a color indicative of the pre-alarm state.

7. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring, by the hazard detector, a third amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector, wherein the third amount is greater than the first amount and the second amount; and

determining, by the hazard detector, at least partially based on the third amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment, to set the mode to an alarm state, wherein the alarm state causes an alarm of the hazard detector to be sounded.

8. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the hazard detector, that a threshold period of time has elapsed while an amount of hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has remained below a stored hazardous condition value, wherein

determining to set the mode to a non-alarm state is further based on determining the threshold period of time has elapsed while the amount of hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has remained below the stored hazardous condition value.

9. A hazard detector comprising:

a hazard sensor that measures amounts of a hazardous condition present in an ambient environment of the hazard detector;

an output component that outputs information; and

a processing system that comprises one or more processors, the processing system being in communication with the output component and the hazard sensor, the processing system being configured to;

receive a first measurement of a first amount of the hazardous condition present in an ambient environment of the hazard detector from the hazard sensor;

set a mode of the hazard detector to a pre-alarm or alarm state based on the first measurement;

receive a second measurement of a second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from the hazard sensor;

determine, based on the second measurement, to set the mode to a non-alarm state

in response to determining, at least partially based on the second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment to set the mode of the hazard detector to the non-alarm state from the alarm state or the pre-alarm state, cause an indication that the hazardous condition has eased to be output by the output component, wherein the hazardous condition having eased indicates the hazardous condition in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has dissipated.

10. The hazard detector of claim 9, wherein the indication output by the output component comprises an auditory message that comprises speech.

11. The hazard detector of claim 10, wherein the processing system is further configured to access a stored indication of a location at which the hazard detector is installed, wherein the auditory message comprises speech indicative of the location.

12. The hazard detector of claim 9, wherein the indication output comprises a light of the output component outputting colored light indicative of the non-alarm state.

13. The hazard detector of claim 9, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

in response to determining to set the mode of the hazard detector to the pre-alarm state, cause an indication of the pre-alarm state to be output by the output component, the indication comprising an auditory message.

14. The hazard detector of claim 13, wherein the output device outputting the indication of the pre-alarm state comprises the output device outputting pulsing light of a color indicative of the pre-alarm state.

15. The hazard detector of claim 9, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

receive a third measurement of a third amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from the hazard sensor, wherein the third amount is greater than the first amount and the second amount; and

determine, at least partially based on the third measurement, to set the mode to an alarm state, wherein the alarm state causes an alarm of the hazard detector to be sounded.

16. The hazard detector of claim 9, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine that a threshold period of time has elapsed while an amount of the hazardous condition, as measured by the hazard sensor, present in the ambient environment has remained below a stored hazardous condition value, wherein

the one or more processors being configured to determine to set the mode to a non-alarm state is further based on determining the threshold period of time has elapsed while the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment has remained below the stored hazardous condition value.

17. A non-transitory processor-readable medium for a hazard detector, comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors of the hazard detector to:

receive a first measurement of a first amount of the hazardous condition present in an ambient environment of the hazard detector from the hazard sensor;

set a mode of the hazard detector to a pre-alarm or alarm state based on the first measurement;

receive a second measurement of a second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from the hazard sensor;

determine, based on the second measurement, to set the mode to a non-alarm state; and

in response to determining at least partially based on the second measurement to set the mode of the hazard detector to the non-alarm state, cause an indication that the hazardous condition has eased to be output by the hazard detector, wherein the hazardous condition having eased indicates the hazardous condition in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has decreased in amount.

18. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for the hazard detector of claim 17, further comprising:

accessing a stored indication of a room in which the hazard detector is located, wherein causing the indication that the hazardous condition has eased comprises outputting an auditory message indicative of the room.