Systems and methods for optically coupling optoelectronic components of a hazard detection system to determine a smoke condition of an environment

• US 9,903,814 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Daniel Adam, Smith, Ian C., Aina, Morakinyo John, Goldenson, Andrew W., Ho, Dietrich, Gupta, Anurag
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US14/986,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20170191930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 340628, 340630, 356337, 356338, 356340, 356341
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2217/00 Temperature measurement using electric or magnetic components already present in the system to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/00 Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat giving results other than momentary value of temperature G01K3/00 ; Power supply therefor, e.g. using thermoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/01 using semiconducting elements having PN junctions G01K7/02, G01K7/16, G01K7/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/53 within a flowing fluid, e.g. smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/1211 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/107 for detecting light-scattering due to smoke

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 light emitting diode operative to emit light with an emitted magnitude;

a first light detecting diode;

an optical coupling structure operative to;

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

enable a second portion of the emitted light to be emitted into the chamber space; and

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

a second light detecting diode operative to detect the second portion of the emitted light; and

a processing subsystem operative to;

determine the current value of the detected magnitude based on the current value of a power characteristic of the first 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 light emitting diode based on the comparison; and

determine a current particular smoke condition within the chamber space based on the current amount of the second portion of the emitted light detected by the second light detecting diode.

2. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the processing subsystem is operative to dictate the value of the power characteristic of the light emitting diode based on the comparison for maintaining the value of the emitted magnitude at another particular value.

3. The hazard detection system of claim 2, wherein the power characteristic of the light emitting diode is a current flowing through the light emitting diode.

4. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the processing subsystem comprises analog feedback circuitry that is operative to:

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

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

dictate the value of the power characteristic of the light emitting diode based on the comparison.

5. The hazard detection system of claim 1, further comprising a die, wherein:

the light emitting diode is provided on the die; and

the first light detecting diode is provided on the die.

6. The hazard detection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a package;

a first die provided on the package; and

a second die provided on the package, wherein;

the light emitting diode is provided on the first die; and

the first light detecting diode is provided on the second die.

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

the optical coupling structure comprises a lens;

the light emitting diode is operative to emit the light within the lens; and

the first light detecting diode is operative to detect the first portion of the emitted light within the lens.

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

the optical coupling structure comprises;

a first lens;

a second lens; and

a light guide extending between the first lens and the second lens;

the light emitting diode is operative to emit the light within the first lens;

the light guide is operative to pass the first portion of the emitted light from the first lens to the second lens; and

the first light detecting diode is operative to detect the first portion of the emitted light within the second lens.

9. The hazard detection system of claim 8, wherein the first light detecting diode is positioned outside of the chamber space.

10. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the processing subsystem is operative to:

determine the current temperature of the first light detecting diode; and

determine the current particular smoke condition within the chamber space based on;

the current amount of the second portion of the emitted light detected by the second light detecting diode; and

the determined current temperature of the first light detecting diode.

11. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the processing subsystem is operative to:

determine the current temperature of the first light detecting diode;

access a temperature gain coefficient of the first light detecting diode; and

determine the current particular smoke condition within the chamber space based on;

the current amount of the second portion of the emitted light detected by the second light detecting diode;

the determined current temperature of the first light detecting diode; and

the accessed temperature gain coefficient of the first light detecting diode.

12. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the processing subsystem is operative to:

determine the current temperature of the first light detecting diode;

determine the current temperature of the second light detecting diode;

access a temperature gain coefficient of the first light detecting diode;

access a temperature gain coefficient of the second light detecting diode; and

determine the current particular smoke condition within the chamber space based on;

the current amount of the second portion of the emitted light detected by the second light detecting diode;

the determined current temperature of the first light detecting diode;

the determined current temperature of the second light detecting diode;

the accessed temperature gain coefficient of the first light detecting diode; and

the accessed temperature gain coefficient of the second light detecting diode.

13. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the processing subsystem is operative to prevent a change in the temperature of the light emitting diode from affecting the value of the emitted magnitude.

14. A method for operating a hazard detection system, wherein the hazard detection system comprises a chamber body defining a chamber space, an optoelectronic emitter, a first optoelectronic detector, a second optoelectronic detector, an optical coupling structure ensuring a light path between the optoelectronic emitter and the first optoelectronic detector, and a processing subsystem, the method comprising:

emitting light from the optoelectronic emitter;

detecting a first portion of the emitted light with the first optoelectronic detector via the optical coupling structure;

detecting a second portion of the emitted light with the second optoelectronic detector via the chamber space;

varying, with the processing subsystem, the value of a power characteristic of the optoelectronic emitter based on the radiance of the first portion of the emitted light detected with the first optoelectronic detector; and

determining, with the processing subsystem, a smoke condition within the chamber space based on the radiance of the second portion of the emitted light detected with the second optoelectronic detector.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the varying prevents a change in the temperature of the optoelectronic emitter from affecting the radiance of the light emitted from the optoelectronic emitter.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining, with the processing subsystem, the temperature of the first optoelectronic detector; and

accessing, with the processing subsystem, a temperature gain coefficient of the first optoelectronic detector, wherein the determining the smoke condition within the chamber space comprises determining the smoke condition within the chamber space based on;

the radiance of the second portion of the emitted light detected with the second optoelectronic detector;

the determined temperature of the first optoelectronic detector; and

the accessed temperature gain coefficient of the first optoelectronic detector.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining, with the processing subsystem, the temperature of the second optoelectronic detector; and

accessing, with the processing subsystem, a temperature gain coefficient of the second optoelectronic detector, wherein the determining the smoke condition within the chamber space comprises determining the smoke condition within the chamber space based on;

the radiance of the second portion of the emitted light detected with the second optoelectronic detector;

the determined temperature of the first optoelectronic detector;

the accessed temperature gain coefficient of the first optoelectronic detector;

the determined temperature of the second optoelectronic detector; and

the accessed temperature gain coefficient of the second optoelectronic detector.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the method further comprises, during the detecting the first portion of the emitted light with the first optoelectronic detector via the optical coupling structure, determining, with the processing subsystem, a value of a power characteristic of the first optoelectronic detector; and

the determining the temperature of the first optoelectronic detector comprises determining the temperature of the first optoelectronic detector based on the determined value of the power characteristic of the first optoelectronic detector.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining the temperature of the first optoelectronic detector comprises:

accessing, with the processing subsystem, correlator data indicative of another value of the power characteristic of the first optoelectronic detector at another temperature of the first optoelectronic detector; and

estimating, with the processing subsystem, the temperature of the first optoelectronic detector based on;

the determined value of the power characteristic of the first optoelectronic detector; and

the accessed correlator data.

20. A method for operating an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a chamber body that at least partially defines a chamber space, a light emitting diode, and a photodiode, the method comprising:

while the light emitting diode is emitting light for enabling the determination of a smoke condition within the chamber space, detecting a first portion of the emitted light with the photodiode; and

dictating the amount of current injected into the light emitting diode based on the magnitude of the first portion of the emitted light detected with the photodiode.