DETECTION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FIRES ALONG A MONITORING PATH

• US 20090244280A1
• Filed: 02/16/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hanses, Thomas, Bergmann, Ralph, Oppelt, Ulrich, Siber, Bernd
• Application Number:
  US12/371,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20090244280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions

Abstract

A detection device for detecting fires and/or fire features in a monitoring region along a monitoring path includes a camera device that is located and/or may be located in the monitoring region in order to generate image data, an evaluation device which is designed to detect fire and/or fire features in the monitoring range by evaluating the image data, in the case of which the detection device may be used to select a section of the monitoring range in which the evaluation is carried out, and the detection device is designed such that the monitoring range section has a maximum viewing angle alpha of less than 5°, preferably less than 3°, and, in particular less than 1°.

Claims

1. A detection device for detecting fires and/or fire features in a monitoring region along a monitoring path, comprising a camera device locatable in a monitoring region in order to generate image data;

and an evaluation device configured to detect fire and/or fire features in a monitoring range by evaluating the image data, so that a section of the monitoring range in which the evaluation is carried out is selectable using the detection device, wherein the detection device is configured such that the monitoring range section has a maximum viewing angle in at least one plane of a viewing field of the detection device and/or the camera device of less than 5°

.

2. The detection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured so that the monitoring range section has a maximum viewing angle in at least one plane of the viewing field of the detection device and/or camera device of less than 3°

.

3. The detection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured so that the monitoring range section has a maximum viewing angle in at least one plane of the viewing field of the detection device and/or camera device of less than 1°

.

4. The detection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said camera device includes an optics device which limits the detection range of said camera device to the maximum viewing angle.

5. The detection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said evaluation device is programmed to limit the detection range of said camera device to the maximum viewing angle.

6. The detection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the camera device includes an optics device which limits the detection angle of the camera device to the maxi mum viewing angle, and the evaluation device is programmed to limit the detection range of the camera device to the maximum viewing angle.

7. The detection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said camera device is adjusted to provide sharp image resolution at a distance of at least 10 m.

8. The detection device as defined in claim 7, wherein said camera device is adjusted to provide sharp image resolution at a distance of at least 15 m.

9. The detection device as defined in claim 7, wherein said camera device is adjusted to provide sharp image resolution at a distance of at least 20 m.

10. The detection device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a marking device which is configured to provide a marking in the monitoring range section in a way selected from the group consisting of generating the marking, depicting the marking, and both.

11. The detection device as defined in claim 10, wherein said marking device is configured as an optical marking.

12. A detection device as defined in claim 11, wherein said marking device is configured as the optical marking selected from the group consisting of the optical marking having geometric figures, the optical marking having elements which are marked in color, and both.

13. A detection device as defined in claim 11, wherein said marking device is configured as a marking device selected from the group consisting an illumination source, including an illumination device, and both, configured to act on the marking in a way selected from the group consisting of projecting the marking in the monitoring region section, illuminating the marking, and both.

14. A detection device as defined in claim 13, wherein said illumination source is configured as the illumination source selected from the group consisting of located in said camera device, integrated in said camera device, located in the monitoring region section, and combinations thereof.

15. A detection device as defined in claim 10, wherein said camera device and said marking are separated by at least 10 m.

16. A detection device as defined in claim 15, wherein said camera device and said marking are separated by at least 15 m.

17. A detection device as defined in claim 15, wherein said camera device and said marking are separated by at least 20 m.

18. A detection device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an interface for connecting a line selected from the group consisting of a two-wire line and a four-wire line, to provide a supply selected from the group consisting of a supply of power, a supply of data, and both, to said detection device.

19. A method for detecting fires and/or fire features includes using the detection device as defined in claim 1.

20. A method for detecting fires and/or fire features as defined in claim 19, wherein said using including in a first step positioning a marking and/or selecting a marking by a camera device, separating the camera device and a marking by a distance of at least 10 m;

and in a second step detecting by an evaluation device fires and/or signs of fires by evaluating image data of the marking.

21. A method for detecting fires and/or fire features as defined in claim 20, wherein said distance is at least 15 m.

22. A method for detecting fires and/or fire features as defined in claim 20, wherein said distance is at least 20 m.

23. A method for detecting fires and/or fire features as defined in claim 19, further comprising using at least one illumination source for a step including generating a marking, illuminating a marking, and both.

24. A method for detecting fires and/or fire features as defined in claim 23, further comprising activating the illumination source only temporarily.

25. A method for detecting fires and/or fire features as defined in claim 24, wherein said activating the illumination source includes activating the illumination source only temporarily when lighting conditions are poor.