Patent Application
20070296570
It will become apparent that various configurations of the present invention permit the reliable detection of an alarm at a very early stage, and allow for the possibility of automatically extinguishing a fire at this early stage.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. To the extent that the figures illustrate diagrams of the functional blocks of various embodiments, the functional blocks are not necessarily indicative of the division between hardware circuitry. Thus, for example, one or more of the functional blocks (e.g., processors or memories) may be implemented in a single piece of hardware (e.g., a general purpose signal processor or a block of random access memory, hard disk, or the like). Similarly, the programs may be stand alone programs, may be incorporated as subroutines in an operating system, may be functions in an installed software package, and the like. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. Also, sensors on a mobile robot may be referred to as “mobile sensors” to help distinguish such sensors from, for example, atmospheric sensors affixed to a ceiling or wall. Furthermore, “local atmospheric conditions” refers to conditions in the immediate vicinity of a particular atmospheric sensor.
In some configurations of the present invention and referring to
Mobile fire alarm robot 16 is an addressable component of the fire alarm system, and robot 16 has its own mobile sensors that can be carried from a central, standby location to a location in a building where hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions are sensed.
In some configurations and referring to
To check whether there is actually a fire at a very early stage, robot 16 is dispatched by FACP 12 to a location near the sensor 26 experiencing the slight increase in smoke obscuration. Robot 16 proceeds via wheels or rollers 32 to the area at which the smoke, heat, and/or gas level was detected. Optionally, guide markers, such as invisible ultraviolet (UV) colored tracks 35, can be laid down main hallways to guide robot 16 using, for example, mobile UV sensors 37. Because the level of smoke, heat, and/or gas detected is lower than the alarm level, it may not yet be appropriate to summon the fire department or other emergency responders. However, when robot 16 arrives, it deploys its own mobile sensors 36 to obtain verification of a hazardous or potentially hazardous condition. For example, robot 16 can deploy a mobile combination sensor 36 to ceiling 30 level using a telescoping pole 34. If the smoke level (or other condition) is confirmed as reported, robot 16 can send a verification report to FACP 12. For example, a magnet 35 on top of pole 34 can send a message to FACP 12, as many hotel and industrial smoke sensors 26 have internal reed switches that can be activated magnetically to provide a test signal that can be communicated to FACP 12. As another example, a message could be sent from robot 16 to FACP 12 via radio.
Robot 16 may also use its mobile sensors to attempt to home in more closely on a location as another way to verify hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions where a detected level is below a verification threshold. Robot 16 brings additional detection and verification capability right to the source of the hazardous or potentially hazardous condition.
Additionally, robot 16 may be supplied with an extinguishing agent 45 that can be expelled in the direction of a fire or smoldering embers. Only a small quantity of extinguishing agent 45 is required, because robot 16 would normally detect a fire in its earliest stages. An infrared sensor and/or a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor 39, for example, can be used to find the source of combustion 41.
Robot 16 can be configured to use fire alarm system 10, including FACP 12, to reduce the level of autonomy necessary for robot 16. Many sensors 26 already include piezoelectric sounders 50 to alert occupants, but an ultrasonic device 52 could be installed instead of, or in addition to, the regular audible piezoelectric sounder. For example, a sensor 26 that initiates a robot dispatch may emit an ultrasonic homing signal that does not disturb the occupants of the room, but that could be used by an ultrasonic detector 53 on robot 16 to navigate to an area of concern. Additionally, robot 16 could communicate to FACP 12 using installed sensors, such as infrared ports 54, or communicate with a sensor 26 using visible or infrared light emission. For example, many sensors 26 have infrared light emitting diodes 56 that indicate the condition of the sensor. Information could be downloaded from a sensor 26 to a robot 16 using LEDs 56.
By verifying that the slight increase in smoke (or heat, etc.) is due to a fire, robot 16 provides very early notification. Thus, emergency personnel can be summoned sooner, reducing the danger to life and property.
In a configuration useful in a hotel, a robot 16 can be dispatched to a particular room 38. Upon arrival, robot 16 can access a door port 40 enabling heat and smoke sampling inside room 38. Door port 40 may be a hole or other opening through which robot 16 can insert a sensor, possibly on pole 34. Door port 40 may be located near the ceiling and covered by a spring-loaded closing mechanism, for example, to prevent unauthorized use of the port and to protect the privacy of room occupants.
When no heat is present and smoke is detected by robot 16, robot 16 may request and be granted access to the room using the door access system 41 commonly used by hotels for Ving card keys. In some instances, it may be preferred never to open a door, and robot 16 may be configured in this manner if appropriate. If heat is present, robot 16 can contact FACP 12 so that an alarm would be initiated. Once inside room 38, robot 16 could extinguish a small fire or signal FACP 12 to sound a general alarm. Additionally, robot 16 may be programmed to rouse a sleeping or passed-out occupant 42. Optionally, robot 16 can be equipped with a camera 44 having video or still photography capabilities to record all or some of its actions.
Robot 16 may normally be attached to an AC power source 20 and a wired communications interface 18, allowing the monitoring and charging of storage batteries in robot 16. Any robot 16 faults can be monitored by FACP 12 and/or by robot 16, itself. When dispatched, robot 16 disengages from the wired interfaces 18 and 22 and proceeds as directed. Robot 16, in some configurations, may use the installed fire alarm system 10 as an aid in navigating to a suspected fire source, thus increasing the speed at which robot 16 could travel to the source, and reducing the level of autonomy required of robot 16.
In certain embodiments, multiple robots 16 may be utilized and assigned to specific areas, in order to decrease response time. For example, a robot 16 may be provided for each floor of a hotel or other multistory structure.
While no signal indicative of a hazardous or potentially hazardous condition is detected at 103, block 102 is repeated. If such a signal is detected at 103, but before a pre-set alarm trip point is reached, FACP 12 dispatches a mobile robot 16 to the room from which the signal was received from sensor 26 at block 104. By dispatching robot 16 at this early stage, it may be possible to confirm the existence of a fire at a time when it is less hazardous and can easily be put out, or confirm that there is no fire and avoid having to issue a false alarm.
Next, at block 106, mobile sensors on robot 16 are used to confirm that a hazardous or potentially hazardous condition does or does not exist. For example, robot 16 can raise an obscuration sensor 36 to the ceiling 30 to confirm the obscuration signal produced by sensor 26. If confirmation is made at block 107, an alarm may be issued by FACP 12 at block 109. Otherwise, robot 16 can be dispatched back to its standby position at block 111, while FACP 12 continues to monitor signals from the sensors in case subsequent signals from sensor 26 indicate an actual situation that could not be detected by robot 16, or another condition needing robot 16 for confirmation.
In some configurations, the robot 16 may be equipped with extinguishing agent and the hazardous or potentially hazardous condition may constitute the early stage of a fire. Thus, the method can further include, at block 110, utilizing mobile sensors on robot 16 to locate the fire or smoldering embers, and at block 112, expelling the extinguishing agent from the robot in the direction of the fire or the smoldering embers.
Some configurations of the present invention include additional preliminary steps at block 102 or prior to block 102. More particularly, in a normal standby mode, robot 16 is attached to an AC power line 20 prior to block 102, which powers the robot and recharges its batteries. FACP 12 communicates with all detection devices 26 at block 102. Robot 16 may also answer attendance and status polls from FACP 12 at block 102 in some configurations. Optionally, dispatching robot 16 at block 104 may include detaching robot 16 from AC power.
In some configurations of the present invention, SLC 14 can be, but need not be, IDNet wiring, which is a simplex proprietary wired communication channel available from Tyco Fire & Security, Westminster, Mass. Other types of wired networks may also be used. Radio frequency (RF) communication may be used as an alternative or in addition to a wired network, if reception conditions inside the building in which system 10 is deployed permit.
FACP 12 may be, but need not be, a model 4100U FACP, also available from Tyco Fire & Security, Westminster, Mass. In some configurations, FACP 12 can assist in a homing operation of robot 16. For example, commands from FACP 12 can activate sensors and/or devices that can be sensed by robot 16 to guide its path to a suspected alarm. Also, sensors placed along the possible paths of robot 16 can assist FACP 12 in tracking robot 16. For example, IR sensors could detect an infrared signal emitted by robot 16, or robot 16 could activate reed switches along its route to send information to FACP 12.
It will thus be appreciated that various configurations of the present invention provide early detection of an alarm by verification of any unusual increase in sensor readings sent back from installed smoke, heat, CO and other alarm devices installed in a building. In many instances, a fire may also be extinguished before becoming extremely dangerous or life-threatening, because it takes much less extinguishing agent to extinguish a fire detected at a very early stage.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60816287 | Jun 2006 | US |
