Patent Application
20100315224
Most single family residences and apartments rely on individual smoke detectors with built-in alarms that can be easily placed in various rooms. Larger buildings, such as apartment or condominium buildings, industrial plants, and schools often require more complex, networked commercial fire alarm systems. These fire alarm systems may include a controller that is centrally located and communicates with numerous alarms and detectors positioned over a large area. The alarm units provide light notification, sound notification, or both to occupants in the vicinity of the alarm. These systems are generally required to be tested periodically to verify that the system is fully operational.
In the conventional commercial system shown in
A testing procedure is typically used to assess whether or not the alarms 103 and controller 113 are properly working. Conventionally, the testing procedure involves at least two people. A first service representative 101 is sent out into the building or complex with a two-way radio 105. A second service representative 100 must stay near the alarm controller 113, which is connected to the alarms 103 via a communication path 109. The second service representative communicates with the first service representative 101 via a second two-way radio 111. The service representatives must perform a manual visual inspection to make sure that each alarm 103 is functioning properly. One way to accomplish this is for the first representative to walk to an alarm 103 to be tested and inform the second representative to activate an alarm condition at alarm 103, possibly activating other alarms outside the perception of the first representative. Once the alarm 103 is activated, the first representative must communicate his observations back to the second service representative. To test the entire system, the process must be repeated for each alarm 103 in the system.
The walk through test required at the installation and regular maintenance of fire alarm systems is time consuming, costly and potentially disruptive particularly if the alarm 103 has a sound notification component. Further, because it is prone to human error, the walk through test is unreliable. A system is needed that requires less human involvement, less time to test alarm devices, is less disruptive, and is more reliable.
A self-testing notification appliance includes a notification emitter, a verification circuit, and a controller. The notification emitter includes a visual notification (e.g., strobe) and may optionally also include aural notification (e.g., speaker or horn). The notification emitter may output visual notification based on a control signal. The visual notification is indicative of an alarm event. The verification circuit may include one or more notification sensors to detect the visual notification and generate a verification signal. The controller may initiate the test and/or receive input to test the notification appliance (such as receiving input from a remote central controller or from an input device, such as a switch) on the notification appliance, as discussed in more detail below. The controller may then send a control signal to instruct the notification emitter to conduct a test, and receive information indicating the result of the test, such as the verification signal from the verification circuit.
In one application of a self-testing notification appliance, the verification circuit may determine the brightness or intensity of the light. For example, the notification appliance may operate the strobe in an alarm mode (i.e., generating an output brightness/intensity of the strobe that is the same or approximately the same as the output brightness/intensity that is required or rated for notification of an alarm event). The verification circuit may then provide information on the brightness or intensity of the light in order to determine whether the strobe, during test operation, output brightness/intensity that is required or rated for notification of an alarm event. If the brightness/intensity of the strobe is less than that required or rated for notification of an alarm event, the controller may adjust the brightness and/or intensity of the strobe based on the verification signal so that the output of the strobe is at least as much as required for notification of an alarm event.
In one embodiment, the self-testing notification appliance may be part of a network including a fire alarm control panel and a plurality of additional self-testing notification appliances. The self-testing notification appliances may be assigned addresses on the network. The fire control panel may send control signals to the notification appliance based on the network address. The fire control panel may receive test information from the notification appliance and compile that information, along with test information from other self-testing notification appliances.
In one embodiment, the self-testing notification appliance is not addressable. A fire alarm control panel may be networked with a plurality of non-addressable notification appliances on a common circuit. A control signal from the fire alarm control panel controls all notification appliances on the common circuit to output light. A verification circuit on the notification appliance detects whether the light intensity is above a threshold level. If the light intensity is not above a threshold level, the notification appliance will interrupt a signal sent by the fire alarm control panel. The interruption will indicate to the fire alarm control panel that a failure has occurred.
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. The preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.
The present embodiments relate to self-testing notification appliances or devices. Notification appliances may include a visual alarm (strobe) and may additionally include an audible alarm (horn or speaker). A notification appliance is self-testing when it is capable of performing a test through instruction from a controller or control panel without requiring a person to be physically within audible range or visual range of the notification appliance to verify the proper operation of the appliance. This is accomplished by including a verification circuit in the notification appliance that is capable of detecting the visible or audible notification.
The controller instructs the notification appliance to illuminate an alarm, and a verification circuit detects the alarm. The verification circuit detects the alarm by a sensor and circuitry located in the appliance. The notification sensor could be a photodetector capable of detecting a visual alarm. Alternatively, the notification sensor may include both a photodetector capable of detecting a visual alarm and a microphone capable of detecting an audible alarm. The self-testing notification appliance may be directly connected to a controller or control panel or it may be connected to a network for communication with the controller or control panel. The connection may be wired or wireless. The self-testing notification appliance may be individually addressable and communicate independently with the control panel or the self-testing notification appliance may be wired along with a group of notification appliances on a circuit (non-addressable).
A notification system is illustrated in
As an alternative to the notification system illustrated in
When an alarm condition is sensed, the system controller 14 signals the alarm to the appropriate notification appliances through one or more networks 16. Although other configurations are available, in the network 16 shown, the notification appliances are coupled across a pair of power lines 18 and 20 that also carry communications between the system controller 14 and the detectors D and notification appliances A. Network 16 carries two-way communication between the system controller 14 and the notification appliances A.
The communication signal can, for example, be multiplexed onto the device's power line—this provides the added benefit that it saves the cost of additional wiring to devices. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,697, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Alternatively, the communication line to the device may be separate from the power line. The communications channel may comprise a wired link or a wireless link using, for example, radio, an infrared link, or a fiber optic link.
Notification appliances A and detectors D are addressable on the network 16. The system controller 14 may be configured to provide addresses to the notification appliances A and detectors D. The addresses may be non-duplicative, in which each notification appliance A and detector D receives a unique addresses. Alternatively, the addresses may be assigned in groups. The address for each of the notification appliances A may be set by a signal download from an external programming tool provided at system controller 14 or by manually configuring switches located on or internal to the device. A label may be affixed to the notification appliance to indicate the address that has been assigned to that notification appliance.
Microprocessor 53 manages the control panel 14 and alarm system. Microprocessor 53 receives commands from instructions stored in memory 55 and receives commands from user interface 51. User interface 51 is a keyboard or other input device configured to allow a user or a computer to enter commands to the control panel 14. Microprocessor 53 may also receive commands from a removable medium. Memory 55 may also store the testing procedure or testing schedule performed by the control panel 14 in testing the verification circuits and the notification appliances.
The control panel 14 may be embodied on a personal computer, and the functions of the control panel may also be embodied on software. The testing and verification process can be carried out automatically by the control panel 14 or through instruction from the user by way of the user interface 51. Control panel 14 may also include a modem or network interface card configured to communicate with an intranet computer network or with the Internet. The testing schedule performed by the verification circuit could be downloaded by control panel over the intranet computer network or the internet.
Communicator 57 is configured to send and receive commands and/or data from network 16. Communicator 57 includes a network interface as well as the decoding circuitry and amplification circuitry necessary for communication on network 16.
The light from the notification appliance provides a visual notification to people in the vicinity of the notification appliance. The sensory notification may be determined by regulations for notifying of an alarm event. For example, regulations dictate the intensity or brightness of the sensory notification of a strobe.
Strobe device 30 connects to the network 16 via a communicator 24. Communicator 24 is configured to send and receive commands and/or data from network 16. Communicator 24 includes a network interface as well as the decoding circuitry and amplification circuitry necessary for communication on network 16. Controller 26 receives commands from and sends data to the control panel 14 by way of communicator 24.
Controller 26 may be embodied as a microcontroller, an integrated circuit, or any hardwired logic. When commanded by controller 26, a driving circuit supplies power and a trigger signal to illuminate strobe 22. The driving circuit may include a chargeable member, such as a high voltage capacitor, to supply power to strobe 22. Memory 32 stores instructions for controller 26 and may be configured to store a testing schedule, as addressed below.
The controller 26 may generate a control signal to send to the strobe 22. The strobe 22 may receive the control signal and may output light at the intensity/brightness the same as (or similar to) the intensity/brightness as required by regulations for notifying occupants of a premises of an alarm event. The controller 26 may generate the control signal sent to strobe 22 in response to a command sent from control panel 14. In turn, the command sent from the control panel may be generated in response to input to the networked computer from the user or in response to a predetermined schedule of testing stored in memory 55 of the control panel 14. The controller 26 may also generate the control signal in response to an instruction input from the user, such as an instruction wirelessly communicated by the user or communicated via an input panel on the strobe device 30. Or, the controller 26 may generate the control signal based on a predefined testing schedule that may be resident locally at the strobe device 30 in memory 32. The verification circuit 28 receives commands from controller 26 to detect the operation of the strobe 22. The command from the controller 26 to verification circuit 28 may also include a test duration signal. From the test duration signal, the verification circuit 28 is configured to perform detection of strobe 22 for a predetermined time period.
Notification sensor 527 includes a photodetector, such as a photodiode. The photodiode is a light sensing device that is configured to receive light from strobe 22, sense the light at discrete frequencies or one or more frequency ranges, and output a signal indicative of the amount of light sensed. The frequency ranges may be selected such that the notification sensor senses all types of visible light.
When the notification appliance additionally includes a horn or speaker, notification sensor 527 may additionally includes a microphone or other sound pressure level measurement device. The microphone is configured to receive the output of the horn or speaker and output a signal indicative of the sound received. The verification circuit may also be configured with filters so that the microphone outputs the signal only for input sounds corresponding to a defined range of frequencies. Other types of sensors may be used as long as the sensor is able to detect the notification emitted by the appliance.
A reflector or shield may be used to prevent the notification sensor 527 from falsely detecting light from sources other than strobe 22. The other sources of light may cause interference to the system and should be avoided. The other sources of light may include ambient light from sunlight or lighting in the building. Even though the intensity of the light emitted from strobe 22 will normally be orders of magnitude greater than the intensity of surrounding light, the reflector or shield will further minimize the effects of surrounding light.
The threshold detector 529 receives the output of the notification sensor 527 and functions as a comparator. Threshold detector 529 may include a variably set threshold value. The output of the threshold detector 529 is sent to the controller 26. The sources of light that may potentially cause interference will generally be low enough in intensity during activation of the device that the notification sensor 527 will output a value lower than the threshold value of threshold detector 529.
In addition, ambient light will generally cause a constant level of output from the notification sensor 527. Strobe 22, however, will cause a sharp spike in the output of the notification sensor 527. By setting the threshold value above the ambient light levels but well below the typical spike caused by the strobe light, the verification circuit avoids indicating false positives in the testing procedure.
The signal from the verification circuit 28 to controller 26, referred to as the verification signal, may include the threshold signal or the measurement signal.
In the examples of
Likewise, in the case of a notification appliance with strobe 22 and a horn or speaker, the notification sensor 527 outputs a signal indicative of the intensity of the sound. Measurement circuit 531 or controller 26 is configured to determine the level of intensity of the sound. The controller 26 may compare the intensity of the sound with a rated intensity stored in memory 32, and adjust the control signal sent to the driving circuit accordingly. A system adapted to select the intensity of a speaker is shown and described by U.S. Patent Application No. US 2008/0219458, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
At block S109, the control panel 14 logs the test result. At block S111, the control panel 14 checks the testing schedule to determine if tests of additional notification appliances are to be run. If no additional tests are to be run, the control panel 14, at block S113 reports the cumulative test results. The test results may be displayed to the user via user interface 31, stored in memory 55, or transmitted to an external device, such as a printer. Additionally, the test results or the list of test results may be emailed or otherwise electronically transmitted to a user or customer. If additional tests are to be run, the control panel returns to block S 103 and repeats the procedure until no additional tests are remaining.
In an embodiment in which controller 26 analyzes the test data, an indicator 34, as shown in
The verification circuit portion of circuit 815 includes photodiode 817 Photodiode 817 may be implemented as any type of photodetector. Examples of suitable photodetectors include optical detectors, photoresistors, photovoltaic, phototransistors, charge-coupled devices (CCD), or reverse biased LEDs. Light pipes may be used to further reduce false testing by providing additional shielding or preferred placement of the photodetector relative to the strobe and/or shield.
The driving circuit portion of circuit 815 includes a chargeable member, which may be implemented as a high voltage capacitor. Exemplary driving circuits are shown and described by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2007/0263279, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Housing 813 is formed to encase the notification appliance 800. Housing 813 may be formed of plastic, glass, resin, metal, or any suitable material. Materials that are resistant to heat may be advantageous or required by applicable regulations.
Reflector 803 is mounted between the light emitting device 801 and the verification circuit for the purposes of focusing the emitted light into the room at areas that enhance notification, while, at the same time, allowing light from the light emitting device 801 to reach photodiode 817. Further, the reflector reduces the ambient light that reaches the photodiode 817. One exemplary design includes an angled reflective sheet including an opening 809. The angled sheet forms a first plane 805 and second plane 807. Reflector 803 may be a polished metal, such as stainless steel. Reflector 803 may be formed from plastic, paper, resin, or cardboard coated or painted on one or both sides with a reflective paint or other substance. As discussed above, ambient light caused by sunlight or light fixtures may be present in the location where notification appliance 800 has been installed. Reflector 803 reduces the effects of ambient light.
Reflector 803 further includes holes 811 to pass the leads of the light emitting device 801 to the driving portion of circuit 815. Opening 809 allows a controlled portion of light to pass through the reflector 803 to be detected by photodiode 817. In this manner, the amount of ambient light reaching the photodetector 817 is reduced.
Besides ambient light, interference may, in some circumstances, be caused by electromagnetic fields (EMF). The driving circuit utilizes high voltages, and the resulting EMF may cause voltage disturbances in the output of the photodetector 817. In this case, light pipes may be utilized to further distance and isolate the photodetector 817 from the driving circuit portion of circuit 815. Alternatively, or in addition to light pipes, digital logic, filtering, or an analog circuit the false positives caused by the EMF can be distinguished from the intended output signal from a sensory notification from the notification emitter.
Notification appliance 800 of
Non-addressable notification appliances do not necessarily include a controller. The fire alarm control panel 914 controls all notification appliances on the circuit together, and there is not two-way communication between the fire alarm control panel and an individual notification appliance. Fire alarm control panel 914 is coupled to non-addressable notification appliance 930 via a single pair of wires that provides power to the notification device. Alternatively, two or more non-addressable notification devices may be coupled to the fire alarm control panel 914 using a single pair of wires.
A control signal is multiplexed onto the power signal. A strobe 922 outputs an amount of light based on the control signal. A verification circuit 928 is activated based on the control signal. As discussed in the previous embodiments, the verification circuit 928 includes a photodetector. When the control signal instructs the strobe 922 to output an amount of light and the photodetector detects that the intensity of the light is below the threshold, the verification circuit will interrupt the power signal. The interruption appears as an open circuit to the fire control panel 914.
In one embodiment, when two or more non-addressable notification appliances 930 are coupled to the fire alarm control panel 914 using a common notification appliance circuit, the fire control panel 914 cannot distinguish which appliance caused the open circuit. The open circuit may indicate the failure of one or more strobes on the common notification appliance circuit. Alternatively, the non-addressable notification appliances 930 may be coupled to the fire alarm control panel 914 on individual circuits.
The fire alarm control panel 914 may log the failure of the one or more strobes in a memory. Further, the fire alarm control panel 914 may print, display, or email the failure of the one or more strobes.
Additionally, the features described above with respect to addressable notification appliances may be applied to non-addressable notification appliance where functions performed by the controller of the addressable notification appliance are performed by the fire alarm control panel 914.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be understood as an illustration of selected forms that the invention can take and not as a definition of the invention. It is only the following claims, including all equivalents that are intended to define the scope of this invention.
