Patent Grant
7639147
The invention pertains to systems and methods of detecting audio output alarm signals from Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) devices typically worn by first responders at an emergency scene. More particularly, systems and methods in accordance with the invention distinguish such audio alarm signals from other sounds, and identify the location of the respective audio alarm in a particular region such as public buildings, airports, sports stadiums and the like.
Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) devices date back to the 1980's (i.e. NFPA 1982 was developed from the Technical Committee on Protective Equipment at a meeting in 1980), and PASS-type products from many vendors have been introduced over the intervening years.
PASS devices are usually worn by first responders, firemen for example, to provide a level of personal protection for such individuals in very dangerous circumstances. They usually emit an audio alarm if the wearer falls, ceases moving or the like. The intent is to identify acoustically the location of an individual that is in trouble and needs assistance. They can also emit pre-alarm and informational signals.
One common requirement for PASS devices is environmental robustness, including operation after 2 hour immersion in water (NFPA 1982-1998 Edition, “Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)”, Section 6-4), and high temperature operation up to +203 deg. F. after a 15 minute exposure (Section 6-12.11). One method of implementing an audio sounder for this harsh environment is to use a piezo-diaphram module.
Exemplary devices that are of a type used by first responders include:
Market research indicates (circa-2004) that there have been about 15 PASS device vendors in the USA, and several more internationally, with a total of over 50 PASS device products. Observing that half of the test device vendors are no longer producing PASS devices, it is estimated that over 100 different PASS device products have been placed in service since 1982.
It has been recognized that PASS device audio output alarm signals are not always heard by other first responders at an emergency scene. This of course can be due to noise at the scene from a variety of sources as well as chaotic conditions often present in emergencies.
Adding to the challenge of successful PASS device detection are the acoustic conditions present at an emergency scene. The PASS device audio alarm signal sound pressure level (SPL) at 1 m. is defined to be 100 dBA for pre-alarm signals and 95 dBA for alarm signals (NFPA 1982-1982 Edition, Section 5-1.1 and 5-1.2). With fireground SPL exceeding 105 dBA, the PASS device pre-alarm signal is at −5 dB relative to the ambient SPL (i.e. caused by the fire).
Further, civilian testing indicates that the PASS device alarm signal SPL may be attenuated by 20 dB or more when the PASS device is under the body of the wearer (i.e. who is laying on the ground). In this situation, the PASS device audio alarm SPL is diminished to 75 dbA (pre-alarm diminished to 80 dB), some 30 dB (25 dB for pre-alarm) below the ambient fireground SPL. Effectively, the detection mechanism must be sensitive enough to identify the PASS device audio alarm signal having a −30 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) at a 1 meter distance between the PASS device and sensor.
Assuming a 9 foot ceiling (about 3 meters), and the SPL falls with the inverse square of the distance, an un-attenuated (by a body) PASS device audio alarm signal directly under a ceiling-mounted sensor would present a maximum SPL of (95 dbA−9.5 dB)=83.5 dBA. Applying body-caused attenuation (20 dB), the SPL at the sensor would be just 63.5 dBA, or nearly 40 dB below the fireground ambient SPL of 105 dbA.
Based on studies conducted of firefighter fatalities (“Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2003”, United States Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration, Aug. 2004), fatalities involving PASS device audio alarm signals occurred away from the flamefront, hence the assumed maximum SPL in the building region where detection occurs would be somewhat less than 105 dBA, and the detection SNR would therefore be greater than −40 dB.
Finally, the detection mechanism must function properly over a range of signal repetition and frequency patterns (NFPA 1982-1998 Edition, Appendix A5-2.1), while rejecting other signals having similar component frequencies and repetition rates (i.e. human speech, music, equipment noise, water and fire sounds, etc.).
There continues to be a need for systems and methods which can automatically determine the existence and location of audible outputs from PASS-type devices. Preferably such systems and methods could be integrated with new and into existing building or regional monitoring systems without requiring extensive redesign or additional hardware. It would also be desirable to be able to provide audible and/or visual indicators at monitoring system control panels so that those directing the response to the emergency will immediately be informed that one or more individuals at the scene need immediate assistance.
While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.
In many locations, such as public buildings, airports, sports stadiums and the like, a system which is present to measure speech intelligibility from audio announcement systems may also incorporate capabilities in accordance with the present invention, to detect and locate PASS device audible alarms. Representative systems include those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/740,200 filed Dec. 18, 2003 and entitled Intelligibility Testing for Monitoring or Public address Systems as well as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/064,414 filed Feb. 23, 2005 and entitled, Methods and Systems for Intelligibility Measurement of Audio Announcement Systems. The two noted patent applications are assigned to the assignee hereof and incorporated by reference. Such considerations apply to audio announcement systems in general as well as those which are associated with fire safety, building or regional monitoring systems.
Systems and methods in accordance with the invention sense and evaluate audio outputs from one or more transducers, such as PASS devices, to detect certain acoustic properties of the PASS device being monitored. The results of the analysis can be used to distinguish PASS device audio alarm signals from other acoustic elements in the region, thereby providing indicators of the presence of a PASS-type alarm as well as location of the PASS device sounding the alarm.
Analysis of audio alarm signal data collected from six PASS devices, manufactured in the period 1982-2004, and the alarm frequencies described in NPFA 1982-1998 Edition, Section 5-2, resulted in the identification of a common signal characteristic unique to the tested PASS devices. The fundamental frequency range and repetition rate of PASSS device alarm signals are specified in NFPA 1982, Section 5-2 and Appendix A-5-2.1. All of the tested products implement the audio transducer in a similar manner, leading to the common signal characteristic which can be used to detect PASS device audio alarm signals.
Exemplary devices tested include:
Since audio outputs of 100% of the tested units have been-accurately detected, due to the common audio transducer design, it is expected that alarms emitted by most PASS-type devices should be properly detectable. In an aspect of the invention, time-domain and frequency-domain signal analysis can be use to detect PASS-type audible outputs.
A first responder I is illustrated in region R. Individual I is wearing one of the known PASS-type devices 12. Neither the exact type of device 12 nor the way in which the individual I carries or wears it are limitations of the invention. If individual I falls or ceases to move, the device 12 will emit its warning signals, as discussed above.
The system 10 includes a monitoring system control unit 20. It will be understood that the control unit 20 could be part of or incorporate a regional control and monitoring system which might include a fire detection system, a security system, and/or a building control system, all without limitation. It will be understood that the details of the unit 20 are not limitations of the present invention.
System 10 can incorporate a plurality of audio sensing modules having members 22-1 . . . 22-m. The audio sensing modules or units 22-1 . . . -m can also be in bi-directional communication via a wired or wireless medium 24 with the unit 20.
As described above and in more detail subsequently, the audio sensing modules 22-i respond to incoming audio from one or more PASS-type devices such as the unit 12 and carry out, at least in part, processing thereof. Those of skill will understand that the below described processing could be completely carried out in some or all of the modules 22-i. Alternately, the modules 22-i can carry out initial portion of the processing and forward information, via medium 24 to the unit 20 for further processing.
The system 10 can also incorporate a plurality of ambient condition detectors 30. The members of the plurality 30, such as 30-1, -2 . . . -p could be in bi-directional communication via a wired or wireless medium 32 with the unit 20. It will be understood that the members of the plurality 22 and the members of the plurality 30 could communicate on a common medium all without limitation.
The control circuitry 64 could include a programmable processor 64a and associated control software 64b, as discussed below, to implement audio data acquisition processes as well as analysis processes to determine if incoming sensed audio, being received at the transducer 62-1, has been emitted by a PASS-type device, such as device 12. The module 22-i can communicate via interface circuitry 68 to the wired or wireless medium 24.
Control circuitry 74 could be implemented with and include a programmable processor 74a and associated control software 74b. The detector 30-i also incorporates an ambient condition sensor 76 which could sense smoke, flame, temperature, gas all without limitation. The detector 30-i is in bidirectional communication with interface circuitry 78 which in turn communicates via wired or wireless medium 32 with monitoring system 20.
As discussed subsequently, processor 74a in combination with associated control software can not only process signals from sensor 76 relative to the respective ambient condition but also audio related signals from one or more transducers 72-1, -2 or -3 all without limitation. Processing, as described subsequently, can carry out evaluation and a determination as to the nature and quality of audio being received and whether that audio is being emitted by a PASS-type device, such as the device 12.
Unit 20 can incorporate input/output interfaces to mediums 24, 32, namely a circuits 96a, 96b. In addition, unit 20 can incorporate a user interface and alarm display device 97. It will be understood that the unit 20 illustrated in
Process 100, see
In a step 104 the gain of the respective sensor can be adjusted to avoid clipping or distortion. In a step 106 one or more ambient sound time records can be collected. It will be understood that if a plurality of such records are being collected that the subject processing will take place relative to at least selected records.
In a step 108 minimal and maximum sound pressure levels are established for each of the time records. In a step 110 if the minimum sound pressure level is below a predetermined threshold then a determination is made that it is not possible to reliably determine if a PASS-type device is emitting the sensed audible signal based on the subject record.
If the minimum sound pressure level exceeds a predetermined first threshold, a determination is made as to whether or not the difference between a maximum sound pressure level and a minimum sound pressure level exceeds a detection threshold, step 112. If above the detection threshold, in a step 114 a detection characteristic is determined for multiple overlapping sample sets.
The results of the detection step 114 are analyzed, step 116. A determination is made step 118 as to whether a PASS-type device alarm has been detected. If so in a step 120 a determination is made as to whether a repetitive pattern has been determined, and if so, in a step 122 an audible or visible indicator can be presented at user interface 97 indicating that a PASS-type device alarm has been detected and location information can be provided therewith.
It will be understood that the processing 100 of
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4473821 | Yang et al. | Sep 1984 | A |
| 4617555 | Sheiman | Oct 1986 | A |
| 5710555 | McConnell et al. | Jan 1998 | A |
| 6268798 | Dymek et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6686839 | Chou et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6978159 | Feng et al. | Dec 2005 | B2 |
| 20020145521 | Chou et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20070152809 A1 | Jul 2007 | US |
