Claims
- 1. A unit attachable to a fixed member for executing a selected function and which may be easily tested from a remote location using a transmitter of energy pulses, the unit comprising:
- means for executing said selected function;
- means responsive to a selected condition for testing the operation of at least a portion of said executing means and for generating an indicium of the result thereof;
- means for detecting a predetermined plurality of incident, test initiating energy pulses and
- means, coupled between said detecting means and said testing means, for providing said selected condition in response to detection of said plurality of pulses and then for as long as said incident test initiating pulses continue to be detected.
- 2. An easily tested unit as in claim 1 with said executing means including predetermined condition sensing means.
- 3. An easily tested unit as in claim 1 with said executing means including predetermined control means.
- 4. An easily tested unit as in claim 1 with said unit including a power source.
- 5. An easily tested unit as in claim 4 with said power source being substantially self-contained.
- 6. An easily tested unit as in claim 4 with said power source including a battery.
- 7. An easily tested unit as in claim 4 with said detecting means including means for sensing selected, remotely generated, radiant energy incident thereon.
- 8. An easily tested unit as in claim 7 with said sensing means including radiant energy responsive switching means.
- 9. An easily tested unit as in claim 7 with said sensing means including an incident sonic energy detector.
- 10. An easily tested unit as in claim 7 with said sensing means including an incident radio frequency energy detector.
- 11. An easily tested unit as in claim 7 with said sensing means including an incident infrared beam detector.
- 12. An easily tested unit as in claim 1 with said executing means including indicium generating means for identifying that said function has been executed, and means for sensing a remotely generated, incident signal including means for terminating said generated indicium in response thereto.
- 13. An easily tested unit as in claim 1 with said executing means including means for detecting smoke.
- 14. An easily tested unit as in claim 13 including means for providing an alarm indicative of detected smoke.
- 15. An easily tested unit as in claim 14 including means for detecting a remotely generated, alarm terminating, incident signal and means for terminating said alarm, at least for a predetermined period of time, in response thereto.
- 16. An easily tested unit as in claim 14 with said detecting means including means for sensing selected radiant energy incident thereon.
- 17. An easily tested unit as in claim 16 with said selected radiant energy being electro-magnetic energy and with said sensing means including an incident electro-magnetic energy responsive sensor.
- 18. An easily tested unit as in claim 16 with said selected radiant energy being radio frequency electro-magnetic energy and with said sensing means including an incident radio frequency receiving means.
- 19. An easily tested unit as in claim 1 with said executing means including means for providing illumination in response to a sensed, predefined condition.
- 20. An easily tested sensor unit comprising:
- sensing means for detecting a predetermined condition and for generating an electrical signal responsive thereto;
- indication means, responsive to said electrical signal, for providing a detectable alarm identifying said condition;
- manually operable means for initiating a test condition of the sensor unit including initiating said detectable alarm in response to the presence of said test condition; and
- means responsive to a selected number of pulses in a selected incident beam of radiant energy for initiating said test condition in response to detection of said selected incident energy.
- 21. An easily tested sensor unit as in claim 20 wherein said sensing means includes means for detecting a condition selected from a group including voltage; current; pressure; fluid flow.
- 22. An easily tested sensor unit as in claim 21 with said indication means including means for generating an audible alarm signal.
- 23. An easily tested sensor unit as in claim 21 with said incident energy responsive means including photo sensitive means for switching from a first state to a second state in response to an incident beam of electro-magnetic radiant energy of a selected frequency.
- 24. An indicating unit for sensing a predetermined condition and for providing an indicium thereof comprising:
- means for sensing the predetermined condition and for generating an electrical signal responsive thereto;
- indication means, responsive to said electrical signal, for providing a detectable indicium identifying said condition; and
- means, responsive to selected, remotely transmitted incident energy, for terminating, at least for a selected period of time, said indicium in response to detection of said selected incident energy.
- 25. A sensor unit easily tested from a remote location using a transmitter of energy comprising:
- sensing means for detecting a predetermined condition and for generating an electrical signal responsive thereto;
- indication means, responsive to said electrical signal, for providing a detectable indicium identifying said condition; and
- receiving means, responsive to selected incident energy from the transmitter, for initiating a selected unit test in response to detection of said selected incident energy and for continuing said test only for so long as said incident energy is detected.
- 26. An easily tested unit as in claim 25 including:
- means for coupling the unit to an adjacent source of electrical energy;
- said sensing means including means for detecting an absence of expected electrical energy at the adjacent source with said indication means providing a selected indicium in response to said sensing means detecting said absence of expected electrical energy.
- 27. An easily tested unit as in claim 26 with said incident energy responsive means including photosensitive switching means for changing from a first condition to a second condition in response to detecting said selected incident energy.
- 28. A unit remotely mountable with respect to a displaced test initiation area, the unit comprising:
- a housing defining an interior region, said housing including means for mounting;
- means carried by said housing for executing a preselected function;
- radiant energy beam collecting means, carried by said housing, for collecting a signaling beam of energy generated at the test initiation area and directed so as to be incident on an exterior surface of said housing;
- means for sensing the presence of said collected signaling beam; and
- means responsive to said sensing means for initiating a predetermined test of the unit only for as long as the signaling beam is sensed.
- 29. A unit as in claim 28 with said executing means including means for detecting a predetermined alarm condition with said initiation means including means for testing the operation of said detecting means.
- 30. A unit as in claim 28 with said collecting means including a radiant energy plastic collecting member.
- 31. A unit as in claim 28 with said test initiating means adopted to continuously test the unit so long as said collected signaling beam is sensed.
- 32. A system for easily initiating a secondary function of a remotely located unit having a primary function, the system comprising:
- a selected, remotely located unit which includes means for executing a secondary function in response to a seletcted condition and including condition initiating means responsive to the presence of an incident, remotely generated, control beam of radiant energy for generating said selected condition during the duration of said presence; and
- means, separated from said unit, for generating said control beam of radiant energy such that said beam is directable so as to be incident on at least a portion of said condition initiating means thereby generating said selected condition.
- 33. An easily tested sensor unit comprising:
- a housing;
- means carried by said housing means for detecting a selected condition;
- means, responsive to said detected condition, for generating a selected alarm indicium;
- means, carried by said housing, for detecting an incident radiant energy control beam and for generating an electrical signal responsive thereto; and
- means, carried by said housing, for executing a test of said detecting means only in response to and for so long as said electrical signal is generated.
- 34. An easily tested sensor unit as in claim 33 with said detecting means including means for detecting combustion and with said control beam detecting means including infrared sensing means.
- 35. An easily tested sensor unit as in claim 34 with said infrared sensing means having a first state in response to incident infrared radiant energy in the incident control beam with said electrical signal generated only in response to said first state.
- 36. An easily silence smoke detector comprising:
- means for detecting smoke;
- means for generating an alarm signal in response to detected smoke;
- means for detecting an incident infrared control beam and for generating an electrical signal responsive thereto; and
- means for terminating, only for a predetermined period of time, said alarm signal in response to said generated electrical signal.
- 37. An easily tested detector comprising:
- means for detecting smoke;
- means for generating an alarm signal in response to detected smoke;
- means for detecting an incident infrared control beam and for generating an electrical signal in response (responsive) thereto; and
- means for testing the detector including said alarm signal in response to detection of said electrical signal and then for the duration thereof.
- 38. A method of conducting a test of a remotely located electrical unit using a selected command beam generated outside of the unit comprising the steps of:
- directing the selected command beam at a region of the unit;
- detecting the presence of the incident command beam when it encounters the region;
- initiating a test of the unit in response to the detected incident beam;
- continuing the test so long as the incident beam is detected; and
- terminating the test when the incident beam is no longer detected.
- 39. A unit attachable to a fixed member for executing a selected function and which may be easily tested from a remote location, the unit comprising:
- means for executing said selected function;
- means responsive to a selected condition for testing the operation of at least a portion of said executing means and for generating an indicium of the result thereof;
- means for detecting a remotely generated, incident coded, test initiating signal; and
- means, coupled between said detecting means and said testing means, for providing said selected condition in response to and for as long as said incident test initiating signal is detected.
- 40. An easily tested unit as in claim 39 with said executing means including predetermined condition sensing means.
- 41. An easily tested unit as in claim 39 with said executing means including predetermined control means.
- 42. An easily tested unit as in claim 39 with said unit including a power source.
- 43. An easily tested unit as in claim 39 with said power source being substantially self-contained.
- 44. An easily tested unit as in claim 39 with said power source including a battery.
- 45. An easily tested unit as in claim 39 with said detecting means including means for sensing selected, remotely generated coded, radiant energy incident thereon.
- 46. An easily tested unit as in claim 45 with said sensing means including radiant energy responsive switching means.
- 47. An easily tested sensor unit comprising:
- sensing means for detecting a predetermined condition and for generating an electrical signal responsive thereto;
- indication means, responsive to said electrical signal, for providing a detectable alarm identifying said condition;
- manually operable means for initiating a test condition of the sensor unit including initiating said detectable alarm in response to the presence of said test condition; and
- means responsive to a selected, incident pulsed beam of radiant energy, for initiating said test condition in response to detection of a predetermined plurality of incident energy pulses.
- 48. An easily tested sensor unit as in claim 47 wherein said sensing means includes means for detecting a condition selected from a group including voltage; current; pressure; fluid flow.
- 49. An easily tested sensor unit as in claim 48 with said indication means including means for generating an audible alarm signal.
- 50. An easily tested sensor unit as in claim 48 with said incident energy responsive means including photo sensitive means for switching from a first state to a second state in response to an incident pulsed beam of electro-magnetic radiant energy of a selected frequency.
- 51. A unit comprising:
- means for detecting a predetermined condition and for generating an electrical signal responsive thereto;
- indication means, responsive to said electrical signal, for providing a detectable indicium identifying said condition; and
- means, responsive to selected incident intermittent energy, for determining, for a selected period of time, said indicium in responsive to detection of said selected incident energy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 140,410 filed Jan. 4, 1988 and entitled Test Initiation Apparatus and Method now abandoned.
The invention pertains to the field of testing units which have a primary function. More particularly, the invention pertains to a system and a method for initiating a test sequence within a remotely located unit, such as a smoke detector of power fail sensor unit. The unit might be physically located near the top of a wall or ceiling.
A variety of products are available for consumer and industrial use today which can be used to enhance the safety and security of residences and industrial facilities. For example, combustion products or smoke detectors have been recognized as a valuable and important contributor to personal safety both in residences and in commercial establishments.
One such type of smoke detector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,914 entitled "Self Testing Combustion Products Detector" and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The disclosure of the '914 patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Such units usually include smoke or flame detection circuitry. The purpose of such circuitry is to provide an early warning in the event that smoke or flame has been detected. The detection circuitry in such units typically is electrically coupled to an alarm unit, such as a horn or a loudspeaker. The horn or loudspeaker functions to generate an audible alarm in the event that the detection circuitry detects the smoke or flame.
Such units may be battery powered. Alternately, they may be hardwired into the building electrical system.
Such units usually include a test function. The purpose of the test function is to provide a means to test the power supply and/or the associated detection circuitry prior to an actual fire having been detected. Such testing is important to verify that in fact the unit is working properly. Such detection circuitry usually includes a manually operable push button switch for the purpose of initiating the unit test function.
Experience has indicated, however, that merely providing such a "push to test" function is no assurance that it will in fact be used. Where the units are mounted at the top of a wall or on a ceiling (the usual location), the test function may never be exercised. This is because it is necessary to physically reach the unit and to press the test initiating push button to cause the test to be made. In order to reach the unit it is often necessary to use a chair or ladder. Where the units are installed in an industrial building it may be very inconvenient, if not impossible, to routinely locate a ladder to test the device.
Smoke detectors are known which incorporate a reed switch to initiate a test of the unit. A magnet on a pole can be used to close the reed switch and initiate the test.
Known units which incorporate reed switches have a disadvantage in that once the adjacent magnet has closed the switch, it will remain closed even after the magnet has been removed. The unit will as a result remain in the test mode. To terminate the test it is necessary to remove power from the unit.
Beyond the above-noted problem of testing smoke detectors, other types of units pose similar problems. For example, many buildings today are equipped with battery operated emergency lighting systems. Such lighting systems can be installed in the form of a plurality of separate units each including a battery, a battery operated light and a sensor unit. The sensor unit continually tests the AC power available adjacent the emergency light. On detecting a failure of AC power, the battery is switched to the emergency lights to provide illumination.
Such emergency light modules often include a "push-to-test" type function. This test function exercises the battery by coupling it to the emergency light to verify that the battery has been properly charged and can in fact illuminate the emergency lights.
As in the case of smoke detectors, such emergency light modules are usually mounted at the top of walls, adjacent a ceiling or on a ceiling itself. Hence, they are inconveniently located and often are not tested on a regular basis.
In view of the fact that such units may be depended on by a large number of people to provide an alarm or illumination for safe evacuation of a structure, the ability to quickly and easily test them is important to safety of the occupants of the facility.
Hence, there is a need for a system and apparatus for initiating a test function or functions associated with a remotely located unit. Preferably initiation of the test function can take place without the need of any person climbing on a chair or ladder and without the need of any other special equipment.
In accordance with the invention a system and a method are provided for initiating a test of a remotely located unit. The system includes a remotely located unit which has a primary, or selected, function and at least one secondary function.
For example, the unit could be a ceiling mounted smoke or flame detector. Alternately, the unit could be a remotely located command or monitor module or an emergency light module.
If the unit is a smoke or flame detector, it would have as a primary function detection of smoke or flame. If the unit is a command or monitor module it would have as a primary function the control or monitoring of other units or conditions.
If the unit is an emergency light, it would have as a primary function the illumination of an area in response to a detected power failure.
The unit would have a test mode as a secondary function. The purpose of the test mode is to initiate an internal test sequence for the unit. This test sequence, when properly executed, provides verification that the unit is capable of properly carrying out its primary function.
The test mode could be manually initiated. However, where the unit is remotely located, as on a ceiling or high wall, manual initiation is inconvenient or impossible. In accordance with the invention, the test mode can be remotely initiated.
The unit includes a sensor. The sensor could be an electro-magnetic energy detector. Upon detecting a predetermined incident radiant energy signal the secondary, test, function can be initiated.
The radiant energy signal can be generated by a remote source. Use of a remote source overcomes the inconvenience of attempting to initiate a test or other secondary function when the unit is remotely located on a ceiling or high wall.
In certain embodiments of the invention, the predetermined incident radiant energy signal is received at the unit as a constant illumination at or above a predetermined illumination intensity level. The radiant energy may guided in a collector to reduce the possibility of inadvertent initiation of the secondary test function by ambient illumination.
In still other embodiments of the invention, the predetermined incident radiant energy signal must be intermittent, or pulsed, in order to initiate the secondary, test, function. The signal must be pulsed within a range of duty cycles and frequencies that are typical of manual on-sensor/off-sensor illumination with a switched light source or with a cyclically swept radiant energy beam. For example, such a pulsed or swept beam may be produced with a flashlight. In still another embodiment of the invention, the secondary test function is initiable by a constant illumination of one detector only if, and while, another, spaced-apart detector is subject only relatively low, ambient, illumination levels.
The unit can be a smoke detector with a test mode to verify the operation thereof. The detector, in this embodiment, includes an optical sensor, such as a phototransistor, coupled to the internal test circuitry of the unit. A selected beam of radiant energy, such as a beam of light, from a source can be directed at the sensor. Upon sensing the incident beam of light, the optical sensor will respond by switching from a first state to a second state. The test circuitry in the unit, in response to detecting the second state, will then initiate the test function.
Instead of an optical detector and an incident light beam, a radio frequency detector could be used in combination with a beam of radio frequency energy. As yet another alternate, a sonic detector could be used in combination with a beam of sonic energy.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a third function could be initiated. The unit could distinguish between a command initiating the test function and the third function through the use of two spaced-apart detectors or one detector in combination with a coded input command signal.
Where the unit is a smoke detector, the secondary function could be a remotely actuated test function with the third function an alarm silence function. Such a unit could be used to advantage in an intermittently smoky area such as in a kitchen. An ordinary flashlight could be used to initiate the silence function in the event that the unit sounds an alarm in response to detecting cooking smoke not due to a fire.
The test function for the unit could be initiated by directing the same beam of light at another part of the unit, by using an optical filter or by pulsing the beam of light in a coded sequence.
The present invention has applicability in connection with a variety of systems with remotely located sensors. For example, burglar alarms often include magnetic sensors which detect movement of one member, such as a door or window, with respect to another, such as a frame.
In accordance with the present invention, such sensors could be provided with a photosensor. The photosensor could generate a signal corresponding to detected relative movement in response to receipt of an incident radiant energy beam. This signal could be used not only to test the functioning of the sensor but also to test the related wiring.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings in which the details of the invention are fully and completely disclosed as a part of this specification.
US Referenced Citations (25)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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140410 |
Jan 1988 |
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Patent Grant
4827244
