Patents by Inventor Ron Knox
Ron Knox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8118918Abstract: In one form the present invention provides an apparatus in an airflow path before a particle detector, wherein the apparatus removes a substantially constant proportion of all sizes of airborne particles from the airflow over time. In an example the apparatus includes a flow splitting arrangement configured to divide a fluid flow into a plurality of sub-flows, the splitting arrangement 10 including means for defining a plurality of substantially identically dimensioned flow apertures configured to direct a portion of the fluid into a respective sub-flow.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Xtralis Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Ron Knox, Scott James Martin, Scott Anthony Wilson, Megan Wilson, legal representative
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Patent number: 8065922Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining flow in an aspirated smoke detector system includes a plurality of sampling pipes in fluid communication with a smoke detector, a flow rate detector in at least one of the sampling pipes that senses a signal transmitted between a first and second signal transceiver, wherein the first transceiver transceives signals in at least two of the sampling pipes.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: VFS Technologies LimitedInventors: Kemal Ajay, Arjun Vinoo Caprihan, Ron Knox
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Publication number: 20110243389Abstract: A smoke detecting method which uses a beam of radiation such as a laser (16), to monitor a region, such as a room (12). A camera (14) is used to capture images of part of the room (12), including a path of the laser beam. Particles in the laser beam scatter light (30), and this is captured by the camera (14) for analysis. A processor (20) extracts data relating to the scattered light (30) to determine the density of particles in the beam, to determine the level of smoke in the region. The laser may have a modulated output (38) so that images captured without the laser tuned “on” can be used as a reference point and compared to images taken with the laser turned “on”, to assist in determining the level of scattered light (30) compared to ambient light. Filters (24, 26) may be used to decrease signals generated from background light.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: VISION FIRE & SECURITY PTY LTDInventors: Ron KNOX, Karl Boettger, Peter Meikle, Brian Alexander
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Publication number: 20110221889Abstract: A particle detection system including; at least one light source adapted to illuminate a volume being monitored at least two wavelengths; a receiver) having a field of view and being adapted to receive light from at least one light source after said light has traversed the volume being monitored and being adapted to generate signals indicative of the intensity of light received at regions within the field of view of the receiver; a processor associated with the receiver adapted to process the signals generated by the receiver to correlate light received at least two wavelengths in corresponding regions within the field of view of the receiver and generate an output indicative of the relative level of light received at the two wavelengths.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2009Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: Xtralis Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Ron Knox, Karl Boettger, Kemal Ajay
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Patent number: 7983445Abstract: A smoke detecting method which uses a beam of radiation such as a laser (16), to monitor a region, such as a room (12). A camera (14) is used to capture images of part of the room (12), including a path of the laser beam. Particles in the laser beam scatter light (30), and this is captured by the camera (14) for analysis. A processor (20) extracts data relating to the scattered light (30) to determine the density of particles in the beam, to determine the level of smoke in the region. The laser may have a modulated output (38) so that images captured without the laser tuned “on” can be used as a reference point and compared to images taken with the laser turned “on”, to assist in determining the level of scattered light (30) compared to ambient light. Filters (24, 26) may be used to decrease signals generated from background light.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2004Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Vision Fire & Security Pty Ltd.Inventors: Ron Knox, Karl Boettger, Peter Meikle, Brian Alexander
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Publication number: 20110058167Abstract: A particle detection system (100), such as an active video smoke detection system, includes at least one illumination means (102) for directing a beam (106) of radiation through at least part of the air volume being monitored (110), an image sensor (104) is positioned to capture images of at least part of a beam (106) from illumination means (102); and means to analyse (107) the captured images to detect the presence of particles within the volume. At least 29 different aspects are described for improving the sensitivity, usability, and robustness of particle detection. These include, for example, configuring illumination means (102) to create a curtain of light or a rapidly-scanned beam across the air volume (110), and configuring a reflector to steer or change direction of a beam reflected from illumination means (102).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2008Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicant: XTRALIS TECHNOLOGIES LTDInventors: Ron Knox, Kemal Ajay, Karl Boettger
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Publication number: 20100319465Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of pollution monitoring equipment and in particular to aspirated particle detector systems, which detect particles in air sampled from a number of locations. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining flow in an aspirated particle detector system, said system comprising a plurality of carriers in fluid communication with a particle detector, comprising means for detecting the flow rate in at least one of the carriers comprising sensing a signal transmitted between a first and a second signal transceiver (44a-d, 42) wherein the first transceiver (42) is adapted to transceive signals in at least two of the carriers. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to the use of an ultrasonic means of flow sensing within an aspirated smoke detector system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: VFS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Kemal Ajay, Arjun Vinoo Caprihan, Ron Knox
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Publication number: 20100305871Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining particle transmittance Tx of a filter for use with a particle detection system to provide a filter warning for aspirated particle detection systems by detecting a level of first particles having a size indicative of smoke particles and which pass through the detection system; determining an integrated smoke hours value by integrating the detected level of first particles over time; estimating the smoke particle transmittance Tx of the filter by applying a predetermined weighting operation to the integrated smoke hours value. An empirical measure of a filter's particle transmittance Tx, due to at least first particles having a size indicative of smoke particles may be achieved by way of integrating a level of such first particles passing through a particle detection system over time to determine the proportion of smoke particles arrested by a filter, “integrated smoke hours”.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: VISION FIRE & SAFETY PTY LTD.Inventors: Ron Knox, Karl Boettger
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Patent number: 7784358Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining flow in an aspirated particle detector system, includes a plurality of carriers in fluid communication with a particle detector, a flow rate detector in at least one of the carriers that senses a signal transmitted between a first and a second signal transceiver, wherein the first transceiver transceives signals in at least two of the carriers.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: VFS Technologies LimitedInventors: Kemal Ajay, Arjun Vinoo Caprihan, Ron Knox
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Patent number: 7777633Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining particle transmittance Tx of a filter for use with a particle detection system to provide a filter warning for aspirated particle detection systems by detecting a level of first particles having a size indicative of smoke particles and which pass through the detection system; determining an integrated smoke hours value by integrating the detected level of first particles over time; estimating the smoke particle transmittance Tx of the filter by applying a predetermined weighting operation to the integrated smoke hours value. An empirical measure of a filter's particle transmittance Tx, due to at least first particles having a size indicative of smoke particles may be achieved by way of integrating a level of such first particles passing through a particle detection system over time to determine the proportion of smoke particles arrested by a filter, “integrated smoke hours”.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Vision Fire & Security Pty LtdInventors: Ron Knox, Karl Boettger
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Publication number: 20100050879Abstract: A filter arrangement for removing impurities from a fluid is disclosed, the filter arrangement (10) includes a plurality of screen portions (18, 20) through which the fluid passes. The screen portions include a first screen portion (18) and a second screen portion (20) separated by a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance can be determined on the basis of a threshold particle length. In one form the filter arrangement (10) is mounted in a housing (16) which is configured to receive two filter elements (18, 20) arranged in a nested configuration. A particle detector using the filter is described.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2007Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: Ztralis Technologies Ltd.Inventor: Ron Knox
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Publication number: 20090002182Abstract: In one form the present invention provides an apparatus in an airflow path before a particle detector, wherein the apparatus removes a substantially constant proportion of all sizes of airborne particles from the airflow over time. In an example the apparatus includes a flow splitting arrangement configured to divide a fluid flow into a plurality of sub-flows, the splitting arrangement 10 including means for defining a plurality of substantially identically dimensioned flow apertures configured to direct a portion of the fluid into a respective sub-flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: Xtralis Pty LtdInventors: Ron Knox, Scott James Martin
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Publication number: 20080297360Abstract: The invention provides use of one or more emitted beams of radiation (16), for example, laser beam(s), in combination with an image capturing means (14), for example, one or more video cameras and/or optical elements to detect particles (30), for example smoke particles, located in an open space (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2005Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: VFS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Ron Knox, Karl Boettger, Kemal Ajay
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Publication number: 20070176783Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining particle transmittance Tx of a filter for use with a particle detection system to provide a filter warning for aspirated particle detection systems by detecting a level of first particles having a size indicative of smoke particles and which pass through the detection system; determining an integrated smoke hours value by integrating the detected level of first particles over time; estimating the smoke particle transmittance Tx of the filter by applying a predetermined weighting operation to the integrated smoke hours value. An empirical measure of a filter's particle transmittance Tx, due to at least first particles having a size indicative of smoke particles may be achieved by way of integrating a level of such first particles passing through a particle detection system over time to determine the proportion of smoke particles arrested by a filter, “integrated smoke hours”.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2004Publication date: August 2, 2007Applicant: VISION FIRE & SECURITY PTY LTDInventors: Ron Knox, Karl Boettger
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Publication number: 20070168140Abstract: A method for determining an operational condition of a particle detection system, the particle detection system comprising at least one sample inlet for receiving a sample flow from a monitored region, the method comprising the step of: conducting an upstream measurement of a flow rate through the at least one sample inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2004Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventor: Ron Knox
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Publication number: 20070064980Abstract: A smoke detector (10) is disclosed which uses a beam of radiation such as a laser (16), to monitor a region, such a room (12). A camera (14) is used to capture images of part of the room (12), including a path of the laser beam. Particles in the laser beam scatter light (30), and this is captured by the camera (14) for analysis. A processor (20) extracts data relating to the scattered light (30) to determine the density of particles in the beam, to determine the level of smoke in the region. The laser may have a modulated output (38) so that images captured without the laser can be used as a reference point and compared to images taken with the laser on, to assist in determining the level of scattered light (30) compared to ambient light. Filters (24, 26) may be used to decrease signals generated from background light.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2004Publication date: March 22, 2007Inventors: Ron Knox, Karl Boettger, Peter Meikle, Brian Alexander