Patents Assigned to UTC Fire and Security Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130084053
    Abstract: A video recording and playback network comprises a video source, a plurality of recorders, a local server, and a client device. The plurality of recorders records video from the video source. The local server generates a playlist comprising one or more ordered video segments which together cover a desired time range. The playlist associates one of the plurality of recorders with each video segment. The client device plays back video according to the playlist by streaming each video segment, in sequence, from the associated recorder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Mitch Ackermann, Jeffry Ratcliff, Jeremy Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20130076511
    Abstract: A sound enhancement device for a detector includes a cylindrical portion having a tubular body and an interior cavity longitudinally coextensive therewith. The device includes a first elongated portion and at least a second elongated portion with both portions coupled to the cylindrical portion. The first elongated portion includes a first body portion having a first cavity that is coextensive with the first body portion while the at least second elongated portion includes a second body portion having a second cavity that is coextensive with the second body portion. The cylindrical portion and each of the first and at least the second elongated portions comprise a length of a quarter wavelength of a predefined frequency. The sound enhancement device includes radii of curvatures for causing a wavefront emanating from the sound enhancement device to maximize the radiation efficiency of the sound enhancement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arthur Blanc, Virginia H. Faustino, Antonio M. Vincitore, Joseph B. Wysocki, Christopher T. Chipman, Daniel W. Shannon
  • Publication number: 20130044658
    Abstract: A wireless device comprises a transceiver and a scheduling system. The transceiver transmits and receives messages to and from an access point, and has a sleep mode from which it occasionally wakes at wakeup times to listen for beacons from the access point. The scheduling system schedules wakeup times according to historical beacon synchronization data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Haifeng Zhu, Vijaya Ramaraju Lakamraju, Alan Matthew Finn
  • Patent number: 8360162
    Abstract: A hybrid fire suppression system includes a supply of pressurized inert gas, a pipe network connected in inert gas flow communication to the inert gas supply, a first inert gas nozzle, a second inert gas nozzle, and a water storage cartridge having an interior volume defining a water reservoir storing a limited amount of water. The water reservoir communicates with the second inert gas spray nozzle. The first inert gas nozzle connects with the first terminus for introducing a flooding flow of inert gas only into a first protected space. The second inert gas nozzle connects with the second terminus for introducing a flooding flow of inert gas and the limited amount of water from the water reservoir into the second protected space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Muhidin A. Lelic, Giuliano Amantini, Robert G. Dunster, Rob J. Lade, Ravi K. Madabhushi, Marios C. Soteriou
  • Publication number: 20130002863
    Abstract: An auto-commissioning system provides automatic parameter selection for an intelligent video system based on target video provided by the intelligent video system. The auto-commissioning system extracts visual feature descriptors from the target video and provides the one or more visual feature descriptors associated with the received target video to an parameter database that is comprised of a plurality of entries, each entry including a set of one or more stored visual feature descriptors and associated parameters tailored for the set of stored visual feature descriptors. A search of the parameter database locates one or more best matches between the extracted visual feature descriptors and the stored visual feature descriptors. The parameters associated with the best matches are returned as part of the search and used to commission the intelligent video system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhen Jia, Jianwei Zhao, Penghe Geng, Ziyou Xiong, Jie Xi, Zhengwei Jiang, Alan Matthew Finn
  • Patent number: 8333907
    Abstract: An article of manufacture that comprises a structure that is a security system device (or portion thereof) or a fire system device (or portion), where a persistent phosphor and/or a persistent phosphor blend is either integrated in a coating on the structure; applied on the structure; or integrated in the structure, wherein the persistent phosphor comprises certain phosphors or phosphor blends. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Holly Ann Comanzo, Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Lucas Lemar Clarke, Munro Howard Sykes
  • Patent number: 8307677
    Abstract: A key containment apparatus includes a key container having a pocket and a liner positioned in the pocket of the key container, the liner being shaped to receive a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Larson, Matthew S. Hill, Jon Marc Luebeck
  • Patent number: 8228982
    Abstract: A method of transmitting a video stream over an IP network. The method includes encoding a source video into a plurality of packets. The method also includes measuring a real-time transmission status of a current set of the plurality of packets. The method also includes mapping a utility curve for the video which reflects utilities of the video at corresponding sending rates. The method also includes calculating a target sending rate for a next set of the plurality of packets according to the real-time transmission status of the current set of the plurality of packets and the utility curve. The method also includes determining a proper strategy to meet the target sending rate for the next set of the plurality of packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Zhebin Qian, Yu Zhang, Ping Liu, Li Xu
  • Publication number: 20120180123
    Abstract: A system is provided and facilitates management of a device by a first entity and management of a third entity by a second entity, wherein by way of the system access rights permitting access otherwise prevented by the device are assignable by the first entity to the second entity, the access rights are able to be administrated by the second entity to the third entity, and the access is obtainable by the third entity using a combination of the access rights and personal identification information to affect the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam Kuenzi, Teri Lynne Briskey, James Young, Jonah J. Harkema, David Casey Fale
  • Publication number: 20120174637
    Abstract: A key containment apparatus includes a key container having a pocket and a liner positioned in the pocket of the key container, the liner being shaped to receive a key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wayne Larson, Matthew S. Hill, Jon Marc Luebeck
  • Publication number: 20120160525
    Abstract: A closed-loop system employs video analytic outputs in a feedback loop to control the operation of a video-based fire detection system. In particular, video data captured by a video detector is analyzed by a video analytic system to generate outputs identifying regions indicative of fire. These outputs are employed as feedback in a closed-loop control system to orient the camera such that field of the view of the camera is modified to improve the ability of the video analytic system to verify or confirm the presence of fire within a region identified as indicative of fire. In addition, video analytic system may generate outputs identifying the delivery location of a fire suppressant. These outputs are employed as feedback in a closed-loop control system to orient the delivery of suppressant to extinguish the fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: UTC FIRE AND SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Matthew Finn, Pei-Yuan Peng, Rodrigo E. Cabballero, Ziyou Xiong, Hongcheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20120096265
    Abstract: A security panel includes a processor, memory, and a network interface having a unique MAC address, and is configured to communicate over a network with a server. A method for registering the security panel with the server includes contacting the server utilizing a network address stored in the memory. A dealer ID, a line number, and a unique account number is sent to the server. The dealer ID, the line number, and the unique account number are stored in the memory. An encryption key is received for encryption of additional communication between the security panel and the server. The unique MAC address is sent to the server in an encrypted session to verify the security panel to the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald B. Fisher, Theodore A. Nesse, Sunil Kumar Neckaraje, Uwe H. Thomanschefsky
  • Patent number: 8155399
    Abstract: There is provided a discriminative framework for image alignment. Image alignment is generally the process of moving and deforming a template to minimize the distance between the template and an image. There are essentially three elements to image alignment, namely template representation, distance metric, and optimization method. For template representation, given a face dataset with ground truth landmarks, a boosting-based classifier is trained that is able to learn the decision boundary between two classes—the warped images from ground truth landmarks (e.g., positive class) and those from perturbed landmarks (e.g., negative class). A set of trained weak classifiers based on Haar-like rectangular features determines a boosted appearance model. A distance metric is a score from the strong classifier, and image alignment is the process of optimizing (e.g., maximizing) the classification score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoming Liu, Peter Henry Tu, Frederick Wilson Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20120079859
    Abstract: An assembly for preventing a fire resulting from the outgassing of a lithium battery in an electronic door lock includes a lithium battery, a circuit board, and a thermal insulation. The lithium battery and circuit board are housed within the electronic door lock. The thermal insulation is arranged between a door interfacing side of the electronic door lock and either or both of the circuit board and lithium battery. Another thermal management technique for preventing fire resulting from the outgassing of a lithium battery in an electronic door lock is achieved by using a battery cover that is selectively movable away from the circuit board or ignition source in response to temperature rise to ensure the lithium battery does not reach a critical temperature that may cause outgassing in close proximity to the ignition source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vijaya Ramaraju Lakamraju, Jean Yamanis, Ulf J. Jonsson, Ritesh Khire, John M. Milton-Benoit, Jinliang Wang
  • Publication number: 20120024155
    Abstract: A battery fire prevention device includes a lithium battery, a container, and a porous material. The container houses the lithium battery and has an outwardly interfacing wall with an aperture which extends therethrough to vent outgassed battery constituents generally away therefrom. The porous material is disposed within the container between the aperture and the battery. The porous material is capable of trapping lithium particulates outgassed from the lithium battery within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vijaya Ramaraju Lakamraju, Ulf J. Paholsky, Richard J. Paholsky, John M. Milton-Benoit, John J. Calabrese
  • Publication number: 20120025948
    Abstract: A power management circuit decreases power consumption in an electronic door lock. The power management circuit includes an ON/OFF circuit, a load switch circuit and a electronic door lock circuit. The ON/OFF circuit generates an initial enable signal in response to a detected keycard that places the load switch circuit in an enabled state. When enabled, the load switch circuit provides dc power to the electronic door lock circuit that allows the electronic door lock circuit to receive identification input from the detected keycard and determine whether an output should be generated to actuate the door lock mechanism. Having completed the keycard detection operation, the electronic door lock circuit generates a self turn-off signal that is provided as feedback to the ON/OFF circuit to disable the load switch circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: UTC FIRE AND SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vijaya R. Lakamraju, John M. Milton-Benoit, Ulf J. Jonsson, Joseph Zacchio
  • Publication number: 20120008832
    Abstract: A video-based object recognition system and method provides selective, local enhancement of image data for improved object-based recognition. A frame of video data is analyzed to detect objects to receive further analysis, these local portions of the frame being referred to as a region of interest (ROI). A video quality metric (VQM) value is calculated locally for each ROI to assess the quality of the ROI. Based on the VQM value calculated with respect to the ROI, a particular video quality enhancement (VQE) function is selected and applied to the ROI to cure deficiencies in the quality of the ROI. Based on the enhanced ROI, objects within the defined region can be accurately identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: UTC FIRE AND SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hongcheng Wang, Zhen Jia, Lei Sun
  • Publication number: 20110291428
    Abstract: A clutch for an electronic door lock includes a primary mover, a pivotal pawl, a first shaft, and a second shaft. The second shaft is axially co-aligned with the first shaft and is rotatably mounted adjacent the rotatable first shaft. The primary mover is selectively actuatable to engage the pawl such that rotation of the first shaft relative to the second shaft by a user pivots the pawl into coupling engagement between the first shaft and the second shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John M. Milton-Benoit, Ulf J. Jonsson, Robert H. Dold, Fanping Sun, Zaffir A. Chaudhry
  • Publication number: 20110260081
    Abstract: A self-regulating valve controls the flow of high pressure gas discharging from a gas cylinder in a fire suppression system in response to a detection of a fire within a protected space by a two-step process which reduces the pressure rise within the protected space upon release of the fire suppression gas into the protected space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Muhidin A. Lelic, Fanping Sun, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Tony George, Lyle H. Hamilton, Robert G. Dunster, Rob J. Lade, Paul C. Upton, Mark Williamson
  • Publication number: 20110259617
    Abstract: A nozzle for a fire suppression system has a bonnet and a deflector base. An inlet port extends through the bonnet along the axis of symmetry of the bonnet. The inlet port receives an outlet end of a fire suppression delivery pipe to mount the bonnet to the pipe. The bonnet has a frustoconical surface which extends radially outward and downward from the inlet port. The deflector base is secured to and co-axially aligned with the bonnet at a predetermined distance to create a flow passageway therebetween. The flow passageway imparts a down angle to a suppressant flow discharging from the nozzle to better disperse the suppressant within the fire zone. A discharge port at the circumferential edge of the bonnet and deflector base constricts the suppressant flow to atomize the droplets of liquid suppressant discharged into the fire zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Muhidin Lelic, Giuliano Amantini, May L. Corn, Robert G. Dunster, Rob J. Lade, Ravi K. Madabhushi, Seth Sienkiewicz, Marios C. Soteriou