Patents Assigned to UTC Fire & Security
  • Patent number: 8538063
    Abstract: A video-based fire detection system receives video data comprised of a plurality of individual frames, and determines based on the video data the ability of the system to detect the presence of fire. The system includes a video recognition system connectable to receive the video data and to calculate one or more background features associated with the video data. Based on the calculated background features, the video recognitions system assesses the ability of the video-based fire detection system to detect the presence of fire. The system includes one or more outputs operably connectable to communicate the results of the assessment made by the video recognitions system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security
    Inventors: Rodrigo E. Caballero, Alan Matthew Finn, Pei-Yuan Peng, Ziyou Xiong, Hongcheng Wang
  • Patent number: 8462980
    Abstract: A video recognition system detects the presence of fire based on video data provided by one or more video detectors. The video recognition system divides each individual frame of video data into a plurality of frame elements and calculates with respect to each frame element a structural feature that the algorithm uses to identify a core region of potential fire. The video recognition system defines a region surrounding the core region and calculates with respect to each frame element within the surrounding region a temporal feature. Based on the calculated temporal feature, the video recognition system associates a representative temporal value with the core region. Based on the structural and temporal features associated with the core region, video recognition system determines whether the video data indicates the presence of fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security
    Inventors: Rodrigo E. Caballero, Hongcheng Wang, Ziyou Xiong, Pei-Yuan Peng, Alan Matthew Finn
  • Publication number: 20110213588
    Abstract: A system computes occupancy estimates based on one or more inputs, including sensor data from one or more sensor devices, constraints on allowable occupancy levels, and one or more utility functions. An occupancy estimator organizes the sensor data, the utility functions and an occupancy estimate into an objective function and executes a constrained optimization algorithm that computes the occupancy estimate, subject to the constraints, such that the objective function is minimized. The computed occupancy estimate is provided as an output by the system to one or more control and/or monitoring systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY
    Inventors: Yiqing Lin, Stella M. Oggianu, Amit Surana, Sean Meyn, Igor I. Fedchenia
  • Publication number: 20110064264
    Abstract: A video recognition system detects the presence of fire based on video data provided by one or more video detectors. The video recognition system divides each individual frame of video data into a plurality of frame elements and calculates with respect to each frame element a structural feature that the algorithm uses to identify a core region of potential fire. The video recognition system defines a region surrounding the core region and calculates with respect to each frame element within the surrounding region a temporal feature. Based on the calculated temporal feature, the video recognition system associates a representative temporal value with the core region. Based on the structural and temporal features associated with the core region, video recognition system determines whether the video data indicates the presence of fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: UTC Fire & Security
    Inventors: Rodrigo E. Caballero, Hongcheng Wang, Ziyou Xiong, Pei-Yuan Peng, Alan Matthew Finn
  • Publication number: 20100212920
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for suppressing a fire inside a defined volume within a structure. To suppress a fire, the defined volume is flooded with a flow of inert gas into which a limited amount of water is introduced into the flow of inert gas; the flow of inert gas and the limited amount of water introduced therein being sufficient to establish a fire extinguishing atmosphere within the defined volume having a volumetric oxygen concentration of at least about 14%. A cartridge for storing a limited amount of water has a water outlet in flow communication with a spray nozzle that is in flow communication with a supply of pressurized inert gas. The water storage cartridge has a gas inlet in flow communication with a supply of pressurized inert gas for pressurizing the water storage cartridge to cause water to flow therefrom to the spray nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: UTC Fire & Security
    Inventors: Muhidin A. Lelic, Giuliano Amantini, May L. Corn, Robert G. Dunster, Yehia F. Khalil, Robert J. Lade, Ravi K. Madabhushi, Marios C. Soteriou, Seth Sienkiewicz