Abstract: The document describes a method of transforming available live video output from a camera into a format compatible for combination with existing single element detectors operating at various spectral bands to achieve improved performance for non-imaging, optical event detectors, especially for optical flame detectors. The method can utilize data that is becoming increasingly available because of the expanding deployment of surveillance cameras that are prevalent in many sensing and security devices and systems. Augmenting output from established OFD sensors with the data stream converted from the video output and incorporating viable algorithms can yield a detection method with improved performance with respect to both sensitivity and selectivity without requiring additional hardware deployment.

Abstract: A method for detecting a fire while discriminating against false alarms in a monitored space containing obstructed and partially obstructed views includes the steps of positioning an infrared camera in a location where the camera has both a direct view of a first portion of the monitored space and an obstructed view of a second portion of the monitored space, the camera including a charge coupled device (CCD) array sensitive to wavelengths in the range of from about 400 to about 1000 nm and a long pass filter for transmitting wavelengths greater than about 700 nm; filtering out radiation wavelengths lower than about 700 nm; converting an electrical current from the CCD array to a signal input to a processor; processing the signal; and generating alarms when predetermined criteria are met to indicate the presence of a fire in one or both of the first portion of the monitored space and the second portion of the monitored space.