Abstract: A method for monitoring a location performed by one or more processors comprises receiving signals from a smoke sensor; determining one or more minutiae from the received signals; determining a time window based on the at least one determined one or more minutiae; characterizing one or more smoke or fire types in the determined time window based on one or more of the determined one or more minutiae; dynamically determining one or more alarm levels based on the characterized one or more smoke or fire types; evaluating at least one minutiae in the determined time window using the determined one or more alarm levels; and outputting an alarm signal if an alarm condition is determined.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a location performed by one or more processors comprises receiving signals from a smoke sensor; determining one or more minutiae from the received signals; determining a time window based on at least one said determined one or more minutiae; characterizing one or more smoke or fire types in the determined time window based on one or more of said determined one or more minutiae; dynamically determining one or more alarm levels based on the characterized one or more smoke or fire types; evaluating at least one minutiae in the determined time window using the determined one or more alarm levels; and outputting an alarm signal if an alarm condition is determined.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a location performed by one or more processors comprises receiving signals from a smoke sensor; determining one or more minutiae from the received signals; determining a time window based on the at least one determined one or more minutiae; characterizing one or more smoke or fire types in the determined time window based on one or more of the determined one or more minutiae; dynamically determining one or more alarm levels based on the characterized one or more smoke or fire types; evaluating at least one minutiae in the determined time window using the determined one or more alarm levels; and outputting an alarm signal if an alarm condition is determined.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a location performed by one or more processors comprises receiving signals from a smoke sensor; determining one or more minutiae from the received signals; determining a time window based on at least one said determined one or more minutiae; characterizing one or more smoke or fire types in the determined time window based on one or more of said determined one or more minutiae; dynamically determining one or more alarm levels based on the characterized one or more smoke or fire types; evaluating at least one minutiae in the determined time window using the determined one or more alarm levels; and outputting an alarm signal if an alarm condition is determined.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled hazardous condition detection system with volatile and non-volatile memory containing a sensor package and an alarm element associated with the sensor package through a microprocessor, wherein a clean air value is loaded into the volatile memory; where the microprocessor receives periodic readings of predetermined environmental conditions from the sensor package, stores the periodic readings in the volatile memory, calculates an average of a plurality of said periodic readings and generates a new clean air value by shifting the clear air value loaded into said volatile memory by a differential between the calculated average environmental reading and the established clean air value and generates an alarm if the difference exceeds an established threshold.

Abstract: A hazardous condition detection system with a sensor package employing a reduced resource microprocessor capable of dynamic alarm sensitivity adjustment having volatile and non-volatile memory which receives periodic raw sensor readings from the sensor package and preprocesses each received periodic raw sensor reading by employing at least three distinctive filtering constants which are compared to alarm thresholds stored in memory to generate an alarm condition signal when ionization levels in the ambient environment exceed stored thresholds.

Abstract: A low profile optical smoke chamber structure with a top cover incorporating airflow slots, an intermediate annular air channel, a depending light shield wall surrounding an interior detection chamber where the top cover is interengagable with a base member where the light shield wall is spaced from the base member so as to provide minimal deflection of ambient airflow into the detection chamber while preventing impingement of ambient light therein.

Abstract: A hazardous condition detection system with a sensor package employing a reduced resource microprocessor capable of dynamic alarm sensitivity adjustment having volatile and non-volatile memory which receives periodic raw sensor readings from the sensor package and preprocesses each received periodic raw sensor reading by employing at least three distinctive filtering constants which are compared to alarm thresholds stored in memory to generate an alarm condition signal when ionization levels in the ambient environment exceed stored thresholds.

Abstract: A hazardous condition detector including a housing containing at least one sensor unit for sensing at least one ambient condition and a microprocessor contained within the housing operatively coupled to the sensor unit though a hardware interface. The hazardous condition detector also includes a memory means associated with the microprocessor, the memory means contains at least one alarm threshold value stored therein from which the microprocessor selects a single alarm threshold value, and user activated hardware control means operatively coupled to the microprocessor. The control means when activated by a user during an alarm condition reduces the sensitivity of the hazardous condition detector by changing the voltage across the sensor unit sensed by the microprocessor to a level that is within the range of a non alarm event defined by the single alarm threshold value selected by the microprocessor.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method including detecting a select hazardous condition by at least one triggering alarm unit of a plurality of interconnected hazardous condition alarm units. An actuatable latch in the triggering alarm unit is switched from an unlatched state to a latched state. An audible alert is generated in all of the interconnected alarm units. A test switch is actuated to identify the triggering alarm unit. Actuating the test switch disables the audible alert in each alarm unit having an actuatable latch in the unlatched state. A reset switch is actuated in only one of the alarm units to reset the actuatable latch in each of the alarm units to the unlatched state.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled hazardous condition detection system containing a sensor package, the sensor package containing sensors exposed to the ambient environment. The system also includes an alarm means coupled to the sensor package through a microprocessor having volatile and non-volatile memory. The microprocessor includes a memory storage device containing a plurality of alarm thresholds stored therein. Each of the plurality of alarm thresholds is associated with a predetermined set of ionization levels in the ambient environment. The microprocessor receives periodic ionization readings from the sensor package, and conditions the received readings by removing a selected amount of noise and attenuation therefrom. The microprocessor accumulates the conditioned ionization readings, selects and employs an optimized alarm threshold from the plurality of stored alarm thresholds, based on a set of the accumulated ionization readings.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled hazardous condition detection system and method containing a sensor package, the sensor package containing sensors exposed to the ambient environment. The system also includes an alarm means coupled to the sensor package through a microprocessor having volatile and non-volatile memory. In a preferred embodiment the hazardous condition detector is ionization-technology-based and optimized to readily detect smoldering as well as traditional flash fires. The microprocessor stores the periodic readings in the volatile memory, and calculates an average of a plurality of the periodic readings. The microprocessor analyzes the character/type of smoke by tracking the rate of rise of the sensor signal over a predetermined time period. Based on the progression of the rate of rise calculated from periodic sampling of the ambient environment the microprocessor evaluates the rate of ionized particle change and adjusts the alarm thresholding to readily detect both smoldering and flash fires.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method including detecting a select hazardous condition by at least one triggering alarm unit of a plurality of interconnected hazardous condition alarm units. An actuatable latch in the triggering alarm unit is switched from an unlatched state to a latched state. An audible alert is generated in all of the interconnected alarm units. A test switch is actuated to identify the triggering alarm unit. Actuating the test switch disables the audible alert in each alarm unit having an actuatable latch in the unlatched state. A reset switch is actuated in only one of the alarm units to reset the actuatable latch in each of the alarm units to the unlatched state.

Abstract: In a wireless access control system, a method and system for providing indications of the state of a Wireless Access Point Module (WAPM) to an observer using at least one indicator mounted on the WAPM. The WAPM preferably provides indications of the version number of the software installed on the WAPM. Additionally, the WAPM may communicate with a WPIM. The WAPM may indicate that it is attempting to establish communication with said WPIM, is engaged in an error test with said WPIM, or has lost communication with said WPIM, for example.

Abstract: In an access control system, a method and system for dynamic channel selection to select a channel for communication between a Wireless Access Point Module (WAPM) and a Wireless Panel Interface Module (WPIM). A number of communication channels are available. The WAPM attempts to communicate over a first channel and selects a second channel if the first channel is unsuccessful. The WPIM scans all the available channels so that communication may be established regardless of the channel chosen by the system. Alternatively, the available channels may be segmented into groups and an individual WAPM may be assigned to a group of channels rather than a single channel.

Abstract: In a wireless access control system, a method and system for providing indications of the state of a Wireless Access Point Module (WAPM) to an observer using at least one indicator mounted on the WAPM. The WAPM preferably provides indications of the version number of the software installed on the WAPM. Additionally, the WAPM may communicate with a WPIM. The WAPM may indicate that it is attempting to establish communication with said WPIM, is engaged in an error test with said WPIM, or has lost communication with said WPIM, for example.