Abstract: A smoke detection method and system, which uses the effects of the diffusion of light to identify the presence of smoke in a monitored area, are disclosed. This method comprises the steps of: (1) electronically capturing a sequence of images of a light source in the monitored area, (2) transferring these images into an image buffer, (3) scanning these images to identify the chunks of adjacent pixels with brightness values above a prescribed threshold, (4) maintaining the sequence of such chunks obtained from consecutive images in a cluster stack, (5) analyzing the evolution of the features of each of these cluster over a prescribed period of time to identify the patterns that are caused by particle-induced light diffusion, and (6) issuing a prescribed system response in the event such light diffused patterns are identified.

Abstract: A system for detecting smoke in a monitored area includes: (a) a video device for capturing a series of successive video images of the monitored area as a series of two-dimensional bitmaps having a specified number of pixels, (b) a processing device having memory capability for storing said series of images and processing capability for analyzing the series of images, and (c) an analysis algorithm that runs on the processing device and has: (i) an identification portion for examining this series of bitmaps to identify indicator areas in successive bitmaps of adjacent pixels that have the potential for being used as indicators for the existence of smoke in the monitored area, (ii) a tracking portion for identifying the trends in the growth and movement of the indicator areas, and (iii) a trend comparison portion for comparing the identified trends to determine which of the trends are consistent with those produced by a smoke cloud.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting fire in a monitored area even if the flames are hidden behind obstructing objects.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting smoke in a monitored area includes: (a) a means for capturing a series of successive video images of the monitored area as a series of two-dimensional bitmaps having a specified number of pixels, (b) a means for examining this series of bitmaps to identify areas in successive bitmaps of adjacent pixels that have the potential for being used as indicators for the existence of smoke in the monitored area, (c) a means for storing these identified areas from the bitmaps, (d) a means for associating, on the basis of the likelihood of the existence of smoke in the monitored area, the identified areas from successive bitmaps so as to form a cluster of overlapping regions within those bitmaps, and (d) a means for analyzing the identified areas so as to identify the temporal changes in these areas which are indicative of the presence of smoke.

Abstract: An operator-directed system for suppressing fire within a remote, outdoor, industrial installation has: (a) a means for capturing at a prescribed frequency video images of the remote area, (b) a means of transmitting these images to the operator's location which is some distance from the remote location, (c) a means, adapted to utilize these transmitted images, for detecting fire within the remote area, (d) a means located at the remote location for discharging a fire suppressant over the area, and (e) a means, located at the operator's location and utilizing the transmitted images, for allowing the operator to control the flow and direction of the discharging of the fire suppressant in the remote area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting fire in a monitored area even if the flames are hidden behind obstructing objects.

Abstract: A smoke detection method and system, which uses the effects of the diffusion of light to identify the presence of smoke in a monitored area, are disclosed. This method comprises the steps of: (1) electronically capturing a sequence of images of a light source in the monitored area, (2) transferring these images into an image buffer, (3) scanning these images to identify the chunks of adjacent pixels with brightness values above a prescribed threshold, (4) maintaining the sequence of such chunks obtained from consecutive images in a cluster stack, (5) analyzing the evolution of the features of each of these cluster over a prescribed period of time to identify the patterns that are caused by particle-induced light diffusion, and (6) issuing a prescribed system response in the event such light diffuised patterns are identified.

Abstract: An operator-directed system for suppressing fire within a remote, outdoor, industrial installation has: (a) a means for capturing at a prescribed frequency video images of the remote area, (b) a means of transmitting these images to the operator's location which is some distance from the remote location, (c) a means, adapted to utilize these transmitted images, for detecting fire within the remote area, (d) a means located at the remote location for discharging a fire suppressant over the area, and (e) a means, located at the operator's location and utilizing the transmitted images, for allowing the operator to control the flow and direction of the discharging of the fire suppressant in the remote area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting fire in a monitored area.