Abstract: Various examples of the teachings herein include monitoring systems. An example system includes: a housing defining an internal test chamber; a sensor element exposed to the internal test chamber to generate a signal representing an illuminance; one or more passageways allowing air flow into the internal test chamber from a surrounding area; and a shroud blocking entrance of light into the internal test chamber through the one or more passageways along a dominant interference path to reduce noise in the illuminance signal.

Abstract: A system and method for noise suppression using signal strength ratio metric modulated light are disclosed. The system may include a light source, a light sensor, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be to generate a signal strength ratio metric modulated signal at a modulation depth. The control circuit may also be to send the signal strength ratio metric modulated signal to the light source to cause the light source to emit a signal strength ratio metric modulated light beam. The control circuit may additionally be to receive a reflected light signal from the light sensor. The reflected light signal may include a signal indicative of a reflection of the signal strength ratio metric modulated light beam and a signal indicative of a noise light.

Abstract: A system and method for the use of digital analysis to filter out extraneous light are disclosed. The system may include a light source to emit a light beam in a smoke detector. The system may include a first light sensor in the smoke detector to receive a reflected light beam corresponding to the light beam reflecting off a smoke particle. The system may include a second light sensor in the smoke detector to receive a noise light corresponding to ambient light in the smoke detector. The system may include a control circuit. The control circuit may be to receive the reflected light signal from a first light sensor indicative of the reflected light beam and to receive a noise signal from the second light sensor indicative of the noise light. The control circuit may be to reduce noise from the reflected light signal based on the noise signal.

Abstract: A system and method for a photoelectric smoke detector using polarized light is disclosed. The system may include a light source to emit a beam of light at a polarity of interest. The system may also include a light sensor to detect a reflection of the beam of light at the polarity of interest. The system may additionally include a control circuit communicatively coupled to the light sensor. The control circuit may be to detect a presence of smoke and raise a smoke alarm signal. The polarity of interest may be based on an angle of incidence between the light source and the light sensor.

Abstract: As an example, an apparatus may include: an ionization chamber, a voltage source to drive the ionization chamber; a voltage sensor to measure an ionization chamber output voltage; a calibration circuit to compensate the ionization chamber output voltage based on a correction factor; and a monitoring circuit to trigger an alarm if the compensated output voltage meets a predetermined condition. The calibration circuit may determine the correction factor to compensate for any leakage current affecting the ionization chamber output voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a test circuit to receive signals from a piezoelectric horn and a control circuit to determine whether to operate the apparatus in a silent test mode or a normal mode. The apparatus includes a control circuit to, based on a determination to operate in the normal mode, enable a driver circuit to drive the piezoelectric horn so as to output sound when activated by the driver circuit. The test circuit is to, based on a determination to operate in the silent test mode, cause the piezoelectric horn to generate a piezoelectric response, wherein the piezoelectric horn is silent while generating the piezoelectric response during the silent test mode, and cause evaluation of whether or not the piezoelectric horn is working correctly based upon the received signals from the piezoelectric horn.

Abstract: A system for a financial institution (or vendor thereof) to comply with its due diligence, reporting and monitoring obligations under FACTA or similar regulations. The present invention deploys a computer-based Enterprise Data Quality (EDQ) platform for the collection and management of customer financial data. The platform is configured to profile and validate the quality of existing database structures and content and, to the extent necessary to achieve regulatory compliance, normalize and standardize database records. The platform is further configured to detect and flag data anomalies, and provides an automatic alert distribution feature. The EDQ platform further includes a reporting feature to enable an accessible audit trail. The platform gathers data feeds from existing systems and supports the collection of data from new customers.

Abstract: Supervision and testing of a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and microcontroller. Wherein an electrochemical CO sensor is isolated from its detection circuit and a voltage charge is changed thereon then the CO sensor is reconnected to the detection circuit, wherein the voltage charge on the CO sensor returns to an equilibrium state over time. From the voltage versus time results a determination is made as to whether the CO sensor and CO detection circuit are functioning properly. All test and control circuits may be provided by the ASIC.

Abstract: Supervision and testing of a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and microcontroller. Wherein an electrochemical CO sensor is isolated from its detection circuit and a voltage charge is changed thereon then the CO sensor is reconnected to the detection circuit, wherein the voltage charge on the CO sensor returns to an equilibrium state over time. From the voltage versus time results a determination is made as to whether the CO sensor and CO detection circuit are functioning properly. All test and control circuits may be provided by the ASIC.

Abstract: A system for a financial institution (or vendor thereof) to comply with its due diligence, reporting and monitoring obligations under FACTA or similar regulations. The present invention deploys a computer-based Enterprise Data Quality (EDQ) platform for the collection and management of customer financial data. The platform is configured to profile and validate the quality of existing database structures and content and, to the extent necessary to achieve regulatory compliance, normalize and standardize database records. The platform is further configured to detect and flag data anomalies, and provides an automatic alert distribution feature. The EDQ platform further includes a reporting feature to enable an accessible audit trail. The platform gathers data feeds from existing systems and supports the collection of data from new customers.