Abstract: An alarm device for a fire alarm system is described herein. One device includes at least one of an audio notification mechanism and a visual notification mechanism, a supercapacitor, and a controller configured to allow the supercapacitor to power the at least one of the audio notification mechanism and the visual notification mechanism upon a short circuit fault occurring on a loop of the fire alarm system while the alarm device is in an alarm state.

Abstract: An alarm device for a fire alarm system is described herein. One device includes at least one of an audio notification mechanism and a visual notification mechanism, a supercapacitor, and a controller configured to allow the supercapacitor to power the at least one of the audio notification mechanism and the visual notification mechanism upon a short circuit fault occurring on a loop of the fire alarm system while the alarm device is in an alarm state.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for an alarming system for multi-unit buildings are described herein. One system includes a number of remote sensors positioned in a building having common areas and individual units occupied by occupants, the remote sensors are provided for sensing an alarm condition, a central control panel located in the common areas of the building for collecting data from the remote sensors, the control panel utilized for analyzing the collected data, determining whether to initiate an alarm, and sending one or more signals to initiate an alarm, if an alarm is to be initiated, and an occupant input device located in at least one individual unit for requesting a delay in initiating the alarm.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for detecting faults on a spur wired alarm circuit are described herein. One system includes a bipolar capacitor coupled to a last device on a spur wired alarm circuit, a current source coupled to the spur wired alarm circuit, and a controller configured to operate the current source to provide a current to the spur wired alarm circuit, determine a corresponding voltage drop across the spur wired alarm circuit, determine a resistance of the spur wired alarm circuit based on the determined voltage drop, and determine whether a fault has occurred on the spur wired alarm circuit based on the determined resistance.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for operating a fire alarm system are described herein. One device includes circuitry to determine a resistance associated with an addressable fire alarm loop during a quiescent condition, determine an expected voltage drop in the loop during an alarm condition based on a plurality of devices of the loop, and set an alarm drive voltage of a power supply associated with the loop based on the resistance and the expected voltage drop.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a luminous intensity distribution of a visual alarm device are provided that include a processor transmitting a first signal to a current source and transmitting a second signal to a gate of a transistor. Responsive to receiving the first signal, the current source can transmit current to LEDs connected in series with the current source. Responsive to receiving the second signal, the transistor can block the current from flowing from a source of the transistor to a drain of the transistor, thereby channeling the current to a subset of the LEDs connected in parallel with the transistor. Responsive to failing to receive the second signal, the transistor can allow the current to flow from the source of the transistor to the drain of the transistor, thereby channeling the current away from the subset of the LEDs connected in parallel with the transistor.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for operating a fire alarm system are described herein. One device includes circuitry to determine a resistance associated with an addressable fire alarm loop during a quiescent condition, determine an expected voltage drop in the loop during an alarm condition based on a plurality of devices of the loop, and set an alarm drive voltage of a power supply associated with the loop based on the resistance and the expected voltage drop.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for detecting faults on a spur wired alarm circuit are described herein. One system includes a bipolar capacitor coupled to a last device on a spur wired alarm circuit, a voltage supply coupled to the spur wired alarm circuit, and a controller configured to operate the voltage supply such that a current flows through the spur wired alarm circuit, operate the voltage supply such that the current stops flowing through the spur wired alarm circuit for a particular amount of time, determine a voltage across the bipolar capacitor while the current has stopped flowing through the spur wired alarm circuit, and determine whether a fault has occurred on the spur wired alarm circuit based on the determined voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a luminous intensity distribution of a visual alarm device are provided that include a processor transmitting a first signal to a current source and transmitting a second signal to a gate of a transistor. Responsive to receiving the first signal, the current source can transmit current to LEDs connected in series with the current source. Responsive to receiving the second signal, the transistor can block the current from flowing from a source of the transistor to a drain of the transistor, thereby channeling the current to a subset of the LEDs connected in parallel with the transistor. Responsive to failing to receive the second signal, the transistor can allow the current to flow from the source of the transistor to the drain of the transistor, thereby channeling the current away from the subset of the LEDs connected in parallel with the transistor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting tampering with a security device are provided. Some systems can include detecting an object within a detection range of one or more sensors of the security device, analyzing position data from the one or more sensors, wherein the position data is indicative of a position of the object relative to the security device, determining whether the positon data indicates that the object is approaching a security device, and when the position data indicates that the object is approaching the security device, issuing a warning signal.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a two-wire loop having first and second conductors that connect a monitoring system with a plurality of addressable sensors and alarm devices of the monitoring system, the two-wire loop having first and second ends connected to the monitoring system, a memory that contains first respective resistance values of the first and second conductors and second respective resistance values between the first and second ends and each of the plurality of addressable sensors and alarm devices, and a processor that detects a fault in the two-wire loop by measuring third resistance values from opposing ones of the first and second ends of the two-wire loop during a scan of the plurality of addressable sensors and alarm devices and compares the third resistance values with corresponding ones of the first and second respective resistance values in the memory.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a two-wire loop having first and second conductors that connect a monitoring system with a plurality of addressable sensors and alarm devices of the monitoring system, the two-wire loop having first and second ends connected to the monitoring system, a memory that contains first respective resistance values of the first and second conductors and second respective resistance values between the first and second ends and each of the plurality of addressable sensors and alarm devices, and a processor that detects a fault in the two-wire loop by measuring third resistance values from opposing ones of the first and second ends of the two-wire loop during a scan of the plurality of addressable sensors and alarm devices and compares the third resistance values with corresponding ones of the first and second respective resistance values in the memory.

Abstract: A system including an alarm device, the alarm device further includes a switch mode buck converter, a capacitor that is charged by the buck converter, a boost converter that powers an output device primarily from energy drawn from the capacitor and circuitry coupled to the buck converter and boost converter, wherein the buck converter charges the capacitor with a relatively constant current and wherein the circuitry dynamically adjusts an instantaneous duty cycle of the buck converter to achieve the constant current based upon a power setting of the output device.

Abstract: A system including an alarm device, the alarm device further includes a switch mode buck converter, a capacitor that is charged by the buck converter, a boost converter that powers an output device primarily from energy drawn from the capacitor and circuitry coupled to the buck converter and boost converter, wherein the buck converter charges the capacitor with a relatively constant current and wherein the circuitry dynamically adjusts an instantaneous duty cycle of the buck converter to achieve the constant current based upon a power setting of the output device.

Abstract: An alarm sounder, which incorporates a piezo-electric output transducer, can be silently monitored using a variable frequency square wave. An initial frequency, close to the upper limit of human hearing, is coupled to the sounder. The transducer draws very little current at this initial frequency. The frequency of the square wave is systematically reduced, and the current draw is continually monitored. A high current indicates a low impedance type of fault. A low current throughout the frequency range indicates a potential high frequency type of fault.

Abstract: An alarm sounder, which incorporates a piezo-electric output transducer, can be silently monitored using a variable frequency square wave. An initial frequency, close to the upper limit of human hearing, is coupled to the sounder. The transducer draws very little current at this initial frequency. The frequency of the square wave is systematically reduced, and the current draw is continually monitored. A high current indicates a low impedance type of fault. A low current throughout the frequency range indicates a potential high frequency type of fault.

Abstract: A high sensitivity smoke detector includes a housing which defines an internal, closed, scattering region, and an external, open scattering region. A cyclone-type separator draws atmosphere adjacent the external scattering region into the detector and separates the larger, non-smoke related particulate matter which flows into the internal, closed scattering region for sensing and subsequent analysis. An annular inflow pattern can be established with a central exit flow.

Abstract: A high sensitivity smoke detector includes a housing which defines an internal, closed, scattering region, and an external, open scattering region. A cyclone-type separator draws atmosphere adjacent the external scattering region into the detector and separates the larger, non-smoke related particulate matter which flows into the internal, closed scattering region for sensing and subsequent analysis. An annular inflow pattern can be established with a central exit flow.