Patents by Inventor Ronald Knox
Ronald Knox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11935380Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media for operating a scanning smoke detector are described herein. One apparatus a laser emitter configured to emit a beam of light, a rotational component configured to rotate the emitter such that the beam periodically scans across an area, and a light receiver configured to receive a reflected portion of the beam of light and determine a presence of smoke particles in the area based on the reflected portion. The smoke detection apparatus can be configured to operate at a first power level, decrease the beam to a second power level responsive to a determination that an object in the area is in a path of the beam, and increase the beam to the first power level responsive to a determination that the object is no longer in the path of the beam.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Ronald Knox
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Publication number: 20230267814Abstract: A smoke detector, and methods of operating a smoke detector, are described herein. In some examples, one or more embodiments include a laser emitter configured to emit a laser beam that illuminates an object in an area, a light receiver configured to receive light reflected from the illuminated object, and a controller configured to determine, based on the light reflected from the illuminated object, an amount of space in the area that is blocked from a field of view of the smoke detector by the object, and provide an indication responsive to the determined amount of space being above a threshold amount of space.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Inventors: Ronald Knox, Bhanusri Yellapragada
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Patent number: 11657692Abstract: A smoke detector, and methods of operating a smoke detector, are described herein. In some examples, one or more embodiments include a laser emitter configured to emit a laser beam that illuminates an object in an area, a light receiver configured to receive light reflected from the illuminated object, and a controller configured to determine, based on the light reflected from the illuminated object, an amount of space in the area that is blocked from a field of view of the smoke detector by the object, and provide an indication responsive to the determined amount of space being above a threshold amount of space.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Ronald Knox, Bhanusri Yellapragada
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Publication number: 20230138573Abstract: Non-coaxial systems, methods, and devices for detecting smoke are described herein. A smoke detection system may comprise a laser emitter configured to emit a laser beam, and a light receiver. The light receiver may comprise a first receiver lens, wherein a field of view of the first receiver lens includes at least a portion of the laser beam. The light receiver may also comprise a second receiver lens, wherein a field of view of the second receiver lens includes at least a portion of the laser beam and a region between an edge of the field of view of the first receiver lens and the laser emitter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventor: Ronald Knox
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Publication number: 20230133038Abstract: A smoke detector, and methods of operating a smoke detector, are described herein. In some examples, one or more embodiments include a laser emitter configured to emit a laser beam that illuminates an object in an area, a light receiver configured to receive light reflected from the illuminated object, and a controller configured to determine, based on the light reflected from the illuminated object, an amount of space in the area that is blocked from a field of view of the smoke detector by the object, and provide an indication responsive to the determined amount of space being above a threshold amount of space.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Ronald Knox, Bhanusri Yellapragada
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Patent number: 11551535Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media for operating a scanning smoke detector are described herein. One apparatus a laser emitter configured to emit a beam of light, a rotational component configured to rotate the emitter such that the beam periodically scans across an area, and a light receiver configured to receive a reflected portion of the beam of light and determine a presence of smoke particles in the area based on the reflected portion. The smoke detection apparatus can be configured to operate at a first power level, decrease the beam to a second power level responsive to a determination that an object in the area is in a path of the beam, and increase the beam to the first power level responsive to a determination that the object is no longer in the path of the beam.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Ronald Knox
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Patent number: 10971611Abstract: A beam detector including a light source, a receiver, and a target, acting in cooperation to detect particles in a monitored area. The target reflects incident light, resulting in reflected light being returned to receiver. The receiver is capable of recording and reporting light intensity at a plurality of points across its field of view. In the preferred form the detector emits a first light beam in a first wavelength band; a second light beam in a second wavelength band; and a third light beam in a third wavelength band, wherein the first and second wavelengths bands are substantially equal and are different to the third wavelength band.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Ronald Knox, Kate Cooper, Kemal Ajay
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Publication number: 20200271559Abstract: A particle detector, e.g. a smoke detector is described. In one form the detector includes a detection chamber and radiation source emitting a single beam of radiation. The detector also includes a radiation receiving system and an imaging system arranged to receive radiation from a common region of interest. Methods and systems for analysing the output of a particle detector are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Kate Cooper, Ronald Knox
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Patent number: 10677705Abstract: A particle detector, e.g. a smoke detector is described. In one form the detector includes a detection chamber and radiation source emitting a single beam of radiation. The detector also includes a radiation receiving system and an imaging system arranged to receive radiation from a common region of interest. Methods and systems for analysing the output of a particle detector are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Garrett Thermal Systems LimitedInventors: Kate Cooper, Ronald Knox
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Publication number: 20200056973Abstract: A particle detection system (100), such as an active video smoke detection system, includes at least one illumination means (102) for directing a beam (106) of radiation through at least part of the air volume being monitored (110), an image sensor (104) is positioned to capture images of at least part of a beam (106) from illumination moans (102); and means to analyse (107) the captured images to detect the presence of particles within the volume. At least 29 different aspects are described for improving the sensitivity, usability, and robustness of particle detection. These include, for example, configuring illumination means (102) to create a curtain of light or a rapidly-scanned beam across the air volume (110), and configuring a reflector to steer or change direction of a beam reflected from illumination means (102).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Ronald KNOX, Kemal AJAY, Karl BOETTGER
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Patent number: 10429289Abstract: A particle detection system (100), such as an active video smoke detection system, includes at least one illumination means (102) for directing a beam (106) of radiation through at least part of the air volume being monitored (110), an image sensor (104) is positioned to capture images of at least part of a beam (106) from illumination means (102); and means to analyse (107) the captured images to detect the presence of particles within the volume. At least 29 different aspects are described for improving the sensitivity, usability, and robustness of particle detection. These include, for example, configuring illumination means (102) to create a curtain of light or a rapidly-scanned beam across the air volume (110), and configuring a reflector to steer or change direction of a beam reflected from illumination means (102).Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: GARRETT THERMAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Ronald Knox, Kemal Ajay, Karl Boettger
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Publication number: 20190285531Abstract: A particle detector, e.g. a smoke detector is described. In one form the detector includes a detection chamber and radiation source emitting a single beam of radiation. The detector also includes a radiation receiving system and an imaging system arranged to receive radiation from a common region of interest. Methods and systems for analysing the output of a particle detector are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Kate Cooper, Ronald Knox
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Patent number: 10345213Abstract: A particle detector, e.g. a smoke detector is described. In one form the detector includes a detection chamber and radiation source emitting a single beam of radiation. The detector also includes a radiation receiving system and an imaging system arranged to receive radiation from a common region of interest. Methods and systems for analyzing the output of a particle detector are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2014Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Garrett Thermal Systems LimitedInventors: Kate Cooper, Ronald Knox
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Patent number: 10309898Abstract: A particle detection system including; at least one light source adapted to illuminate a volume being monitored at at least two wavelengths; a receiver having a field of view and being adapted to receive light from at least one light source after said light has traversed the volume being monitored and being adapted to generate signals indicative of the intensity of light received at regions within the field of view of the receiver; a processor associated with the receiver adapted to process the signals generated by the receiver to correlate light received at at least two wavelengths in corresponding regions within the field of view of the receiver and generate an output indicative of the relative level of light received at the two wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Garrett Thermal Systems LimitedInventors: Ronald Knox, Kate Cooper, Kemal Ajay
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Patent number: 10247644Abstract: An air sampling system for a low-temperature space is disclosed. The air sampling system includes an air sampling pipe for passing sampling air to an air sampling device, and a sampling conduit extending from the low-temperature space to outside the low-temperature space. The sampling conduit is connected to the sampling pipe. The sampling conduit is selectively accessible from outside the low-temperature space for removal of ice build-up within the sampling conduit. Also disclosed is a kit for an air sampling system. Also disclosed is a method, computing system, air-sampling device and air monitoring system that evaluates an air sampling network.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Garrett Thermal Systems LimitedInventors: Peter John Meikle, Paul Basil Leslie, John Vythoulkas, Matthew Stephen Korsa, Tawfeeq Gehad Al-Farra, Ronald Knox
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Patent number: 10161837Abstract: A method of particle detection in an aspirated particle detection system having a sampling pipe network and a particle detector. The method includes drawing sample air to the particle detector through the air sampling network; analyzing the sample air with the particle detector; entering an amplification phase, in the event that a concentration of particles in the sample air greater than a predetermined threshold is detected, to create a plurality of sample air packets in the sampling pipe, wherein each sample air packet corresponds to a sampling inlet and includes an amplified concentration of air drawn from the corresponding sampling inlet; transporting the sample air including the plurality of sample air packets through the sampling pipe to the particle detector; and determining through which sampling inlet any particles entered the particle detection system.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2014Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignees: Xtralis Technologies Ltd., Xtralis GlobalInventors: Kemal Ajay, Ronald Knox, Brian Alexander, Kate Cooper, Rajiv Kumar Singh, Thor North, Stephen James Pattinson, Peter Massingbard-Mundy, Alasdair James Williamson
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Publication number: 20180366570Abstract: A beam detector including a light source, a receiver, and a target, acting in cooperation to detect particles in a monitored area. The target reflects incident light, resulting in reflected light being returned to receiver. The receiver is capable of recording and reporting light intensity at a plurality of points across its field of view. In the preferred form the detector emits a first light beam in a first wavelength band; a second light beam in a second wavelength band; and a third light beam in a third wavelength band, wherein the first and second wavelengths bands are substantially equal and are different to the third wavelength band.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Ronald Knox, Kate Cooper, Kemal Ajay
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Patent number: 10094777Abstract: A beam detector including a light source, a receiver, and a target, acting in cooperation to detect particles in a monitored area. The target reflects incident light, resulting in reflected light being returned to receiver. The receiver is capable of recording and reporting light intensity at a plurality of points across its field of view. In the preferred form the detector emits a first light beam in a first wavelength band; a second light beam in a second wavelength band; and a third light beam in a third wavelength band, wherein the first and second wavelengths bands are substantially equal and are different to the third wavelength band.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Garrett Thermal Systems LimitedInventors: Ronald Knox, Kate Cooper, Kemal Ajay
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Publication number: 20170276588Abstract: A particle detection system (100), such as an active video smoke detection system, includes at least one illumination means (102) for directing a beam (106) of radiation through at least part of the air volume being monitored (110), an image sensor (104) is positioned to capture images of at least part of a beam (106) from illumination means (102); and means to analyse (107) the captured images to detect the presence of particles within the volume. At least 29 different aspects are described for improving the sensitivity, usability, and robustness of particle detection. These include, for example, configuring illumination means (102) to create a curtain of light or a rapidly-scanned beam across the air volume (110), and configuring a reflector to steer or change direction of a beam reflected from illumination means (102).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2017Publication date: September 28, 2017Applicant: GARRETT THERMAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Ronald KNOX, Kemal AJAY, Karl BOETTGER
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Publication number: 20170184496Abstract: A particle detection system including; at least one light source adapted to illuminate a volume being monitored at at least two wavelengths; a receiver having a field of view and being adapted to receive light from at least one light source after said light has traversed the volume being monitored and being adapted to generate signals indicative of the intensity of light received at regions within the field of view of the receiver; a processor associated with the receiver adapted to process the signals generated by the receiver to correlate light received at at least two wavelengths in corresponding regions within the field of view of the receiver and generate an output indicative of the relative level of light received at the two wavelengths.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Ronald Knox, Kate Cooper, Kemal Ajay