Flame Patents (Class 340/577)
  • Patent number: 8742937
    Abstract: An alarm unit of the invention is provided with: a light emitting section; a battery power supply; a voltage booster circuit that boosts a voltage from this battery power supply to thereby generate a boosted voltage; a light emission control section that controls the voltage booster circuit to supply, with the timing at which the boosted voltage is obtained, the boosted voltage to the light emitting section, thereby intermittently driving light emission; a light receiving section that receives light from the light emitting section having been diffused by smoke; a conversion circuit that converts a received light signal from the light receiving section into received light data; a fire hazard detection section that detects a fire hazard based on the received light data from the conversion circuit; an alarm section that outputs an alarm based on a fire hazard detection signal from the fire hazard detection section; a reference voltage circuit that generates a reference voltage for the voltage booster circuit and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Hochiki Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Asano
  • Patent number: 8736444
    Abstract: A system for wireless heat detection is disclosed. The system includes one or more heat sensors that convert sensed heat energy into electrical power for transmitting an alarm signals. A remote system may trigger an alarm based on the received alarm signals. The heat sensors may be placed at discrete locations within an interior of a building to monitor a condition of the infrastructure of the building. The remote system can include a communications module for receiving the signal and transmitting an alarm signal to an associated fire panel. The fire panel may analyze the signal, as well as signals generated from adjacent sensors, to determine whether a fire condition exists within a building. Appropriate notification devices may then be activated based on the determination. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH, Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel G. Farley, Paul B. Rasband
  • Patent number: 8717162
    Abstract: A method for controlling guiding, signal or alert lights, particularly signal lights for an emergency escape route in a fire situation, in which method there are controlled sequentially arranged light sources, such as LED light sources. In the method, in the first step the sequentially arranged light sources (40), which are most advantageously arranged as a light source string (4) or at least as part thereof, are activated, on the basis of a signal received from a fire detector (3), to be switched to a first mode, in which first mode the sequentially arranged light sources are used for indicating the direction of an escape route, and/or to a second mode, where the light sources (40) are switched to emit continuous light. The invention also relates to a system and a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Marimils OY
    Inventor: Göran Sundholm
  • Patent number: 8717168
    Abstract: The present invention is an ASIC-controlled alarm unit. The ASIC circuit performs all the necessary control functions to provide audible and visual signaling when used with external horn and strobe circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Wheelock, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn P. Keeney, Joseph Kosich, Luy B. Nguyen, John Yerger, Erik Johnson
  • Patent number: 8693641
    Abstract: A fire control system may include a fire alarm control panel situated at a first location, the fire alarm control panel coupled to a first hardwire circuit. The fire control system may also include one or more telephone stations, wherein each telephone station of the one or more telephone stations is disposed at a different location than each other telephone stations and coupled through the first hardwire circuit to the fire alarm control panel, and one or more radio repeaters are each disposed at one or more respective locations, and wherein each radio repeater is operative to receive audio information as a radio signal and to transmit the audio information as an electrical signal through a second hardwire circuit to the central telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventor: Daniel G. Farley
  • Patent number: 8681011
    Abstract: The present smoke detection system uses a single sensor to quickly detect both fast flaming fires and smoldering fires while further reducing nuisance and false alarms. In the present detector, the sensor is preferably an ionization sensor. Specifically, a first algorithm is used to detect flaming fires and second algorithm is used to detect smoldering fires. An alarm is sounded when either algorithm generates an alarm condition. In each embodiment, the first algorithm generates an alarm condition when a sensor output signal exceeds a first threshold. The alarm condition is generated for the second algorithm when the sensor output signal: (1) exceeds a second threshold for T time.; (2) rate of change exceeds a predetermined rate of change threshold; (3) change between time Tn and time Tn-1 exceeds a predetermined change threshold; or (4) sensor signal exceeds an historic standard deviation of the signal multiplied by a predetermined constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Fred Conforti
  • Patent number: 8676245
    Abstract: A system (10) and method (50) for controlling the transmission power of a node (14) that includes at least one base station (12), at least one node (14), a sensor (16), and a control unit (20). The node (14) is in communication with the base station (12). The sensor (16) is integrated with each of the nodes (14), wherein the sensor (16) collects data that includes at least the amount of combustible material (18) proximate to the node (14). The control unit (20) is integrated with each node (14) and configures the transmission power of each of the nodes (14) based upon the data collected by the sensor (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George N. Maracas, Charles B. Swope
  • Patent number: 8659437
    Abstract: A flame sensing system having a flame rod, a signal generator, a signal measurement circuit, and a controller, where the frequency and/or amplitude of the excitation signal may be variable. The signal measurement circuit may include a bias circuitry that references the flame signal to a voltage, a capacitor that varies the filtration, an AC coupling capacitor, a current limiting resistor, and a low-pass filter. The system may determine the flame-sensing rod contamination, the stray capacitance of the flame sensing system, and compensate for stray capacitance in the flame sensing system. The flame model may include a circuit that simulates a flame in the presence of the sensing rod, and another circuit that simulates a contact surface between the flame and the sensing rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Chian
  • Patent number: 8622146
    Abstract: A device for fire extinguishing is described, comprising a fire retardant cloth, which is arranged to cover objects upon a fire or the beginnings of a fire, to put out or prevent the fire from developing, wherein the fire retardant cloth is mounted in a release mechanism arranged to release the fire retardant cloth, in such a way that the cloth covers said objects, upon detection of the fire or development of the fire. A method for same is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Christian Klimek, Richard Tangen
  • Publication number: 20130335229
    Abstract: An LED strobe notification device and method for operating an LED strobe notification device is provided. The LED strobe notification device is configured to generate an output at two or more candela settings and is configured to generate the output at the two or more candela settings having a human-perceived pulse duration with a fixed width. The LED strobe device includes: an LED strobe element; and an LED controller in communication with the LED strobe element with the LED controller configured to: receive a candela selection for the LED strobe element, the candela selection selected from the two or more candela settings; receive a command to activate the LED strobe element of the LED strobe notification device; and in response to receiving the command, control the LED strobe element in order to generate the output from the LED strobe element having the human-perceived pulse duration with the fixed width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Savage, JR.
  • Patent number: 8587664
    Abstract: A system and method of identifying and locating one or more targets includes capturing one or more frames and recording position data for each of the frames. Each of the frames comprises a plurality of at least three different types of infrared image data. Each of the targets is identified and a location is provided based on the three different types of captured infrared image data in each of the frames and the recorded position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Rochester Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Donald M. McKeown, Michael J. Richardson
  • Patent number: 8587442
    Abstract: A smoke alarm has a base element with a flat mounting surface, a light emitter that is attached to the mounting surface and that is configured to issue an illuminating light, and a light receiver that is attached to the mounting surface next to the light emitter and that is configured to receive a measurement light that results from a back-scattering of the illumination light at a measurement object located in a detection space. A data processing device is coupled to an output of the light receiver and configured to evaluate temporal changes of an output signal issued by the light receiver. Also, there is provided a method for checking the functional capability of the smoke alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Loepfe, Kurt Müller, Georges A. Tenchio, Walter Vollenweider
  • Publication number: 20130264074
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for suppressing fires in residential attics and basements. The components of one embodiment function in an integrated way so as to suppress residential attic and basement fires more safely and successfully than do traditional methods of the art of residential firefighting. Electronic messages from fire detection devices in residential attics and basements are processed so that a plurality of actions are performed in order to efficiently suppress fire in those residence spaces, thereby minimizing loss of human life and property. Actions include and are not limited to activation of emergency lighting in affected spaces, activation of surveillance camera devices to enable remote visual monitoring by responders, electronic notification of responders as to the existence and location of fire within the residence, alarm notification of occupants of the residence, and deployment of condensed aerosol agents to suppress or extinguish the residential attic or basement fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: David B. Lewis, Frank G. Speno
  • Patent number: 8540421
    Abstract: Systems for analyzing effects of cargo fire on primary aircraft structure are provided. A particular system includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to access a thermal profile of a suppressed fire in a physical model of a cargo compartment of an aircraft. The instructions are also executable to analyze heat transfer resulting from applying the thermal profile of the suppressed fire to a structure of the aircraft surrounding the cargo compartment to determine a predicted temperature reached by one or more parts of the structure surrounding the cargo compartment as a result of the suppressed fire. The instructions are also executable to generate an output including the predicted temperature reached by the one or more parts of the structure surrounding the cargo compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark F. Ahlers, Mel Eshghi, Daniel F. Lewinski, Richard J. Mazzone
  • Patent number: 8519854
    Abstract: A fire alarm system, determining existence or nonexistence of a fire by using an ultrasound wave, comprises a sound wave generator and a sound wave detector to detect sound waves propagated through two propagation paths having different lengths each other. The system comprises a calculation means for calculating a pressure ratio between a first sound pressure, which is a sound pressure of a sound wave propagated through a first propagation path, and a second sound pressure, which is a sound pressure of a sound wave propagated through a second propagation path, and a smoke density estimator. The smoke density estimator calculates a change ratio between the pressure ratio calculated by the calculation means and a predetermined standard pressure ratio, and determines a smoke density from the change ratio based on a predetermined relational expression describing the relation between the change ratio and the smoke density, and determines existence of a fire when the smoke density exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Watabe, Yoshiaki Honda, Masanori Hayashi, Yuji Takada, Takayuki Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8480295
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for testing the fire hazard of a material. According to one embodiment of the method, a plane region of the surface of a specimen made of the material is brought in contact for at most a predetermined contact time with a glow wire, which has been heated to a predetermined temperature. Image data of the specimen are furthermore acquired by at least a first camera at least while the specimen is in contact with the glow wire. Image processing of the acquired image data of the specimen is furthermore carried out, preferably in realtime, ignition of the specimen by the glow wire being detected if applicable. A first duration is then determined, which corresponds to the length of time between the application of the tip of the glow wire on the specimen and the ignition of the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: UL LLC
    Inventors: Bahman Sarabi, Martin Behrendt
  • Publication number: 20130162434
    Abstract: Alarm installations in buildings or other environments are used to notify people of particular events, particularly hazards. By way of example, fire alarm installations usually have visual signal generators which, in the event of an alert, bring a hazard situation to the attention of people in a building by means of visual signals. In this case, the aim is to use the visual signals to prompt the people to leave the building via the escape routes. A signal apparatus (1) for an alarm installation (2) is proposed, having a signal generator (3) for outputting a notification signal (6) to the environment of the signal apparatus (1), having a control device (4) for actuating the signal generator (3), and having an activation interface (5) for receiving an activation signal for triggering and/or synchronizing the control apparatus (1), wherein the activation interface (5) is designed to receive a notification signal (6) from a different signal generator than the activation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Blaschke, Anton Pfefferseder, Ulrich Oppelt, Muhammed Ali Narin, Michael Guertner
  • Patent number: 8462001
    Abstract: An environmental alarm sensor panel for a telecommunication cable station (TCS) is provided. The sensor panel can includes a plurality of alert sensors for measuring environmental conditions and other conditions in an equipment room of the TCS. The sensors are hard wired to an equipment interface panel for telecommunication equipment in the equipment room. The equipment interface panel is connected to the telecommunication equipment and is in communication with a network operation center (NOC), which is located remotely from the TCS and monitors the status of the TCS. According to an embodiment, the alarm sensor panel includes one or more dry contact temperature alert sensors, a humidity alert sensor, a smoke alert sensor and a power alert sensor. The sensors are configured to generate respective alert signals when selected conditions exist (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Great Eastern Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Morris
  • Patent number: 8457835
    Abstract: A method for use in evaluating an operation of a combustion machine. A plurality of current average intensities is calculated by a computing device based on a series of intensity readings from a flame sensor. Each current average intensity corresponds to a current time interval. The computing device selects a plurality of past average intensities, each of which corresponds to a past time interval equal in duration to the current time interval corresponding to a current average intensity. The computing device calculates a plurality of decay rates indicating a change in intensity readings over a current time interval based on the current average intensities and the past average intensities. The computing device estimates a predicted flame sensor malfunction time based on the plurality of decay rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gaurav Nigam
  • Patent number: 8451132
    Abstract: The portable heat and smoke detection system includes a detecting means that is portable and remotely located with respect to an alarming means. The alarming means informs the end user to the detection of smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide via the detecting means. The detecting means may or may not include a light and audible alarm; whereas the alarming means may include a light, audible alarm, cellular telephoning capability, text messaging capability, and/or an e-mail capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: William Van Vleet
  • Patent number: 8416297
    Abstract: A method for detecting flame and smoke using spatial analysis of video input (40) provided by a video detector. The video input (40) consists of a number of individual frames, wherein analysis is performed on each individual frame to detect and outline regions that may contain smoke or flame (42). Based on the defined outline or boundary of each detected region, spatial features associated with the region are extracted (52), such as perimeter/area and surface area/volume. The extracted spatial features are related to one another (54) to determine the likelihood that the region contains smoke or flame. Extracted spatial features may be related to one another using a power law relationship that provides an indication of the turbulence associated with a bounded region, wherein turbulence is a characteristic of both flame and smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Matthew Finn, Pei-Yuan Peng, Ziyou Xiong
  • Patent number: 8400314
    Abstract: A fire alarm consists of a housing in which sensors, a radiation source, and an optical window are disposed. A reflector protection basket or ring is disposed above the optical window. The basket or ring is suitable for protecting the optical window against mechanical influences, allows UV and IR radiation to pass through to a sufficient degree, and reflects UV and IR radiation from the housing interior, on its inside. Monitoring of the contamination of the window, function monitoring of the sensors and of the signal processing electronics, as well as easy replaceability of the components in the fire alarm are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Minimax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hauke Dittmer, Dirk Siemer, Peter Zuelzer, Bernd Ziems, Axel Grothoff, Arne Stamer, Kurt Lenkeit
  • Publication number: 20130027198
    Abstract: A non-addressable fire alarm system, with a fire alarm control panel and one or more non-addressable devices, is provided. The fire alarm control panel sends a broadcast command to the one or more non-addressable devices in the fire alarm system. In response thereto, the one or more non-addressable device modify at least one aspect of one or more communication lines in the fire alarm system. For example, the non-addressable device may generate an open circuit, a closed circuit, or put a current on the one or more communication lines. As another example, the non-addressable device may send a communication back to the fire alarm control panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Joseph Piccolo, III
  • Patent number: 8346500
    Abstract: A self check-type flame detector includes a casing provided with a monitoring window formed therein. A wavelength generation unit is disposed inside the casing and generates a wavelength in a direction of the monitoring window. A wavelength detection element is disposed inside the casing and detects the wavelength. A comparison unit is provided with a wavelength DB for storing intensity of a reference wavelength and determines whether the monitoring window has been contaminated. A display unit is located outside the casing and displays a state of the monitoring window. A communication unit is disposed inside the casing and configured to receive operation information for the wavelength generation unit, to provide the operation information to the wavelength generation unit, and to transmit the intensity of the wavelength, or a normal signal or a contamination signal of the monitoring window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Chang Sung Ace Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeu Yong Lee, Seung Hun Choi
  • Patent number: 8335617
    Abstract: A sensor detection controller is used in combination with a capacitive sensor that is mounted on a seat of a vehicle in such a manner that a capacitance of the capacitive sensor changes according to whether the seat is occupied. The sensor detection controller has a fault detection mode and a normal detection mode. The sensor detection controller includes a signal source for applying an amplitude signal to the capacitive sensor, a switch for switching a signal path, through which the amplitude signal is applied, between the fault detection mode and the normal detection mode, a signal detector for detecting a change in a voltage or a current of the amplitude signal when the amplitude signal is applied, and an impedance member connected to the signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Satake, Noboru Maeda, Hiroyuki Mori, Kouji Ootaka
  • Patent number: 8334782
    Abstract: A smoke detector comprises a soft x-ray source (10) and an air space (16) communicating with ambient air (18) and positioned so that soft x-rays produced by the soft x-ray source (10) pass into the air space (16) to ionise air in the air space (16). A detector (14) is positioned for detecting ionised air in the air space (16). Smoke particles entering into the air space (16) mop up ionised air. This leads to a reduction in the number of ions detected which triggers an alarm. The soft x-ray source (10) preferably comprises a substrate (22) on which are provided a plurality of nanometer scale elongate structures (28). The elongate structures (28) are provided in an evacuated chamber (42) formed between the substrate (22), a spacer (30), and a laminated film (36). The laminated film (36) comprises an aluminum foil layer (38) and a supporting nylon layer (40). A voltage converting circuit (44) is powered by a 9 volt DC battery and applies a 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Max D. Allsworth
  • Patent number: 8305086
    Abstract: The flame ionization detector, which comprises a supply and an ignition device (7) for the combustible gas, a supply for the sample gas, a combustion chamber (4) in which the sample gas is ionized by the flame, and electrodes (8, 1) to which a voltage is applied in order to generate and measure the ion current, is distinguished in that it is constructed as an integrated planar system of at least three parallel platelet-like substrates (1, 2, 3) which are connected to one another and are processed by microsystem technology methods, with a central substrate (1) comprising nozzles (5, 6) for the gases and the ignition device (7) and a recess which forms a part of the combustion chamber (4), is completed by recesses in the neighboring substrates (2, 3) and is essentially closed together with the nozzle region by these substrates (2, 3), and the neighboring substrates (2, 3) comprise supply channels (10, 11) for the gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Bayer Technology Services GmbH
    Inventors: Müller Jörg, Winfred Kuipers
  • Patent number: 8269637
    Abstract: An alarm system notification device that comprises a single strobe, an input selector, and a controller is disclosed. The single strobe may be configured to operate at a first wavelength band in a first configuration and at a second wavelength band in a second configuration, the first wavelength band being different from the second wavelength band. The configuration of the single strobe (either in the first or second configuration) is determined based on a command that is input by the input selector. In response to receiving the command, the controller may control the single strobe so that the single strobe is configured to operate at one of the first wavelength band in the first configuration or the second wavelength band in the second configuration as indicated in the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: SimplexGrinnell LP
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Savage, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8230939
    Abstract: An improved fire protection system that is of fail safe design for kitchen stoves with or without a range hood and other applications utilizing electrical power for generating heat and in which a fire condition such as a skillet of grease becomes ignited. Said system is activated thermally to release a quantity of fire suppressant material while simultaneously cutting off the electrical power. The system utilizes a reservoir containing the fire suppressant under pressure with a hose or pipe connected to one or a plurality of thermally activated nozzles. A second hose or pipe is connected to a pneumatically operated electrical interruption device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Joe Dale Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8217798
    Abstract: A wide area fire safety and detection system is disclosed. The system includes a control node configured to execute a first detection routine, wherein the control node has a network interface, and an amplifier having an audio output, wherein the amplifier is configured to communicate the audio output to a plurality of fire safety nodes. The system further includes a remote node in communication with the control node, wherein the remote node has a network interface configured for communication with at least the network interface of the control node, and an audio converter configured to receive the audio output and generated a converted audio output, wherein the converted out is compatible with a microphone input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen D. Lontka, Lev M. Barsky, Paul Strelecki
  • Patent number: 8217783
    Abstract: A method of conserving energy and natural resources transported in subsurface pipelines and preventing environmental contamination therefrom by identifying the subsurface location of leaks of oil, gas, water or other natural resources transported in these pipelines includes adhering a continuous tape having a plurality of uniquely identified radio frequency identification (RFID) tags mounted thereon axially along the pipeline and use of a mobile robotic device to identify the specific location of a leak in the pipeline, thereby preventing loss of energy and water traveling through pipeline, contamination of these fluids and environmental contamination, and the use of additional fuel to replenish these lost natural resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Samir Mekid, Abdelhafid Bouhraoua
  • Patent number: 8203456
    Abstract: A fire detecting system includes a plurality of detectors, and a computing unit coupled to the detectors. The detectors are configured for generating a plurality of detecting values, respectively. For each of the detectors, the detecting value is equal to a first predetermined value when a fire state is detected thereby, and is equal to a second predetermined value when otherwise. The computing unit sets a weight value for each of the detectors and a threshold value, and is configured to perform a weight correcting method for correcting the weight value of each of the detectors based on accuracy of operation of the detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Ren-Chyuan Luo, Kuo-Lan Su, Jyh-Hwa Tzou
  • Patent number: 8199002
    Abstract: A power saving wireless fire alarm system has a master station and a plurality of battery-powered fire detecting terminals linked for wireless communication with each other. Upon detection of a fire occurrence at one of the fire detecting terminals, the fire detecting terminal transmit a fire detection message to a master station which in turn transmit a wake-up message to the other fire detecting terminals and thereafter a fire information message which starts a multiple synchronous communication between the master station and the fire detecting terminals. Each fire detecting terminal has a power controller which selects an intermittent reception mode of activating its own receiver only intermittently until receiving the wake-up message or information indicative of the fire occurrence, and select a constant operation mode thereafter to make the fire detecting terminals be ready for the multiple synchronous communication commenced by the fire information message from the master station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Suzuki, Takashi Saeki, Koji Sakamoto, Masanori Kurita
  • Patent number: 8159356
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for protecting process equipment from a fire and/or an explosion are provided. In particular, the apparatus and methods utilize Seebeck sensors or thermoelectric generators to detect the propagation of a flame front or deflagration wave within the process equipment. Upon detection of the deflagration wave, the system controller activates mitigation apparatus which may be in the form of a chemical suppressant or isolation valves in order to protect the process equipment from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Fike Corporation
    Inventor: Tom Farrell
  • Patent number: 8138928
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method including an event notification appliance including first and second light sources configured to indicate an event, including a fire and/or alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: SimplexGrinnell LP
    Inventors: Daniel G. Farley, Todd Shearer, John Durst
  • Patent number: 8138927
    Abstract: A video analytics system for characterization of a flare. A video of a flare may be taken for obtaining information so as to appropriately control the flare in an interest of reducing emissions not necessarily favorable to the environment. The system may incorporate a control scenario involving one or more parameters of a flare which are to be controlled in view of a flare characterization from an algorithmic analysis of the video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Annemarie Diepenbroek, Joel T. Langill, Isaac Cohen, Kwong Wing Au
  • Patent number: 8106784
    Abstract: A combination smoke and heat detector which allows, in spite of a simple structure, light emitted from an indication lamp to be visually confirmed from a wide range of directions. The combination smoke and heat detector (100) includes a body base (10), a printed circuit board (1), a thermosensitive element (2), a dark chamber (3), an indication lamp (4) mounted to the printed circuit board (1), a protective cover (30), and a bar-like light guide (5) for guiding light emitted from the indication lamp (4) to the outside of the protective cover (30). The light guide (5) passes through a light guide through-hole (35) formed in the protective cover (30) so as to be mounted therein, with one end surface thereof facing the indication lamp (4), and another end surface thereof protruding to the outside of the protective cover (30) by a height substantially equal to or larger than a protruding height of the dark chamber (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Nohmi Bosai Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Katou, Takashi Itou, Kenichi Katou
  • Patent number: 8094030
    Abstract: A fire detection system comprises a detection unit (2A) able to measure an electrical quantity between a first (BOA) and a second (B1A) terminal, and a first detector (11A) connected to the first and second terminals (BOA, B1A) and able to form a first value of the electrical quantity in a determined state of the first detector, for example in the event of the detecting of a fire in a first zone (Z). A second detector (12A) connected to the first and second terminals (BOA, B1A) is able to form a second value of the electrical quantity in said determined state, that is to say for example in the event of the detecting of a fire in a second zone, and a third value of the electrical quantity in another state different from the determined state, that is to say for example during normal operation. The first value and the third value are different from the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Laurent Escaich
  • Patent number: 8077046
    Abstract: A fire detector and method of using it generate a fire alarm through use of a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector once the smoke detector detects a threshold level of light obscuration for greater than a first pre-selected time period or a reduced threshold level of light obscuration for greater than a second pre-selected time period or the CO detector detects a rate of increase in CO concentration which exceeds a first preselected CO rate for a third pre-selected time period and the smoke detector detects the reduced threshold level of light obscuration or the rate of increase in CO concentration exceeds a second preselected CO rate for a fourth pre-selected time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Airware, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Wong
  • Patent number: 8077028
    Abstract: An emergency alert system with the capability of providing audible alerts upon the detection of a possible emergency condition or a malfunctioning system component is provided. An audible alert may include voice phrases that are selected and output based, at least in part, on information associated with the possible emergency condition or malfunctioning system component. The noise in an area may be received and the volume of the outputted voice phrase may be changed based, at least in part, on the noise in the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: John Evan Lane, Victor Eugene Sanhdage
  • Patent number: 8054199
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a utility meter of a utility company that measures consumption of a utility within a space occupied by a user, a wireless fault detector associated with the utility located within the space and a wireless transmitter of the utility meter that receives a fault message from the fault detector, confirms consumption of the utility within the space and transmits a fault message that identifies the space to the utility company.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Addy
  • Patent number: 8049632
    Abstract: An alarm system notification device that comprises a single strobe, an input selector, and a controller is disclosed. The single strobe may be configured to operate at a first wavelength band in a first configuration and at a second wavelength band in a second configuration, the first wavelength band being different from the second wavelength band. The configuration of the single strobe (either in the first or second configuration) is determined based on a command that is input by the input selector. In response to receiving the command, the controller may control the single strobe so that the single strobe is configured to operate at one of the first wavelength band in the first configuration or the second wavelength band in the second configuration as indicated in the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: SimplexGrinnell LP
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Savage, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8018334
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a portable electronic device electronically is provided. The method comprises receiving a first radio signal, the first radio signal emitted by the electronically monitored portable electronic device and determining a first received signal strength of the first radio signal. The method also comprises receiving a second radio signal, the second radio signal emitted by the electronically monitored portable electronic device, the second radio signal received after the first radio signal. The method also comprises determining a second received signal strength of the second radio signal, comparing the second received signal strength to the first received signal strength, and alerting when a result of the comparing exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Allison A. DiMartino, Jason R. Delker, John M. Everson, Jason K. Whitney
  • Patent number: 7994928
    Abstract: Improvements in a smoke alarm are presented. The multifunction smoke alarm unit includes separate sensors within a single enclosure for detecting smoke and occupancy, sounding a distinctive audible alarm when combustion is detected or the presence of a person within the area of the sensor. The multifunction smoke alarm can replace an existing single function smoke alarm. Multiple multifunction smoke alarms are networkable together for various purposes. Additional features include intruder alarm, visitor annunciator, integrated illumination source, external lighting control, HVAC system control, ceiling fan control, ventilation control, and/or fire safety system control. The proposed multifunction smoke alarm provides much-needed improvements for security, energy saving, safety, and user convenience without the need for completely separate systems for each purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Charles Richmond
  • Patent number: 7991187
    Abstract: An intelligent image smoke/flame/complex intelligent image smoke/flame sensor, and an intelligent image smoke/flame detection system formed of such an intelligent image smoke/flame/complex intelligent image smoke/flame sensor. The intelligent image smoke/flame sensor is formed of an image sensor, for example, CCD (Charge-coupled Device), a DSP Processor, an input/output circuit, an infrared lamp and filter assembly, a casing, a window glass, a front cover, and a rear cover. The intelligent image smoke/flame detection system accurately detects fire characteristics including smoke and flame, producing an early alarm to lower catastrophe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Billy Hou
  • Patent number: 7978087
    Abstract: A fire detector operating by the scattered radiation principle is described, having at least one radiation transmitter and at least one radiation receiver, whose beam paths form a scattering volume. The fire detector includes, in addition to at least one first radiation transmitter and one first radiation receiver, at least one second radiation transmitter and one second radiation receiver, whose beam paths form at least two spatially separated scattering volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Siber, Andreas Hensel, Ulrich Oppelt, Jack McNamara
  • Publication number: 20110161239
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for generating emergency plans for a facility are provided. In embodiments, an emergency plan is generated for a designated area of a facility. An alert is received that includes an alert type. The alert type is identified and a plurality of emergency plans associated with the alert type are provided. The plurality of emergency plans includes a primary emergency plan and an alternate emergency plan. A determination is made whether any factors that affect the primary emergency plan are present. If no factors that affect the primary emergency plan are present, the primary emergency plan is displayed to a user. If factors that affect the primary emergency plan are present, the alternate emergency plan is displayed to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CERNER INNOVATION, INC.
    Inventors: BRYAN MUEHLMEIER, JOSEPH JENNINGS, AARON SLOUP
  • Patent number: 7965178
    Abstract: The present invention provides an intelligent, integrated facility and fireground management system which is efficient, assures first responder, pedestrian and appliance safety, as well as precise performance in extreme emergency situations, regulatory compliance, easy and flexible integration with building systems and add-on components, as well as advanced internal component monitoring and event logging. The present invention additionally provides systems and method for real-time first responder situational awareness and real-time fireground situational awareness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce E. Schmuttor, David B. McCauley
  • Patent number: 7956764
    Abstract: An ambient condition detector outputs an alarm comprising a tonal pattern comprising at least two distinctly different pitch tones in one embodiment of the invention. Another embodiment comprises a detector whereby a user can select a pitch tone to be output within a tonal pattern alarm when the detector senses an ambient condition. Options include verbal output to indicate the type of ambient condition sensed and/or the location of the detector sensing the ambient condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Gary Jay Morris
  • Patent number: 7953228
    Abstract: A system and method that use audio feedback from a region being monitored can provide location information pertaining to fire or individuals in the region. Units of a public address system can each be equipped with a microphone. Audio from the microphones can be processed at a common location, such as an alarm control panel. The audio can provide fire profiles as well as information as to individuals in the region being monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Faltesek, Patrick S. Gonia