CA2023263A1 - Automatic forest fire sensing system - Google Patents
Automatic forest fire sensing systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2023263A1 CA2023263A1 CA002023263A CA2023263A CA2023263A1 CA 2023263 A1 CA2023263 A1 CA 2023263A1 CA 002023263 A CA002023263 A CA 002023263A CA 2023263 A CA2023263 A CA 2023263A CA 2023263 A1 CA2023263 A1 CA 2023263A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sensing system
- forest fire
- fire sensing
- detector
- automatic
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B17/00—Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
- G08B17/005—Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion for forest fires, e.g. detecting fires spread over a large or outdoors area
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B17/00—Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
- G08B17/12—Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions
Landscapes
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Photometry And Measurement Of Optical Pulse Characteristics (AREA)
- Fire-Detection Mechanisms (AREA)
- Alarm Systems (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
An automatic forest fire sensing system comprising apparatus for scanning a forest along an azimuth, apparatus for directing light from the apparatus for scanning to a focal plane and a detector arranged to receive the light from the forest.
An automatic forest fire sensing system comprising apparatus for scanning a forest along an azimuth, apparatus for directing light from the apparatus for scanning to a focal plane and a detector arranged to receive the light from the forest.
Description
i f" .~t~ 3 AN AUTOMATIC FOREST FIRE SENSING SYSTEM
FIEI,D OF l'HE INVENTION
The present invention relates to forest and range f'ire detection and location sensors generally.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Forest fires continue to pose a significant danger to both life and property. Traditionally, manned towers have been provided for visual detection of forest and range fires. While such detection is relatively easy during the nighttime hours, it is often difficult during daylight at high ambient light levels.
Accordingly, in daylight normally only the smoke from a f'ire, rather than the fire itself is sensed.
~ ~ 7` ~
SUMMA~Y OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an automatic forest fire detection system which is operative to detect f'orest fires during the day as well as at night. For the purposes of the present application, a reference to forest fires incorporates other types of fires in open areas, such as grass fires and range fires. Accordingly, references to forests include references to other outdoor arsas, such as fields and grasslands.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an automatic forest fire sensing system comprising apparatus for scanning a forest along an azimuth, apparatus for directing light from the apparatus for scanning to a focal plane and a detector arranged to receive the light from the forest.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detector opera-tes in the infra-red spectrum, preferably centered approximately at 4.4 microns.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the system also :includes appa~atus for providing an output; indication of the location of a detected fire. Preferably, the output indication indicates at least the azimuthal location of a detected fire.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system also includes remote fire detection notification apparatus, which may communicate by any suitable means, such as telephone or radio, the existence of a detected fire and its location from a remote sensing station to a receiving station.
~ 3~:~
Additionally in accordance ~ith a preferred embodiment of the present invention the ~ystem may include solar power generating means for providing power to the remote sensing station.
,c~ }~
BRIEF' DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a generalized side view illustration of the field of view of detection provided by a forest fire sensing system constructed and operative in accordance with a pref'erred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a simplified illustration of scanning apparatus useful in the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustration of the sensing system of the present invention.
35~
DETAILRD DESCRIPTION OF A PR~FERRED ~MBODIMENT
Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which illustrates the general orientation of a ~orest fire sensing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment o~ the present invention. The forest fire sensing system is preferably mounted at a location which is raised wikh respect to the forest to be protected. Typically, as indicated schematically in Fig. 1, the sensing system, indicated generally by a reference numeral l~
is mounted on a tower 12, typically having a height of about 5~
meters. It is understood that depending on the topography of the terrain, a higher or lower tower may be required or the need for a tower may be eliminated, providing that the sensing system is provided with a clear field of view.
~ he sensing system 1~ preferably is arranged to have a field of view alpha in elevation of approximately ten degrees.
The field of view alpha is pref'erably inclined downwardly from the horizontal by an angle beta, which may typically be equal to beta. Typically the instantaneous azimuthal field of vlew o~ the sensing system is ten degrees and full 36~ d0gree scanning in azimuth is provided by the system.
Typically the system has a non detection area of about la~ meters about the tower 12. The maximum distance at which the system detects is typically in excess of 5 Km.
Reference is now made to ~ig. 2, which illustrates in simplified form scanning apparatus particularly useful in the present invention. The scanning apparatus typically comprises a scanning mirror 2~, which rotates ~bout an axis of rotation 22 as 6~ s~
indicated by an arrow 24. Mirror 2~ typically rotates in continuous 36~ degree azimuthal rotation at a speed of 6~ rpm and receives light via a 36~ degree azimuthal window 26, typically formed of Germanium, from the scanned forest.
Mirror 23 is operative to direct light from the scanned forest via an objective lens 28, such as a spherical lens which may be associated with an elongate detector. Alternatively an aspheric lens may be employed together with a point detector.
Light f`rom the objective lens 28 passes through an optical filter 3~, such as a narrow spectral band filter which provides an output centered on the 4.4 micron range and extending +/-microns, to an infra-red detector 32, typically a Hamamatsu P
3782-~4 pyroelectric detector, which senses the presence oP wood fires.
Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a simplified overall block diagram of a scanning system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The scanning system comprises scannin~ optics :Lncluding mirror 2~, ob~ective lens 28 and optical filter 3~, illustrated in Fig. 2, which supply incoming light from the ~orest to a detector 32, also illustrated in Fig. 2, The angular orientation of the mirror 2~ is monitored by circuitry 52, which may receive an angular position input from a rotation encoder or any other suitable angular position sensing apparatus associated with mirror 2~.
The output of detector 32 is supplied to a pre amplifier 54, such as a Texas Instru~ents TL ~81, which outputs 2~ r~ ' J,il '~
to a pre-processor 56, such as a highpass filter and an automat.Lc gain control circuit, which removes the DC component oP the signal and prepares the signal for digitization by establishing a suitable dyna~ic range therefor. The output oP the pre-processor 56 is supplied to an A/D converter 58, such as a 12 bit audio A/D
converter.
According to a preferred embodiment oP the invention, the output of the A/D converter 58 is supplied to a memory 6~.
The stored, digitized output of detector 32 is transmitted to a control microprocessor and timing circuit 62 which is operative to automatically provide fire detection wsrnings via a transmitter 64, which is preferably an automatically actuated radio or telephone transmitter, such as systems available from Motorola.
The microprocessor and timing circuitry 62~ may also provide control signals to the pre-processor 56 and to the A/D
converter 58 in order to achieve maximu~ si~nal to noise under ambient conditions. The microprocessor also recelves inputs from circuitry 52, indicating the location of' the mirror, so as to provide a warning mes~age via transmltter 64 including an azimuthal location of the detected fire. It is appreciated that microprocessor and timing circuitry 62 contains error check and false alarm prevention circuitry for distinguishing~ insofar as possible, actual fires, Prom detected artifacts.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, electrical power Por operation oP the circuitry of Fig. 3 described so far may be provided by a solar cell power unit 66 of conventional construction.
Additionally ln accordance with a preferred 0mbodiment of the present invention, a receiving station receiver 7~ may be provided for receiving detection warnings from one or more remote sensing stations and may provide an outpu-t to alarm indicating means 72 for providing a suitable alarm indication, audio, visual or otherwise -to fire crews and other appropriate personnel.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:
FIEI,D OF l'HE INVENTION
The present invention relates to forest and range f'ire detection and location sensors generally.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Forest fires continue to pose a significant danger to both life and property. Traditionally, manned towers have been provided for visual detection of forest and range fires. While such detection is relatively easy during the nighttime hours, it is often difficult during daylight at high ambient light levels.
Accordingly, in daylight normally only the smoke from a f'ire, rather than the fire itself is sensed.
~ ~ 7` ~
SUMMA~Y OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an automatic forest fire detection system which is operative to detect f'orest fires during the day as well as at night. For the purposes of the present application, a reference to forest fires incorporates other types of fires in open areas, such as grass fires and range fires. Accordingly, references to forests include references to other outdoor arsas, such as fields and grasslands.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an automatic forest fire sensing system comprising apparatus for scanning a forest along an azimuth, apparatus for directing light from the apparatus for scanning to a focal plane and a detector arranged to receive the light from the forest.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detector opera-tes in the infra-red spectrum, preferably centered approximately at 4.4 microns.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the system also :includes appa~atus for providing an output; indication of the location of a detected fire. Preferably, the output indication indicates at least the azimuthal location of a detected fire.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system also includes remote fire detection notification apparatus, which may communicate by any suitable means, such as telephone or radio, the existence of a detected fire and its location from a remote sensing station to a receiving station.
~ 3~:~
Additionally in accordance ~ith a preferred embodiment of the present invention the ~ystem may include solar power generating means for providing power to the remote sensing station.
,c~ }~
BRIEF' DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a generalized side view illustration of the field of view of detection provided by a forest fire sensing system constructed and operative in accordance with a pref'erred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a simplified illustration of scanning apparatus useful in the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustration of the sensing system of the present invention.
35~
DETAILRD DESCRIPTION OF A PR~FERRED ~MBODIMENT
Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which illustrates the general orientation of a ~orest fire sensing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment o~ the present invention. The forest fire sensing system is preferably mounted at a location which is raised wikh respect to the forest to be protected. Typically, as indicated schematically in Fig. 1, the sensing system, indicated generally by a reference numeral l~
is mounted on a tower 12, typically having a height of about 5~
meters. It is understood that depending on the topography of the terrain, a higher or lower tower may be required or the need for a tower may be eliminated, providing that the sensing system is provided with a clear field of view.
~ he sensing system 1~ preferably is arranged to have a field of view alpha in elevation of approximately ten degrees.
The field of view alpha is pref'erably inclined downwardly from the horizontal by an angle beta, which may typically be equal to beta. Typically the instantaneous azimuthal field of vlew o~ the sensing system is ten degrees and full 36~ d0gree scanning in azimuth is provided by the system.
Typically the system has a non detection area of about la~ meters about the tower 12. The maximum distance at which the system detects is typically in excess of 5 Km.
Reference is now made to ~ig. 2, which illustrates in simplified form scanning apparatus particularly useful in the present invention. The scanning apparatus typically comprises a scanning mirror 2~, which rotates ~bout an axis of rotation 22 as 6~ s~
indicated by an arrow 24. Mirror 2~ typically rotates in continuous 36~ degree azimuthal rotation at a speed of 6~ rpm and receives light via a 36~ degree azimuthal window 26, typically formed of Germanium, from the scanned forest.
Mirror 23 is operative to direct light from the scanned forest via an objective lens 28, such as a spherical lens which may be associated with an elongate detector. Alternatively an aspheric lens may be employed together with a point detector.
Light f`rom the objective lens 28 passes through an optical filter 3~, such as a narrow spectral band filter which provides an output centered on the 4.4 micron range and extending +/-microns, to an infra-red detector 32, typically a Hamamatsu P
3782-~4 pyroelectric detector, which senses the presence oP wood fires.
Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a simplified overall block diagram of a scanning system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The scanning system comprises scannin~ optics :Lncluding mirror 2~, ob~ective lens 28 and optical filter 3~, illustrated in Fig. 2, which supply incoming light from the ~orest to a detector 32, also illustrated in Fig. 2, The angular orientation of the mirror 2~ is monitored by circuitry 52, which may receive an angular position input from a rotation encoder or any other suitable angular position sensing apparatus associated with mirror 2~.
The output of detector 32 is supplied to a pre amplifier 54, such as a Texas Instru~ents TL ~81, which outputs 2~ r~ ' J,il '~
to a pre-processor 56, such as a highpass filter and an automat.Lc gain control circuit, which removes the DC component oP the signal and prepares the signal for digitization by establishing a suitable dyna~ic range therefor. The output oP the pre-processor 56 is supplied to an A/D converter 58, such as a 12 bit audio A/D
converter.
According to a preferred embodiment oP the invention, the output of the A/D converter 58 is supplied to a memory 6~.
The stored, digitized output of detector 32 is transmitted to a control microprocessor and timing circuit 62 which is operative to automatically provide fire detection wsrnings via a transmitter 64, which is preferably an automatically actuated radio or telephone transmitter, such as systems available from Motorola.
The microprocessor and timing circuitry 62~ may also provide control signals to the pre-processor 56 and to the A/D
converter 58 in order to achieve maximu~ si~nal to noise under ambient conditions. The microprocessor also recelves inputs from circuitry 52, indicating the location of' the mirror, so as to provide a warning mes~age via transmltter 64 including an azimuthal location of the detected fire. It is appreciated that microprocessor and timing circuitry 62 contains error check and false alarm prevention circuitry for distinguishing~ insofar as possible, actual fires, Prom detected artifacts.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, electrical power Por operation oP the circuitry of Fig. 3 described so far may be provided by a solar cell power unit 66 of conventional construction.
Additionally ln accordance with a preferred 0mbodiment of the present invention, a receiving station receiver 7~ may be provided for receiving detection warnings from one or more remote sensing stations and may provide an outpu-t to alarm indicating means 72 for providing a suitable alarm indication, audio, visual or otherwise -to fire crews and other appropriate personnel.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:
Claims (12)
1. An automatic forest fire sensing system comprising:
means for scanning a forest along an azimuth;
means for directing light from the means for scanning to a focal plane; and a detector arranged to receive the light from the forest for detecting fires therein.
means for scanning a forest along an azimuth;
means for directing light from the means for scanning to a focal plane; and a detector arranged to receive the light from the forest for detecting fires therein.
2. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 1 and wherein said detector operates in the infra-red spectrum.
3. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 2 and wherein said detector senses in a band centered approximately at 4.4 microns.
4. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 1 and also including means for providing an output indication of the location of a detected fire.
5. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 2 and also including means for providing an output indication of the location of a detected fire.
6. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 3 and also including means for providing an output indication of the location of a detected fire.
7. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 4 and wherein said output indication indicates at least the azimuthal location of a detected fire.
8. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 1 and also comprising remote fire detection notification apparatus, which may communicate by any suitable means, such as telephone or radio, the existence of a detected fire and its location from a remote sensing station to a receiving station.
9. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 1 and also comprising solar power generating means for providing electrical power for the system.
10. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 1 and wherein said detector operates in the non-visible range.
11. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 1 and wherein said means for directing comprises a spherical lens and said detector comprises an elongate detector.
12. An automatic forest fire sensing system according to claim 1 and wherein said means for directing comprises an aspherical lens and said detector comprises a point detector.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IL91441A IL91441A0 (en) | 1989-08-25 | 1989-08-25 | Forest fire sensing system |
| IL91441 | 1989-08-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2023263A1 true CA2023263A1 (en) | 1991-02-26 |
Family
ID=11060325
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002023263A Abandoned CA2023263A1 (en) | 1989-08-25 | 1990-08-14 | Automatic forest fire sensing system |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2023263A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4026676A1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL91441A0 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4336406C2 (en) * | 1993-10-21 | 1997-11-27 | Infratron Optoelektronik Gmbh | Heat bearing device for fire fighting under difficult conditions |
| DE9417289U1 (en) * | 1994-10-27 | 1995-01-26 | Meinke, Peter, Prof. Dr.-Ing., 82319 Starnberg | Detector device, detector system and immunosensor for detecting fires |
| DE19603828A1 (en) * | 1996-02-02 | 1997-08-07 | Sel Alcatel Ag | Device for generating an alarm and for monitoring an area |
| DE19737761A1 (en) * | 1997-08-29 | 1999-03-04 | Abb Patent Gmbh | Motion and direction selective motion detector |
| DE19740922A1 (en) * | 1997-09-17 | 1999-03-18 | Siemens Nixdorf Inf Syst | Fire warning system for early fire detection |
| DE10022218A1 (en) * | 2000-05-04 | 2001-11-08 | Oezkan Mustafa | Imaging sensor for road junction control compares detected image with stored image to improve traffic flow |
| PT102617B (en) | 2001-05-30 | 2004-01-30 | Inst Superior Tecnico | COMPUTER-CONTROLLED LIDAR SYSTEM FOR SMOKING LOCATION, APPLICABLE, IN PARTICULAR, TO EARLY DETECTION OF FIREFIGHTERS |
| FR3034238A1 (en) | 2015-03-24 | 2016-09-30 | Nimesis Tech | ENERGETICALLY AUTONOMOUS DEVICE FOR DETECTING AND LOCATING BURNER FIRE |
-
1989
- 1989-08-25 IL IL91441A patent/IL91441A0/en unknown
-
1990
- 1990-08-14 CA CA002023263A patent/CA2023263A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-08-23 DE DE4026676A patent/DE4026676A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| IL91441A0 (en) | 1990-04-29 |
| DE4026676A1 (en) | 1991-02-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |