EP0403245A2 - Rauchalarmsystem - Google Patents

Rauchalarmsystem Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0403245A2
EP0403245A2 EP90306433A EP90306433A EP0403245A2 EP 0403245 A2 EP0403245 A2 EP 0403245A2 EP 90306433 A EP90306433 A EP 90306433A EP 90306433 A EP90306433 A EP 90306433A EP 0403245 A2 EP0403245 A2 EP 0403245A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
alarm
mainsborne
signals
communication means
smoke
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP90306433A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0403245A3 (de
EP0403245B1 (de
Inventor
Colin Charles Oliver
Robert Edward Allan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Central Research Laboratories Ltd
Original Assignee
Thorn EMI PLC
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thorn EMI PLC filed Critical Thorn EMI PLC
Publication of EP0403245A2 publication Critical patent/EP0403245A2/de
Publication of EP0403245A3 publication Critical patent/EP0403245A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0403245B1 publication Critical patent/EP0403245B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B17/00—Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
    • G08B17/10—Actuation by presence of smoke or gases, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B1/00—Systems for signalling characterised solely by the form of transmission of the signal
    • G08B1/08—Systems for signalling characterised solely by the form of transmission of the signal using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal

Definitions

  • This invention relates to smoke alarm systems.
  • a smoke alarm system includes; at least one detector unit arranged to produce an alarm signal in response to the presence of smoke; mainsborne communication means responsive to the alarm signal to produce electrical signals for transmission over a mainsborne system; and at least one remote alarm unit responsive to the electrical signals to provide an indication that an alarm signal has been produced.
  • each detector unit is remote from the associated mainsborne communication means.
  • each remote alarm unit may be incorporated in a further mainsborne communication means.
  • Each remote alarm unit may be effective to produce a further alarm signal.
  • Each mainsborne communication means may then incorporate a piezoelectric device, and electronic switching means for causing the piezoelectric device to act as either an alarm for producing the further alarm signal, or a microphone selectively responsive to the frequencies of the alarm.
  • the system suitably includes a first control means for inhibiting the production of the electrical signals until an alarm signal of predetermined amplitude and duration is detected by one of the mainsborne communication means.
  • the system also suitably includes a second control means for causing each further alarm signal to be produced for a first predetermined length of time, and inhibiting the production of subsequent further alarm signals for a second predetermined length of time.
  • the alarm system to be described is a smoke alarm system for a domestic premises.
  • the smoke alarm system incorporates a number of smoke detector units 1 distributed around a building, only two such units being shown in the figure.
  • Each unit 1 includes a smoke detector of conventional form (not shown), for example an ionisation chamber, and an alarm 3 which is arranged to produce an alarm signal, such as an audible alarm signal, when smoke is detected by the smoke detector.
  • a smoke detector of conventional form for example an ionisation chamber
  • an alarm 3 which is arranged to produce an alarm signal, such as an audible alarm signal, when smoke is detected by the smoke detector.
  • a unit 5 in the form of a mainsborne communicator, which in use of the system is connected into the mains wiring 7 of the building.
  • each unit 5 incorporates an alarm/microphone circuit indicated generally as 8, each circuit 8 incorporating an electro-acoustic transducer 9 which will be described in more detail hereafter.
  • a transistor switch 11 operating under the control of a microprocessor 13 is effective to control the mode of the transducer 9 such that it operates as either an alarm indicator or a tuned microphone. This is achieved by means of a series arrangement of two inverters 15, 17 effective to apply alternating voltages across electrodes M and G of the transducer 9 when it is required to operate as an alarm sounder, a feedback electrode F being effective to cause resonance in the electrical circuit 8.
  • An amplifier 19 is effective to amplify the electrical signals produced by the transducer 9 when it is operating as a microphone.
  • the output of the amplifier 19 is connected through a rectifying and RC smoothing circuit 21 to a control circuit in the form of a signal discrimination circuit 23.
  • the output of circuit 23 is connected via the microprocessor 13 to a modem 25 which is inductively connected to the mains wiring 7.
  • the transducer 9 comprises a metal resonating disc 27 resiliently mounted in a plastic case 29, the case 29 being formed so as to define an acoustic resonant cavity 31. Carried on the metal disc 27 is a piezo-ceramic layer 33.
  • the frequency to which the microphone is most sensitive should automatically match the resonant frequency of an alarm in a different unit 5, if all the units 5 are of similar construction.
  • the impedance between the electrodes M and G in the microphone mode is minimised.
  • the alarms 3 incorporated in the units 1 will of course be of the same construction as that of the transducer 9.
  • an alarm is deemed to have occurred if an alarm signal of sufficient amplitude is received by a transducer 9 operating in the microphone mode in at least one of the units 5 for about 5 to 10 seconds.
  • the signal discrimination circuit 23 and microprocessor 13 will reject alarm signals which do not conform to these criteria. If during the 5 to 10 second time period the alarm signal ceases the timing cycle for the unit 5 is reset to zero by the microprocessor 13.
  • An alarm message is then sent via the associated mains modem 25 and through the mains wiring 7 using an appropriate mainsborne communication protocol, the message also identifying the originating unit 5. The message is transmitted along the mains wiring 7 to all the other units 5 connected to the mains wiring.
  • each unit 5 may be made aware that smoke has been detected either by the noise of the alarm from another unit 5 or by receipt of a mainsborne message.
  • these units may be able to sense the alarms of the units 5 which did receive the message. It is therefore possible that these units 5 will continue to sense each other and sound their alarms indefinitely even though the initial stimulus is no longer present. To avoid this it may be arranged that the units 5 are not responsive to alarm noise for a further time period, for example, 20 seconds after the silencing of their alarms.
  • One of the main problems in sensing the sound produced by the alarms 3 or transducers 9 is the variability of sound pressure levels within a room due to interference effects. This may be reduced, if necessary by use of a technique known as diversity.
  • a technique known as diversity known as spaced diversity, two or more units 5 each incorporating a transducer 9 are used, the transducers being separated by at least a quarter of a wavelength of the sound generated, typically about 0.03 metres.
  • the signals produced by these transducers 9 are then processed in different ways to optimise the overall signal from them. This may be done, for example, by periodically switching between the transducers 9 or by selecting the transducer 9 and amplifier 19 which gives the output of greatest amplitude.
  • frequency diversity may be used.
  • the sound produced by the alarms 3 or transducers 9 is warbled i.e. there is more than one frequency in the sound burst causing the interference pattern to change.
  • the gain of the amplifier 19 is arranged to be set high enough to cope with the least expected signal level but low enough to ensure that the signal discrimination circuit 23 and microprocessor 13 do not react to the worst case ambient noise.
  • a worst case noise might comprise a series of bursts of high level sound at the alarm frequency, as could for example emanate from a hi-fi system.
  • the combined microphone alarm circuit 8 will be replaced by a dedicated microphone, with a separate alarm being provided.
  • the amplified output of the microphone will generally be filtered by for example a switched capacitor bandpass filter.
  • mainsborne communication system may be useful to control other devices, for example light sensors which operate light switches, temperature sensors etc.
  • a central application controller (not shown) may be useful, this being effective for example to cause certain lights of the building to switch on, or electrical equipment to switch off, in the event that one of the smoke detectors triggers the system.
  • the noise from the alarms 3 or the consequent mainsborne signals may be used to initiate de-energisation of an electromagnet which, when energised, is effective to hold open doors, thereby to limit the spread of smoke through the premises.
  • the signals may also be used to operate a vibrator under a pillow so as to alert people with impaired hearing.
  • the smoke detector units 1 may be separate from the units 5.
  • the smoke detector units 1 may then be battery powered, and thus mountable at any suitable position without the need for wires draped across, for example a ceiling. In some circumstances however the smoke detector units may be mounted in the units 5. This will obviate the need for a separate alarm in the unit 1.
  • audible alarm signals have been used, the system is equally well adaptable to use with inaudible alarms or even non-acoustic signals such as infra-red or the like.
EP90306433A 1989-06-13 1990-06-13 Rauchalarmsystem Expired - Lifetime EP0403245B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898913552A GB8913552D0 (en) 1989-06-13 1989-06-13 Smoke alarm systems
GB8913552 1989-06-13

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0403245A2 true EP0403245A2 (de) 1990-12-19
EP0403245A3 EP0403245A3 (de) 1991-09-25
EP0403245B1 EP0403245B1 (de) 1996-01-03

Family

ID=10658349

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90306433A Expired - Lifetime EP0403245B1 (de) 1989-06-13 1990-06-13 Rauchalarmsystem

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0403245B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE132643T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69024543T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2081348T3 (de)
GB (1) GB8913552D0 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996002902A1 (en) * 1994-07-14 1996-02-01 John Dunstan Marvelly Emergency control apparatus
GB2367175A (en) * 2000-04-29 2002-03-27 Brian Francis Mclaughlin Solar-powered smoke detector and warning system
CN103764599A (zh) * 2011-09-09 2014-04-30 阿克佐诺贝尔化学国际公司 羟基化有机化合物的氯化方法

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10203698A1 (de) * 2002-01-31 2003-08-07 Abb Patent Gmbh Alarmmeldesystem

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3696382A (en) * 1970-11-06 1972-10-03 Functional Devices Inc Alarm system
US4365238A (en) * 1979-06-08 1982-12-21 Adam Kollin Visual signalling apparatus
EP0102229A1 (de) * 1982-08-27 1984-03-07 Monicell Limited Alarmsystem
US4520503A (en) * 1983-10-14 1985-05-28 University Of New Mexico Tone discrimination circuit

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3696382A (en) * 1970-11-06 1972-10-03 Functional Devices Inc Alarm system
US4365238A (en) * 1979-06-08 1982-12-21 Adam Kollin Visual signalling apparatus
EP0102229A1 (de) * 1982-08-27 1984-03-07 Monicell Limited Alarmsystem
US4520503A (en) * 1983-10-14 1985-05-28 University Of New Mexico Tone discrimination circuit

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996002902A1 (en) * 1994-07-14 1996-02-01 John Dunstan Marvelly Emergency control apparatus
GB2367175A (en) * 2000-04-29 2002-03-27 Brian Francis Mclaughlin Solar-powered smoke detector and warning system
GB2367175B (en) * 2000-04-29 2005-01-12 Brian Francis Mclaughlin Warning device
CN103764599A (zh) * 2011-09-09 2014-04-30 阿克佐诺贝尔化学国际公司 羟基化有机化合物的氯化方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69024543D1 (de) 1996-02-15
DE69024543T2 (de) 1996-08-22
EP0403245A3 (de) 1991-09-25
ES2081348T3 (es) 1996-03-01
EP0403245B1 (de) 1996-01-03
ATE132643T1 (de) 1996-01-15
GB8913552D0 (en) 1989-08-02

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