EP2977972B1 - Optical smoke detector and method for optical smoke detection - Google Patents

Optical smoke detector and method for optical smoke detection Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2977972B1
EP2977972B1 EP15176633.4A EP15176633A EP2977972B1 EP 2977972 B1 EP2977972 B1 EP 2977972B1 EP 15176633 A EP15176633 A EP 15176633A EP 2977972 B1 EP2977972 B1 EP 2977972B1
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interrogations
optical
sensor
group
seconds
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2977972A1 (en
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Volkmar Hellmers
Frank Grass
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EQ-3 Entwicklung GmbH
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EQ-3 Entwicklung GmbH
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    • 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
    • G08B17/103—Actuation by presence of smoke or gases, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means using a light emitting and receiving device
    • G08B17/107—Actuation by presence of smoke or gases, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means using a light emitting and receiving device for detecting light-scattering due to smoke
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B29/00—Checking or monitoring of signalling or alarm systems; Prevention or correction of operating errors, e.g. preventing unauthorised operation
    • G08B29/18—Prevention or correction of operating errors
    • G08B29/185—Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an optical smoke alarm with a housing and a measuring chamber in the housing, with an optical sensor for detecting scattered light particles in the measuring chamber and an evaluation unit for interrogating the optical sensor in several time intervals one after the other.
  • the invention further relates to a method for optical smoke detection with such an optical smoke alarm.
  • Optical smoke alarms are sufficient z. B. from the DE 43 33 911 A1 known. These usually work according to the scattered light principle with a light-absorbing measuring chamber in which a light transmitter and a light receiver are located, and with an evaluation device connected downstream of the light receiver. The evaluation device activates an alarm device after a setpoint is exceeded. When scattered light particles enter the measuring chamber, the degree of reflection is increased in the measuring chamber with as little reflection as possible, and thus an increased light intensity is measured by the light receiver due to scattered light.
  • DE 27 51 073 C2 describes a smoke alarm with a light source that generates light pulses.
  • two pulses following one another with a fixed pulse sequence are not provided, but four or more light pulses are emitted and it is detected whether the output signals of a photosensitive device exceed a predetermined threshold value.
  • the pulse sequence is increased so that the number of smoke detectors required for the alarm is detected Pulses occur in a shorter period of time.
  • the output signal of the photosensitive device is fed to an integrating circuit.
  • U.S. 5,008,559 A shows an optical smoke alarm to which a number of light pulses are applied. After a threshold value is exceeded, light pulses with a higher frequency are used.
  • EP 0 800 153 A2 discloses an optical smoke alarm in which the optical sensor is acted upon by a coded pulse sequence and is evaluated overall over the duration of the coded pulse sequence after a bandpass filtering.
  • the document US5864293 discloses a smoke alarm device comprising means for forming the probing incident light pen using current pulses spaced apart in time.
  • the object of the present invention is therefore to create an improved optical smoke alarm which, in the simplest possible way, prevents or at least considerably reduces the risk of false alarms from microorganisms or from surge-like increases in particle concentration.
  • the object is achieved by the optical smoke detector with the features of claim 1 and for the method for optical smoke detection with the features of claim 6.
  • Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.
  • the evaluation unit is set up to evaluate the sensor signal of the optical sensor several times in succession and to issue a smoke warning as a function of the sensor signals for a group of several queries carried out one after the other.
  • the risk of false alarms in the presence of interference z. B. can be significantly reduced by microorganisms, especially insects, in the measuring chamber or by surge-like particle concentration increases such as water vapor. It has surprisingly been found that the scattered light caused by insects in the measuring chamber is not constant over a measuring period. Rather, it has been recognized that insects that trigger an alarm state in the case of faster or slower queries one after the other in a constant time interval, but not when the queries are made with different time intervals one after the other. This also applies to surge-like particle concentration increases.
  • the time intervals of the interrogations of a group become larger from the first interrogation to the last interrogation of the group.
  • the sensitivity to microorganisms, such as B. Insects can thus be reduced by initially performing at least two relatively short consecutive measurements and then increasing the time intervals up to the subsequent measurements.
  • a group of queries contains at least two queries in the time interval of less than one (1) second, a further query in the subsequent time interval of more than 5 seconds and a further query in the subsequent time interval of more than 10 seconds. It is particularly advantageous if the first two queries are carried out in a time interval in a range from 0.3 to 0.8 seconds and preferably 0.5 seconds. It is also particularly advantageous if the subsequent query takes place in a time interval in the range from 6 to 10 seconds and preferably after 5 seconds. Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if the fourth query is carried out after a time interval in the range from 12 to 20 seconds and preferably after 16 seconds.
  • the evaluation unit is preferably used to carry out at least four queries set up per group.
  • a smoke warning is only issued if a predetermined scattered light particle threshold value is exceeded by the sensor signal in all, preferably four, successive interrogations.
  • the time intervals are preferably fixedly predetermined and therefore fixedly preset independently of the signal from the optical sensor queried. This ensures that the sensitivity of the optical smoke alarm to disruptive influences, such as insects in particular, is reduced regardless of the sensor signal during previous queries.
  • the measuring chamber is preferably designed to be light-absorbing and is therefore as reflective as possible.
  • At least one light emitter and one light sensor are provided as the optical sensor, which are aligned with the measuring chamber to detect the proportion of scattered light and are coupled to the evaluation unit.
  • a light-emitting diode in a suitable wavelength range for example, can be used as the light emitter.
  • a phototransistor, a photodiode or a photoresistor can be used as the light sensor.
  • FIG. 1 shows a sketch of an optical smoke alarm 1 as a block diagram.
  • the optical smoke alarm 1 has a housing 2, preferably made of plastic, with at least one air inlet opening 3 which is connected to a measuring chamber 4 in the housing 2 in a communicating manner.
  • wall surfaces 5 are preferably present, through which z. B. a labyrinth-like interior of the measuring chamber 4 can be built.
  • An optical sensor 6 with at least one light emitter 7 and with a light sensor 8 is provided on or in the measuring chamber 4.
  • the at least one light emitter 7 can, for example, be a light-emitting diode for emitting light in the visible or invisible wave light range, preferably infrared light.
  • the light sensor 8 is a light-sensitive component, such as a photoresistor, a phototransistor or a photodiode, which is sensitive in the corresponding wavelength range of the light emitter 7.
  • the light emitter 7 is preferably not aligned directly with the light sensor 8.
  • the sensor signal of the light sensor 8 when the light emitter 7 is active is therefore a measure that depends on the proportion of scattered light.
  • the optical smoke alarm 1 also has an evaluation unit 9 which is coupled to the optical sensor 6.
  • the sensor signal of the light sensor 8 is detected and evaluated by the evaluation unit 9 one after the other in several queries.
  • the queries are carried out one after the other at several time intervals.
  • the time intervals of a group of queries that are evaluated to issue a smoke warning are different from one another.
  • the evaluation unit 9 is thus set up to evaluate the sensor signal of the light sensor 8 several times in succession and to output a smoke warning, for example via an alarm transmitter 10, if the sensor signal of the light sensor 8 exceeds (or falls below) a threshold value for all queries of a group.
  • a threshold value for all queries of a group.
  • the amplitude of the sensor signal of the light sensor 8 increases when the proportion of scattered light is increased due to scattered light particles, so that in this case a threshold value is exceeded.
  • another embodiment of an optical sensor 6 with inverted sensor values in this regard is also conceivable, in which the sensor signal is reduced with an increased proportion of scattered light particles in the measuring chamber 4. Then a multiple undershooting of a specified threshold value would lead to a smoke alarm.
  • Figure 2 shows a time diagram of the queries A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 carried out one after the other in several time intervals. It becomes clear that after a first query A 1 and a time interval ⁇ t1, a second query A 2 is carried out. After a further time interval ⁇ t 2 , the third query A 3 is carried out. The second time interval ⁇ t 2 is considerably longer than the first time interval ⁇ t 1 . A fourth query A 4 is then carried out after a third time interval ⁇ t 3. This third time interval ⁇ t 3 is in turn significantly longer than the first time interval ⁇ t 1 and the same length or longer than the second time interval ⁇ t 2 .
  • the second time interval ⁇ t 2 can, for example, have approximately 5 to 20 times the length, preferably 5 to 10 times the length of the first time interval ⁇ t 1 and the third time interval ⁇ t 3 approximately the same to twice the length of the second time interval ⁇ t 2 .
  • the first time interval ⁇ t 1 is in the range of a maximum of one (1) second and preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 seconds. In the exemplary embodiment, it is 0.5 seconds.
  • the second time interval is preferably longer than five (5) seconds and is preferably in a range of 6 to 10 seconds.
  • the second time interval ⁇ t 2 is eight seconds.
  • the third time interval ⁇ t 3 is preferably the same as or longer than the second time interval ⁇ t 2 and is preferably in the range from 5 to 20 seconds. In the illustrated embodiment, the third time interval ⁇ t 3 is sixteen (16) seconds.
  • the threshold value can also be increased. This actually leads to a lower sensitivity of the optical smoke detector and to a significantly delayed response only when there is a large amount of smoke. By changing the time intervals so that they are selected differently from one another, this effect can be counteracted.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fire-Detection Mechanisms (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen optischen Rauchmelder mit einem Gehäuse und einer Messkammer in dem Gehäuse, mit einem optischen Sensor zur Detektion von Streulichtpartikeln in der Messkammer und einer Auswerteeinheit zur Abfrage des optischen Sensors in mehreren Zeitintervallen zeitlich nacheinander.The invention relates to an optical smoke alarm with a housing and a measuring chamber in the housing, with an optical sensor for detecting scattered light particles in the measuring chamber and an evaluation unit for interrogating the optical sensor in several time intervals one after the other.

Die Erfindung betrifft weiterhin ein Verfahren zur optischen Rauchdetektion mit einem solchen optischen Rauchmelder.The invention further relates to a method for optical smoke detection with such an optical smoke alarm.

Optische Rauchmelder sind hinreichend z. B. aus der DE 43 33 911 A1 bekannt. Diese arbeiten in der Regel nach dem Streulichtprinzip mit einer lichtabsorbierenden Messkammer, in der sich ein Lichtsender und ein Lichtempfänger befinden, und mit einer dem Lichtempfänger nachgeschalteten Auswerteeinrichtung. Die Auswerteeinrichtung aktiviert nach Überschreiten eines Sollwertes eine Alarmeinrichtung. Bei Eintritt von Streulichtpartikeln in die Messkammer wird der Reflektionsgrad in der an sich möglichst reflektionsarmen Messkammer erhöht und damit durch Streulicht eine erhöhte Lichtintensität von dem Lichtempfänger gemessen.Optical smoke alarms are sufficient z. B. from the DE 43 33 911 A1 known. These usually work according to the scattered light principle with a light-absorbing measuring chamber in which a light transmitter and a light receiver are located, and with an evaluation device connected downstream of the light receiver. The evaluation device activates an alarm device after a setpoint is exceeded. When scattered light particles enter the measuring chamber, the degree of reflection is increased in the measuring chamber with as little reflection as possible, and thus an increased light intensity is measured by the light receiver due to scattered light.

DE 27 51 073 C2 beschreibt einen Rauchmelder mit einer Lichtimpulse erzeugenden Lichtquelle. Zur Erhöhung der Störsicherheit werden nicht zwei mit einer festen Impulsfolge aufeinander folgende Impulse vorgesehen, sondern es werden vier oder mehr Lichtimpulse abgegeben und detektiert, ob die Ausgangssignale einer fotoempfindlichen Einrichtung einen vorgegebenen Schwellwert überschreiten. Zur Reduzierung der Ansprechzeit wird bei der Ermittlung von Rauch durch einen Impuls die Impulsfolge vergrößert, sodass die für die Alarmgabe erforderliche Anzahl von Rauch feststellenden Impulsen in einer kürzeren Zeitdauer auftreten. Das Ausgangssignal der fotoempfindlichen Einrichtung wird einer Integrierschaltung zugeführt. DE 27 51 073 C2 describes a smoke alarm with a light source that generates light pulses. To increase the immunity to interference, two pulses following one another with a fixed pulse sequence are not provided, but four or more light pulses are emitted and it is detected whether the output signals of a photosensitive device exceed a predetermined threshold value. To reduce the response time, when smoke is detected by a pulse, the pulse sequence is increased so that the number of smoke detectors required for the alarm is detected Pulses occur in a shorter period of time. The output signal of the photosensitive device is fed to an integrating circuit.

US 5,008,559 A zeigt einen optischen Rauchmelder, der mit einer Anzahl von Lichtpulsen beaufschlagt wird. Nach einer Überschreitung eines Schwellwertes werden Lichtpulse einer höheren Frequenz genutzt. U.S. 5,008,559 A shows an optical smoke alarm to which a number of light pulses are applied. After a threshold value is exceeded, light pulses with a higher frequency are used.

EP 0 800 153 A2 offenbart einen optischen Rauchmelder, bei dem der optische Sensor mit einer kodierten Pulsfolge beaufschlagt und insgesamt über die Zeitdauer der kodierten Pulsfolge nach einer Bandpassfilterung ausgewertet wird. EP 0 800 153 A2 discloses an optical smoke alarm in which the optical sensor is acted upon by a coded pulse sequence and is evaluated overall over the duration of the coded pulse sequence after a bandpass filtering.

Das Dokument US5864293 offenbart eine Rauchmeldervorrichtung umfassend Mittel zum Bilden des prüfenden einfallenden Lichtstifts unter Verwendung von Stromimpulsen, die zeitlich voneinander beabstandet sind.The document US5864293 discloses a smoke alarm device comprising means for forming the probing incident light pen using current pulses spaced apart in time.

Bei den bekannten optischen Rauchmeldern besteht das Problem, dass nicht nur von Rauch herrührende Streulichtpartikel, sondern auch eindringende Insekten den Streulichtanteil erhöhen und zu einem Fehlalarm führen können. Daher werden die Messkammern relativ aufwendig mechanisch durch Schutzgitter geschützt. Dies ist für Kleinstlebewesen aber nicht immer wirksam und aufwendig.With the known optical smoke alarms, there is the problem that not only scattered light particles originating from smoke, but also penetrating insects increase the scattered light component and can lead to a false alarm. The measuring chambers are therefore protected mechanically by protective grids in a relatively complex manner. However, this is not always effective and costly for microorganisms.

Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es daher, einen verbesserten optischen Rauchmelder zu schaffen, der auf möglichst einfache Weise die Gefahr von Fehlalarm durch Kleinstlebewesen oder bei schwallartigen Partikelkonzentrationsanstiegen verhindert oder zumindest erheblich reduziert.The object of the present invention is therefore to create an improved optical smoke alarm which, in the simplest possible way, prevents or at least considerably reduces the risk of false alarms from microorganisms or from surge-like increases in particle concentration.

Die Aufgabe wird durch den optischen Rauchmelder mit dem Merkmal des Anspruchs 1 sowie für das Verfahren zur optischen Rauchdetektion mit Merkmalen des Anspruchs 6 gelöst. Vorteilhafte Ausführungsformen sind in den Unteransprüchen beschrieben. Die Auswerteeinheit ist zur Auswertung des Sensorsignals des optischen Sensors mehrfach hintereinander und zur Abgabe einer Rauchwarnung in Abhängigkeit von den Sensorsignalen für eine Gruppe von mehreren zeitlich nacheinander durchgeführten Abfragen eingerichtet.The object is achieved by the optical smoke detector with the features of claim 1 and for the method for optical smoke detection with the features of claim 6. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims. The evaluation unit is set up to evaluate the sensor signal of the optical sensor several times in succession and to issue a smoke warning as a function of the sensor signals for a group of several queries carried out one after the other.

Durch die Festlegung von Zeitintervallen einer Gruppe von mehreren zeitlichen nacheinander durchgeführter und zur Abgabe einer Rauchwarnung ausgewerteter Abfragen derart, dass Zeitintervalle voneinander unterschiedlich sind, kann die Gefahr von Fehlalarmen bei Vorliegen von Störeinflüssen z. B. durch Kleinstlebewesen, insbesondere von Insekten, in der Messkammer oder durch schwallartige Partikelkonzentrationsanstiege z.B. durch Wasserdampf erheblich reduziert werden. Es hat sich überraschend gezeigt, dass sich das durch Insekten in der Messkammer verursachte Streulicht über einen Messzeitraum nicht gleichbleibend ist. Vielmehr wurde erkannt, dass Insekten, die bei schnelleren oder langsameren Abfragen hintereinander im gleichbleibenden Zeitintervall jeweils einen Alarmzustand bei einer Abfrage auslöst, nicht hingegen wenn die Abfragen mit unterschiedlichen Zeitintervallen hintereinander vorgenommen werden. Dies gilt auch für schwallartige Partikelkonzentrationsanstiege.By defining time intervals for a group of several consecutively carried out and evaluated for issuing a smoke warning queries in such a way that time intervals are different from one another, the risk of false alarms in the presence of interference z. B. can be significantly reduced by microorganisms, especially insects, in the measuring chamber or by surge-like particle concentration increases such as water vapor. It has surprisingly been found that the scattered light caused by insects in the measuring chamber is not constant over a measuring period. Rather, it has been recognized that insects that trigger an alarm state in the case of faster or slower queries one after the other in a constant time interval, but not when the queries are made with different time intervals one after the other. This also applies to surge-like particle concentration increases.

Erfindungsgemäß werdendie Zeitintervalle der Abfragen einer Gruppe von der ersten Abfrage bis zur letzten Abfrage der Gruppe größer. Die Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Kleinstlebewesen, wie z. B. Insekten lässt sich somit dadurch reduzieren, dass zunächst mit mindestens zwei relativ kurz aufeinander folgenden Messungen durchgeführt werden und dann die Zeitintervalle bis zu den nachfolgenden Messungen immer größer werden.According to the invention, the time intervals of the interrogations of a group become larger from the first interrogation to the last interrogation of the group. The sensitivity to microorganisms, such as B. Insects can thus be reduced by initially performing at least two relatively short consecutive measurements and then increasing the time intervals up to the subsequent measurements.

Besonders vorteilhaft ist es, wenn eine Gruppe von Abfragen mindestens zwei Abfragen im Zeitintervall von weniger als einer (1) Sekunde, eine weitere Abfrage im nachfolgenden Zeitintervall von mehr als 5 Sekunden und eine weitere Abfrage im darauf folgenden Zeitintervall von mehr als 10 Sekunden enthält. Dabei ist es besonders vorteilhaft, wenn die ersten beiden Abfragen in einem Zeitintervall in einem Bereich von 0,3 bis 0,8 Sekunden und bevorzugt 0,5 Sekunden durchgeführt werden. Besonders vorteilhaft ist es weiterhin, wenn die darauf folgende Abfrage in einem Zeitintervall im Bereich von 6 bis 10 Sekunden und bevorzugt nach 5 Sekunden erfolgt. Weiterhin ist es besonders vorteilhaft, wenn die vierte Abfrage nach einem Zeitintervall im Bereich von 12 bis 20 Sekunden und bevorzugt nach 16 Sekunden durchgeführt wird.It is particularly advantageous if a group of queries contains at least two queries in the time interval of less than one (1) second, a further query in the subsequent time interval of more than 5 seconds and a further query in the subsequent time interval of more than 10 seconds. It is particularly advantageous if the first two queries are carried out in a time interval in a range from 0.3 to 0.8 seconds and preferably 0.5 seconds. It is also particularly advantageous if the subsequent query takes place in a time interval in the range from 6 to 10 seconds and preferably after 5 seconds. Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if the fourth query is carried out after a time interval in the range from 12 to 20 seconds and preferably after 16 seconds.

Die Auswerteeinheit ist vorzugsweise zur Durchführung von mindestens vier Abfragen pro Gruppe eingerichtet.The evaluation unit is preferably used to carry out at least four queries set up per group.

Weiterhin ist es besonders vorteilhaft, wenn eine Rauchwarnung nur dann abgegeben wird, wenn bei allen, bevorzugt vier, aufeinander folgenden Abfragen ein vorgegebener Streulichtpartikel-Schwellwert durch das Sensorsignal überschritten ist.Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if a smoke warning is only issued if a predetermined scattered light particle threshold value is exceeded by the sensor signal in all, preferably four, successive interrogations.

Für alle vorgenannten Ausführungsbeispiele gilt bevorzugt, dass kein Rauchalarm abgegeben wird, wenn nur eine Abfrage nicht zu einem als kritisch erkannten Sensorwert führt.For all of the aforementioned exemplary embodiments, it is preferred that no smoke alarm is issued if only one query does not lead to a sensor value recognized as critical.

Die Zeitintervalle sind bevorzugt unabhängig von dem Signal des abgefragten optischen Sensors fest vorgegeben und somit fest voreingestellt. Damit lässt sich sicher erreichen, dass unabhängig von dem Sensorsignal bei vorherigen Abfragen die Sensitivität des optischen Rauchmelders gegenüber Störeinflüssen, wie insbesondere Insekten, reduziert wird.The time intervals are preferably fixedly predetermined and therefore fixedly preset independently of the signal from the optical sensor queried. This ensures that the sensitivity of the optical smoke alarm to disruptive influences, such as insects in particular, is reduced regardless of the sensor signal during previous queries.

Die Messkammer ist bevorzugt lichtabsorbierend ausgebildet und damit möglichst reflektionsarm. Als optischer Sensor ist mindestens ein Lichtemitter und ein Lichtsensor vorgesehen, die zur Detektion des Streulichtanteils auf die Messkammer ausgerichtet und mit der Auswerteeinheit gekoppelt sind. Als Lichtemitter kann beispielsweise eine Leuchtdiode in einem geeigneten Wellenlängenbereich eingesetzt werden. Als Lichtsensor kann beispielsweise ein Fototransistor, eine Fotodiode oder ein Fotowiderstand eingesetzt werden.The measuring chamber is preferably designed to be light-absorbing and is therefore as reflective as possible. At least one light emitter and one light sensor are provided as the optical sensor, which are aligned with the measuring chamber to detect the proportion of scattered light and are coupled to the evaluation unit. A light-emitting diode in a suitable wavelength range, for example, can be used as the light emitter. For example, a phototransistor, a photodiode or a photoresistor can be used as the light sensor.

Für das Verfahren zur optischen Rauchdetektion sind die Schritte vorgesehen von:

  • Detektieren des Anteils von Streulicht in einer Messkammer mit einer Anzahl aufeinander folgender Abfragen eines optischen Sensors, wobei die Abfragen zeitlich nacheinander in voneinander unterschiedlichen Zeitintervallen durchgeführt werden und wobei die Zeitintervalle der Abfragen einer Gruppe von der ersten Abfrage bis zur letzten Abfrage der Gruppe größer werden, und
  • Abgeben eines Rauchalarms, wenn bei allen aufeinander folgenden Abfragen einer Gruppe ein vorgegebener Schwellwert für den Streulichtanteil überschritten wurde.
The steps for optical smoke detection are as follows:
  • Detecting the proportion of scattered light in a measuring chamber with a number of successive queries from an optical sensor, the queries being carried out one after the other at different time intervals and the time intervals of the queries of a group increasing from the first query to the last query of the group, and
  • Emission of a smoke alarm if a Group a specified threshold value for the proportion of scattered light has been exceeded.

Die Erfindung wird nachfolgend anhand der beigefügten Zeichnungen näher erläutert. Es zeigen:

Figur 1 -
Blockdiagramm eines optischen Rauchmelders;
Figur 2-
Zeitdiagramm von Abfragen eines optischen Sensors des optischen Rauchmelders aus Figur 1 mit voneinander unterschiedlichen Zeitintervallen.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:
Figure 1 -
Block diagram of an optical smoke alarm;
Figure 2-
Timing diagram of queries from an optical sensor of the optical smoke detector Figure 1 with different time intervals.

Figur 1 lässt eine Skizze eines optischen Rauchmelders 1 als Blockdiagramm erkennen. Der optische Rauchmelder 1 hat ein Gehäuse 2 vorzugsweise aus Kunststoff mit mindestens einer Lufteinlassöffnung 3, die kommunizierend mit einer Messkammer 4 in dem Gehäuse 2 verbunden ist. In der Messkammer 4 sind vorzugsweise Wandflächen 5 vorhanden, durch die z. B. ein labyrinthartiger Innenraum der Messkammer 4 aufgebaut werden kann. An oder in der Messkammer 4 ist ein optischer Sensor 6 mit mindestens einem Lichtemitter 7 und mit einem Lichtsensor 8 vorgesehen. Der mindestens eine Lichtemitter 7 kann beispielsweise eine Leuchtdiode zum Aussenden von Licht im sichtbaren oder unsichtbaren Wellenlichtbereich, vorzugsweise von Infrarotlicht sein. Der Lichtsensor 8 ist ein lichtempfindliches Bauelement, wie beispielsweise ein Fotowiderstand, ein Fototransistor oder eine Fotodiode, der im entsprechenden Wellenlängenbereich des Lichtemitters 7 sensitiv ist. Der Lichtemitter 7 ist dabei vorzugsweise nicht direkt auf den Lichtsensor 8 ausgerichtet. Das Sensorsignal des Lichtsensors 8 bei aktivem Lichtemitter 7 ist damit ein vom Streulichtanteil abhängiges Maß. Figure 1 shows a sketch of an optical smoke alarm 1 as a block diagram. The optical smoke alarm 1 has a housing 2, preferably made of plastic, with at least one air inlet opening 3 which is connected to a measuring chamber 4 in the housing 2 in a communicating manner. In the measuring chamber 4 wall surfaces 5 are preferably present, through which z. B. a labyrinth-like interior of the measuring chamber 4 can be built. An optical sensor 6 with at least one light emitter 7 and with a light sensor 8 is provided on or in the measuring chamber 4. The at least one light emitter 7 can, for example, be a light-emitting diode for emitting light in the visible or invisible wave light range, preferably infrared light. The light sensor 8 is a light-sensitive component, such as a photoresistor, a phototransistor or a photodiode, which is sensitive in the corresponding wavelength range of the light emitter 7. The light emitter 7 is preferably not aligned directly with the light sensor 8. The sensor signal of the light sensor 8 when the light emitter 7 is active is therefore a measure that depends on the proportion of scattered light.

Der optische Rauchmelder 1 hat weiterhin eine Auswerteinheit 9, die mit dem optischen Sensor 6 gekoppelt ist. Dabei wird das Sensorsignal des Lichtsensors 8 zeitlich nacheinander in mehreren Abfragen von der Auswerteeinheit 9 erfasst und ausgewertet. Die Abfragen werden dabei in mehreren Zeitintervallen hintereinander ausgeführt.The optical smoke alarm 1 also has an evaluation unit 9 which is coupled to the optical sensor 6. The sensor signal of the light sensor 8 is detected and evaluated by the evaluation unit 9 one after the other in several queries. The queries are carried out one after the other at several time intervals.

Dabei sind Zeitintervalle einer Gruppe von Abfragen, die zur Abgabe einer Rauchwarnung ausgewertet werden, voneinander unterschiedlich.The time intervals of a group of queries that are evaluated to issue a smoke warning are different from one another.

Die Auswerteeinheit 9 ist somit eingerichtet, um das Sensorsignal des Lichtsensors 8 mehrfach hintereinander auszuwerten und eine Rauchwarnung beispielsweise über einen Alarmgeber 10 auszugeben, wenn bei allen Abfragen einer Gruppe ein Schwellwert durch das Sensorsignal des Lichtsensors 8 überschritten (oder gegebenenfalls unterschritten) wird. In der Regel nimmt die Amplitude des Sensorsignals des Lichtsensors 8 bei einem durch Streulichtpartikel erhöhten Streulichtanteil zu, sodass in diesem Fall ein Schwellwert überschritten wird. Denkbar ist allerdings auch eine andere Ausführungsform eines optischen Sensors 6 mit diesbezüglich invertierten Sensorwerten, bei dem sich das Sensorsignal bei erhöhtem Streulichtpartikelanteil in der Messkammer 4 reduziert. Dann würde ein mehrfaches Unterschreiten eines vorgegebenen Schwellwerts zu einem Rauchwarnalarm führen.The evaluation unit 9 is thus set up to evaluate the sensor signal of the light sensor 8 several times in succession and to output a smoke warning, for example via an alarm transmitter 10, if the sensor signal of the light sensor 8 exceeds (or falls below) a threshold value for all queries of a group. As a rule, the amplitude of the sensor signal of the light sensor 8 increases when the proportion of scattered light is increased due to scattered light particles, so that in this case a threshold value is exceeded. However, another embodiment of an optical sensor 6 with inverted sensor values in this regard is also conceivable, in which the sensor signal is reduced with an increased proportion of scattered light particles in the measuring chamber 4. Then a multiple undershooting of a specified threshold value would lead to a smoke alarm.

Figur 2 lässt ein Zeitdiagramm der zeitlich nacheinander in mehreren Zeitintervallen hintereinander durchgeführten Abfragen A1, A2, A3 und A4 erkennen. Deutlich wird, dass nach einer ersten Abfrage A1 und einem Zeitintervall Δt1 eine zweite Abfrage A2 durchgeführt wird. Nach einem weiteren Zeitintervall Δt2 wird die dritte Abfrage A3 durchgeführt. Das zweite Zeitintervall Δt2 ist erheblich länger als das erste Zeitintervall Δt1. Anschließend wird eine vierte Abfrage A4 nach einem dritten Zeitintervall Δt3 durchgeführt. Dieses dritte Zeitintervall Δt3 ist wiederum wesentlich länger als das erste Zeitintervall Δt1 und gleich lang oder länger als das zweite Zeitintervall Δt2. Figure 2 shows a time diagram of the queries A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 carried out one after the other in several time intervals. It becomes clear that after a first query A 1 and a time interval Δt1, a second query A 2 is carried out. After a further time interval Δt 2 , the third query A 3 is carried out. The second time interval Δt 2 is considerably longer than the first time interval Δt 1 . A fourth query A 4 is then carried out after a third time interval Δt 3. This third time interval Δt 3 is in turn significantly longer than the first time interval Δt 1 and the same length or longer than the second time interval Δt 2 .

Das zweite Zeitintervall Δt2 kann beispielsweise etwa die 5 bis 20 fache Länge, bevorzugt die 5- bis 10-fache Länge des ersten Zeitintervalls Δt1 und das dritte Zeitintervall Δt3 etwa die gleiche bis doppelte Länge des zweiten Zeitintervalls Δt2 haben. Das erste Zeitintervall Δt1 liegt dabei im Bereich von maximal einer (1) Sekunde und bevorzugt im Bereich von 0,3 bis 0,7 Sekunden. Es beträgt im Ausführungsbeispiel 0,5 Sekunden.The second time interval Δt 2 can, for example, have approximately 5 to 20 times the length, preferably 5 to 10 times the length of the first time interval Δt 1 and the third time interval Δt 3 approximately the same to twice the length of the second time interval Δt 2 . The first time interval Δt 1 is in the range of a maximum of one (1) second and preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 seconds. In the exemplary embodiment, it is 0.5 seconds.

Das zweite Zeitintervall ist bevorzugt länger als fünf (5) Sekunden und liegt bevorzugt in einem Bereich von 6 bis 10 Sekunden. In dem dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel beträgt das zweite Zeitintervall Δt2 acht Sekunden. Das dritte Zeitintervall Δt3 ist bevorzugt gleich oder länger als das zweite Zeitintervall Δt2 und liegt bevorzugt im Bereich von 5 bis 20 Sekunden. In dem dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel beträgt das dritte Zeitintervall Δt3 sechzehn (16) Sekunden.The second time interval is preferably longer than five (5) seconds and is preferably in a range of 6 to 10 seconds. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second time interval Δt 2 is eight seconds. The third time interval Δt 3 is preferably the same as or longer than the second time interval Δt 2 and is preferably in the range from 5 to 20 seconds. In the illustrated embodiment, the third time interval Δt 3 is sixteen (16) seconds.

Mit einer solchen Auswahl von Zeitintervallen Δt1, Δt2, ...., Δtn mit n € IN für die Gruppe von Abfragen A1, A2, ... An des optischen Sensors, die zur Auswertung einer Rauchwarnung herangezogen werden, dahingehend, dass diese Zeitintervalle Δt1, Δt2, ..., Δtn voneinander unterschiedlich sind, lässt sich die Empfindlichkeit des optischen Rauchmelders 1 vor Fehlalarm aufgrund von Störgrößen, wie insbesondere vor Kleinstinsekten erheblich reduzieren. Diese Reduzierung kann auf einfachste Weise durch geeignete Programmierung der Auswerteeinheit realisiert werden, ohne dass aufwendige mechanische Maßnahmen, wie der Einbau von Schutzgittern erforderlich sind.With such a selection of time intervals Δt 1 , Δt 2 , ...., Δt n with n € IN for the group of queries A 1 , A 2 , ... A n of the optical sensor, which are used to evaluate a smoke warning To the effect that these time intervals Δt 1 , Δt 2 , ..., Δt n are different from one another, the sensitivity of the optical smoke detector 1 to false alarms due to disturbance variables, such as, in particular, to small insects, can be reduced considerably. This reduction can be implemented in the simplest way by suitable programming of the evaluation unit, without the need for complex mechanical measures, such as the installation of protective grids.

In diesem Zusammenhang kann der Schwellwert auch erhöht werden. Dies führt eigentlich zu einer geringeren Empfindlichkeit des optischen Rauchmelders und zu einem wesentlich verzögerten Ansprechen erst bei größerer Rauchentwicklung. Durch die Änderung der Zeitintervalle dahingehend, dass diese voneinander unterschiedlich gewählt werden, kann diesem Effekt aber entgegen gewirkt werden.In this context, the threshold value can also be increased. This actually leads to a lower sensitivity of the optical smoke detector and to a significantly delayed response only when there is a large amount of smoke. By changing the time intervals so that they are selected differently from one another, this effect can be counteracted.

Claims (7)

  1. Optical smoke detector (1) comprising a housing (2) and a measuring chamber (4) in the housing (2), an optical sensor (6) for detecting scattered light particles in the measuring chamber (4) and an evaluation unit (9) for interrogating (A1, A2, ..., An) of the optical sensor (6) at a plurality of fixed time intervals (Δt1, Δt2, ..., Δtn) in time succession wherein the evaluation unit (9) is set up to detect and evaluate the sensor signal of the optical sensor (6) having a plurality of interrogations (A1, A2, ..., An) several times in succession and to issue a smoke warning as a function of the results of the evaluation of the sensor signals for a group of several interrogations (A1, A2, ..., An) carried out in succession in time, characterized in that the time intervals (Δt1, Δt2, ..., Δtn) of a group of interrogations (A1, A2, ..., An) are different from one another.
  2. Optical smoke detector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the time intervals (Δt1, Δt2, ..., Δtn) of the interrogations (A1, A2, ..., An) of a group increase from the first interrogation (A1) to the last interrogation (An) of the group.
  3. Optical smoke detector (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that a group of interrogations (A1, A2, ..., An) is provided with at least two interrogations (A1, A2) in the time interval (Δt1) of less than one second, preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 seconds, a further interrogation (A3) in the time interval (Δt2) of more than 5 seconds, preferably from 6 to 10 seconds, and at least one further interrogation (An) in the time interval (Δt3) of more than 5 seconds, preferably in the range of 5 to 20 seconds.
  4. Optical smoke detector (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the evaluation unit (9) is set up to carry out at least four interrogations (A1, A2, A3, A4) per group and to emit a smoke warning only if a predetermined scattered light particle threshold value is exceeded by the sensor signal in all four successive interrogations (A1, A2, A3, A4).
  5. Optical smoke detector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the time intervals (Δt1, Δt2, ..., Δtn) are fixed independently of the signal of the interrogated optical sensor (6).
  6. Optical smoke detector (1) according to one of the predefined claims, characterised in that the measuring chamber (4) is designed to be light-absorbing and at least one light emitter (7) and light sensor (8) for detecting the scattered light component is aligned with the measuring chamber (4) and coupled to the evaluation unit (9).
  7. Method for optical smoke detection with an optical smoke detector (1) according to one of the predetermined claims, comprising
    - Detecting the proportion of scattered light in a measuring chamber (4) with a number of successive interrogations (A1, A2, ..., An) of an optical sensor (6), the sensor signal of the optical sensor (6) being detected and evaluated several times in succession in several interrogations (A1, A2, ..., An)
    - Emitting a smoke alarm if a predetermined threshold value for the scattered light component has been exceeded in all successive queries (A1, A2, ..., An) of a group characterised in that the interrogations (A1, A2, ..., An) are carried out one after the other in fixed time intervals (Δt1, Δt2, ..., Δtn) which differ from one another.
EP15176633.4A 2014-07-24 2015-07-14 Optical smoke detector and method for optical smoke detection Active EP2977972B1 (en)

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DE201410110460 DE102014110460B3 (en) 2014-07-24 2014-07-24 Optical smoke detector and method for optical smoke detection

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DE102019110336A1 (en) * 2019-04-18 2020-10-22 Jörg Flemming smoke detector

Citations (1)

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US5864293A (en) * 1994-07-29 1999-01-26 Orwin Optical smoke detectors

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IL52977A (en) * 1976-11-16 1979-09-30 Chloride Batterijen Bv Smoke detector
DE3831654A1 (en) * 1988-09-17 1990-03-22 Hartwig Beyersdorf OPTICAL SMOKE DETECTOR
DE4333911C2 (en) * 1993-10-05 1998-10-22 Preussag Ag Minimax Optical smoke detector
JPH09270085A (en) * 1996-04-01 1997-10-14 Hamamatsu Photonics Kk Smoke production detector

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5864293A (en) * 1994-07-29 1999-01-26 Orwin Optical smoke detectors

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