GB2391069A

GB2391069A - Building temperature monitor providing an output dependent on detected temperature

Info

Publication number: GB2391069A
Application number: GB0216968A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Marshall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-07-20
Filing date: 2002-07-20
Publication date: 2004-01-28
Also published as: GB0216968D0

Abstract

A temperature monitor 10 located in a building includes a resistive temperature sensor 12 that provides an output to a controller 18, the output being dependent on the detected temperature and indicating a specific condition. Measured temperature may be indicated in addition to the specific condition. The temperature scale is divided into a number of temperature ranges, each range defining a different output. When measured temperature is below 0{C the monitor outputs a frost signal, when temperature is in the range 0-50{C the actual temperature measurement is indicated, at 50-70{C a fire signal is output, at 70-80{C the presence of CO2 is indicated, at 80-90{C the presence of CO is indicated and at 90-100{C a smoke signal is output. The output may be a numerical read-out 26 or an alarm for example. The monitor may be used to other devices such as control a frost alarm 22, a fire alarm 28, a smoke alarm 34 and central heating control 29.

Description

2391 069

MONITOR

This invention relates to a monitor, and in particular to a temperature monitor.

Temperature sensors take various forms, from simple thermometers relying on the temperature-related expansion and contraction of a liquid, to sensors in which a temperature-related property of a component or a device, such as a resistor, may be utilized to provide an output which can be correlated to the temperature being experienced by the device. The latter form of sensors are particularly useful when it is desired to monitor temperature remotely.

It is among the objectives of embodiments of the present invention to provide a temperature monitor which is capable of providing an output indicative of a condition in addition to or alternatively of temperature.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a temperature monitor comprising: - a sensor for providing an output dependent on the temperature experienced by the sensor; and - a controller for receiving the sensor output and providing an output signal indicative of the temperature experienced by the sensor, in one temperature range the output signal indicating the measured temperature, and in a second temperature range the output signal indicating a condition associated with the measured temperature.

The present invention thus allows a single sensor to

provide an output which may be utilized to indicate another condition, in addition to measured temperature.

Conventionally, obtaining two such outputs would require provision of two sensors, and indeed typically two separate detection devices, such as a temperature sensor and a fire detector. The controller may provide output signals in further temperature ranges indicative of further conditions associated with the measured temperature.

The output signal in said second temperature range may indicate a condition selected from frost, fire, carbon monoxide (CO) presence, carbon dioxide (CO2) presence and smoke. In one embodiment, the output signal may indicate: the presence of frost when the sensed temperature is less than O C; space temperature between O and 50 C; the presence of fire between 50 and 70 C; the presence of CO between 70 and 80 C; the presence of CO2 between 80 and 90 C, and the presence of smoke between 90 and loo C. The output signal may take any appropriate form, including one or more of a numerical read-out, an indication on a scale, an alarm, a warning signal, or an activation or control signal for one of the above.

Preferably, the sensor comprises a heat-sensitive resistor, the controller correlating the output of the sensor, which may, for example, be a resistance, current or voltage value, to a look-up table to obtain an indication of sensed temperature.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a temperature monitor comprising: a) a sensor for providing an output dependent on the temperature experienced by the sensor; and b) a controller for receiving the sensor output and providing an output signal indicative of the temperature experienced by the sensor, in one a first temperature range the output signal indicating the measured temperature, and in a second temperature range the output signal indicating a first predetermined condition associated with the measured temperature, and in a second temperature range the output signal indicating a second predetermined condition associated with the measured temperature.

These and other aspects of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic illustration of a temperature monitor 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The monitor 10 is provided with in a building and features a sensor 12 comprising a heat-sensitive resistor 14. Of course, in such applications a number of sensors will typically be provided in different parts of the building. However, for clarity an apparatus featuring only a single sensor will be described herein.

The sensor 12 is linked by appropriate signal carriers 16 to a central controller 18 featuring a look-up table 20, correlating sensor output, in the form of a measured

resistance value, to temperature. Dependent on the sensed temperature, the controller 18 provides a different output signal. In particular, the temperature scale is divided into bands, the band in which the sensed temperature falls determining the form of the output signal, as described below. When the sensed temperature is less than 0'C, the controller 18 produces an output signal to activate a frost alarm 22, which in turn provides an activation signal to an appropriate space heating control 24.

If the sensed temperature is between 0 C and 50'C, the controller 18 produces a temperature-related output signal to a temperature display 26 which provides a read-out of sensed space temperature. The display 26 may in turn be linked to the space heating control 24.

When the sensed temperature is between 50'C and 70'C, the controller 18 is programmed to recognise this heat level as indicative of the presence of fire, and provides an output signal to activate a fire alarm 28. The output signal, or the activation of the fire alarm 28, may further activate sprinkler system controls 29, emergency exits and the like.

On the sensed temperature reading between 70'C and 80 C, the controller recognizes this as a temperature range in which an earlier sensed fire is producing potentially hazardous levels of carbon monoxide (CO), and an appropriate output signal activates a CO alarm 30.

Once the temperature rises to between 80'C and 90'C,

the controller 18 has been programmed to recognize this temperature band as indicative of a fire producing a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), such that an appropriate output signal activates a CO2 alarm 32.

Above 90 C, the controller 18 produces an output signal to activate a smoke alarm 34.

It may thus be seen that this single temperature monitor 10, utilizing only a single sensor 12, effectively serves as frost detector, space temperature indicator, fire detector, CO detector, CO2 detector and smoke detector.

Those of skill in the art will, of course, realize that the above described monitor 10 is merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the number and range of temperature bands may vary, depending on the monitor applications, as may the controller output signals and the associated alarms, controls, displays and the like.

Claims

Claims.

1. A monitor provided within a building and features a temperature sensor and controller which is capable of providing an output indicative of a condition in addition to or alternatively of temperature.

2. A monitor as in claim 1 were the controller for receiving the sensor output and providing an output signal indicative ofthe temperature experienced by the sensor, in one temperature range the output signal indicating the measured temperature, and a second temperature range the output signal indicating a condition associated with the measured temperature, thus allows a single sensor to provide an output which may be utilised to indicate another condition.

3. A monitor as in claim 2 where the controller may provide output signals in further temperature ranges indicative of further conditions associated with the measured temperature, which may indicate a condition selected from Frost, Fire, Carbon Monoxide CO) presence, Carbon Dioxide (C02) presence and Smoke.

4. A monitor as in claim I where the controller output signal may take any appropriate form, including one or more of a numerical read-out, an indication on a scale, an alarm, a warning signal, an activation or control signal for one ofthe above.

5. A monitor as in claim 1 where preferably, the sensor comprises of a heat-sensitive resistor, the controller correlating the output ofthe sensor, which may, for example, be a resistance, current or voltage value, to a look-up table to obtain an indication of sensed temperature.

6. A monitor as in claim I whale dependent on the sensed temperature the controller provides a different output, the temperature scale is divided into bands, the band in which the sensed temperature falls determining the form ofthe output signal.

7. A monitor as in claim 1 where a number of sensors will typically be provided in different parts ofthe building.