TWM665253U - Fire early warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A fire warning device includes a housing, installed at a parking position where a vehicle is parked; a sensing module, set up within the housing, configured to detect the parking status of the vehicle relative to the parking position; a temperature detection module, set up within the housing, configured to detect temperature and generate a detection result; a processing module, set up within the housing and coupled to both the sensing module and the temperature detection module, configured to control the temperature detection module to detect the temperature at a bottom of the vehicle when the parking status indicates that the vehicle is parked in the parking position, and generate an indication signal when the detection result shows that the temperature at the bottom of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value.

Description

Fire warning device

The invention relates to a fire warning device, in particular to a fire warning device capable of warning a vehicle of a potential fire risk.

With the continuous development and popularization of automobile technology, vehicle safety issues have received increasing attention. Among them, vehicle fire is a particularly serious safety issue, which not only threatens the life safety of passengers in the car, but also may cause serious property losses, especially in places with dense parking, such as parking lots, underground garages, etc. Once a fire occurs, the consequences will be more serious.

In recent years, with the rapid popularization of electric vehicles, vehicle fire issues have presented new challenges. Lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles may experience thermal runaway and cause fires under certain circumstances (such as overcharging, over-discharging, mechanical damage, etc.). However, compared with traditional gasoline vehicles, electric vehicle fires have higher temperatures, last longer, and are difficult to extinguish; and, even if the fire is controlled, the lithium-ion battery may catch fire again due to residual heat, increasing the difficulty of extinguishing the fire.

In general, existing vehicle fire prevention and detection methods mainly include vehicle fire alarms, parking lot smoke alarm systems and manual inspections. Vehicle fire alarms are usually installed inside the vehicle and detect smoke or temperature anomalies to determine whether a fire has occurred; however, this method can only sound an alarm when a fire has already occurred and produces obvious smoke or high temperature, and cannot achieve early warning, especially for abnormalities in the power battery at the bottom of electric vehicles, which may not be detected in time. The parking lot smoke alarm system is currently the fire detection method adopted by most parking lots. It detects fires by installing smoke detectors in the parking lot. However, this method requires smoke to diffuse to the detector location before it can be detected. It is also difficult to detect early fires under or inside vehicles, especially battery anomalies. Although manual inspections can detect abnormalities in a timely manner, they are labor-intensive and costly, and cannot achieve 24-hour uninterrupted monitoring. Abnormal temperatures under the vehicle, especially the batteries under the electric vehicle, are difficult to detect with the naked eye.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for a vehicle fire early warning system that can detect abnormalities in the early stages of a fire, especially effectively monitor the area under the vehicle, while having good cost-effectiveness and system integration, and should be adaptable to different types of vehicles, especially providing more effective protection for the increasing number of electric vehicles.

Therefore, the present invention mainly provides a fire warning device, which can warn of fire risks at an early stage and has the advantages of convenient installation, simple maintenance, high cost-effectiveness, etc.

The present novel embodiment discloses a fire early warning device, comprising a housing, arranged at a parking position, the parking position being used to park a vehicle; a sensing module, arranged in the housing, being used to sense a parking condition of the vehicle relative to the parking position; a temperature detection module, arranged in the housing, being used to detect temperature to generate a detection result; and a processing module, arranged in the housing and coupled to the sensing module and the temperature detection module, being used to display the vehicle at the parking position when the parking condition indicates that the vehicle is parked, control the temperature detection module to detect the bottom temperature of the vehicle, and generate a prompt signal when the detection result indicates that the bottom temperature of the vehicle exceeds a threshold.

Certain terms are used in the specification and patent application to refer to specific components. Those with ordinary knowledge in the field should understand that hardware manufacturers may use different terms to refer to the same component. This specification and patent application do not use differences in names as a way to distinguish components, but use differences in the functions of components as the criterion for distinction. The words "include" and "including" mentioned in the specification and patent application are open terms and should be interpreted as "including but not limited to". "Approximately" means that within an acceptable error range, a person with ordinary knowledge in the field can solve the technical problem within a certain error range and basically achieve the technical effect. In addition, the word "coupled" here includes any direct and indirect, wired and wireless connection means.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of a disaster monitoring system 1 of an embodiment of the present invention. The disaster monitoring system 1 includes a plurality of fire warning devices 10 and a central control system 12. Each fire warning device 10 is set at a parking position, such as buried under the parking position, and can detect the bottom temperature of the vehicle parked thereon, and communicate with the central control system 12 via wired or wireless means to achieve early fire risk warning. It should be noted that the fire warning device 10 is not limited to being set at the parking position in an buried manner, and any setting method that can fix the fire warning device 10 at the parking position is applicable to the present invention.

Specifically, please continue to refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of any fire warning device 10 in FIG. 1. The fire warning device 10 includes a housing 200, a sensing module 202, a temperature detection module 204, a processing module 206, a communication module 208, an alarm unit 210, and a power supply module 212. The housing 200 is used to install and protect other components, and can be set in a parking position, such as buried under the ground of the parking position. The sensing module 202 is set in the housing 200 and coupled to the processing module 206, and is used to sense a parking condition of the parking position. The temperature detection module 204 is disposed in the housing 200 and coupled to the processing module 206 for detecting temperature to generate a detection result. The processing module 206 is disposed in the housing and coupled to other modules for controlling the temperature detection module 204 to detect the bottom temperature of the vehicle when the parking condition sensed by the sensing module 202 shows that a vehicle is parked at the parking position, and generating a prompt signal when the detection result of the temperature detection module 204 shows that the bottom temperature of the vehicle exceeds a threshold. The communication module 208 is disposed in the housing 200 and coupled to the processing module 206, and is used to transmit the detection result of the temperature detection module 204 or the prompt signal of the sensing module 202 to the central control system 12. The alarm unit 210 is coupled to the processing module 206, and is used to receive the prompt signal of the processing module 206 to send an alarm signal, such as one or more of sound, light, and mobile phone push notification. The power supply module 212 is disposed in the housing 200, and is used to supply power to the fire early warning device 10.

In short, the fire warning device 10 can be buried under the ground at the parking position. When the vehicle is parked on it, the bottom temperature of the vehicle can be detected to determine whether there is a fire risk, and the relevant information can be further sent back to the central control system 12. In this way, the new embodiment can make appropriate warnings at the early stage of a possible vehicle fire, so that relevant personnel can respond early to avoid a more serious fire or take evacuation, warning and other measures in advance to prevent greater damage. It should be noted that the fire warning device 10 in Figure 2 is a new embodiment of the present invention, and a person with ordinary knowledge in the field can make different modifications based on it without being limited to this. For example, the fire warning device 10 can increase, decrease or replace the modules therein according to actual needs. For example, in some embodiments, the alarm unit 210 may be omitted, and the alarm may be issued only by the central control system 12; or the communication module 208 may be omitted, and the alarm signal may be issued only by the alarm unit 210. In addition, in some embodiments, the sensing module 202 may also be omitted, that is, the fire warning device 10 does not need to detect whether the vehicle is parked at the parking position, but directly uses the temperature detection module 204 to detect the temperature of the bottom of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the housing 200 may include an upper housing and a lower housing. The lower housing is embedded in the parking position, and the upper housing may be embedded in the lower housing and slightly protrude from the parking position. At the same time, the upper housing may include a transparent or translucent portion to allow the sensing module 202 and the temperature detection module 204 to perform sensing. Preferably, the housing 200 may have waterproof, dustproof, and pressure-proof properties to ensure that the internal components can still operate normally in harsh environments. For example, the applicant of this case has provided a sensing device capable of detecting parking conditions in Patent Application Nos. 112208804 and 112212707 of the Republic of China, which has a structure in which an upper and a lower shell are combined, and can be appropriately adjusted and applied to the present embodiment to be suitable for use in parking lots.

In one embodiment, the sensing module 202 may be one or a combination of an infrared sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a millimeter wave sensor, a camera lens, and the like, but not limited thereto. Any module or component that can accurately detect whether there is a vehicle parked at a parking location is applicable to the sensing module 202. At the same time, in order to increase the accuracy of the judgment, the number of sensors included in the sensing module 202 is not limited to one, and multiple sensors or redundant design may be used to enhance the accuracy. Furthermore, if the fire warning device 10 of the present novel embodiment is integrated into the intelligent parking management system, for example, integrated with the framework of the Republic of China Patent Application No. 112208804 and No. 112212707, the sensing module 202 can also be used to sense the environmental information of the parking location, so that the processing module 206 can judge the time of the vehicle entering, stopping, and driving out, and capture pictures and other information for uploading and recording. Specifically, in one embodiment, the sensing module 202 can include one or more of an ultrasonic unit, a millimeter wave radar detection unit, an image capture unit, and a fill light element. The ultrasonic unit can detect objects within a specific range (such as 5 meters) through ultrasonic detection, so it can judge the entry, stop, and exit of vehicles. The millimeter wave radar detection unit uses millimeter wave radar detection to improve the accuracy of the judgment of vehicle entry and exit, and can exclude interfering objects such as non-motor vehicles and pedestrians. The image capture unit can collect images in real time, can capture the status of vehicles entering and leaving, and can take images of the parking position at specific intervals (such as 10 minutes) when there are vehicles parked at the parking position to meet regulatory requirements. The fill light element is used to perform flash fill light to ensure clear images at night, reduce image noise and overcome the disadvantage of not being able to see the license plate clearly due to reflection. In this way, the processing module 206 can determine the parking situation of the parking location and send it back to the central management center of the intelligent parking management system (for example, the central control system 12 can be integrated).

In another embodiment, the sensing module 202 may include a plurality of sensors, and when the sensing result of one of the sensors indicates that the parking situation of the parking location has changed, at least another sensor may be activated to sense, and the sensing result of at least another sensor may be sent to the intelligent parking management system. In other words, the sensing module 202 may also be used to implement a two-stage detection mechanism, in which the first stage is a triggering stage, in which a sensor detects environmental information of the parking location, and when its sensing result indicates that the parking situation of the parking location has changed, the second stage is entered. The second stage is a detection stage, in which at least another sensor senses, and its sensing result is sent to the intelligent parking management system. In this way, the error signals caused by the limitations of sensing technology can be effectively eliminated, so that the management end of the intelligent parking management system can correctly judge the time when the vehicle enters, stops, and drives out, and accordingly manage parking tickets and fees, avoiding unnecessary disputes and achieving the purpose of unmanned management and intelligent charging.

The detailed method of integrating the fire warning device 10 into the intelligent parking management system can be appropriately derived and modified by a person skilled in the art by referring to the patent application Nos. 112208804 and 112212707 of the Republic of China, and will not be elaborated here.

In one embodiment, the temperature detection module 204 can be one or more of an infrared sensor, a thermocouple, a thermistor, and a resistance temperature sensor, but is not limited thereto. Similarly, in order to increase the accuracy of the judgment, the number of detectors included in the temperature detection module 204 is not limited to one, and multiple or redundant designs can be used to enhance the accuracy, that is, the temperature detection module 204 can detect a wide area or multiple points, but is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the communication module 208 can be one or more of a Bluetooth module, a WiFi module, a telecommunications signal module, and a wired network module, but is not limited thereto. Any module or component that enables the processing module 206 to exchange data with the central control system 12 is suitable for implementing the communication module 208.

In addition, the power supply module 212 may include one or more of a battery, a solar panel, a wireless charging receiver, and a mains power conversion module, but is not limited thereto. At the same time, the power supply module 212 is preferably easy to repair and replace to ensure that the device can operate stably for a long time and reduce maintenance costs.

On the other hand, the operation logic of the processing module 206 can be appropriately adjusted according to the system or application scenario. For example, when the parking status shows that the vehicle is parked (for example, just parked or after a period of time), the processing module 206 can control the temperature detection module 204 to continue to monitor the temperature. As the temperature of the vehicle dissipates after the vehicle is turned off, the temperature should gradually decrease. Therefore, when it is detected that the temperature of the vehicle continues to rise after the vehicle is parked, a prompt signal can be generated accordingly. In other words, the processing module 206 can generate a prompt signal only when the parking status indicates that the vehicle has been parked at the parking position for more than a preset time (such as 15 minutes) and the detection result shows that the bottom temperature of the vehicle exceeds the threshold, so as to reduce false alarms caused by the residual heat of the engine of the vehicle that has just stopped or stopped. Furthermore, when determining whether the bottom temperature of the vehicle is abnormal, the processing module 206 can adopt multiple strategies to improve accuracy and reduce false alarms. Specifically, the processing module 206 can consider the absolute temperature value and the temperature change rate at the same time. For example, for the absolute temperature value, the processing module 206 can compare the actual temperature measured by the temperature detection module 204 with a preset safety threshold (e.g., 80°C). If the actual temperature exceeds this threshold, it is considered an abnormal condition. On the other hand, in order to avoid interference with the judgment caused by changes in ambient temperature (such as direct sunlight or cold weather), the processing module 206 can also calculate the temperature change rate. Specifically, the processing module 206 can continuously record temperature data for a period of time (e.g., 15 minutes) after the vehicle stops, and calculate the temperature change rate. If the temperature rise rate exceeds a preset threshold (such as 1°C per minute), even if the absolute temperature does not reach the warning value, it will be regarded as a potential abnormal situation. In addition, the processing module 206 can also compare the measured underbody temperature with the ambient temperature. If the temperature difference between the two exceeds a certain threshold (such as 20°C), it will also be judged as an abnormal situation. Such multiple judgment mechanisms are intended to enable the fire warning device 10 to more accurately identify potential vehicle fire risks and effectively reduce false alarms caused by environmental factors, but are not limited to this. On the other hand, the processing module 206 may also add a temperature compensation mechanism. For example, when detecting the temperature at the bottom of the vehicle, temperature compensation may be performed based on the distance between the temperature detection module 204 and the bottom of the vehicle.

In addition, when the processing module 206 generates a prompt signal, in addition to the information about the abnormal temperature, it can also attach the identification information of the corresponding fire warning device 10, such as the MAC address, IP address, or a pre-set device ID of the device. When the central control system 12 receives the prompt signal, it can immediately locate the specific parking position. For example, the central control system 12 can maintain a corresponding lookup table to associate the identification information of each fire warning device 10 with its actual installation location. This location information can be the road section, address, floor and area number of the parking lot where the parking location is located, or it can be the number accurate to the specific parking space. Thus, for roadside parking spaces or large parking lots, this positioning function can help management personnel or rescue personnel quickly find vehicles that may have problems, so as to take timely response measures. In addition, if the central control system 12 supports an electronic map system, this location information can also be directly marked on the map, further improving the response speed.

In addition, in FIG. 2, the alarm unit 210 is shown in the housing 200. However, in other embodiments, the alarm unit 210 may also be an alarm device disposed outside the housing 200, and may receive the prompt signal of the processing module 206 by wire or wireless means, and issue an alarm signal accordingly. Furthermore, when the alarm unit 210 needs to issue a mobile phone push notification as an alarm signal, it should cooperate with the communication module 208 to send it to the cloud service or the local server, and the scope of the notification may include mobile phones, fire alarm devices, central control computers, tablets, and other devices that have the function of receiving this alarm, and the system can also send notifications to multiple objects according to different situations. For example, if the parking lot is equipped with a license plate recognition system and is connected to the owner information database, the central control system 12 can directly send a mobile phone push notification to the registered owner of the vehicle. This notification can include a warning that the vehicle may be at risk of fire, as well as the specific location information of the vehicle. Secondly, regardless of whether the owner can be contacted, the central control system 12 can send a notification to the parking management center so that relevant staff can quickly rush to the scene for preliminary inspection and necessary preventive measures. If the alarm state is not lifted after a certain period of time, the central control system 12 can also automatically send a notification to the local fire department. This notification can include information such as the exact address of the parking lot, the location of the vehicle on fire, and the nearest fire escape, so as to assist firefighters in planning rescue operations more effectively. Through this multi-level notification mechanism, the new model can minimize the losses caused by vehicle fires while ensuring that all relevant units can receive information in a timely manner and take appropriate actions.

It should be noted that the parking position in the above embodiments generally refers to a transportation facility used to park or wait for a vehicle, which is related to the vehicle used. In one embodiment, if the vehicle is a drone, the parking position can be appropriately replaced with a drone platform. In another embodiment, if the vehicle is a shared electric bicycle, the parking position can be appropriately replaced with a fixed seat of the electric bicycle. Such appropriate derivative changes based on the different vehicles used should be a familiar skill in the art.

Furthermore, the novel fire warning device 10 can be widely applied to various parking scenarios, such as indoor parking lots, open-air parking lots, roadside parking spaces, etc. By installing the fire warning device 10 in each parking space and connecting it to the central control system 12, a disaster monitoring system 1 can be implemented to establish a comprehensive vehicle fire warning network, which can not only improve the safety of the parking lot, but also provide additional peace of mind for car owners.

For example, FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a roadside parking lot 3. For simplicity, FIG. 3A shows parking spaces P1 to P4 of the roadside parking lot 3. Each parking space is equipped with a fire warning device 10 and can be connected to the central control system 12 via wired or wireless means. As shown in FIG. 3B, when a vehicle 30 drives into parking space P2, the sensing module 202 of the fire warning device 10 of parking space P2 can sense that the vehicle 30 is parked in parking space P2, and transmit the sensed parking status to the processing module 206. The processing module 206 can control the temperature detection module 204 to detect the bottom temperature of the vehicle 30 immediately or after the vehicle 30 has been parked in parking space P2 for a period of time. At this time, if the detection result of the temperature detection module 204 shows that the temperature under the vehicle 30 exceeds a threshold, for example, the absolute temperature value exceeds the preset safety threshold or the temperature rise rate exceeds the preset threshold, the processing module 206 can generate a prompt signal and transmit it to the central control system 12 through the communication module 208, or send an alarm signal through the alarm unit 210. Among them, the prompt signal transmitted to the central control system 12 can include identification information that can identify the parking space P2, so that relevant personnel can make appropriate disposal as soon as possible; if the alarm unit 210 sends a mobile phone push notification as an alarm signal, it can send a notification to multiple objects, such as the car owner, the parking management center, the fire department, etc. In this case, relevant personnel can take measures as soon as the fire occurs to avoid a more serious fire or take measures such as evacuation and warning in advance to prevent greater damage.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional parking lot 4. For simplicity, FIG. 4A shows parking spaces P1-1 to P1-4 and P2-1 to P2-4 on the floor L2 of the three-dimensional parking lot 4. Each parking space is equipped with a fire warning device 10 and can be connected to the central control system 12 via wired or wireless means. As shown in FIG. 4B, when a vehicle 40 drives into parking space P1-2, the sensing module 202 of the fire warning device 10 of parking space P1-2 can sense that the vehicle 40 is parked in parking space P1-2 and transmit the sensed parking status to the processing module 206. The processing module 206 can control the temperature detection module 204 to detect the temperature under the vehicle 40 immediately or after the vehicle 40 has been parked at the parking space P1-2 for a period of time. At this time, if the detection result of the temperature detection module 204 shows that the temperature under the vehicle 40 exceeds a threshold, such as the absolute temperature value exceeds the preset safety threshold or the temperature rise rate exceeds the preset threshold, the processing module 206 can generate a prompt signal and transmit it to the central control system 12 through the communication module 208, or send an alarm signal through the alarm unit 210. The prompt signal transmitted to the central control system 12 may include identification information of the parking space P1-2, such as "L2, P1-2", so that relevant personnel can take appropriate measures in advance; if the alarm unit 210 sends a mobile phone push notification as an alarm signal, it can send notifications to multiple objects, such as the car owner, the parking management center, the fire department, etc. In this case, relevant personnel can take measures as soon as the fire occurs to avoid a more serious fire or take measures such as evacuation and warning in advance to prevent greater damage.

The above-mentioned operation method of the fire warning device 10 can be summarized as a fire warning process 50, as shown in FIG. 5. The fire warning process 50 includes the following steps:

Step 500: Start.

Step 502: When a vehicle is parked at a parking position, the bottom temperature of the vehicle is detected to generate a detection result.

Step 504: When the detection result shows that the bottom temperature of the vehicle exceeds a threshold, a prompt signal is generated.

Step 506: End.

The detailed operation and changes of the fire warning process 50 can be found in the above description and will not be elaborated here.

In summary, the present invention provides an efficient and reliable fire warning system, which is applicable to but not limited to new energy vehicles such as electric vehicles. By monitoring the bottom temperature, early fire risk warning is achieved, and it has the advantages of easy installation, simple maintenance, and high cost-effectiveness.

1: Disaster monitoring system 10: Fire warning device 12: Central control system 200: Housing 202: Sensing module 204: Temperature detection module 206: Processing module 208: Communication module 210: Alarm unit 212: Power supply module 3: Roadside parking area 30, 40: Vehicles 4: Multi-storey parking lot L2: Floor P1~P4, P1-1~P1-4, P2-1~P2-4: Parking space 50: Fire warning process 500~506: Steps

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a disaster monitoring system of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a fire warning device of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of a roadside parking lot. Figures 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams of a three-dimensional parking lot. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a fire warning process of the first embodiment of the present invention.

1: Disaster monitoring system

10: Fire warning device

12: Central control system

Claims (11)

A fire warning device comprises: a housing, arranged at a parking position, the parking position being used to park a vehicle; a sensing module, arranged in the housing, being used to sense a parking condition of the vehicle relative to the parking position; a temperature detection module, arranged in the housing, being used to detect temperature to generate a detection result; and a processing module, arranged in the housing and coupled to the sensing module and the temperature detection module, being used to display the parking condition that the vehicle is parked at the parking position, control the temperature detection module to detect the bottom temperature of the vehicle, and generate a prompt signal when the detection result shows that the bottom temperature of the vehicle exceeds a threshold. A fire warning device as described in claim 1, wherein the sensing module is selected from one or more of an infrared sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a millimeter wave sensor, and a camera lens. A fire warning device as described in claim 1, wherein the temperature detection module is selected from one or more of an infrared sensor, a thermocouple, a thermistor, and a resistance temperature sensor. The fire early warning device as described in claim 1 further comprises a communication module disposed in the housing and coupled to the processing module, for transmitting the detection result or the prompt signal to a central control system. A fire warning device as described in claim 4, wherein the communication module is selected from one or more of a Bluetooth module, a WiFi module, a telecommunications signal module, and a wired network module. The fire warning device as described in claim 1 further includes a power supply module disposed in the casing for supplying power to the fire warning device. A fire warning device as described in claim 6, wherein the power supply module includes one or more of a battery, a solar panel, a wireless charging receiver, and a mains power conversion module. A fire warning device as described in claim 1, wherein the shell includes an upper shell and a lower shell, the lower shell is buried under the ground of the parking position, and the upper shell can be embedded in the lower shell and protrude above the ground of the parking position. A fire warning device as described in claim 1, wherein the housing has waterproof, dustproof and pressure-proof properties. The fire early warning device as described in claim 1 further includes an alarm unit coupled to the processing module for receiving the prompt signal to send out an alarm signal, wherein the alarm signal is selected from one or more of a sound, a light, and a mobile phone push notification. A fire warning device as described in claim 1, wherein the processing module generates the warning signal when the parking condition shows that the time the vehicle has been parked at the parking position exceeds a preset time and the detection result shows that the bottom temperature of the vehicle exceeds the threshold.

Images