Patent ID: 8994540
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: G01J,G08B,H04L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A hazard detector for use in a building or structure for detecting a hazard, the hazard detector comprising: a back plate couplable with a wall of the building or structure so as to secure the hazard detector relative thereto; a front casing coupled with the back plate to define an interior region within which components of the hazard detector are contained; a circuit board mounted on the back plate and having a plurality of components coupled to the circuit board to support the components and electrically couple the components; an alarm device mounted on the circuit board, the alarm device being activatable upon detection of a hazard so as to warn an occupant of the building or structure of a potential danger; a hazard sensor coupled with the circuit board and having one or more components configured to detect a potentially hazardous condition so as to trigger the alarm device; one or more sensors mounted on the circuit board and electrically coupled with the circuit board, the one or more sensors being configured to detect a presence and/or movement of objects and/or persons external to the hazard detector; and a cover plate coupled with the front casing so as to face an occupant of a room or area in which the hazard detector is positioned, wherein the cover plate includes a relatively large population of relatively small openings, the small openings being positioned, configured, and dimensioned so (A) internal components are substantially hidden from view of the occupant, while (B) air is allowed to substantially freely flow to the one or more internal components through the cover plate in a relatively unimpeded manner, while (C) the one or more sensors are capable of so detecting the objects and/or persons from behind the cover plate, wherein a collective area of the small openings is at least 30% of the cover plate.