Patent ID: 6107925
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
In a fire detector having a smoke detector for producing a smoke detector output signal and electrical circuitry for receiving the smoke detector output signal and for generating an alarm signal in response to the satisfaction of a smoke detector output signal fire detection criteria, a method for dynamically adjusting the smoke detector output signal fire detection criteria, comprising:providing a carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) detector for forming a sequence of measurements of CO.sub.2 concentration;providing a communicative connection between the CO.sub.2 detector and the electrical circuitry;sending the measurements of CO.sub.2 concentration from the CO.sub.2 detector to the electrical circuitry by way of the communicative connection;determining an estimate of the a priori probability of the existence of a fire from the CO.sub.2 measurements; andaltering a smoke detector output signal fire detection criterion in response to the estimate of the a priori probability of the existence of a fire.