Abstract:
A modular detector includes at least one module receiving port. Members of a plurality of modules have a common form factor and are removably insertable into the port. Members of the plurality, when inserted, implement a selected communication, sensing or output function. One module can be removed and replaced with another thereby changing detector characteristics. A respective detector could have several ports to receive a plurality of insertable modules.

Description:
[0001]    The benefit of the filing date of Dec. 7, 1999 of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/172,458 is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention pertains to ambient condition detectors. More particularly, the invention pertains to such detectors which facilitate user flexibility in defining over-all function characteristics.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Smoke detectors have become commonly used in residential applications. Many residences incorporate a plurality of such detectors either operating in a stand-alone fashion or interconnected in some way.  
           [0004]    Known detectors are manufactured in large quantities using automated manufacturing equipment, and, as a result, have become very cost effective in inexpensive consumer products. Automated manufacturing processes provide maximum economic benefit where large numbers of identical products can be manufactured. While beneficial from a cost perspective, large volume manufacturing produces products having a common set of functional parameters with little or no opportunity to vary those parameters subsequent to production.  
           [0005]    There are times where it might be desirable to be able to vary the parameters of a detector. For example, while fire detectors very often incorporate smoke sensors, it might be desirable to also incorporate a temperature or a humidity sensor in some installations but not all. Additionally, it might be desirable to be able to provide a voice messaging output function for some installations but not others.  
           [0006]    There are thus continues to be a need to be able to manufacture detectors which exhibit a greater degree of functional variability than heretofore has been available in volume. Preferably, such flexibility could be provided without significantly increasing manufacturing costs or detector complexity.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A detector system includes a common mechanical/electrical, section and a plurality of electrical interchangeable modules. The modules have a common physical form factor and a common electrical interface. Different modules provide different functions implemented at least in part by respective circuitry carried therein.  
           [0008]    The common section can be combined with a user selected set of modules prior to installation. The user can alter the module mix after installation.  
           [0009]    In one embodiment, a single station smoke detector has the ability to receive various plug-in modules at the consumer&#39;s discretion. In one aspect, a smoke alarm has the flexibility of add-on functions such as RF (radio-frequency), remote testing and monitoring, voice alarm, I-chip for internet protocol and a modem. These functions can be selectively provided using a plurality of plug-in modules having a standardized interface and form factor. This invention provides the consumer with a myriad of different functional choices. In one embodiment, a microprocessor uses each plug-in module&#39;s function and performance to provide a customized, user alterable, detector.  
           [0010]    The detector can incorporate fire/smoke sensors, gas, chemical, humidity, temperature sensors and other sensors. These can be permanently installed or addable using modules. Other types of interfaces or outputs can be provided using modules.  
           [0011]    Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an over-all block diagram of a system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the system of FIG. 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 6. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawing and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 illustrates a modular system  10  in accordance with the present invention. System  10  incorporates a support element  10   a  which could be implemented for example as one or more printed circuit boards. Support element  10   a  as would be understood by those of skill in the art would be carried by a housing generally indicated at  10   b.    
         [0021]    In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, control circuitry  12 , implemented using a programmed processor is carried on the board or element  10   a . The control circuitry  12  includes a plurality of analog input ports  12   a, b, c  which are coupled to internal analog/digital converters. A plurality of bidirectional digital ports  12   d  provide four or eight bit binary bidirectional communication.  
         [0022]    System  10  can incorporate a plurality of ambient condition sensors such as smoke sensors  14 ,  16  illustrated as exemplary ionization-type and photoelectric-type smoke sensors. Detector  10  can also incorporate other sensors generally indicated at  18 .  
         [0023]    Outputs from the respective sensors  14 - 18  can be coupled through interface circuitry  14   a ,  16   a  and  18   a  to the analog inputs of control circuitry  12  as would be understood by those of skill in the art.  
         [0024]    System  10  incorporates, for example, a plurality of modules  24  which are removably couplable via a plurality of connectors  26 , carried on support element  10   a , to control circuitry  12 . It will be understood that while connectors  26  are illustrated coupled to the binary input/output ports  12   d  of control circuitry  12 , that if other forms of control circuitry such as hardwired elements are used, corresponding connections would be made to connectors  26 .  
         [0025]    Each of the modules of the plurality  24 , such as modules  24   a, b  . . .  1  provides circuitry for implementing a function not present in essentially permanent form in system  10 . Rather, by selecting among the available modules, it is possible to customize the functional characteristics of respective ones of systems  10  to provide differing functions. For example, if the infrared remote module  24   b  is selected, it will be possible to remotely conduct tests of the specific form of the system  10  using a displaced infrared source, to silence nuisance alarms and the like. Alternately, if voice module  24   c  is selected, a speech output can be provided in addition to any alarm indicating tones which might be provided either by an audible output device permanently coupled to control circuits  12  or one carried by module  24   a.    
         [0026]    Each of the modules exhibits a standardized form factor, illustrated by representative housing  24   a - 1 . Carried within the housing is respective circuitry such as  24   a - 2  which provides the desired functionality of the respective module. Circuitry  24   a - 2  is coupled via connector element  24   a - 3  to control circuitry  12  where the respective module is plugged into or engaged with respective connector  26 , such as connector  26   a.    
         [0027]    Since the illustrative system  10  incorporates four system connectors  24   a, b, c, d,  four different functional modules can be selected and incorporated thereinto. It will be understood that not all four modules need be selected for every installation. More modules can be provided if desired.  
         [0028]    The present invention provides great flexibility to a user whereby representative detector  10  can be installed at a user&#39;s premises, such as the user&#39;s house, and the selected module combination can be varied by the user both before or after installation to provide a customized detector system for that particular installation.  
         [0029]    It will be understood that the number of connectors  26  is exemplary only and is not a limitation of the present invention. Similarly, the functionality of exemplary modules  24  is also merely exemplary and is not a limitation of the present invention.  
         [0030]    Various configurations of housings, such as the housing  10   b  and selected modules  24  are discussed subsequently. It will be understood that various modular detector systems  10 - 1 , - 2 , - 3  which are discussed subsequently are merely exemplary and other variations are possible and come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0031]    It will also be understood by those of skill in the art that the use of standardized modules as disclosed herein makes it possible to not only obtain the benefit of economics of scale from automated manufacturing of standardized products, such as the system  10 , exclusive of the modules, but also to retain the benefits of flexibility. The modules  24  provide user flexibility of a type heretofore not available in residential ambient condition detectors.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate various views of a detector system  10 - 1  wherein the modules can be inserted into an exposed, user-accessible, surface of the housing  10   b - 1 . With respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, housing  10   b - 1  is formed with a cover  30  which has a rotatable door  30   a  attached thereto. The cover  30  is in turn attached to base  30   b  which has an exterior mounting surface  32  which is intended to be located adjacent to a mounting surface S such as a ceiling via a mounting bracket  33 . When so-mounted, the pivotable door  30   a  extends away from the ceiling and is accessible to a user.  
         [0033]    The system  10   a - 1  incorporates printed circuit boards or mounting elements  10   a - 1  and  10   a - 2  corresponding to element  10   a  of FIG. 1.  
         [0034]    As illustrated in FIG. 3, control circuitry  12  can be carried, for example, on mounting element  10   a - 2  along with other electronic circuitry and if desired, a permanently mounted audible output device  19 . The device  19  could for example be capable of generating a plurality of alarm indicating output tones as would be known to those of skill in the art.  
         [0035]    When the cover  30   a  has been rotated to an open position, the user is provided access to a plurality of ports  30 - 1 , - 2  and - 3  in surface  30   c  of cover  30 . The ports  30 - 1 , - 2  and - 3  provide mechanical access for selected modules from the plurality  24 , such as modules  24   b, c,  and  i  to be inserted into the cover  30  and to removably engage control element  12  via connectors such as connectors  26  and  24   i - 3 .  
         [0036]    Insertion of the indicated modules into the ports  30 - 1 ,  30 - 2  and  30 - 3  provides an easy and convenient way for a user to provide selected additional functions in the respective systems  10 - 1  not present in the common base portion thereof. The functionality can be revised and altered during the life of the system 10   a - 1  by changing the mix of inserted modules  24 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternate configuration, system  10 - 2 . In system  10 - 2 , cover  40  encloses a rotating access door  40   a.  Both cover  40  and access door  40   a  are slotted for a plurality of module receiving slots  40 - 1 ,  40 - 2 ,  40 - 3  and  40 - 4 .  
         [0038]    In the configuration of FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of modules, such as modules  24   b,    24   c,    24   i  and  24   k  extend laterally relative to a central axis of cover  40  through ports  40 - 1  . . . - 4  in cover  40  and rotating access door  40   a.  When so inserted, the respective modules slideably engage control circuitry  12  via connectors such as connectors  24   b - 3 ,  24   c - 3 ,  24   i - 3 ,  24   k - 3  and connectors  26 .  
         [0039]    It will be understood that less than four modules can be used with the system  10 - 3  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In such an instance, detector system  10 - 3  would simply provide fewer selected functions than in an instance where a larger number of modules was being used.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate yet another configuration in a system  10 - 3 -. In the system  10 - 3 , ports  50 - 1  . . .  50 - n  are provided in cover and base sections  50 ,  50   b.  The ports  50 - 1  . . .  50   n  provide user access for a selected number of modules from the plurality  24  which can be removably inserted through the respective port to engage control circuitry  12 . Additionally, in the event that fewer modules are selected than there are available ports, a plurality of missing module plugs  54  can be used as inserts to fill in unused ports  50 - i  for aesthetic purposes and to keep dust and other debris from the interior of the housing  50 .  
         [0041]    It will be understood that a variety of additional features can be incorporated into the respective detector systems without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Representative additional types of features include test activation switches or buttons such as button  60 , or, display  62  which can be incorporated into respective housings, such as the housing  50 , to provide alpha numeric readouts such as concentration status and the like. It will be understood that such features while convenient and desirable at times are selectable and provideable without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. They can also be provided via one or more plug-in modules.  
         [0042]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.