Abstract:
A detector system that utilizes a remote backup power source to provide backup power to a plurality of detectors. The detector system is configured so that if the primary power source, typically a commercially available 110V power source, to one or more of the detectors is cut, the remote backup power source will provide power to those detector(s) lacking power. The remote backup power source can be a rechargeable battery and can be strategically placed in a residence, such as in a utility room or garage, so as to make the battery readily accessible to the residence&#39;s occupant(s).

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application filed Oct. 11, 2002 as Ser. No. 10/269,242, from which priority is claimed. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to detector systems, such as smoke detector systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a detector system comprising multiple detectors connected to a single backup power source, such as a battery.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The use of detectors, such as smoke detectors, is known in the art. The International Building Code (“IBC”) currently imposes a number of requirements on all smoke detectors built into new residential dwellings. According to the IBC, all residential smoke detectors must be connected to a commercial power source, for example, a 110V power source, and must have a battery backup in case the commercial power source is disconnected. Additionally, the IBC requires that all smoke detectors in a system ring if any of the detectors detects smoke.  
           [0004]    Unlike other detectors, in current commercial smoke detector systems, each smoke detector in the system has provided in it, an individual battery as a backup power source. That is, if there are eight detectors in the system, then there will be eight different batteries used as backup power sources in the system. These batteries are typically 9V batteries that are readily available commercially. However, commercial detector systems suffer from a number of disadvantages. The backup batteries typically must be replaced every 6 to 12 months. If the backup batteries are not replaced, a detector will emit a periodic beeping sound to alert the home occupant that its backup battery charge is getting low. The periodic beeping will continue until the battery charge is too low, at which time the beeping will cease. Typically, the periodic beeping that indicates a low battery charge will last about 1 to 2 weeks until the backup battery charge is virtually non existent (i.e., the backup battery is completely dead). If a home occupant happens to be out of the dwelling during the 1 to 2 weeks the detector is beeping, such as would happen if the home occupant is on vacation, the home occupant would not be alerted to the dead backup battery. Consequently, the backup battery may not get replaced for quite some time, making the dwelling less safe.  
           [0005]    Additionally, smoke detectors are typically placed in places that are difficult to reach, such as the peak of a vaulted ceiling, making replacement of the backup battery difficult, especially for elderly individuals or individuals that are physically handicapped.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention addresses the issues presented above by providing a detector system that utilizes a remote backup power source to provide backup power to smoke detectors. Detector systems of the present invention are generally powered by a primary power source, typically a commercially available 110V power source. The detector system is configured so that if the primary power source to one or more of the detectors is cut, the remote backup power source will provide power to those detector(s) lacking power. In a preferred embodiment, the remote backup power source is a battery. The remote backup battery is strategically placed in a residence so as to make the battery readily accessible to the residence&#39;s occupant(s), generally, in a garage, basement, storage room, or the like, wherein the control of the battery and its accessibility can be by a person without the use of ladders, scaffolding, or the like. What is meant by “remote”, or “remotely”, in this invention is that the backup battery is dislocated from the individual smoke detectors, and is readily accessible to a person without the use of ladders, scaffolding, or the like. Such “dislocation”, would be in a garage, basement, storage, room, utility room, or the like.  
         THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    What is claimed herein as the first embodiment of the invention is a smoke detector system, comprising at least one smoke detector. Each such smoke detector is electrically connected to a primary power source, and each such smoke detector is adapted to detect one or more conditions and to activate by emitting a warning signal when one or more of the conditions is detected. There is a backup battery, the back up battery being remotely dislocated from, and being hard-wired directly to, all such smoke detectors. In addition, there is a monitoring circuitry capable of electrically connecting the backup battery to any detector that becomes electrically disconnected from the primary power source.  
           [0008]    In a second embodiment, the remote backup battery is a rechargeable battery. In a third embodiment, the rechargeable battery is connected to a trickle charge so that the rechargeable battery is continuously being charged whenever the detector system is connected to the primary power source. In a fourth embodiment, each detector has a corresponding indicator that indicates whether the detector is being powered by the primary power source or whether the detector is being powered by the backup power source. In a fifth embodiment, the detectors can all be tested simultaneously. In a sixth embodiment, the detector system of the present invention is configured so that if a single detector is activated due to detection of smoke, all detectors sound to alert any residential occupants. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example in the following drawings in which like references indicate like elements. The following drawings disclose various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic for one example of a detector system according to the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of monitoring circuitry useful in embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic of detector circuitry useful in embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic of one example of circuitry that monitors the charge level of the backup battery in embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic of circuitry for generating a test signal in embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    In the following detailed description of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0016]    An example of a detector system according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Detector system  100  comprises a plurality of individual detectors  102 . Each detector  102  is adapted to detect smoke and to activate by emitting a warning signal (for example, a loud sound) when one or more of the conditions is detected. Detectors known in the art can be readily adapted for use in the present invention by those of ordinary skill in the electrical arts. The detectors  102  do not all have to be identical.  
         [0017]    Detector systems of the present invention are connected to a first or primary electrical power source and a second or backup electrical power source. In normal operation, detector systems of the present invention are powered by the primary power source. Detector systems of the present invention are designed so that if the primary power source is lost, power is switched to the backup power source. Most commonly, the primary power source is a commercially available AC power source such as is generally provided to residential dwellings. The backup power source is commonly a DC power source as a backup battery.  
         [0018]    In FIG. 1, the detector system  100 , including detectors  102 , is electrically connected to a primary power source  104 , which in FIG. 1 is an 110V power source. The detector system  100 , including detectors  102  is electrically connected to a backup power source  106 , which in FIG. 1 is a 12V backup battery. The voltage of the backup battery may vary depending on the application. For example, a 12V battery will supply sufficient power for most residential detector systems. In some applications a 9V battery will supply sufficient power. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that higher voltage batteries can be advantageously utilized in detector systems of the present invention.  
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, the backup power source in detector systems of the present invention will be a rechargeable battery connected to a trickle charge. A trickle charge is known in the electrical arts and allows the rechargeable backup battery to be continuously recharged whenever the present detector system is powered by the primary power source. Whenever the primary source is lost, the backup battery will power the plurality of detectors until the primary power source is restored at which time the backup battery will be recharged. It should be noted that commercial rechargeable batteries have a significantly longer life span than non rechargeable batteries. A typical 12V rechargeable battery may last up to approximately 20 years.  
         [0020]    In detector systems of the present invention, multiple detectors can be connected to a single, remote backup power source. In a preferred embodiment, the detector system utilizes a single, remote backup battery to power the detector system, including all the individual detectors, whenever power from the primary power source is lost. Detectors in systems of the present invention are electrically connected to power source monitoring circuitry. The power source monitoring circuitry of the present invention is designed to detect when the primary power source has been disconnected or otherwise lost. The power source monitoring circuitry of the present invention is further designed to electrically switch the detector to the backup power source, typically a DC power source such as a backup battery, whenever the circuitry detects that the primary power source has been disconnected from the detector.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a power source monitoring circuit  202  according to the present invention. Monitoring wire  204  connects monitoring circuit  202  to detector  102  at point  108  on detector  102  and at point  110  on terminal T 1 . As shown in FIG. 2, monitoring circuit  202  is also connected to point  110  on terminal T 1 . As demonstrated in FIG. 3, each detector  102  is designed so that monitoring line  204  has power whenever the detector  102  has power via the primary power source. Typically, monitoring line  204  will be an 110V line. Monitoring circuit  202  is connected to detector  102  via line  206  at contact  210  on detector  102  and contact  114  on terminal T 1 .  
         [0022]    Monitoring circuit  202  is also connected to detector  102  via ground line  208  at contact  212  on detector  102  and at contact  118  on terminal T 1 . Circuit board  112  connects monitoring circuit  202  to the backup power source  106  by connecting contact  114  on terminal T 1  to contact  116 . Circuit board  112  also connects monitoring circuit  202  to the backup power source  106  by connecting contact  118  on terminal T 1  to contact  120 . Detectors  122 , 124 , 126 , 128 , and  130  are similarly all connected to backup power source  106  via a monitoring circuit.  
         [0023]    The monitoring circuit  202  performs as a switch. Whenever power is available via monitoring line  204 , the switch is open and no power is supplied from the backup power source  106  to the detector  102 . However, whenever there is a loss of power on monitoring line  204 , monitoring circuit  202  detects the loss of power and closes the switch, supplying detector  202  with power from the backup power source  106  via lines  206  and  208 .  
         [0024]    Similarly, if a monitoring circuit connected to detectors  122 , 124 , 126 , 128 , or  130  detects a loss of power, it will supply power from backup power source  106  to the corresponding detector.  
         [0025]    Monitoring circuits in preferred embodiments of the present invention comprises indicators to indicate whether the corresponding detector is receiving power from the primary power source. For example, a monitoring circuit may comprise an LED that lights whenever power is available via the monitoring line and does not light whenever there is a loss of power on the monitoring line. In this manner, an individual (a residential occupant, for example) can quickly see which detectors, if any, are not getting power from the primary power source. The use and advantage of monitoring circuit indicators is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Monitoring circuit  202  comprises LED indicator  214 . Whenever monitoring circuit  202  detects power from the primary power source on monitoring line  204  via contact  110 , the LED indicator  214  light will be on. Whenever monitoring circuit  202  detects a loss of power from the primary power source on monitoring line  204  via contact  110 , the LED indicator  214  light will be off.  
         [0026]    As demonstrated in FIG. 1 the LED indicators can all be placed in a single, easily visible location such as on the circuit board  112 . Thus, an individual can quickly observe which detectors are receiving power from the primary power source by observing which LED indicators are lit.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic of detector circuitry useful in detector systems of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates how the circuitry is connected to contacts  108 , 210 ,  212 , and  302 . Contact  304  is connected to the hot line of the primary power source  104  and contact  306  is connected to the neutral line of the primary power source  104 . Any detector in detector systems of the present invention may be connected to any circuit of the primary power source  104 . Other circuitry known to those of ordinary skill in the art of detectors can also be advantageously utilized in detectors useful in embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0028]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention additionally comprise circuitry that monitors the charge level in the backup power source. FIG. 4 illustrates circuitry  400  that uses four LEDs to indicate the approximate percentage of charge remaining in a 12V battery, such as the backup power source  106  shown in FIG. 1. The first LED  402  indicates that approximately 100 percent of the charge is available; the second LED  404  indicates that approximately 75 percent of the charge is available; the third LED  406  indicates that approximately 50 percent of the charge is available; and the fourth LED  408  indicates that approximately 25 percent of the charge is available. When the backup power supply is a battery, circuitry  400  is helpful for informing a residential occupant, for example, when the battery should be replaced.  
         [0029]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention also comprise testing circuitry that can be advantageously utilized to simultaneously test all detectors. FIG. 5 illustrates testing circuitry  500  that can be advantageously utilized in embodiments of the present invention. Testing circuitry  500  is connecting to the primary power source via line  502  and neutral line  504 . Testing circuitry  500  is also connected to all detectors via interconnect line  132 . By way of example, interconnect line  132  is connected to detector  102  at interconnect contact  302 . The interconnect line  132  is similarly connected to other detectors at their corresponding interconnect contacts. When button  134  is depressed a 5V signal is sent to all detectors via interconnect line  132 . Each detector connected to interconnect line  132  is designed to be activated whenever a 5V signal is received at the detector&#39;s interconnect contact. The signal sent over the interconnect line to test the detectors can be any voltage so long as the detectors are designed to recognize the signal when sent to the interconnect contact via the interconnect line. In this manner, all detectors in the detector systems of the present invention can be simultaneously tested by depressing a single button. That is, any detector that does not activate when the button is depressed should be checked.  
         [0030]    In preferred embodiments of the present invention, detectors are designed such that whenever a detector is activated it will send a signal over the interconnect line to activate the other detectors. In this manner, whenever a single detector detects a smoke condition all the detectors in the detector system will be activated.  
         [0031]    While the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and ay equivalents thereto.