Abstract:
A system and method for monitoring usage and predicting failure of visual notification appliances are disclosed. The visual notification appliances may be strobe lights, which can be provided with an internal counter circuit that obtains a cumulative tally of the number of times the strobe has flashed. Since strobe service life is directly proportional to the number of flashes, monitoring the number of flashes enables proactive repair or replacement of the strobe prior to failure. Flash counts can be stored in the appliance and periodically transmitted to a remote location such as a fire panel or remote monitoring center. Flash counts can also be locally displayed, or can be readable by a user with a handheld device. Alarms or other indications may automatically be generated to alert building or service personnel when an end of life condition is approaching for one or more strobes. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to systems and methods for providing emergency notifications in buildings, and more particularly to a system and method for monitoring usage, and predicting failure, of emergency visual notification appliances. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Visual notification appliances are often used within buildings in conjunction with audio warning alarms so that the hearing impaired can be alerted to emergency conditions such as a fire. Typically, these appliances consist of flashing light strobes positioned throughout the building to provide a visual alarm indication, with a number of audible alarms and strobes often being connected in a network. 
         [0003]    Often, failure of such strobe lights occurs without warning, so that repair or replacement is performed only after a failure has occurred. Unfortunately, such failure may occur during an emergency, when the strobe light should be functioning. 
         [0004]    Because the expected life of a strobe is proportional to the cumulative number of cycles that it operates, it should be possible to predict failure so that repair or replacement can occur in a manner that minimizes the chances for light failure during an emergency. Currently, however, there is no practical method for tracking the number of times an individual strobe flashes after it has been installed. If such a method existed, it would be possible to predict when the strobe is approaching an end-of-life failure, which would enable proactive repair/replacement. 
         [0005]    It would be desirable, therefore, to provide an automated system for monitoring the number of cycles to which a visual notification appliance has been subjected. The system should provide enable proactive service or replacement to occur prior to appliance failure. The system should also provide proof that the appliances had been operated for regular fire drills and system tests. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Many notification appliances are non-addressable, which makes it difficult to track performance of an individual appliance directly on a notification circuit. With an addressable appliance, however, it is practical to transmit performance information from an individual appliance back to the fire control panel or remote service location. In either case, because the expected life of a strobe light is proportional to the cumulative number of operational cycles (i.e., flashes), providing a counter in the appliance electronics can provide a means for predicting appliance failure. 
         [0007]    For addressable appliances, a simple counting circuit may be included for tracking the cumulative number of flashes of the appliance. An electronic register in the appliance captures the cumulative count and is readable by the fire control panel, which would also know from which appliance the count applies due to its unique address. The cumulative number of flashes can be monitored by the fire panel and/or by a remote monitoring center and can be used to trigger a warning to the building owner or service provider to indicating an predicted imminent or upcoming failure of the appliance. 
         [0008]    The system may include an addressable notification appliance containing self-diagnostic sensors and circuitry, and which has a unique address that can be associated with a particular physical location in a building. The circuitry in the appliance can include an electronic counter that registers the cumulative number of duty-cycles of the strobe. A compatible fire alarm panel may also be provided, which is capable of polling the addressable notification appliances for cumulative usage information amassed in each appliance. 
         [0009]    A means of reading and/or recording the number of duty cycles for each appliance may be connected to the fire panel. In one embodiment, a panel display or a service tool is provided. In another embodiment, the reading/recording functionality is provided at a remote service location. 
         [0010]    For non-addressable appliances, an electronic counter may be implemented in the appliance circuitry. The contents of the counter may then be transmitted to a portable test and inspection tool, where the count could be displayed. Alternatively, the count could be displayed on a visual display contained in the appliance. 
         [0011]    In addition, the system may include a means for communicating a “trouble” condition at the fire alarm panel when an appliance exceeds a specified cumulative number of duty cycles. A visual notification appliance is disclosed, comprising a strobe light, a counter for storing a number of times said strobe light has flashed, and a display for providing an alert to a user when a predetermined number of flashes has occurred. 
         [0012]    A visual notification appliance is disclosed, comprising a light source, an interface for receiving a command to flash the light source, an electronic counter for storing a number of times the light source has flashed during a time interval, and means for reporting a message representative of the stored number of times the light source has flashed. 
         [0013]    A method is disclosed for monitoring usage of a visual notification appliance. The method includes registering a count each time an associated light source flashes, obtaining cumulative count information for said light source based on said registered counts, comparing said cumulative count information to a predetermined count limit, and providing an alert when said cumulative count information exceeds the predetermined count limit. 
         [0014]    A system is disclosed for monitoring usage of a visual notification appliance. The system includes a visual notification appliance configured to register a count each time an associated light source flashes, and to obtain cumulative count information based on said registered counts. The system also includes a receiver configured to compare said cumulative count information to a predetermined count limit and provide an alert when said cumulative count information exceeds the predetermined count limit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    By way of example, a specific embodiment of the disclosed system will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary building alarm system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of an exemplary visual notification appliance; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a method of operating the system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary alarm monitoring system  1  generally comprises one or more protected premises  12  and a central monitoring station  14  connected to a telecommunications network. A communication link  16  enables communication between an alarm control panel  32  at the protected premises  12  and an alarm receiver  44  at the central monitoring station  14 . The communication link  16  can be a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), a cellular network such as, for example, a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network for SMS and packet voice communication, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network for packet data and voice communication, or a data network such as, for example, Ethernet/Internet for TCP/IP, VOIP communication, etc. 
         [0020]    The protected premises  12  includes an alarm control panel  32  connected to one or more appliances and/or devices  34 ,  36 ,  38 . The appliances/devices  34 ,  36 ,  38  may be any of a variety of sensors and alarms configured to detect events such as fire at the protected premises  12 , and to provide alarm notifications in response to commands from the alarm control panel  32  and/or the central monitoring station  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the appliances/devices comprise a fire detector  34 , a smoke detector  36  and a visual notification appliance (i.e., a strobe light)  38 . 
         [0021]    The alarm control panel  32  can collect alarm events from the detector devices  34 ,  36  and format alarm messages for transmission to the central monitoring station  14 . Alarm message formats can be any of several well-known formats or protocols, including, but not limited to, Security Industry Association (SIA), 3X1, 4X2, Contact ID or per point ID (CID), and binary frequency shift key (BFSK). 
         [0022]    The alarm control panel  32  can include a processor  39 , memory  40  and a communication port  42 . The memory  40  may contain program instructions executed by the processor to perform alarm control panel functions including alarm collection and message formatting. The communication port  42  functions as an alarm communicator to dial a preprogrammed telephone number to access the central monitoring station  14  and transmit formatted alarm messages. In one embodiment, the alarm control panel does not include a communication port  42 , but instead includes adigital alarm communicator transmitter (DACT) that performs the communication port function. 
         [0023]    The central monitoring station  14  can include an alarm receiver  44  and an alarm processor system  46 . The alarm receiver  44  can include a hard wired or wireless modem coupled to communication link  16 . Alarm messages are received by the station receiver  44  from the protected premises  12  and passed to the alarm processor system  46  for processing and response. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary notification appliance  47 . Lines  48  and  50  provide electrical power to the notification appliance  47 . As will be described, the notification appliance  47  may include both audible (i.e., horn) and visual (i.e., strobe) notification features. It will be appreciated, however, that notification appliance  47  may include only a visual notification feature. 
         [0025]    The notification appliance  47  may include a communications decoder  52  and a power conditioning unit  54 . Line  48 ,  50  are coupled to the communications decoder  52  and a power conditioning unit  54  to provide power to the appliance. The communications decoder  52  may interpret commands or polls received from a system controller, which in one embodiment is alarm control panel  32 . A microcontroller  56  is coupled to the decoder  52 , and controls operation of the visible notification appliance (strobe  38 ) in response to commands issued by the alarm control panel  32 . The microcontroller  56  may also control operation an audible notification appliance  58 , such as a horn, and an indicator LED  60 . 
         [0026]    The notification appliance  47  may further include a switch  62  for enabling individual notification appliances to be tested. A timer  64  may be connected to the microcontroller  56  to control the actuation/firing of the visual and/or audible alarms of the respective notification appliance. 
         [0027]    Strobe  38  can include a strobe circuit  66  which includes a charging circuit  68  and a firing circuit  70 . The charging circuit  68  is powered by the power lines  48 ,  50  which apply a series of current pulses to a capacitor to charge the capacitor. Accordingly, a pulse width modulator (PWM)  72  is provided in strobe  38  to control the charging circuit  68 . The firing circuit  70  responds to a change in voltage across the power lines  48 ,  50  to discharge the capacitor through the strobe  38 . 
         [0028]    A counter  74  is provided to track the cumulative number of times that the strobe  38  is fired. Counter  74  can be provided within the strobe circuit  66  or the microcontroller  56 . In one embodiment, the counter  74  comprises a register circuit, and increments in value each time the capacitor of the charging circuit  68  discharges. It will be appreciated that this is an exemplary implementation of a counter, and that other counting arrangements may also be used. For example, a non-volatile electro-mechanical counter could be used, as could a mechanical dial or gearing that is physically advanced in proportion to cumulative usage cycles. Alternatively, a variable resistor whose resistance increases or decreases in proportion to the cumulative cycles could also be used. 
         [0029]    Where the notification appliance  47  is an “addressable” appliance (i.e., it contains a unique IP address on the network), the appliance  47  can communicate with the alarm control panel  32  and/or the central monitoring station  14  using its address. 
         [0030]    In this way, the alarm control panel  32  and/or the central monitoring station  14  can collect cumulative usage information for each strobe  38  at the protected premises  12 . 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, count information from the counter  74  may be sent to the alarm control panel  32  and/or the central monitoring station  14  by the microcontroller  56 . Count information can be sent periodically, or it may be sent when a particular threshold count has been reached. Alternatively, the alarm control panel  32  and/or the central monitoring station  14  may poll the notification appliance  47  to obtain count information. Such polling can occur on a periodic basis, or any other basis as desired. 
         [0032]    The alarm control panel  32  and/or the central monitoring station  14  may store cumulative count information for individual strobes  38 . An alert may be provided when the count information for a particular strobe  38  meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold value. An alert can be in the form of a “trouble” condition on the panel (i.e., a red blinking light on the panel user interface). Alternatively, it could be an email or electronic message that is sent from the panel  32  to a central station monitoring station  14 . The alert could also be in the form of a flashing led indicator on the notification appliance. 
         [0033]    The predetermined threshold value may correspond to an expected end of service life for the associated strobe. Alternatively, the predetermined threshold may correspond to a predetermined percentage of an expected life of the associated strobe. In one example, an alert may be triggered when the flash count for a particular strobe  38  reaches 90% of the expected total number of lifetime flashes for the strobe type. It will be appreciated that any of a variety of other percentages can be used as the alert threshold (e.g., 95%, 99%). In addition, multiple triggered alerts can be provided (e.g., 90%, 95% and 99%.) 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, the notification appliance  47  is not an “addressable” appliance. Such arrangements may employ a series of notification appliances  47  in a loop configuration such that all appliances are activated simultaneously when an alarm condition is sensed. For non-addressable notification appliances, cumulative count information may be obtained using a local service tool such as a hand-held device carried by a service technician. Such hand-held devices may obtain information from the notification appliance  47  using radio-frequency (RF) or radio frequency identification (RFID). Alternatively, the hand-held device could include a magnetic probe that triggers a coded visual or audible pulse from the notification appliance that is representative of a number of cumulative cycles. This locally-collected information could then be used to determine if an end of service life condition is being approached for an individual strobe  38 . 
         [0035]    Alternatively, for non-addressable notification appliances, a local display may be provided that would display a cumulative count of the number of times the associated strobe  38  has flashed. The display could be a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED), or other appropriate display. Examples of such alternative displays include electro-mechanical (i.e., pop-up) display that is triggered by a predetermined cycle count. Alternatively, an electro-mechanical dial gauge could be used, in which needle position is proportional to cycle count. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the counter  74  can begin counting at a first use of the strobe  38 , and would include any factory testing that occurs prior to shipment. The counter could always maintain the total cumulative count. Alternative counting functions are also contemplated. For example, one counting function might be the number of flashes since the most recent test or inspection of the notification appliance  47 . In another embodiment, an audible or visual display may be provided when a predetermined number of counts has been met or exceeded. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary method for monitoring usage of a visual notification appliance  47 , and for predicting an end of life of a visual notification appliance. At step  100 , a counter registers a count each time an associated light source flashes. At step  200 , cumulative count information for said light source is obtained, based on said registered counts. At step  300 , cumulative count information is sent from the visual notification appliance to a remote device either automatically or upon a polling request. At step  400 , said cumulative count information is compared to a predetermined count limit. At step  500 , an alert is provided when said cumulative count information exceeds the predetermined count limit. In one embodiment, the predetermined count limit corresponds to an end of service life for the light source. 
         [0038]    Some embodiments of the disclosed system may be implemented, for example, using a storage medium, a computer-readable medium or an article of manufacture which may store an instruction or a set of instructions that, if executed by a machine, may cause the machine to perform a method and/or operations in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. Such a machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware and/or software. The computer-readable medium or article may include, for example, any suitable type of memory unit, memory device, memory article, memory medium, storage device, storage article, storage medium and/or storage unit, for example, memory (including non-transitory memory), removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analog media, hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks, various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a tape, a cassette, or the like. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, encrypted code, and the like, implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language. 
         [0039]    While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto