Patent Publication Number: US-8970371-B2

Title: Self-contained detection method and device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a §371 application from PCT/FR2011/050335 filed Feb. 17, 2011, which claims priority from French Patent Application No. 10 00674 filed Feb. 17, 2010, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FILED OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention concerns an autonomous detection method and device. It applies in particular to autonomous domestic detectors, particularly of smoke, gas, notably carbonic, fire or flames. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Autonomous domestic detectors basically comprise at least one sensor, for example of smoke or heat, at least one alarm, generally audible, an autonomous power supply, in the form of a battery, and a test button. This test button serves to trigger a signal emitted by the alarm to confirm that the detector is operating correctly. 
     However, the best position of such a detector is on the ceiling and reaching the button is difficult, especially for persons with reduced mobility. Because the test button is difficult to reach many users never test their detectors, so that these are no longer in operating condition. 
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of this invention is to remedy these disadvantages. 
     To this end, according to a first aspect, this invention envisages a detection device, comprising a sensor, a power supply and an alarm, which comprises:
         an acousto-electric transducer designed, when it is active, to receive an acoustic signal and emit an electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal and   a means of recognizing a predefined acoustic signal according to the electrical signal emitted by said transducer and triggering the emission of a message by said alarm when said predefined signal is recognized;
 
the acoustic-electric transducer is only activated at regular intervals.
       

     Thanks to these provisions, the detection device&#39;s test function can be controlled remotely without utilizing a remote control, hertzian communication or other means of remote communication, for example utilizing WiFi (acronym for Wireless Fidelity) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) standards, which entail the use of costly components and also significant electrical consumption that are contrary to the autonomy of the detection means. 
     According to particular features, said alarm is an electro-acoustic transducer and is combined with the acousto-electric transducer. 
     For example, the audible alarm comprises a loud-speaker or a piezoelectric material and the return signals received by the audible alarm serve to detect the predefined sound signal. Implementing this invention is therefore particularly inexpensive. 
     According to particular features, the detection device that is the subject of this invention comprises a microphone. 
     Thanks to these provisions, sensitivity to sound signals is increased. 
     According to particular features, the detection device that is the subject of this invention comprises a means of analyzing values of an operating parameter of the device and a means of generating the message designed so that said message is representative of said value. 
     According to particular features, the means of analyzing values of different operating parameters of the device is designed to estimate a quantity of energy remaining available in an autonomous power supply; the message is representative of said energy quantity. 
     For example, the analysis means is designed to determine the quantity of energy remaining available in an autonomous power supply and/or a useful life of the electrical power supply; the message indicates the available energy level. 
     According to particular features, the recognition means is also designed to detect a predefined signal requesting a temporary suspension of the detection device&#39;s operation and, as a result, to trigger the suspension of the detection device&#39;s operation for a predefined length of time. 
     For example, when the user has guests who smoke, lights a fire in the fireplace or cooks food on a portable stove, smoke or fire detection can be suspended for a few hours. 
     According to particular features, the recognition means is designed to recognize a human voice and a message conveyed by said voice. 
     Thanks to these provisions, the user can vocally control the detection device&#39;s test function. 
     According to particular features, the detection device comprises a means of generating a sound message designed to be recognized by a detection device that is the subject of this invention, as described in brief above. 
     Thanks to these provisions, detection devices can communicate with each other. 
     According to particular features, the detection device comprises a means of generating a sound message designed to be recognized by a home automation device. 
     Thanks to these provisions, the detection device can have its status remotely communicated, or centralized with those of other detection devices, by the home automation device so that the user can easily obtain the communication of this status. 
     According to particular features, the device that is the subject of this invention, as described in brief above, comprises an indicator light commanded to emit a light signal at regular time intervals; the acousto-electric transducer and its amplification means are only activated during part of the time interval following the emission of the light signal. 
     Thanks to these provisions, the detection device&#39;s electrical consumption is reduced because recognition of the predefined sound signal is only intermittently active. 
     According to a second aspect, this invention envisages an electronic device, which comprises a means of emitting predefined sound signals likely to be recognized by a detection device that is the subject of this invention, as described in brief above. 
     According to particular features, the electronic device that is the subject of this invention consists of a mobile telephone. 
     According to a third aspect, this invention envisages a detection system comprising:
         a detection device that is the subject of this invention as described in brief above, whose acousto-electric transducer and its amplification means are only activated at regular time intervals, and   an electronic device that is the subject of this invention designed to emit the predefined sound signal during a length of time greater than the time interval and, preferably, twice the time interval.       

     Thanks to these provisions, the detection device&#39;s electrical consumption is reduced because recognition of the predefined sound signal is only intermittently active. 
     According to a fourth aspect, this invention envisages a server that comprises means of receiving a request from an electronic device and means of providing a predefined sound signal likely to be recognized by a detection device that is the subject of this invention. 
     According to a fifth aspect, this invention envisages a detection method utilizing a sensor, a power supply and an alarm, which comprises:
         a step of activating an acousto-electric transducer at regular time intervals,   a step of receiving an acoustic signal by said activated transducer and   a step of recognizing a predefined acoustic signal and triggering the emission of a message by the alarm when said predefined signal is recognized.       

     According to a sixth aspect, this invention envisages a method of emitting a predefined sound signal, which comprises a step of triggering a function of an electronic device and a step of emitting the predefined sound signal likely to be recognized by a detection device that is the subject of this invention. 
     According to a seventh aspect, this invention envisages a method of providing a sound signal, which comprises a step of receiving a request from an electronic device and a step of providing a predefined sound signal likely to be recognized by a detection device that is the subject of this invention. 
     As the particular characteristics, advantages and aims of this electronic device, this detection system, this server and of these methods are similar to those of the device that is the subject of this invention, as described in brief above, they are not repeated here. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will become apparent from the description that will follow, made, as a non-limiting example, with reference to drawings included in an appendix, in which: 
         FIG. 1  represents, schematically, a first particular embodiment of the device that is the subject of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  represents, schematically, a second particular embodiment of the device that is the subject of this invention.; 
         FIG. 3  represents, in the form of a logical diagram, steps utilized in a first particular embodiment of the method that is the subject of this invention, 
         FIG. 4  represents, schematically, a third particular embodiment of the device that is the subject of this invention; and 
         FIG. 5  represents, in the form of a logical diagram, steps utilized in a second particular embodiment of the method that is the subject of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     It is now noted that device  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , are not to scale. 
       FIG. 1  shows, attached to a horizontal surface  100 , for example a ceiling, a detection device  105  that is the subject of this invention, which comprises a sensor  110 , a power supply  140  and an alarm  120 . 
     The sensor  110  is designed to detect a predefined value of a physical quantity external to the device  105 , for example the presence of smoke or heat greater than a limit value. 
     The power supply  140  is autonomous, i.e. it is not permanently linked to a constant energy source, e.g. mains power. The power supply  140  consists, for example, of at least one battery or a storage battery. 
     The alarm  120  is represented here as an audible alarm, e.g. consisting of a loud-speaker or a piezoelectric material. In a variant, the alarm  120  comprises a luminous alarm, e.g. a light source. 
     The device  105  also comprises a control means  130 , an amplifier  125 , a means of analyzing  115  the status of the electrical power supply  140  and an acousto-electric transducer  135 . 
     The acousto-electric transducer  135  is designed to receive an acoustic signal and emit an electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal. It consists, for example, of a microphone, e.g. an electret microphone. 
     The control means  130  consists, for example, of a microprocessor associated with a non-volatile memory storing a program implementing the steps illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in addition to the standard operational steps of an autonomous detection device. The control means  130  receives:
         a signal representative of the detection of the predefined value of the external physical quantity emitted by the sensor  110 ,   a signal representative of the battery status emitted by the analysis means  115  and   the electrical signal emitted by the acousto-electric transducer  135 .       

     The control means  130  emits on output a signal representative of a sound message, notably an alarm or test message, to the amplifier  125 . The amplifier  125  is, in a way known per se, designed to amplify signals emitted by the control means  130  and transmit the amplified signals to the alarm  120  so that it emits sound signals. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the control means  130  forms a means of recognizing a predefined acoustic signal according to the electrical signal emitted by the transducer  135  and triggering the emission of a message by the alarm  120  when said predefined signal is recognized. 
     In the bottom of  FIG. 1  an electronic device  155 , a communications network  170  and a server  175  are shown. The electronic device  155 , preferably portable, consists, for example, of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (or “PDA”) or a portable computer. It may, however, consist of a desktop computer or a home automation system. 
     The electronic device  155  comprises a loud-speaker  160  and a control means  165 , for example a microprocessor. The loud-speaker  160  is electromagnetic or a piezoelectric material. The control means  165  is designed to communicate with the server  175 , via the communications network  170 , to receive sound signals able to be recognized by the control means  130 . The communications network  170  is, for example, a telephone network or a computer network, e.g. Internet. The server  175  is a voice server or a computer server. When called by the electronic device  155 , the server  175  delivers a sound message, vocally or in a digital message. In both cases, the sound message can be stored in the memory of the electronic device  155  and/or transmitted immediately by the loud-speaker  160 . 
     The sound signals designed to be recognized are, for example, DTMF (acronym for “Dual Tone Modulated Frequencies”) signals, well known in the telephone world. Preferably, these sound signals comprise a succession of frequencies of a predefined duration, so that detecting their reception is surer and cannot be confused with other natural or artificial sounds. 
     To this end, the electronic device  155  comprises a keyboard or a key (not shown) for triggering the call of the server  175  and/or the emission of the stored sound signal. 
     To test the detection device  105 , the user calls the server  175  or reads the sound message, which they keep in memory after receiving it from this server  175 , and has this transmitted by the loud-speaker  160 . When this sound message is received, the control means  130  recognizes the predefined sound signal, reads the status of the power supply  140  and has the alarm  120  emit a sound message. This latter sound message is representative of the operating condition of the device  105 . It is noted that the lack of an emission lets the user know that the device  105  is not in operational condition. The sound message can therefore be a single pulse or the alarm signal, reduced to an emission of about one second. In other embodiments, the frequency of a sinusoidal sound wave decreases with the level of energy available in the electrical power supply  140  or the ratio of the duration of an intermittent signal&#39;s silences to the duration of the emission of signals increases as the level of energy available in the power supply  140  decreases. In further embodiments, the sound message emitted by the alarm  120  is more complex, may be up to a synthetic voice signal. 
     In a variant the sound signal emitted by the alarm  120  is captured by the electronic device  155  and transmitted to the server  175 , which determines the status of the detection device. In this case, preferably, the sound signal emitted by the alarm  120  is representative of an identifier of the detection device  105 , for example its serial number stored in non-volatile memory associated to the control means  130 . In this case, the server  175  can store an item of information representative of the detection device tests carried out, as well as the dates of these tests. This storage allows the user to prove that they have carried out the detection device tests at regular intervals, e.g. at a frequency specified by regulations. Preferably, in this case the server  175  has an electronic mail sent to an electronic address of the user to attest to the fact that the specified tests have been carried out. Preferably, at the end of the regulatory period or the period specified by the manufacturer of the detection device  105 , the server  175  transmits an electronic mail inviting the user to carry out another test of each detection device. 
     The second embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2 , has all the elements of  FIG. 1  except for the transducer  135  and the alarm  120 . In this second embodiment, these two elements are replaced by a transducer  145  that serves as both alarm and acousto-electric transducer. 
     The first embodiment of the method that is the subject of this invention, illustrated in  FIG. 3 , shows a step of starting up  205  the detection device. 
     During a step  210 , the control means  130  determines, according to the signal it receives from the sensor  110 , whether a danger has been detected, by means of the value of the physical quantity detected by the sensor  110 . If yes, during a step  215  the control means  130  has the alarm  120  or  145  emit an alarm signal. Otherwise, or after step  215 , during a step  220  the control means  130  determines whether it recognizes a predefined sound signal. 
     If not, return to step  210 . In contrast, if the predefined sound signal is recognized the control means causes at least one operating parameter value of the detection device  105 , for example the status of the electrical power supply  140 , to be measured during a step  225 . Then, during a step  230 , the control means triggers the emission of a message by the alarm  120 , for example a sound message representative of the level of energy available in the electrical power supply  140 . 
     Thanks to the utilization of the device and/or method that are the subjects of this invention, a user can test each of their detection devices without having to physically reach the detection device. Thus it is easier to respect the regularity of the operating tests. 
       FIG. 4  shows, in a third embodiment of the detection device, the same elements as in  FIG. 1 , to which are added speech recognition means  150 , inserted between the transducer  135  and the control means  130 . In this embodiment, the user tests the detection device&#39;s operation by giving it a voice instruction. 
       FIG. 5  shows, in a second embodiment of the method, steps  205  to  220  of  FIG. 3 . 
     However, a step  217 , of activating an acousto-electric transducer at regular intervals, is shown between step  215  and step  220 . For example, the acousto-electric transducer is activated by powering it up, preferably jointly with the means of amplifying its output signal. In embodiments, the transducer is activated after the emission of a light signal, as described elsewhere. For example, the transducer is activated every ten or twenty seconds. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , during step  217  it is determined whether this is a period when the transducer is activated; if it is, the transducer is activated or kept activated before going to step  220 . If this is not an activation period for the transducer, the transducer is deactivated or kept deactivated and one goes back to step  210 . 
     If the result of step  220  is positive, during a step  235  the control means  130  determines whether the recognized predefined signal is an instruction to test the detection device. If not one goes to step  260 . In yes, during a step  240  a value measurement similar to that of step  225  of  FIG. 3  is performed. Then, during a step  245  the detection device collects operating test results for other equivalent detection devices. To this end, the detection device emits a predefined test instruction sound signal with sufficient power for the other detection devices to receive it and waits to receive, in return, the sound messages representative of the operating conditions of the other detection devices. Preferably, an emission order is implemented, either during the interrogation by the device  105 , for example by successively identifying the other devices in the test instruction messages and waiting for their response before proceeding to the next detection device or, during installation, by providing for staggered response times for the other detection devices. For example each of the other detection devices is assigned, by programming or electrical jumpers, a time interval during which it must, from the reception of a test instruction, emit its response. 
     Once the messages have been collected, during a step  250  the control means determines whether maintenance must be carried out on the detection installation comprising the detection devices, based on the results of the operating parameter results. 
     Then, during a step  255  the detection device  105  emits a sound message representative of the measurement results and the possible need for maintenance operations. This message may be destined for the user, the server  175 , via the device  155  and the network  170 , or for a home automation system designed to communicate remotely and/or display text messages in plain text. 
     Following step  255  one goes back to step  210 . If the result of step  235  is negative, during a step  260  it is determined whether the recognized predefined signal during step  220  is an instruction to temporarily suspend operation. If not, go back to step  210 . If yes, during a step  265 , the detection device&#39;s operation is suspended and, if they are designed to communicate with each other, other equivalent detection devices&#39; operations are also suspended. Then after a predefined delay time, e.g. three hours, one goes back to step  210 . 
     Thus, the user can carry out activities likely to trigger an alarm during this delay time, such as smoke, light a fire in a fireplace or cook food. 
     Thanks to the utilization of the second embodiment of the method that is the subject of this invention, a user can test each of their detection devices, at the same time and without having to physically reach the detection device, and know whether maintenance operations are necessary. Thus it is even easier to respect the regularity of the operating tests. 
     Preferably for each of the embodiments described above means, especially software, are provided to reduce electric power consumption. 
     In embodiments the control means  130  only starts up the acousto-electric transducer,  135  or  145 , and/or any amplifier amplifying the electrical signal it emits, at a regular time interval. 
     In variants of these embodiments, the duration of these time intervals is several seconds and the electronic device  155  is designed to emit the predefined sound signal during a length of time greater than this time interval and, preferably, twice this time interval. 
     In variants of these embodiments, an indicator light is provided, e.g. a light-emitting diode (“LED”), which lights up briefly to indicate to the user when to have the predefined sound signal emitted. In these variants, the duration of the time interval can be extended to several tens of seconds.