Patent Publication Number: US-2016225243-A1

Title: Fire alarm apparatus and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of fire alarm systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for powering the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A smoke detector is a device that detects smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. Commercial, industrial, and mass residential devices issue a signal to a fire alarm system, while household detectors, known as smoke alarms, generally issue a local audible or visual alarm from the detector itself. 
     Smoke detectors in large commercial, industrial, and residential buildings are usually powered by a central fire alarm system, which is powered by the building power with a battery backup. However, in many single family detached and smaller multiple family housings, a smoke alarm is often powered only by a battery. 
     Smoke detectors powered by the central fire alarm system, which is powered by the building power, may include an automated telephone or other communication means, for alerting far distanced persons or services. 
     The methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions for strengthening smoke detectors powered by local batteries. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a powerful alerting system by an apparatus which does not require any wiring. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a fire alarm apparatus ( 10 ), comprising:
         a smoke detector ( 26 ), for detecting smoke ( 44 ), providing fire indication;   a sound alerting component ( 64 ), for sounding a sound alert upon the fire indication;   a cellular telephony assembly ( 40 ), for initiating a cellular communication with another party upon the fire indication;   a locating component ( 28 ), for providing information on a location of the fire alarm apparatus ( 10 ), and transmitting the information to another party via the cellular communication;   a switching circuitry ( 20 ), for reading from the smoke detector ( 26 ) the fire indication, and activating the sound alert, and the cellular communication upon fire indication;   a connection to a power source of a building and a battery ( 24 ) for permanently powering the fire alarm system;   a microphone ( 66 ), a sound amplifier and a speaker ( 64 ), for allowing talking via the cellular telephone assembly with people trapped in fire near said alarm apparatus.       

     The cellular telephony assembly ( 40 ) may comprise a SIM (subscriber identity module) card ( 22 ), 
     thereby the fire alarm apparatus ( 10 ) may comprise a unique identity. 
     The locating component ( 28 ), may obtain the location via a GPS component, a cellular triangulation, a memory component which stores this information in advance, and so on. 
     The fire alarm apparatus may further comprise:
         a memory ( 62 ) for storing at least one subscriber identity to be called in the initiated call.       

     The fire alarm apparatus may further comprise:
         a user interface ( 60 ), for inputting at least one subscriber identity to be called in the initiated call.       

     The fire alarm apparatus may further comprise:
         a connector ( 30 ), for connecting a user interface ( 60 ) thereto.       

     The initiated call may comprise a member selected from a group including: a written message, an SMS (Short Messaging System) message, a vocal message, two-way conversation. 
     The cellular telephony assembly ( 40 ) may further comprise a remote server, for registering activities of the fire alarm apparatus. 
     The fire alarm apparatus may further comprise:
         a pedestal ( 36 ), for placing the fire alarm apparatus ( 10 ) thereon, for allowing smoke ( 44 ) enter through apertures ( 56 ) of a package ( 16 ) disposed at the bottom of the fire alarm apparatus ( 10 ).       

     The fire alarm apparatus ( 10 ) may further comprise: 
     a delay component ( 54 ) being initiated upon the detection of the smoke ( 44 ), for operating a dialer ( 52 ) of the cellular telephony assembly ( 40 ) upon completing a pre-determined delay period, thereby dialing substantially upon completing initialization of the cellular telephony assembly ( 40 ). 
     The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the 
     understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a fire alarm apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a switching circuitry of the switching circuitry of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts the use of the fire alarm apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts disposition of the fire alarm apparatus of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, 
     systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a fire alarm apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     A fire alarm apparatus  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a smoke detector  26  receiving smoke  44  through apertures 
       56  of a package  16 , for detecting smoke indicating fire; a cellular telephony assembly  40  for initiating a call upon detecting the smoke; and a battery  24  for powering smoke detector  26  and cellular telephony assembly  40 . 
     The smoke detector may apply optical detection by photoelectric effect, by ionization, or other physical effects. 
     A subscriber identity module (SIM) is an integrated circuit that securely stores the International Cellular Subscriber Identity 
     Cellular telephony assembly  40  includes a SIM (subscriber identity module) card  22 , thus having a certain address. Thus, upon knowing that the call is received from a certain International Cellular Subscriber Identity being unique, the user knows exactly which fire alarm apparatus signals the alarm. 
     For example, if a fire extinguishing service receives two calls from two separate fire alarm apparatuses  10 , the service can distinguish between them and know the exact location of each alarm, based on the international cellular subscriber identity. 
     According to another embodiment, fire alarm apparatus  10  includes a locating component  28 , such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) component, for informing the location of fire alarm apparatus  10  with the initiated call. 
     Cellular telephony assembly  40  also includes a transmitter  32 , for initiating calls. According to one embodiment, transmitter  32  may include receiving functionality, either for purposes of transmitting, or for using cellular telephony assembly  40  as a full functional telephone for speaking while being active. 
     According to another embodiment, transmitter  32  may include receiving functionality for receiving instructions upon initiating the call, while turned on. 
     A speaker  64  may provide vocal alarming in addition to initiating the telephone call. 
     According to one embodiment, in the initiated call, speaker  64  may constitute the speaker of cellular telephony assembly  40  and microphone  66  may constitute the microphone thereof. 
     The audio signal sounded by the speaker may be amplified by an amplifier, in order to allow trapped people to talk with a remote center in emergency cases, when screams may be heard in the surrounding. 
     A connector  30 , such as a USB connector, may allow inputting information into a memory  62  for cellular telephony assembly  40  by a user interface  60  ending with a connector  58  fitting connector  30 . The information within memory  62  may include one or more subscriber identities that cellular telephony assembly  40  will call to report the smoke incidence. The subscriber identities may include that of the owner and that of the fire extinguishing service. 
     The information inputted by user interface  60  may further include the contents of the announcement which will be transferred upon calling. The contents may constitute a vocal announcement, such as “Fire Alarm” depending on the language; the contents may further include a written announcement for an SMS (Short Messaging System) message. 
     Connector  30  may further allow retrieving information from memory  62 , which may include the history of smoke occurrences. 
     Connector  30 , such as the USB connector, may further allow recharging battery  24  from an external power source. According to one embodiment, user interface  60  may include the external power source. 
     Many residential smoke detectors are being sold with batteries that can run for about 7 to 10 years. However, battery  24  is not capable of powering telephony assembly  40  for more than several days. 
     The solution for this problem is that cellular telephony assembly  40  is normally turned to off by a switching circuitry  20 . Only upon detecting smoke does switching circuitry  20  activate cellular telephony assembly  40 . 
       FIG. 2  is a switching circuitry of the switching circuitry of  FIG. 1 . 
     In the switching circuitry  20 , smoke detector  26  is connected permanently for being powered permanently by battery  24 . Upon receiving smoke  44 , smoke detector  26  closes a switch  46  representing the operation of the smoke detector; switch  46  may be an electronic switch or a signal; as well, it may be a mechanical switch. Switch  46  upon closing energizes a relay  48  closing a switch  50  thereof, which provides power from battery  24  to cellular telephony assembly  40  for turning it on. 
     Switch  50  of relay  48  also provides power from battery  24  to initiate a delay component  54 , which after a pre-determined delay period, e.g., about 15 seconds, operates the dialer  52  of cellular telephony assembly  40 . 
     Delay component  54 , being initiated upon the detection of smoke  44 , operates dialer  52  upon completing the pre-determined delay period. 
     Thus, upon turning cellular telephony assembly  40  to on, it runs the initialization&#39;s normal procedure, which takes about 15 seconds, and upon completing the initialization, the dialer  52  of telephony assembly  40  dials to one or more pre-determined addresses. 
       FIG. 3  depicts the use of the fire alarm apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     Fire alarm apparatus  10 , upon detecting smoke  44 , is capable of dialing through a cellular network  12  or other wireless network providing long range communication to a telephone  14  or another Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). 
     This capability of direct dialing to telephone  14  allows telephony assembly  40  to send an SMS (Short Messaging System) message to telephone  14 , such as s depicted on the screen of telephone  14 : “Fire Alarm”. 
     According to one embodiment, the person  34  using telephone  14  may utilize cellular telephony assembly  40  while active, for speaking with a person  42  being proximate to fire alarm apparatus  10 . Person  42 , shown in the figure urging “help”, speaks into microphone  66  and listens to speaker  64 , thus cellular telephony assembly  40  provides a two-way conversation. The sounded vocal signals can be amplified by an amplifier, therefore clearly heard in emergency situations where trapped people may scream. Person  34 , who may be of the fire extinguishing service, is able to instruct person  42  located at the fire site. 
       FIG. 4  depicts disposition of the fire alarm apparatus of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. 
     Fire alarm apparatus  10  is an independent component, containing both the power supply by battery  24 , and long range communication capabilities for warning of the detection of smoke  44 . 
     Thus, fire alarm apparatus  10  does not require any installation.  FIG. 4  depicts fire alarm apparatus  10  placed on a pedestal  36  at the top of a cupboard or a shelf  44 . Pedestal  36  provides a space between the top of cupboard  38  and apertures  56  and package  16 , for allowing smoke  44  to enter through apertures  56 , being disposed at the bottom of fire alarm apparatus  10 . 
     In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
         numeral  10  denotes a fire alarm apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;   numeral  12  denotes a cellular network or other wireless network providing long range communication;   numeral  14  denotes a telephone of a user, to which the fire alarm apparatus calls for warning of a fire hazard;   numeral  16  denotes a package of the fire alarm apparatus; said package allowing smoke to enter;   numeral  18  denotes a screw for closing the package of the fire alarm apparatus;   numeral  20  denotes a switching circuitry, for turning the cellular telephony assembly to on upon detecting smoke,   and for turning the cellular telephony assembly to off otherwise;   numeral  22  denotes a SIM (subscriber identity module) card of the cellular telephony assembly;   numeral  24  denotes a battery; the battery normally is not charged, and thus must be capable of powering the smoke detector and the cellular telephony assembly for a relatively long period;   numeral  26  denotes a smoke detector, according to which the switching circuitry turns the cellular telephony assembly to on or to off;   numeral  28  denotes a locating component, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) component, for obtaining the location of the fire alarm apparatus;   numeral  30  denotes a connector of the fire alarm apparatus for inputting and outputting information, and optionally for recharging the battery;   numeral  32  denotes a transmitter of the cellular telephony assembly, for making calls;   numeral  34  denotes a person dispatched for rescue;   numeral  36  denotes a pedestal for disposing the fire alarm apparatus thereon;   numeral  38  denotes a cupboard or a shelf;   numeral  40  denotes a cellular telephony assembly, being any assembly capable of calling via cellular communication or other long range wireless network;   numeral  42  denotes a person asking for help;   numeral  44  denotes smoke, indicating fire;   numeral  46  denotes a switch representing the operation of the smoke detector, according to one embodiment;   numeral  48  denotes a relay;   numeral  50  denotes a switch of a relay;   numeral  52  denotes a dialer of the telephony assembly; upon actuation, it dials a number which may be stored in the memory;   numeral  54  denotes a delay component;   numeral  56  denotes an aperture in the package of the fire alarm apparatus, providing entrance of the smoke;   numeral  58  denotes a connector within the fire alarm apparatus;   numeral  60  denotes a user interface;   numeral  62  denotes a memory storing the predetermined subscriber numbers to call, upon detecting smoke;   numeral  64  denotes a speaker, either being a separate component or of the cellular telephony assembly; the audio signal sounded by the speaker may be amplified by an amplifier; and   numeral  66  denotes a microphone of the cellular telephony assembly.       

     The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
     Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition. 
     The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. 
     These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.