Patent Publication Number: US-10769921-B2

Title: Smoke detector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates to smoke detectors and, more particularly, to photo-electric smoke detectors using multiple light emitters and receivers. 
     A smoke detector is a device that detects smoke and issues an alarm. A photo-electric smoke detector, meanwhile, is a type of smoke detector that works based on light reflection principals and generally includes a light emitter, a light receiver and an optic chamber. When there is no smoke in the optic chamber and the optic chamber is empty or mostly empty, the light receiver typically receives a small amount of light reflected from chamber surfaces. On the other hand, when smoke is present in the optic chamber, the light receiver receives more light due to that light being reflected from the smoke particles. When an amount of the received light exceeds a predetermined level, an alarm is triggered. 
     As operated in this manner, photo-electric smoke detectors are not able to discriminate between large-size non-smoke particles, such as steam clouds, dust clouds, etc., and small-size non-smoke particles that are generated by certain types of cooking scenarios. That is, photo-electric smoke detectors are not capable of determining when small-size non-smoke particles are generated by safe activities, such as broiling hamburgers, toasting bread, etc., and thus permit false alarms to be triggered. 
     As a result, photo-electric smoke detectors will not pass upcoming, new Underwriter Laboratories (UL) 217-8 and 268-7 standards which require that smoke detectors and photo-electric smoke detectors, in particular, be configured to not sound an alarm during “broiling hamburger” tests. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to one aspect of the disclosure, a smoke detector is provided and includes a housing defining a chamber receptive of ambient materials, a receiver disposed to receive light reflected from the chamber along a receiving axis, first, second and third emitters disposed to emit light of first, second and first wavelengths, respectively, into the chamber at first, first and second angles relative to the receiving axis, respectively, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a current condition of the chamber should trigger an alarm based on output signals generated by the receiver resulting from light emitted into the chamber by the first, second and third emitters being reflected toward the receiver by the ambient materials. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the ambient materials include air and smoke and non-smoke particles carried by the air. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the first angle relative to the receiving axis includes an obtuse angle, the second angle relative to the receiving axis includes an acute angle and the light of the first and second wavelengths includes long and short wave light, respectively. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller includes a signal processing and alarm decision unit and a light emitter driver and current controller to control operations of the first, second and third emitters. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller receives first, second and third output signals from the receiver, calculates first, second and third output signal ratios and determines whether the current condition should trigger the alarm based on respective durations of the first, second and third output signal ratios. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the first, second and third output signal ratios are indicative of a real fire or a nuisance. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller determines whether the current condition should trigger the alarm based on first, second and third output signal durations. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the current condition should trigger an alarm in satisfaction of UL 217-8 standards. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the current condition should trigger an alarm in satisfaction of UL 217-8 and 268-7 standards. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the receiver and the first, second and third emitters are mounted at similar or varied angles relative to a plane. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a smoke detector is provided and includes a housing defining a chamber receptive of ambient materials, first and second receivers disposed to receive light reflected from the chamber along first and second receiving axes, respectively, first and second emitters disposed to emit light of first and second wavelengths, respectively, into the chamber at first and second and third and fourth angles relative to each of the first and second receiving axes, respectively, a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a current condition of the chamber should trigger an alarm based on output signals generated by the first and second receivers resulting from light emitted into the chamber by the first and second emitters being reflected toward the first and second receivers by the ambient materials. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the ambient materials include air and smoke and non-smoke particles carried by the air. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the first angle is greater than the second angle, the third angle is greater than the fourth angle, the first and third angles are obtuse, the second and fourth angles are acute and the light of the first and second wavelengths comprises long and short wave light, respectively. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller includes a signal processing and alarm decision unit and a light emitter driver and current controller to control operations of the first, second and third emitters. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller receives first and second output signals from the first receiver and third and fourth output signals from the second receiver, calculates first, second, third and fourth output signal ratios and determines whether the current condition should trigger the alarm based on respective durations of the first, second, third and fourth output signal ratios. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the first, second, third and fourth output signal ratios are indicative of a real fire or a nuisance. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller determines whether the current condition should trigger the alarm based on first, second and third output signal durations. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the current condition should trigger an alarm in satisfaction of UL 217-8 standards. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the controller is configured to determine whether the current condition should trigger an alarm in satisfaction of UL 217-8 and 268-7 standards. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the receiver and the first, second and third emitters are mounted at similar or varied angles relative to a plane. 
     According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, a method of operating a smoke detector is provided. The smoke detector includes a housing defining a chamber, one or more receivers disposed to receive light reflected from the chamber along one or more receiving axes, respectively, and multiple emitters disposed to emit light of multiple wavelengths, respectively, into the chamber at multiple angles relative to each of the one or more receiving axes, respectively. The method include receiving, from the one or more receivers, output signals resulting from light emitted into the chamber by the multiple emitters being reflected toward the one or more receivers by ambient materials in the chamber, and determining whether a current condition of the chamber should trigger an alarm based on output signal ratios calculated from the output signals and output signal durations. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the determining includes filtering the output signals and calculating the output signal ratios. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the output signal ratios and the output signal durations are indicative of the current condition being a real fire or a nuisance. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the determining satisfies UL 217-8 standards. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the determining satisfies UL 217-8 and 268-7 standards. 
     These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter, which is regarded as the disclosure, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a smoke detector in accordance with embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of components of the smoke detector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating an operation of the smoke detector of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a smoke detector in accordance with alternative embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of components of the smoke detector of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating an operation of the smoke detector of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of relative angling between light receivers, light emitters, a housing an a horizontal plane. 
     
    
    
     The detailed description explains embodiments of the disclosure, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     As will be described below, a smoke detector is provided as a photo-electric smoke detector. The photo-electric smoke detector is able to discriminate between large-size non-smoke particles, such as steam clouds, dust clouds, etc., and small-size non-smoke particles that are generated by certain types of cooking scenarios. The photo-electric smoke detector is capable of determining when the small-size non-smoke particles are generated by safe activities, such as broiling hamburgers, toasting bread, etc., and thus prevents false alarms from being triggered. As a result, the photo-electric smoke detector will pass the UL 217-8 and 268-7 standards which require that smoke detectors and photo-electric smoke detectors, in particular, be configured to not sound an alarm during “broiling hamburger” tests. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a smoke detector  10  is provided and may be configured as a photo-electric smoke detector  11 . The photo-electric smoke detector  11  includes a housing  12  that is formed to encompass multiple features and components of the photo-electric smoke detector  11  and to define a chamber  13  in an interior thereof. The chamber  13  is generally open to surroundings of the photo-electric smoke detector  11  and is thus receptive of ambient materials  14  through a grating or another similar feature. The ambient materials  14  may include air as well as smoke and non-smoke particles that are carried by the air. The photo-electric smoke detector  11  further includes a light receiver  15 , a first light emitter  16 , a second light emitter  17 , a third light emitter  18  and a controller  19 . 
     The light receiver  15  is disposed within the housing  12  to receive light that is emitted by the first, second and third light emitters  16 ,  17  and  18  and then is reflected from the chamber  13  by the ambient materials  14  toward the light receiver  15  along a light receiving axis RA of the light receiver  15 . The light receiver  15  may be provided as any suitable photo-electric light receiving element and is configured to generate an output electric signal in accordance with light being received. That is, for light that is emitted by the first light emitter  16 , reflected by the ambient materials  14  in the chamber  13  and then received by the light receiver  15  along the light receiving axis RA, the light receiver  15  generates a first output signal. Similarly, for light that is emitted by the second and third light emitters  17  and  18 , reflected by the ambient materials  14  in the chamber  13  and then received by the light receiver  15  along the light receiving axis RA, the light receiver  15  generates second and third output signals, respectively. 
     The first light emitter  16  may be disposed within the housing  12  to emit light of a first wavelength into the chamber  13  at a first angle relative to the light receiving axis RA. The first light emitter  16  may be provided as a light emitting diode (LED) for example and may be configured to emit long wavelength light (e.g., infrared light). The first angle may be obtuse or greater than 90 degrees. The second light emitter  17  may be disposed within the housing  12  to emit light of a second wavelength into the chamber  13  at the first angle (e.g., obtuse or greater than 90 degrees) relative to the light receiving axis RA. The second light emitter  17  may be provided as a light emitting diode (LED) for example and may be configured to emit short wavelength light (e.g., blue wavelength light). The third light emitter  18  may be disposed within the housing  12  to emit light of the first wavelength into the chamber  13  at a second angle relative to the light receiving axis RA. The third light emitter  18  may be provided as a light emitting diode (LED) for example and may be configured to emit long wavelength light. The second angle may be acute or less than 90 degrees. 
     The controller  19  may be configured to determine whether a current condition of the chamber  13  should trigger an alarm based on the first, second and third output signals of the light receiver  15 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the controller  19  may include a signal processing and alarm decision unit  190 , a light emitter driver  191  and a current controller  192 . The light emitter driver  191  and the current controller  192  may be provided as a single element or as standalone components and are cooperatively coupled to the first, second and third light emitters  16 ,  17  and  18  to thereby control various operations thereof. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , during operations of the photo-electric smoke detector  11 , which could include testing operations and on-site and in-use operations, the controller  19  activates the light receiver  15  and causes the first light emitter  16  to emit light into the chamber  13  (block  301 ). Any ambient materials  14  that are in the chamber  13  at that point will then reflect that light in accordance with a particle size of the ambient materials  14  and the wavelength of the light as dictated by Rayleigh scattering principles. For example, the long wavelength light emitted by the first light emitter  16  will be forward scattered toward the light receiver  15  by particles of a certain size and will be back scattered away from the light receiver  15  by particles of a different certain size. 
     The controller  19  will then receive the first output signal from the light receiver  15  and will be able to associate that signal with the emission times of the first light emitter  16 . At this point, the controller  19  filters or digitally filters the first output signal (block  302 ) and determines whether the filtered first output signal is above a trigger level (block  303 ). In an event the filtered first output signal is not above a trigger level, no alarm is triggered by the controller  19  and the process stops (block  304 ). 
     In an event the filtered first output signal is above a trigger level, the controller  19  causes the second and third light emitters  17  and  18  to emit light into the chamber  13  (block  305 ). At this point, ambient materials  14  that are in the chamber  13  will reflect that light in accordance with a particle size of the ambient materials  14  and the wavelength of the light as dictated by Rayleigh scattering principles. For example, the short wavelength light emitted by the second light emitter  17  will be forward scattered toward the light receiver  15  by particles of a certain size and will be back scattered away from the light receiver  15  by particles of a different certain size and long wavelength light emitted by the third light emitter  18  will be forward scattered away from the light receiver  15  by particles of a certain size and will be back scattered toward the light receiver  15  by particles of a different certain size. 
     The controller  19  will then receive and filter the second and third output signals from the light receiver  15  and will be able to associate those filtered signals with the emission times of the second and third light emitters  17  and  18  (block  306 ). At this point, the controller  19  calculates first, second and third output signal ratios (block  307 ). The first output signal ratio may include for example relative strengths of the first and second output signals, the second output signal ratio may include for example relative strengths of the first and third output signals and the third output signal ratio may include for example relative strengths of the second and third output signals. In any case, the first, second and third signal ratios may be indicative of the current condition of the chamber  13  corresponding to a real fire that requires an alarm to be triggered or a nuisance, such as dust, steam or smoke from a “hamburger test” penetrating into the chamber  13  that dictates that no such alarm should be triggered. 
     Thus, the controller  19  is then able to determine whether the current condition of the chamber  13  should trigger the alarm based on characteristics of the first, second and third output signal ratios (block  308 ). If not, the controller  19  does not trigger the alarm and the process stops. On the other hand, if the controller  19  determines that the current condition of the chamber  13  should trigger the alarm based on the characteristics of the first, second and third output ratios, the controller  19  determines whether first, second and third output signal durations are acceptable for triggering the alarm (block  309 ). Here, the first, second and third output signal durations can be relied upon by the controller  19  to identify false alarm scenarios or incorrect readings of the light receiver  15 . If not, the controller  19  does not trigger the alarm and the process stops but if the first, second and third output signal durations are acceptable, the controller  19  triggers the alarm (block  310 ). 
     In particular, the controller  19  may be configured to determine whether the current condition of the chamber  13  should trigger an alarm in satisfaction of UL 217-8 and 268-7 standards. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a smoke detector  20  is provided and may be configured as a photo-electric smoke detector  21 . The photo-electric smoke detector  21  has many of the same components and structures as the photo-electric smoke detector  11  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and therefore a detailed description of those components and structures is not needed. 
     The photo-electric smoke detector  21  includes a first light receiver  15 , a second light receiver  16 , a first light emitter  17 , a second light emitter  18  and a controller  19 . 
     The first light receiver  15  is disposed within the housing  12  to receive light that is emitted by the first and second light emitters  17  and  18  and then is reflected from the chamber  13  by the ambient materials  14  toward the first light receiver  15  along a first light receiving axis RA 1  of the first light receiver  15 . The light receiver  15  may be provided as any suitable photo-electric light receiving element and is configured to generate an output electric signal in accordance with light being received. That is, for light that is emitted by the first and second light emitters  17  and  18 , reflected by the ambient materials  14  in the chamber  13  and then received by the first light receiver  15  along the first light receiving axis RA 1 , the first light receiver  15  generates first and second output signals, respectively. 
     The second light receiver  16  is disposed within the housing  12  to receive light that is emitted by the first and second light emitters  17  and  18  and then is reflected from the chamber  13  by the ambient materials  14  toward the second light receiver  16  along a second light receiving axis RA 2  of the second light receiver  16 . The second light receiver  16  may be provided as any suitable photo-electric light receiving element and is configured to generate an output electric signal in accordance with light being received. That is, for light that is emitted by the first and second light emitters  17  and  18 , reflected by the ambient materials  14  in the chamber  13  and then received by the second light receiver  16  along the second light receiving axis RA 2 , the second light receiver  15  generates third and fourth output signals, respectively. 
     The first light emitter  17  may be disposed to emit light of a first wavelength into the chamber  13  at a first angle relative to the first light receiving axis RA 1  and at a second angle relative to the second light receiving axis RA 2 . The first light emitter  17  may be provided as a light emitting diode (LED) for example and may be configured to emit long wavelength light. The first angle may be obtuse or greater than 90 degrees and the second angle maybe acute or less than 90 degrees. The second light emitter  18  may be disposed to emit light of a second wavelength into the chamber  13  at a third angle relative to the first light receiving axis RA 1  and at a fourth angle relative to the second light receiving axis RA 2 . The second light emitter  18  may be provided as a light emitting diode (LED) for example and may be configured to emit short wavelength light. The third angle may be obtuse or greater than 90 degrees and the fourth angle maybe acute or less than 90 degrees. 
     The controller  19  may be configured to determine whether a current condition of the chamber  13  should trigger an alarm based on the first and second output signals of the first light receiver  15  and the third and fourth output signals of the second light receiver  16 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the controller  19  may include a signal processing and alarm decision unit  190 , a light emitter driver  191  and a current controller  192 . The light emitter driver  191  and the current controller  192  may be provided as a single element or as standalone components and are cooperatively coupled to the first and second light emitters  17  and  18  to thereby control various operations thereof. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , during operations of the photo-electric smoke detector  21 , which could include testing operations and on-site and in-use operations, the controller  19  activates the first light receiver  15  and causes the first light emitter  17  to emit light into the chamber  13  (block  601 ). Any ambient materials  14  that are in the chamber  13  at that point will then reflect that light in accordance with a particle size of the ambient materials  14  and the wavelength of the light as dictated by Rayleigh scattering principles. For example, the long wavelength light emitted by the first light emitter  17  will be forward scattered toward the first light receiver  15  by particles of a certain size and will be back scattered toward the second light receiver  16  by particles of a different certain size. 
     The controller  19  will then receive the first output signal from the first light receiver  15  and will be able to associate that signal with the emission times of the first light emitter  17 . At this point, the controller  19  filters or digitally filters the first output signal (block  602 ) and determines whether the filtered first output signal is above a trigger level (block  603 ). In an event the filtered first output signal is not above a trigger level, no alarm is triggered by the controller  19  and the process stops (block  604 ). 
     In an event the filtered first output signal is above the trigger level, the controller  19  activates the second light receiver  16  and causes the first and second light emitters  17  and  18  to emit light into the chamber  13  (block  605 ). At this point, ambient materials  14  that are in the chamber  13  will reflect that light in accordance with a particle size of the ambient materials  14  and the wavelength of the light as dictated by Rayleigh scattering principles. For example, long wavelength light emitted by the first light emitter  17  will be forward scattered toward the first light receiver  15  by particles of a certain size and will be back scattered toward the second light receiver  16  by particles of a different certain size. Conversely, short wavelength light emitted by the second light emitter  18  will be forward scattered toward the first light receiver  15  by particles of a certain size and will be back scattered toward the second light receiver  16  by particles of a different certain size. 
     The controller  19  will then receive and filter the first, second, third and fourth output signals from the first and second light receivers  15  and  16  and will be able to associate those signals with the emission times of the first and second light emitters  17  and  18  (block  606 ). At this point, the controller  19  calculates first, second, third and fourth output signal ratios (block  607 ) as relative strengths of the first, second, third and fourth output signals. In any case, the first, second, third and fourth signal ratios may be indicative of the current condition of the chamber  13  corresponding to a real fire that requires an alarm to be triggered or a nuisance, such as dust, steam or smoke from a “hamburger test” penetrating into the chamber  13  that dictates that no such alarm should be triggered. 
     Thus, the controller  19  is then able to determine whether the current condition of the chamber  13  should trigger the alarm based on characteristics of the first, second, third and fourth output signal ratios (block  608 ). If not, the controller  19  does not trigger the alarm and the process stops. On the other hand, if the controller  19  determines that the current condition of the chamber  13  should trigger the alarm based on the characteristics of the first, second, third and fourth output ratios, the controller  19  determines whether first, second, third and fourth output signal durations are acceptable for triggering the alarm (block  609 ). Here, the first, second, third and fourth output signal durations can be relied upon by the controller  19  to identify false alarm scenarios or incorrect readings of the light receiver  15 . If not, the controller  19  does not trigger the alarm and the process stops but if the first, second, third and fourth output signal durations are acceptable, the controller  19  triggers the alarm (block  610 ). 
     In particular, the controller  19  may be configured to determine whether the current condition of the chamber  13  should trigger an alarm in satisfaction of UL 217-8 and 268-7 standards. 
     In accordance with further embodiments and, with reference to  FIG. 7 , it is to be understood that the light receivers  15  and  16  and the light emitters  17  and  18  can be disposed and mounted within the housing  12  at various angles relative to each other and relative to a horizontal plane. For example, the light receivers  15  and  16  and the light emitters  17  and  18  can be disposed and mounted within the housing  12  at a same angle relative to a horizontal plane with such angle being anywhere from about 0° to about 45° or more. As an alternative example, one or more of the light receivers  15  and  16  and the light emitters  17  and  18  can be disposed and mounted within the housing  12  at a different angle relative to a horizontal plane as compared to another one or more of the light receivers  15  and  16  and the light emitters  17  and  18 . Again, such various angles may be anywhere from about 0° to about 45° or more (e.g., light receiver  15  can be mounted at 23° relative to the horizontal plane and light emitter  17  can be mounted at 18° relative to the horizontal plane). 
     While the disclosure is provided in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the disclosure is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that the exemplary embodiment(s) may include only some of the described exemplary aspects. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.