Patent Description:
Smoke detectors can be implemented in indoor environments (e.g., buildings) or outdoor environments to detect smoke. For instance, a smoke detector can be mounted at a point in a room of a building to detect smoke in the room. Smoke detection can minimize risk by alerting users and/or components of a fire control system of a fire event occurring in the environment.

A Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) smoke detector is an example of a smoke detector. A LiDAR smoke detector can utilize optical systems, such as laser beam emitters and light receivers, to detect smoke in an environment.

The document <CIT> discloses a LIDAR based open type smoke detector that additionally scans for objects in its field of view.

A smoke detector, and methods of operating a smoke detector, are described herein. The present invention is defined by the smoke detector claimed in claim <NUM>. In some examples, the controller is configured to receive light reflected from the illuminated object, and a controller configured to determine, based on the light reflected from the illuminated object, an amount of space in the area that is blocked from a field of view of the smoke detector by the object, and provide an indication responsive to the determined amount of space being above a threshold amount of space.

Smoke detectors may use laser beam emitters in conjunction with light receivers to detect smoke. For example, a smoke detector may use Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to detect smoke. For instance, when a laser beam is emitted in an indoor environment, it may encounter a substance or material and light may be reflected and/or scattered to the light receiver. If no substance or material is present in the path of the laser, the light will instead reflect and/or scatter off a wall of the indoor environment and back to the light receiver. The smoke detector can determine the difference between a received light signal that has been reflected and/or scattered off a wall or light reflected off another substance or material, because the intensity of the received light signal will be considerably greater if it has been reflected and/or scattered off a wall as opposed to reflecting and/or scattering off a substance such as smoke. Additionally, a light signal that has passed through smoke will be slightly attenuated.

As such, by rotating a laser beam emitter and light receiver of a smoke detector and emitting pulses of light from the laser beam emitter, an indoor environment can be scanned to detect smoke. For example, the smoke detector may be positioned in a corner of an area (e.g., a room) and rotated from zero to ninety degrees to scan the entire room for smoke. By recording the alignment, position, and orientation of the smoke detection system at the time that the smoke is detected, the approximate location of the smoke in the room can also be determined.

In some instances, however, the indoor environment (e.g., room) may include additional fixed features (e.g., objects), such as, for instance, pillars, lighting features (e.g., fixtures), signs, and/or ladders, among others, that may also reflect and/or scatter the light from the emitted laser beam. Such objects may act to partially obstruct (e.g., block) the field of view of the smoke detector, and thus may prevent the detector from being able to detect smoke in the space (e.g., portion) of the room blocked by the object. Depending on the size of the object blocking the detector, and/or the position of the object in the room relative to the detector, the amount of space in the room in which smoke would be unable to be detected by the detector may exceed the amount allowed by the smoke detector operational requirements and/or fire codes of the local jurisdiction.

A smoke detector in accordance with the present disclosure, however, can identify such obstructions, and determine whether such obstructions would result in a violation of the applicable smoke detector operational requirements and/or fire codes. As such, during commissioning (e.g., installation) of the smoke detector, the installer can quickly determine whether the installation of the detector is successful, or whether the detector needs to be moved to a different location in the room. Further, after the smoke detector has been successfully commissioned and is in operation, the detector can continue to identify the presence of any newly introduced obstructions, determine whether they would result in a violation, and provide an indication (e.g., notification) of any violation to the building supervisor or other appropriate party.

Further, in order for a rotating smoke detector (e.g., a smoke detector with a rotating laser beam emitter and light receiver) to effectively detect smoke, the laser beam needs to be maintained on the smoke for a sufficient amount of time (e.g., the dwell time) for the detector (e.g., the light receiver of the detector) to make a valid measurement. As such, the scan of the room can not be too quick. However, the full scan of the entire room needs to be completed by the detector in as short of a time as possible in order to ensure that smoke that is present in any portion of the room can be detected in a timely manner (e.g., within <NUM> seconds), as may be required by the smoke detector operational requirements and/or fire codes of the local jurisdiction.

A smoke detector in accordance with the present invention, however, can reduce (e.g., minimize) its total scan time, while still maintaining a sufficient dwell time, by adjusting its rotation speed based on the different portions of the room it is scanning. For example, the intensity of the light signal received by the light receiver from a smoke plume or wall of the room, and therefore the dwell time of the smoke detector, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the light receiver and the smoke plume or wall. As such, the smoke detector can determine which walls of the room are closer to the detector and which walls of the room are further away from the detector, and adjust its rotation speed such that its rotation speed (e.g., scan) is quicker for portions of the room in which the wall is closer to the detector and slower for portions of the room in which the wall is further away from the detector.

These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice one or more embodiments of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes may be made as long as they are within the scope of the appended claims.

The proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

As used herein, "a", "an", or "a number of" something can refer to one or more such things, while "a plurality of" something can refer to more than one such things. For example, "a number of components" can refer to one or more components, while "a plurality of components" can refer to more than one component.

<FIG> is a top view of an area <NUM> that includes a smoke detector <NUM> in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Smoke detector <NUM> can be, for example, a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) smoke detector, as will be further described herein. Area <NUM> can be an area of an indoor environment. For instance, area <NUM> can be a room of a facility (e.g., a building).

Smoke detector <NUM> can be part of (e.g., a component of) a fire control system of the facility. As described herein, a fire control system may be any system designed to detect and/or provide a notification of fire events occurring in a facility. For example, a fire control system may include smoke detection apparatuses and/or devices (e.g., detector <NUM>) that can sense a fire occurring in the facility, alarms (e.g., speakers, strobes, etc.) that can provide a notification of the fire to the occupants of the facility, fans and/or dampers that can perform smoke control operations (e.g., pressurizing, purging, exhausting, etc.) during the fire, and/or sprinklers that can provide water to extinguish the fire, among other components. A fire control system may also include a control unit such as a physical fire control panel (e.g., box) installed in the facility that can be used by a user to directly control the operation of the components of the fire control system. In some embodiments, the fire control system can include a non-physical control unit or a control unit located remotely from the facility.

As shown in <FIG>, area <NUM> includes a plurality of walls: a first (e.g., north) wall <NUM>-<NUM>, a second (e.g., east) wall <NUM>-<NUM>, a third (e.g., south) wall <NUM>-<NUM>, and a fourth (e.g., west) wall <NUM>-<NUM>. It is noted that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the layout or the shape of area <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, smoke detector <NUM> (e.g., a laser emitter of smoke detector <NUM>, as will be further described herein) can emit a beam (e.g., a laser beam) <NUM> across area <NUM>. As used herein, the terms "light" or "beam" can include any type of light beam, such as a laser. These terms can also include pulses of light. For example, beam <NUM> can be a pulsed laser beam (e.g., comprise a plurality of pulses).

Smoke detector <NUM> can rotate beam <NUM> (e.g., a rotation mechanism of smoke detector <NUM> can rotate the laser emitter of smoke detector <NUM>, as will be further described herein), such that beam <NUM> periodically scans across area <NUM> and illuminates different portions of area <NUM> (e.g., different portions of the walls of the room), as represented by arrow <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. A "scan" of the beam <NUM> can refer to a rotation of the beam such that the beam begins at an initial angular position and ends at a terminal angular position. As an example, a scan can include the beam moving from an angle substantially parallel to, or past substantially parallel to, wall <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., from an angle of <NUM> degrees or greater than <NUM> degrees) to, or past, an angle substantially parallel to wall <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., to or past an angle of <NUM> degrees), and a subsequent scan can include the beam moving from the angle substantially parallel to, or past substantially parallel to, wall <NUM>-<NUM> back to the angle substantially parallel to, or past substantially parallel to, wall <NUM>-<NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, area <NUM> can include an object <NUM>. Object <NUM> can be a fixed object, such as, for instance, a pillar, lighting feature (e.g., fixture), sign, or ladder, among other examples. Beam <NUM> can illuminate object <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. However, object <NUM> may partially obstruct (e.g., block) the field of view of smoke detector <NUM>. For instance, object <NUM> may prevent smoke detector <NUM> from being able to monitor, and detect smoke in, space <NUM> of area <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

Smoke detector <NUM> (e.g., a light receiver of smoke detector <NUM>, as will be further described herein) can receive light reflected from illuminated object <NUM> and light reflected from the illuminated different portions (e.g., the illuminated portions of walls <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) of area <NUM> as beam <NUM> scans across area <NUM>. As used herein, the term "reflected" may be used to refer to light that is not only reflected but may be reflected and/or scattered. For example, the light may be reflected off a surface at an angle of incidence equaling the angle of reflection. Light that is incident on a surface or material can also be scattered in a multitude of directions in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

Based on the light reflected from illuminated object <NUM>, smoke detector <NUM> (e.g., a controller of smoke detector <NUM>, as will be further described herein) can determine the amount (e.g., size) of space <NUM> that is blocked from the field of view of smoke detector <NUM> by object <NUM>. For instance, smoke detector <NUM> can measure and/or analyze the intensity of the light reflected from illuminated object <NUM> to determine the size of space <NUM>. Smoke detector <NUM> can make the determination of the size of space <NUM> automatically (e.g., without input from a user), or responsive to input from a user, such as the installer of smoke detector <NUM>.

For example, smoke detector <NUM> (e.g., the controller of smoke detector <NUM>) can determine the shape (e.g., the outline shape) of area <NUM> based on the light (e.g., the intensity of the light) reflected from the illuminated different portions of area <NUM>, and the location (e.g., the radial coordinates) of object <NUM> in area <NUM> based on the light (e.g., the intensity of the light) reflected from illuminated object <NUM>. Smoke detector <NUM> can then determine (e.g., calculate) the size of space <NUM> based on the determined shape of area <NUM> and the determined location of object <NUM> in area <NUM>. Smoke detector <NUM> can determine the location of object <NUM> in area <NUM> based on the alignment of smoke detector <NUM> (e.g., the alignment of the laser emitter of the detector) when emitting the beam <NUM> (e.g., the laser pulse) that illuminates object <NUM>, and the amount of time for smoke detector <NUM> to receive the light reflected from illuminated object <NUM> (e.g., the time of flight of the laser pulse that illuminates object <NUM>).

Smoke detector <NUM> (e.g., the controller of smoke detector <NUM>) can determine whether the amount (e.g., size) of space <NUM> that is blocked from the field of view of smoke detector <NUM> by object <NUM> is above a threshold amount of space (e.g., a threshold size). The threshold amount of space can be pre-defined, or set by a user (e.g., the installer) of smoke detector <NUM>, and can be determined (e.g., defined or set) based on the smoke detector operational requirements and/or fire codes of the local jurisdiction of area <NUM>. For instance, the threshold amount of space can be the maximum amount of unmonitored space allowed in area <NUM> by the smoke detector operational requirements and/or fire codes of the local jurisdiction.

Smoke detector <NUM> (e.g., the controller of smoke detector <NUM>) can provide an indication (e.g., trigger an alert and/or fault condition) responsive to determining the size of space <NUM> is above the threshold amount of space. For example, smoke detector <NUM> can provide the indication to an additional device, such as, for instance, a mobile device or other computing device of the installer and/or a supervisor of the facility, via a text message or the internet or other network associated with the fire control system of area <NUM>. In some embodiments, smoke detector <NUM> can also provide (e.g., to the additional device) a different indication, such as, for instance, an authorization and/or approval, responsive to determining the size of space <NUM> is not above the threshold amount of space.

Although not shown in <FIG> for simplicity and so as not to obscure embodiments of the present disclosure, in some instances area <NUM> may include an additional object that may block the field of view of smoke detector <NUM>. For instance, the additional object may be a new object that is introduced to area <NUM> after smoke detector <NUM> has been commissioned and/or installed. In such an instance, beam <NUM> can illuminate the additional object, and smoke detector <NUM> can receive the light reflected from the illuminated additional object, determine the amount of space in area <NUM> that is blocked from its field of view by the additional object based on the reflected light, and provide an indication responsive to the determined amount of space being above the threshold amount of space, in a manner analogous to that described for object <NUM>.

<FIG> is a top view of an area <NUM> that includes a smoke detector <NUM> in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Smoke detector <NUM> and area <NUM> can be, for example, analogous to smoke detector <NUM> and area <NUM>, respectively, previously described in connection with <FIG>. For example, smoke detector <NUM> can be part of a fire control system of a facility that includes area <NUM>, and area <NUM> can include a plurality of walls <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> analogous to walls <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively, described in connection with <FIG>.

Further, smoke detector <NUM> emits a beam <NUM> across area <NUM>, and rotates beam <NUM> such that beam <NUM> periodically scans across area <NUM> and illuminates different portions of area <NUM>, as represented by arrow <NUM>, in a manner analogous to that previously described in connection with <FIG>. Smoke detector <NUM> receives light reflected from the illuminated different portions (e.g., the illuminated portions of walls <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) of area <NUM> as beam <NUM> scans across area <NUM>, in a manner analogous to that previously described in connection with <FIG>.

Based on the light reflected from the illuminated different portions of area <NUM>, smoke detector <NUM> (e.g., the controller of smoke detector <NUM>) is configured to adjust the speed at which beam <NUM> rotates (e.g., the speed at which the rotation mechanism of the detector rotates the laser emitter of the detector). For instance, smoke detector <NUM> is configured to measure and/or analyze the intensity of the light reflected from the illuminated different portions of area <NUM> to determine the adjustment to the speed at which beam <NUM> rotates.

For example, smoke detector <NUM> (e.g., the controller of smoke detector <NUM>) can determine the distance of each of the different portions of area <NUM> (e.g., the illuminated portions of walls <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>) from smoke detector <NUM> based on the light reflected from the illuminated different portions of area <NUM> (e.g., the greater the intensity of the light reflected from a portion of area <NUM>, the shorter the distance of that portion of area <NUM> from the detector), and adjust the speed at which beam <NUM> rotates based on these determined distances. For instance, smoke detector <NUM> can adjust the speed at which beam <NUM> rotates such that the amount of time for which beam <NUM> illuminates each respective different portion of area <NUM> is directly proportional to the determined distance of that respective portion from smoke detector <NUM>. As such, the rotation speed of beam <NUM> is quicker through those portions of area <NUM> that are closer to smoke detector <NUM> and slower through those portions of area <NUM> that are further away from smoke detector <NUM>.

In such a manner (e.g., by adjusting the rotational speed of beam <NUM>), smoke detector <NUM> can adjust the amount of time for which beam <NUM> illuminates (e.g., the dwell time for) each respective different portion of area <NUM>. For example, smoke detector <NUM> can adjust the rotational speed of beam <NUM> through the different portions of area <NUM> such that the beam rotates through each respective portion of area <NUM> at a speed sufficient (e.g., slow enough) to detect smoke in that respective portion, but also sufficient to illuminate each of the different portions of area <NUM> (e.g., fast enough to complete the scan of area <NUM>) within a particular amount of time. The particular amount of time can be pre-defined, or set by a user (e.g., the installer) of smoke detector <NUM>, and can be determined (e.g., defined or set) based on the smoke detector operational requirements and/or fire codes of the local jurisdiction of area <NUM>. For instance, the particular amount of time can be the maximum amount of time allowed to complete the scan of area <NUM> by the smoke detector operational requirements and/or fire codes of the local jurisdiction. As an example, the particular amount of time can be <NUM> seconds.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a smoke detector <NUM> in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Smoke detector <NUM> can be, for example, smoke detector <NUM> and/or <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>, respectively.

As shown in <FIG>, smoke detector <NUM> includes an apparatus configured to emit a laser beam. For example, laser emitter <NUM> can emit a laser beam that illuminates an object in an area and/or different portions of the area, as previously described herein. The light emitted can be pulses, such as pulses of lasers. In some embodiments, laser emitter <NUM> can be LiDAR transmitter. In some embodiments, laser emitter <NUM> can be a laser diode.

As shown in <FIG>, smoke detector <NUM> includes a light receiver <NUM>. Light receiver <NUM> can be or include a sensor, detector, lens, or combination thereof configured to receive light and/or to convert light into a form that is readable by an instrument. For example, light receiver <NUM> can receive light reflected from an illuminated object in an area and/or illuminated portions of the area, as previously described herein. In some embodiments, light receiver <NUM> can be a LiDAR receiver or an electro-optical sensor. In some embodiments, light receiver <NUM> can include a clock and/or processing resources. The light receiver <NUM> can be configured to measure the time taken for a pulse of light to travel from laser emitter <NUM>, reflect and/or scatter off an object, substance, or material, and travel back to the light receiver.

As shown in <FIG>, smoke detector <NUM> includes a rotation mechanism <NUM> that is configured to rotate laser emitter <NUM>. For example, rotation mechanism <NUM> can rotate laser emitter <NUM> such that the laser beam emitted by laser emitter <NUM> periodically scans across an area to illuminate different portions of the area, as previously described herein. Rotation mechanism <NUM> can be mechanical and/or electrical. It may be configured to rotate the laser emitter <NUM> at a particular speed and/or over a given range. For example, if smoke detector <NUM> is positioned in a corner of an area (e.g., room), rotation mechanism <NUM> may alternately rotate laser emitter <NUM> from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees and from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees. As such, if the laser emitter <NUM> emits pulses periodically while being rotated by rotation mechanism <NUM>, smoke detector <NUM> can scan the entire area for smoke. In some embodiments, rotation mechanism <NUM> can rotates the light receiver <NUM> and the laser emitter <NUM> together. For instance, rotation mechanism <NUM> can be a rotary platform or table driven by a motor.

As shown in <FIG>, smoke detector <NUM> can include a controller <NUM> having a processor <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. Memory <NUM> can be any type of storage medium that can be accessed by processor <NUM> to perform various examples of the present disclosure. For example, memory <NUM> can be a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions (e.g., computer program instructions) stored thereon that are executable by processor <NUM> to operate smoke detector <NUM> in accordance with the present disclosure. That is, processor <NUM> can execute the executable instructions stored in memory <NUM> to operate smoke detector <NUM> in accordance with the present disclosure.

Memory <NUM> can be volatile or nonvolatile memory. Memory <NUM> can also be removable (e.g., portable) memory, or non-removable (e.g., internal) memory. For example, the memory can be random access memory (RAM) (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM), resistive random access memory (RRAM), and/or phase change random access memory (PCRAM)), read-only memory (ROM) (e.g., electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and/or compact-disk read-only memory (CD-ROM)), flash memory, a laser disk, a digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, and/or a magnetic medium such as magnetic cassettes, tapes, or disks, among other types of memory. Further, memory <NUM> can be located internal to smoke detector <NUM>, or located internal to another computing resource (e.g., enabling computer readable instructions to be downloaded over the Internet or another wired or wireless connection).

<FIG> is an example method <NUM> of operating a smoke detector in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The smoke detector can be, for example, smoke detector <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, respectively. The method can be performed and/or executed by, for example, controller <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG>.

At block <NUM>, method <NUM> includes rotating a laser emitter of the smoke detector such that a laser beam emitted by the laser emitter illuminates an object in an area and different portions of the area. The laser emitter can be, for instance, laser emitter <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG>, and the laser beam emitted by the laser emitter can be, for instance, laser beam <NUM> and/or <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>, respectively. The laser emitter can be rotated using, for instance, rotation mechanism <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG>. The area can be, for instance, area <NUM> and/or <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>, respectively, the object can be, for instance, object <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG>, and the different portions of the area can comprise, for instance, different walls of the area, as previously described in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>.

At block <NUM>, method <NUM> includes determining, based on light reflected from the illuminated object, an amount of space in the area blocked from a field of view of the smoke detector by the object. The amount of space blocked from the field of view of the smoke detector can correspond to, for instance, space <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG>, and can be determined, for instance, based on the intensity of the light reflected from the illuminated object, as previously described in connection with <FIG>.

At block <NUM>, method <NUM> includes providing an indication responsive to the determined amount of space being above a threshold amount of space. The threshold amount of space can be, for instance, defined or set based on the smoke detector operational requirements and/or fire codes of the local jurisdiction of the area, as previously described in connection with <FIG>. The indication can be provided, for instance, to an additional device, as previously described in connection with <FIG>.

At block <NUM>, method <NUM> includes adjusting a speed of the rotation of the laser emitter based on light reflected from the illuminated different portions of the area. For instance, the speed of the rotation of the laser emitter can be adjusted based on the intensity of the light reflected from the illuminated different portions of the area, as previously described in connection with <FIG>, and can be adjusted by adjusting the speed at which the rotation mechanism of the detector rotates the laser emitter of the detector, as previously described herein.

The scope of various embodiments of the disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in example embodiments illustrated in the figures for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiments of the disclosure require more features than are expressly recited in each of the claimed combinations of features.

Claim 1:
A smoke detector (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
a laser emitter (<NUM>) configured to emit a laser beam (<NUM>, <NUM>) in an area (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a mechanism (<NUM>) configured to rotate the laser emitter (<NUM>) such that the laser beam (<NUM>, <NUM>) illuminates different portions of the area (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a light receiver (<NUM>) configured to receive light reflected from the illuminated different portions of the area (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to:
measure an intensity of the light reflected from the illuminated different portions of the area; and
adjust a speed at which the mechanism (<NUM>) rotates the laser emitter (<NUM>) based on the intensity of the light reflected from the illuminated different portions of the area (<NUM>, <NUM>), such that the speed at which the mechanism (<NUM>) rotates is quicker for portions of the area closer to the smoke detector (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and slower for portions of the area further away from the smoke detector (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).