Patent Description:
Sensor data transmission systems such as those utilized for security control systems may include a plurality of sensors that may each be hard-wired to a central control panel. Moreover, each sensor may be configured to send a variety of condition signals (e.g., alarm tamper, masking walktest) to the control panel with each type of condition needing a dedicated wire/conductor routed to the control panel. The resulting abundance of wires may introduce issues with cost and system robustness. Moreover, retrofitting such systems may not be practical. <CIT> discloses a building alarm system. <CIT> discloses an electrical alarm system. <CIT> discloses a security system with a central station and various sensors arranged in a daisy chain loop.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a sensor data transmission system as claimed in claim <NUM>.

Additionally to the foregoing embodiment, the first and second conditions are the same.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the first and second pre-determined time intervals are the same.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the first and second sensors are motion sensors.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the central processor is part of a security control panel.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the first and second sensors are one of temperature sensors, particulate sensors, and gas sensors.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the sensor data transmission system includes a resistor interposed in the first conductor between the first relay and the central processor.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the first and second conditions include a tamper condition.

In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the first and second conditions include a masking condition.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various configurations without exclusivity, provided they fall under the scope of the appended claims. However, it should be understood that the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.

Referring to <FIG>, an exemplary embodiment of a sensor data transmission system <NUM> is illustrated that may be applied to a security control system as one, non-limiting, example. The sensor data transmission system <NUM> includes a control panel <NUM>, a plurality of sensor assemblies (i.e., two illustrated as <NUM> and <NUM>), a communication transmission conductor <NUM> that may be an electrically insulated wire, a communication neutral conductor <NUM> that may be an electrically insulated wire, and a resistor <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM> that may be computer based for receiving and transmitting communications to the sensor assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> over the transmission conductor <NUM>. Depending on the type of sensor data transmission system <NUM>, the control panel <NUM> may be configured to alert, for example, occupants of a building of a condition detected by the sensor assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> and may be used to further control the assemblies. It is contemplated and understood that the sensor data transmission system <NUM> may be part of a building management system and/or may be a fire or smoke detection system, a gas detection system or any other type of detection systems. Although not illustrated, each sensor assembly <NUM>, <NUM> may be electrically powered directly from the control panel <NUM> utilizing dedicated power wires.

Each sensor assembly <NUM>, <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> (e.g., microprocessor), a sensor <NUM>, and a relay <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is configured to detect any variety of conditions, such as for example, motion, and transmit the detected condition as a condition detected signal (see arrow <NUM>) to the processor <NUM>. The processors <NUM> of each sensor assembly <NUM>, <NUM> are generally, electrically, daisy-chained together. That is, the processors <NUM> are interconnected by a communication conductor <NUM>. When assembled, the relay <NUM> of the first sensor assembly <NUM> interposes the communication transmission conductor <NUM>, and the relay <NUM> of the second sensor assembly <NUM> interposes the communication conductor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is preprogrammed to process the condition detected signal <NUM> and in accordance with preprogramming, open and close the relay <NUM> thereby controlling the continuity of the respective conductors <NUM>, <NUM>. Non-limiting examples of sensors <NUM> may be configured to measure and/or detect motion, temperature, particulate, humidity, gas concentrations, noise and other factors.

The resistor <NUM> may be in the communication transmission conductor <NUM> and generally disposed between the relay <NUM> of the first sensor assembly <NUM> and the CPU <NUM>. The resistor <NUM> generally facilitates supervision of the conductor loop (i.e., the conductors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to verify the conductor are not physically damaged or broken.

Referring to <FIG>, each processor <NUM> of each sensor assembly <NUM>, <NUM> may include a programmable alarm or condition module <NUM>, a tamper module <NUM>, a walktest module <NUM> and a condition transfer module <NUM>. Each module <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is configured to generate a unique output signal (i.e., via the relay <NUM>) to the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM>. The alarm module <NUM> may be generally applied during normal operation of the sensor data transmission system <NUM>, and thus utilizes the condition detected signal <NUM> to process an appropriate response. The tamper module <NUM> (which may also be or includes a masking module) is associated with the ability of the sensor assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> to detect tampering with a particular assembly. Examples of tampering may include an assembly cover is open, maintenance operations to an assembly are underway, a particular assembly is out of service (i.e., masking), and others. The walktest module <NUM> may be a means of performing an assembly self-test. The condition transfer module <NUM> facilitates the ability of the plurality of sensor assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> to communicate with one-another in terms of, for example, which assembly detected a condition. It is understood and contemplated that the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be software based.

Referring to <FIG>, a relay open versus time graphs are illustrated. Each graph generally depicts a time window or interval <NUM> that is predetermined and preprogrammed into the processors <NUM> of the sensor assemblies <NUM>, <NUM>. In <FIG>, the relay <NUM> is briefly opened twice (i.e. illustrated as first and second peaks <NUM>, <NUM> in what may be timed succession) and starting at the initiation of the time interval <NUM>. This peak pattern may be associated with a condition detected and generated by the alarm module <NUM>. In <FIG>, the relay <NUM> is briefly opened three times producing three peaks <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in timed succession and during the time interval <NUM>. This peak pattern may be associated with an assembly tampering occurrence and generated by the tamper module <NUM>. In <FIG>, the relay <NUM> may be briefly opened two times producing two peaks <NUM>, <NUM> with the first peak <NUM> being at the initiation of the time interval <NUM> and the second peak being at the end of the time interval (i.e., not necessarily in timed succession). This peak pattern may be associated with a sensor assembly self-test occurrence and is generated by the walktest module <NUM>. In <FIG>, the relay <NUM> may be briefly opened once producing a single peak <NUM> with the peak being at the initiation of the time interval <NUM>. This peak pattern may be associated with a communication between sensor assemblies and may be generated by the condition transfer module <NUM>. More specifically and as one example, if the sensor assembly <NUM> detects a condition, the condition transfer module <NUM> may request from the first sensor assembly <NUM> to confirm the detection. It is further contemplated and understood that any type of module may generate any number of peak patterns within the time interval <NUM> and associated with a particular function or event as programmed within the processors <NUM>. It is contemplated and understood that the various peak patterns may be reflective of a digital process and/or digital signals.

In operation of the sensor data transmission system <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> monitors for a condition and sends a signal <NUM> to the processor <NUM> of the sensor assembly <NUM>. The signal <NUM> may be continuously sent and the condition module <NUM> of the processor <NUM> may process the signal <NUM> and/or monitor the signal until a preprogrammed threshold is reached indicative of, for example, an alarm condition. Alternatively, the sensor <NUM> may send a signal <NUM> only when a condition has occurred. Upon recognizing the condition, the condition module <NUM> initiates the time interval <NUM> while controlling the relay <NUM>. The control of the relay <NUM> may be opening the relay, twice, in succession, beginning at initiation of the time interval <NUM> (see <FIG>). Opening the relay twice within the time interval <NUM> produces a two peak pattern that is generally associated with a specific output continuity signal (see arrow <NUM> in <FIG>).

If the condition occurs at the sensor assembly <NUM>, the continuity signal <NUM> is transmitted to the processor <NUM> of the sensor assembly <NUM>, where it may then be assigned an address indicative of sensor assembly <NUM>, and then sent to the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> in, for example, real time (i.e., before the time interval <NUM> has expired). In this example the processors <NUM> of the sensor assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> may include an internal clock. Alternatively, or in addition too, the CPU <NUM> may include an internal clock and receives the peak patterns in real time. Upon expiration of the time interval <NUM> as determined by the CPU <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> may then determine the meaning of the input signal (see arrow <NUM>) from the sensor assembly <NUM> (i.e., from which module <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and which assembly <NUM>, <NUM>). In one embodiment, the condition detected by the second sensor assembly <NUM>, and sensed by the first sensor assembly <NUM> via opening of the relay <NUM> may be processed by the processor <NUM> of the first sensor assembly <NUM> and communicated to the CPU <NUM> via opening of the relay <NUM> of the first sensor assembly <NUM> which is detected by the CPU <NUM>. In another embodiment, when the first sensor assembly <NUM> sees the opening of the relay <NUM> of the second sensor assembly <NUM>, the processor <NUM> of the first sensor assembly <NUM> may not open its relay. Instead, the sensor assembly <NUM> may send an electronic signal to the CPU <NUM> over conductor <NUM> indicative of the condition detected by the second sensor assembly <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> may be configured to monitor input from the first sensor assembly <NUM> to determine if there is any change in the input, once there is a change, the CPU <NUM> may listen over the duration of the time interval <NUM>, which in one example may be about two hundred (<NUM>) milliseconds, to identify the specific continuity signal (i.e., peak pattern). The CPU <NUM> needs to identify the specific continuity signal to differentiate between, for example, an alarm condition from the condition module <NUM>, a tamper condition from the tamper module <NUM>, a walktest condition from the walktest module <NUM>, and a transfer of information occurring between assemblies from the condition transfer module <NUM>. As described above for operation of sensor data transmission system <NUM> generally specific to the condition module <NUM>, the same process may be applied to the modules <NUM>, <NUM>.

Relative to the condition transfer module <NUM>, and in the case of a dual sensor alarm verification, the first sensor assembly <NUM> may create a peak pattern (see <FIG> as one example). The CPU <NUM> may see this pattern in real time, but does not react since its meaning is not yet known. Also, sensor assembly <NUM> may also see the peak pattern from the sensor assembly <NUM> and may be configured to confirm if it also detects a condition, so the sensor assembly <NUM> waits through the duration of the time interval <NUM>. If the second sensor assembly <NUM> also qualifies the condition, then the sensor assembly <NUM> signals back to the CPU <NUM> via the first sensor assembly <NUM>.

Advantages and benefits of the present disclosure include a reduction in wiring. That is, traditional system may require dedicated wiring for each module <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to the CPU <NUM> and/or traditional system may require dedicated wiring from each sensor assembly to the CPU <NUM>. In the present disclosure, such wiring is greatly reduced. Other advantages include simplification of retrofitting existing systems, a reduction in cost, and an increase in system robustness. Yet further, sensor assemblies are capable of talking to one-another to pre-qualify detected conditions for verification purposes.

Claim 1:
A sensor data transmission system comprising:
a central processor (<NUM>);
a first sensor (<NUM>) assembly including a first sensor (<NUM>), a first processor (<NUM>) and a first relay (<NUM>), wherein the first sensor (<NUM>) is configured to detect a first condition, the first processor (<NUM>) is configured to receive a first condition detected signal from the first sensor (<NUM>) and open the first relay (<NUM>) at least once within a first pre-determined time interval (<NUM>), wherein the opening pattern of the first relay (<NUM>) within the first pre-determined time interval identifies the first condition and wherein the first pre-determined time interval is preprogrammed into the first processor;
a second sensor (<NUM>) assembly including a second sensor (<NUM>), second processor (<NUM>) and a second relay (<NUM>), wherein the second sensor (<NUM>) is configured to detect a second condition, the second processor (<NUM>) is configured to receive a second condition detected signal from the second sensor (<NUM>) and open the second relay (<NUM>) at least once within a second pre-determined time interval (<NUM>), wherein the opening pattern of the second relay (<NUM>) within the second pre-determined time interval identifies the second condition and wherein the second pre-determined time interval is preprogrammed into the second processor;
a first communication conductor (<NUM>) in electrical contact between the first and second processors (<NUM>) and interposed by the second relay (<NUM>); and
a second communication conductor (<NUM>) in electrical contact between the central processor (<NUM>) and the first processor (<NUM>) and interposed by the first relay (<NUM>).