Patent ID: 8154415

Claim:
A detector comprising: first and second detector elements each having a respective electronic interface; and a detector base having an electronic interface to the electronic interface of each of the detector elements, the detector base further having communication electronics, wherein at least one of the detector elements is constructed as a replaceable module, and wherein the communication electronics is configured to communicate information received from each detector element via the electronics interface of the detector base to a central control unit; wherein the first detector element includes a first sensor for sensing a first physical property, and the second detector element includes a second sensor for sensing a second physical property which is different from the first physical property; wherein the detector base analyzes signals output by each of the detector elements, thereby providing an increased fire detection capability; and wherein the electronic interface of each detector element enables effective communication with the detector base, each electronic interface comprising a current-to-voltage converter, a buffer amplifier and a self-monitoring circuit.