Walter Kidde Portable Equipment, Inc.

Carrier Corporation

Management Investment & Technology, Ltd.

Larry R Ratzlaff

Joseph G DeLuca

John J Andres

Chris R Gilbert

Michael W Apperson

Anis Zribi

Stephen M Ernst

Travis Silver

Jason Michael Sharpe

Vipul H Patel

Bill Chandler

Stanley D Burnette

Valeriy V Miagkov

Ken Fasen

Anthony Joseph Santistevan

Craig Kleinberg

John Wurtenberger

Charles Edmund Murphy, Jr

Matthew J Buchholz

Stan Burnette

Dave Bush

Rick L Mantz

A method for detecting smoke via a chamber-less smoke sensor includes applying one or more filters to eliminate a flooding of ambient light upon the smoke sensor and emitting, by a source, light. At least one detector detects at least a portion of the emitted light and a processor processes the detected light to signal an alarm condition when one or more threshold levels are reached. A chamber-less smoke sensor includes a light source configured to emit light and at least one detector configured to detect at least a portion of the emitted light. An electronic filter and/or a processor is configured to apply one or more filters to eliminate a flooding of ambient light upon the smoke sensor and process the detected light to signal an alarm condition when a threshold level is reached.

Chamber-less smoke sensor

Embodiments are directed to a reactive power supply circuit comprising: a capacitor configured to provide an output of the power supply circuit based on power received from a power source, a processor configured to control the output based on at least one of: a state of a first switch that selectively couples the capacitor to the power source based on a detected level of the output, and a state of at least one second switch that selectively couples the capacitor to the power source based on a determination of a state of one or more loads coupled to the output.

Reactive power supply

A smoke detector is disclosed that comprises a smoke detection chamber comprising: a light source operable to provide radiation to an interior space of the smoke detection chamber, and a light detector operable to receive radiation scattered by one or more radiation scatting particles in the interior of the smoke detection chamber; an alarm control module, in communication with the smoke detection chamber and a processor, operable to produce an alarm indicating a presence of a predetermined threshold of the one or more radiation scattering particles; a computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the detector to perform an alarm compensation threshold method comprising: comparing a calibrated clear air voltage measurement with an average clear air voltage measurement; adjusting an alarm threshold sensitivity, based at least in part, on the comparison of the calibrated clear air voltage measurement and the average clear air voltage measurement.

Photoelectric smoke detector with drift compensation

A method and apparatus for utilizing a timing component to optimize low battery indication in alarm devices. The method and apparatus may set a timing component based on a condition detected by a alarm device. Upon detection of a low battery condition within the alarm device, the alarm device can delay low battery indication, using the timing component, until a time of day with a higher probably of user suitability.

Systems and methods for optimizing low battery indication in alarms

An electronic device, for example a smoke alarm, that includes a battery carrier that includes a push to open and push to close apparatus for opening and closing the carrier. In one embodiment, the carrier is mounted so as to be pivotable between a closed position and an open position. Pivoting movement of the carrier is controlled by a double acting latch mechanism that includes at least one heart-shaped cam groove and at least one cam follower engaging with the cam groove. The carrier is a simple to access and operate to facilitate replacement of the battery. A lockout mechanism can also be provided to prevent closure of the carrier without a battery installed. In addition, a tamper resist mechanism can be provided to prevent the carrier from being opened when the carrier is at the closed position.

Pivoting battery carrier and a life safety device incorporating the same

Presented is a communications protocol for use by interconnected hazardous condition detectors, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for use in dwellings and other structures. This communications protocol provides conventional signaling to indicate the presence of a smoke condition necessitating the generation of a smoke temporal pattern by all interconnected detectors. The protocol further defines a signaling method by which conventional smoke detectors that are incapable of providing temporal patterns other than that required for a smoke alarm condition will not be sent into an alarm mode of operation upon receipt of a signal other than the conventional smoke alarm signal. This communications protocol defines a pulsed signal to indicate a non-smoke alarm condition that is of a duration that will not trigger the conventional smoke alarms. To allow for the transmission of multiple hazardous conditions alarm notifications, as well as the transmission of additional hazardous condition detector control signals, the communications protocol utilizes a multi-bit signal transmitted via the conventional single signal I/O wire of currently existing interconnect wiring. Through the use of an 8 bit alarm signal, multiple hazardous conditions may be signaled as well as operating modes such as test, hush, reset, low battery, etc. Also presented are smoke, carbon monoxide, and combination hazardous condition detectors that utilize the communications protocol presented herein.

Communication protocol for interconnected hazardous condition detectors, and system employing same

A microcontroller-based hazardous condition detector having an intelligent hush feature is presented. The microcontroller controls the operational mode of the detector by monitoring a single user-actuated switch, the inputs from a smoke chamber and a carbon monoxide detector circuit, and the current operating mode of the detector. When in a normal or no-alarm mode, actuation of the switch will cause the microcontroller to place the detector in a test mode of operation. If the detector is in a carbon monoxide alarm mode, actuation of the switch will act to reset the accumulator function of the microprocessor for the carbon monoxide alarm sensing. If the detector is in a smoke alarm mode, actuation of the switch may place the detector in a hush mode if the level of smoke is sufficiently low, or will have no effect if the level of smoke is too high. Once in the hush mode, actuation of the switch will place the detector into the smoke alarm mode. The microcontroller will also place the detector in the smoke alarm mode if the level of smoke increases beyond a certain limit, and after the expiration of a hush mode time limit. To coordinate this operation, the sensitivity of the detector is not changed in any mode of operation, and the microcontroller monitors both an alarm and a hush threshold.

Microprocessor-based combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector having intelligent hush feature

Smoke detector

Growing community of inventors

Elgin, IL, United States of America

Larry R Ratzlaff