Santa Barbara Research Center

Hughes Aircraft Company

Robert J Cinzori

Mark T Kern

Richard A Dye

Danny G Snider

Mark E Preiser

Daniel R Ledbetter

Clyde Raymond Berry

William D Fuller

A fire detection system discriminates between a HEAT round that does not initiate a secondary fire and a HEAT round which does initiate a secondary fire. The system of the invention measures the peck intensity of a penetrating HEAT round in order to determine a secondary threshold level which is subsequently utilized to detect a resulting hydrocarbon fire. Also, the system performs a statistical analysis of the slope of the round thermal signature to determine if a secondary fire may be occurring.

Real time adaptive round discrimination fire sensor

A fire sensor can perform a sophisticated analysis of the outputs of radiant energy detectors, while minimizing size, weight, and cost, by employing a microprocessor to analyze the detector outputs. In a preferred embodiment, an Intel 2920 Signal Processor is utilized as the microprocessor.

Microprocessor-controlled fire sensor

A method and apparatus associated therewith for acquiring and maintaining a high quality communication by communication means of the type that includes a detector and focusing means for directing encoded incoming radiation to said detector. Means are provided for determining the location of said radiation upon said detector and for generating an electrical signal responsive to said location. Said electrical signal is applied to electroluminescent means so that there is produced for the user a pattern of illumination indicating the degree of alignment of said communication means with the incoming radiation.

Apparatus and method for nighttime and low visibility alignment of

A fire sensor that can perform a sophisticated analysis of the outputs of radiant energy detectors, while minimizing size, weight, and cost, by employing a microprocessor to analyze the detector outputs. In one embodiment, an Intel 2920 Signal Processor is utilized as the microprocessor. An alternative embodiment incorporates an RCA 1802 microprocessor to achieve fire sensing while discriminating against false signal radiation.

A hot air leak sensor for sensing jet engine bleed air leaks in an aircraft. Infrared detectors are combined with thermal re-radiating elements which are installed in air passages adjacent to the bleed air ducts and downstream of the region where a bleed air leak may occur. The elements are approximately 50% transmissive and 50% absorptive to infrared radiation with wavelengths within the range of approximately 4 to 20 micrometers. Incident radiation within the field of view of the detector is both transmitted and absorbed for re-radiation to the detector. If no incident radiation within the sensor field of view is available, the re-radiating element still responds to the increased airstream temperature resulting from the bleed air leak and supplies radiation to the detector to provide detection of the leak.

High speed hot air leak sensor

A fire sensor apparatus of the type having a discriminating fire sensor portion for detecting radiation in at least two different spectral bands associated with a fire and for providing an output signal in response to predetermined amounts of radiation in those spectral bands associated with a particular size and type of fire to be detected. A novel heat sensor channel is provided, which provides a further output signal in response to an amount of detected heat radiation greater than that associated with the fire of the type and size to be detected. A heat override function is thereby provided to permit the generation of an output signal even when contaminants block the action of the discriminating fire sensor portion.

Discriminating fire sensor with thermal override capability

Described herein is a method and system for sensing explosive fires by the parallel processing of signals derived from both electromagnetic radiation and mechanical wave energy simultaneously emanating from or near the source of these fires. This diverse-stimuli sensing capability enhances the false alarm immunity of the system.

Fire sensing and suppression method and system responsive to optical

A simple lightweight apparatus for sensing excessive contamination on the faces of an array of light or infrared detectors comprises mounting a light or infrared-emitting diode near one or more of the detectors. When the diode is energized, the associated detectors should detect its radiation, thereby indicating that the detector is operable and that contamination is not excessive.

Reference channel for sensing optical contamination

A fire sensor discriminates between fires and the flash caused by a projectile piercing the wall of a protected area. The sensor system comprises first and second radiant energy detectors, each sensitive to radiation within different spectral bands. Each detector is coupled to a control signal means for generating a control signal when the radiation sensed exceeds a predetermined amplitude. A third control signal means is responsive to the first and second detectors, and is operative to generate a third control signal whenever the ratio of the amplitude of the energy sensed by the first detector to the amplitude of the energy sensed by the second detector is less than a predetermined value; not generate the third control signal whenever the ratio of amplitude exceeds the predetermined value; and delay generation of the third control signal for a predetermined period of time after the ratio of amplitudes falls below the predetermined value. An output control signal is then generated only if all three control signals are simultaneously generated. The decay of the flash radiation is thereby electrically simulated, allowing the fire sensor to sense whether a fire develops after the flash passes.

Dual spectrum fire sensor with discriminator

A fire sensor system that can discriminate between a hydrocarbon fire and the effects of a penetration flash has four channels. A first channel of the system detects electromagnetic radiation in a spectral band of relatively long wavelength and a second channel detects electromagnetic radiation in a spectral band of relatively short wavelength. A third channel compares the relative intensity of the radiation detected by the first two channels and will generate a control signal if the ratio of intensities deviates substantially from unity. This third channel control signal, when generated, will be delayed by a first predetermined period of time, and then will trigger an output signal if the first two channels still detect predetermined levels of radiation. The first predetermined delay period is set to be long enough to allow a substantial amount of the radiation of a flash subside. The sensor system also has a fourth channel that monitors the intensity of the relatively long-wavelength radiation detected by the first channel. If the long-wavelength component increases beyond a predetermined value during a second predetermined time period that begins a third predetermined time period after the third channel control signal is generated, then the output signal will be triggered. The output signal, when generated, can be used to trigger an electro-mechanical suppressant release mechanism. In another form of the four channel sensor system, the third channel generates its control signal only when the difference between the intensities of the radiation detected by the first and second channels exceeds a predetermined level.

Optical discriminating fire sensor

Disclosed is a fire and explosion detection system wherein long wavelength radiant energy responsive signals are processed in one channel and compared to short wavelength radiant energy responsive signals which are processed in a second channel. At least one of the channels is responsive to a wavelength where at least one of the combustion products of the fire or explosion exhibits a strong absorption band in the atmosphere. When the signals from the two channels are coincident in response to a fire or explosion of a predetermined threshold magnitude, an output fire suppression signal is generated.

Dual spectrum infrared fire sensor

A method of and apparatus for modulating, demodulating, and ordering independent signals transmitted over a single link provides mux-demux capability by asymmetric average interpulse spacing so that the information will be received only by the proper listening station despite interruptions or errors in transmission. In the two signal embodiment, a master oscillator provides an asymmetric carrier pulse train to a pair of ramp generators, one leading pulse edge triggered and the other trailing edge triggered. The ramps pulse position modulate the signals by means of a pair of comparators. The modulated outputs of the comparators are applied to an OR gate which combines the pulses to provide a time division multiplexed stream of modulated data having an asymmetric average interpulse spacing. The data stream is transmitted over a pulsed data link to a pair of synchronizers, each of which contains a phase-locked loop having a voltage controlled oscillator whose free running pulse repetition frequency is one-half that of the multiplexed stream and whose loop filter high frequency cutoff is considerably below the lowest modulation frequency. A flip-flop correlator compares the average start times of the voltage controlled oscillators of the two phase-locked loops to provide the control signals for a steering network which directs each of the signals to the proper listening station, assuring the independence of the transmissions.

Apparatus and method for ordering independent signals

AC-DC voltage regulation is achieved utilizing, among other components, a series pass control element which is serially connected to a detector and filter output stage and between circuit input terminals and an output load. A rectified input voltage is applied to the series pass control element which controls the required amount of current flowing into a load every 1/2 cycle of the input signal. This current is, in turn, detected and filtered to provide the regulated DC output voltage. A voltage sensor is connected to the output of the series pass control element and in parallel with the detector and filter stage; this sensor breaks down at a predetermined level of series pass voltage to, in turn, generate a feedback control voltage. This control voltage is fed back to a current controlled switch which is connected in shunt with the series pass control element. This current controlled switch responds to the feedback voltage to accordingly limit the current conduction in the series pass control element to precisely the amount required by a varying load connected to the circuit output terminal. Thus, voltage regulation is achieved with a maximum AC-DC conversion efficiency and a minimum power dissipation.

AC-DC voltage regulator

An intrusion system detects changes in background radiation received from a plurality of orthogonally arranged fields of view (FOV) which preferably are defined by thin polyhedrons coextensive with the walls of the room. These fields of view are generated by a plurality of orthogonally arranged optical reflectors located in certain corners of the room, and any changes in background radiation within these fields of view are detected by one or more thermopile detectors which are optically aligned with the above optical reflectors. The low level - low frequency output signal voltages form the thermopile detectors are converted to an AC signal and amplified for use as an intrusion alarm signal.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Robert J Cinzori