Fire detection system testing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12592145-B2
Application number	US-202318346129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2023
Priority date	Jul 1, 2022
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

A detector unit for use in a fire detection system is provided, comprising: a sensor for monitoring an environmental condition; an indicator for generating a visible indication; and a controller in connection with the sensor and the indicator, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a fire alarm control panel of the fire detection system; wherein the controller is configured to operate the detector unit in a testing mode, the testing mode being for testing a response of the fire detection system to an environmental condition that is indicative of a fire; and wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator to indicate an outcome of a test carried out on the detector unit when the detector unit is operating in the testing mode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A detector unit for use in a fire detection system, comprising:
a sensor for monitoring an environmental condition; an indicator for generating a visible indication; and a controller in connection with the sensor and the indicator, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a fire alarm control panel of the fire detection system; wherein the controller is configured to operate the detector unit in a testing mode, the testing mode being for testing a response of the fire detection system to an environmental condition that is indicative of a fire; and wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator to indicate an outcome of a test carried out on the detector unit when the detector unit is operating in the testing mode; wherein the controller is configured to determine that the test has failed if the controller has not received a communication from the fire alarm control panel within a predetermined time from the start of the test; wherein the controller is configured to determine if the detector unit is next in a testing sequence based on a notification from the fire alarm control panel and cause the indicator to indicate that the detector unit is next in the testing sequence if the controller is notified that the detector unit is next in the testing sequence by the fire alarm control panel.

2 . The detector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detector unit is configured to enter the testing mode in response to receipt of a command from the fire alarm control panel by the controller.

3 . The detector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the indicator to indicate whether the detector unit has been tested during the testing mode.

4 . The detector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more LEDs and/or an LCD screen.

5 . The detector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outcome of the test is indicated by a colour of the indicator and/or a flashing light pattern of the indicator.

6 . The detector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator to indicate what kind of test the detector unit should be subjected to.

7 . The detector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in the testing mode, the controller is configured to transmit a notification to the fire alarm control panel when an environmental condition that is indicative of a fire is detected by the sensor, and to determine the outcome of the test based on a response to the notification from the fire alarm control panel.

8 . A fire detection system comprising:
a plurality of detector units, each detector unit including:
a sensor for monitoring an environmental condition;
an indicator for generating a visible indication; and
a controller in connection with the sensor and the indicator,
wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a fire alarm control panel of the fire detection system;
wherein the controller is configured to operate the detector unit in a testing mode, the testing mode being for testing a response of the fire detection system to an environmental condition that is indicative of a fire; and
wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator to indicate an outcome of a test carried out on the detector unit when the detector unit is operating in the testing mode;
wherein the controller is configured to determine that the test has failed if the controller has not received a communication from the fire alarm control panel within a predetermined time from the start of the test;
wherein the controller is configured to determine if the detector unit is next in a testing sequence based on a notification from the fire alarm control panel and cause the indicator to indicate that the detector unit is next in the testing sequence if the controller is notified that the detector unit is next in the testing sequence by the fire alarm control panel;
an alarm control panel for use in the fire detection system, comprising: a control unit for controlling operations of the fire detection system, wherein the control unit is configured to communicate with the plurality of detector units of the fire detections system; wherein the control unit is configured to trigger a testing mode in at least one detector unit of the plurality of detector units of the fire detection system; and wherein the control unit is configured to process a communication received from a detector unit operating in the testing mode, and communicate an outcome response to the communication to said detector unit.

9 . The fire alarm control panel as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to trigger the testing mode only in detector units that have passed a detector unit self-test, the detector unit self-test being a test carried out by the detector unit to test the functionality of one or more internal components of the detector unit.

10 . The fire alarm control panel as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to notify each detector unit in the testing mode of the type of test that the detector unit should be subjected to.

11 . The fire alarm control panel as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to trigger the testing mode of operation in all detector units within a given zone of the fire detection system.

12 . A method of testing a fire detection system, comprising:
triggering, through a control unit of a fire alarm control panel in the fire detection system, a testing mode in a detector unit in the fire detection system; indicating, through an indicator of the detector unit, that the detector unit has not been tested; sensing, through a sensor of the detector unit, an environmental condition that is indicative of a fire; indicating, through the indicator of the detector unit, that a test has been carried out on the detector unit; notifying, through detector unit, the sensed environmental condition to the fire alarm control panel; indicating, through the indicator of the detector unit, an outcome of the test based on a response to the notification of the sensed environmental condition from the fire alarm control panel; wherein the outcome of the test is determined as failed if the detector unit has not received a communication from the fire alarm control panel within a predetermined time from the start of the test; wherein the method further comprises determining if the detector unit is next in a testing sequence based on a notification from the fire alarm control panel and causing the indicator to indicate that the detector unit is next in the testing sequence if the detector unit is notified of being next in the testing sequence by the fire alarm control panel.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , comprising:
notifying, through the fire alarm control panel, the detector unit of the type of test that the detector unit should be subjected to.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , comprising:
indicating, through the indicator of the detector unit, the type of test that the detector unit should be subjected to.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , comprising:
triggering, through the fire alarm control panel, the detector unit to return to a normal mode of operation after a predetermined time.

16 . The detector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator to indicate that the detector unit is under test during the period of time between the detector unit being tested and the outcome of the test being dete

Assignees

• Carrier Corp
• Kidde Fire Prot Llc

Inventors

• Escofet Via Jordi
• Cordoba Andres
• Taus Gustavo

Classifications

• G08B29/20

  Calibration, including self-calibrating arrangements · CPC title

• G08B29/10

  Monitoring of the annunciator circuits · CPC title

• G08B17/10

  Actuation by presence of smoke or gases {, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means} · CPC title

• G08B29/043 Primary

  of fire detection circuits · CPC title

• G08B29/145 Primary

  of fire detection circuits · CPC title