Testing a heat detector of a self-testing hazard sensing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023260390-A1
Application number	US-202217674318-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2022
Priority date	Feb 17, 2022
Publication date	Aug 17, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems for testing a heat detector of a self-testing hazard sensing device are described herein. One device includes a heat detector, and a controller configured to provide energy to the heat detector to heat the heat detector to a threshold temperature, determine an amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature, determine whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds a threshold amount of time, and determine whether the heat detector is functioning properly based on whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A self-testing hazard sensing device, comprising:
a heat detector; and a controller configured to:
provide energy to the heat detector to heat the heat detector to a threshold temperature;
determine an amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature;
determine whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds a threshold amount of time; and
determine whether the heat detector is functioning properly based on whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time.

2 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 1 , herein the heat detector comprises a thermistor.

3 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 1 , wherein:
the self-testing hazard sensing device includes a current source; and the controller is configured to use the current source to provide the energy to the heat detector.

4 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the threshold temperature is a temperature sufficient to trigger a fire response from the self-testing hazard sensing device.

5 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the threshold amount of time is a baseline amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature while the energy is provided to the heat detector.

6 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a notification upon determining the heat detector is not functioning properly.

7 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to provide the notification by illuminating a light of the self-testing hazard sensing device.

8 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to provide the notification by transmitting the notification to an additional device.

9 . A method of operating a self-testing hazard sensing device, comprising:
providing energy to a heat detector of the self-testing hazard sensing device to heat the heat detector to a threshold temperature; determining an amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature; determining whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds a threshold amount of time; and determining whether the heat detector is functioning properly based on whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the method includes providing the energy to the heat detector using an external current source of the self-testing hazard sensing device.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the method includes determining the heat detector is functioning properly upon determining the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature does not meet or exceed the threshold amount of time.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the method includes determining the heat detector is not functioning properly upon determining the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the method includes determining whether air flow through the self-testing hazard sensing device is functioning properly based on whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the method includes determining whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time by comparing the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature to the threshold amount of time.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the method includes determining whether to replace the heat detector based on whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to heat to the threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time.

16 . A self-testing hazard sensing device, comprising:
a heat detector; and a controller configured to:
provide energy to the heat detector to heat the heat detector to a first threshold temperature;
determine, after the heat detector has heated to the first threshold temperature, an amount of time it takes for the heat detector to cool from the first threshold temperature to a second threshold temperature;
determine whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to cool to the second threshold temperature meets or exceeds a threshold amount of time; and
determine whether the heat detector is functioning properly based on whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to cool to the second threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time.

17 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the heat detector is functioning properly upon determining the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to cool to the second threshold temperature does not meet or exceed the threshold amount of time.

18 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the heat detector is not functioning properly upon determining the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to cool to the second threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time.

19 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 16 , wherein the threshold amount of time is a baseline amount of time it takes for the heat detector to cool from the first threshold temperature to the second threshold temperature after the heat detector has heated to the first threshold temperature.

20 . The self-testing hazard sensing device of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether air flow through the self-testing hazard sensing device is functioning properly based on whether the amount of time it takes for the heat detector to cool to the second threshold temperature meets or exceeds the threshold amount of time.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Wolf Benjamin H
• Dearden Christopher
• Barson Michael

Classifications

• G01K15/007 Primary

  Testing · CPC title

• G01K15/005

  Calibration · CPC title

• G08B29/145 Primary

  of fire detection circuits · CPC title

• G01K7/22

  the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor (G01K7/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08B17/06

  Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch · CPC title