Bifurcated processor hazard detection systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9612602-B2
Application number	US-201414333840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

Hazard detection systems according to embodiments described herein are operative to provide failsafe safety detection features and user interface features using circuit topology and power budgeting methods that minimize power consumption. The safety detection features can monitor environmental conditions (e.g., smoke, heat, humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, radon, and other noxious gasses) in the vicinity of the hazard detection system associated and alarm occupants when an environmental condition exceeds a predetermined threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hazard detection system, comprising:
a plurality of safety sensors comprising a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, and a heat sensor;
a safety processor operative to:
communicate with the safety sensors; and
activate an alarm if any of the safety sensors detect a hazard event; and

a system processor operative to execute a plurality of user interface features,
wherein the safety processor is characterized by relatively low power consumption and relatively limited processing power in comparison to that of the system processor, and wherein the safety processor is operative to independently activate the alarm regardless of whether the system processor is functioning.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one non-safety sensor, wherein the system processor is operative to communicate with the least one non-safety sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
first wireless communications circuitry characterized by relatively low power consumption and configured to wirelessly communicate according to a first protocol characterized by relatively low data rates;
second wireless communications circuitry characterized by relatively high power consumption and configured to wirelessly communicate according to a second protocol characterized by relatively high data rates, wherein the system processor is operative to communicate with the first wireless communications circuitry and the second wireless communications circuitry.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of user interface features comprises:
access to a remote server using the second wireless communications circuitry.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a DC power source, which is the only source of power for the system.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the DC power source powers the system for at least seven years.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the safety processor is further operative to monitor the DC power source.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the safety processor is further operative to manage power consumption of at least one of the plurality of safety sensors.

9. A battery powered hazard detection system, comprising:
a battery power source;
a plurality of safety sensors comprising a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, and a heat sensor;
first wireless communications circuitry operative to communicate with at least one other system that includes its own first wireless communications circuitry and is within a communications vicinity of the hazard detection system;
second wireless communications circuitry operative to communicate with a wireless router;
a safety processor operative to monitor the safety sensors and activate an alarm if any of the safety sensors detect a hazard event; and
a system processor operative to communicate with the first wireless communications circuitry, the second wireless communications circuitry, and the safety processor.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the safety processor is characterized by relatively low power consumption and relatively limited processing power in comparison to that of the system processor.

11. The system of claim 9 , further comprising non-volatile memory, wherein the second wireless communications circuitry is operative to retrieve a software update during a software update event and store the software update on the non-volatile memory.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the safety processor is operative to maintain a log of sensor data obtained from its communication with the safety sensor.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system processor is operative to:
receive the log from the safety processor;
cause the second wireless communications circuitry to transmit the log to the wireless router.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein when the safety processor is in a sensor check power state and the system processor is a sleep power state, the safety processor consumes more power than system processor.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein when the safety processor is in a sensor check power state and the system processor is in a log update power state, the safety processor consumes less power than the system processor.

16. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a power bus coupled to the battery power source;
first power converting circuitry coupled to the power bus, wherein the safety processor and the system processor are both coupled to the first power converting circuitry.

17. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first wireless communications circuitry includes 802.15.4 circuitry and the second wireless communications circuitry includes 802.11 circuitry.

18. The system of claim 9 , wherein the battery power source is a non-rechargeable battery source and is the only source of power for the system.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the battery power source powers the system for at least seven years.

20. A hazard detection system, comprising:
a plurality of safety sensors comprising a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, and a heat sensor;
a first processor operative to:
communicate with the safety sensors; and
activate an alarm if any of the safety sensors detect a hazard event; and

a second processor operative to execute a plurality of user interface features,
wherein the first processor is characterized by relatively low power consumption and relatively limited processing power in comparison to that of the second processor, and wherein the first processor is operative to independently activate the alarm regardless of whether the second processor is functioning.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Smith Ian C
• Warren Daniel Adam
• Mullins Scott
• Conner Brian Jonathan

Classifications

• G08B25/08

  using communication transmission lines {(G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G08B21/18

  Status alarms (G08B21/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08B17/117

  by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire (G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence) · CPC title

• H03K2217/0036

  Means reducing energy consumption · CPC title

• G06F1/3287

  by switching off individual functional units in the computer system · CPC title