(12) United States Patent
`Tice et al.
`
`USOO6392536B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,392,536 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 21, 2002
`
`(54) MULTI-SENSOR DETECTOR
`(75) Inventors: Lee D. Tice, Bartlett; Vincent Y.
`Chow, Hanover Park, both of IL (US)
`
`-
`- - -
`D
`(73) ASSignee: Flyy Corporation, St. Charles, IL
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/648,198
`(22) Filed:
`Aug. 25, 2000
`(51) Int. Cl." ................................................ G08B 29/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ...
`... 340/506; 340/511; 340/517;
`340/522; 340/541; 340/508; 340/521
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 340/506, 507,
`340/508, 517,541,521, 565, 522
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,826,180 A 7/1974 Hayashi
`3,938,115 A 2/1976 Jacoby.
`4,016,524 A 4/1977 Pompei
`4,084,157 A 4/1978 Jacoby
`4,088.986 A 5/1978 Boucher
`4,638,304 A 1/1987 Kimura
`4,668.939 A 5/1987 Kimura et al.
`4,688,021 A 8/1987 Bucket al.
`
`4,725,820 A 2/1988 Kimura
`4,884.222 A 11/1989 Nagashima et al.
`5,103,096 A 4/1992 Wong
`5,568,130 A 10/1996 Dahl
`5,691,703 A 11/1997 Roby et al.
`5,691.704. A 11/1997 Wong
`5,786,767 A
`7/1998 Seerino
`5,793,295 A 8/1998 Goldstein
`58O1633 A 9/1998 Soni
`5896,082 A
`3. Maradane
`5,914,655 A * 6/1999 Clifton et al. .............. 340/506
`5,914,656. A
`6/1999 Ojala et al.
`5,945,924 A 8/1999 Marman et al.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Daryl Pope
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Welsh & Katz, Ltd.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A multi-function detector has at least two different Sensors
`coupled to a control circuit. In a normal operating mode the
`control circuit, which could include a programmed
`processor, processes outputs from both Sensors to evaluate if
`predetermined condition is present in the environment
`adjacent to the detector. In this mode the detector exhibits a
`predetermined Sensitivity. In response to a failure of one of
`the Sensors, the control circuit processes the output of the
`remaining operational Sensor or Sensors So that the detector
`will continue to evaluate the condition of the environment
`with Substantially the same Sensitivity
`o
`
`57 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`SENSOR(S)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`12
`
`? 10
`
`CONTROL
`CIRCUITRY
`
`14
`PROCESSOR TO REMOTE
`OUTPUT
`PROCESSOR
`COMMANDS FROMREMOTE
`AND/OR
`PROCESSOR
`PROGRAMS
`
`VA COMMUNICATIONS
`MEDIUM
`re
`16
`
`Emerson Exhibit 1040
`Emerson Electric v. Ollnova
`IPR2023-00624
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 6,392,536 B1
`
`12
`
`FIG. 1
`
`10
`
`/
`
`SENSOR(S)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ey
`
`14
`PROCESSOR
`TO REMOTE
`OUTPUT
`PROCESSOR
`COMMANDS FROMREMOTE
`AND/OR
`PROCESSOR
`PROGRAMS
`
`VA COMMUNICATIONS
`MEDIUM
`16
`
`PREDETERMINED
`SENSORS
`
`(S)-
`
`X -r-e-
`
`
`
`CONTROL
`CIRCUITRY
`
`PROCESSOR
`OUTPUT= f(S1,S3)
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00002
`
`

`

` INPUT: 51 SIGNAL INPUT: S1 SIGNAL
` PROCESSING
`
`ROUTINES
`
` (1) A=A*0.75+81*0.25
`
`(1) A=A*0,75+81°0.25
`B=A*0.75+83"0.25
`
`IF(A+B) > k
`THEN OUT=ALARM
`
`
`(2) A=A*0.75+81*0.25
`B=k/2
`
`
`
`
`IF(A+B) > k
`THEN OUT=ALARM
`
`
`
`INPUT: $3 SIGNAL
`
`PROCESSING
`
`INPUT: $3 SIGNAL
`
`
`
`ROUTINES
`
`B=B*0.75+83"0.25
`IF(A+B) > k
`THEN OUT=ALARM
`
`
`
` B=B*0.75+S3*0.25
`
`
`
`IF(A+B) > k
`THEN OUT=ALARM
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 6,392,536 B1
`
`FIG. 3
`
`FIG. 4
`
` THEN k=k/2
`
`(2) IF S3 FAILS
`
`A=A*0.75+51°0.25
`IF A>k
`THEN OUT=ALARM
`
`(3) IE S14 FAILS
`THEN k=k/2
`B=B*0.75+$3*0.25
`IF B>k
`THEN OUT=ALARM
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00003
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`IPR2023-00624 Page 00003
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`

`

`(SENSORTYPE)
`
`
`INPUT: S3 SIGNAL
`
`CO9
`
`
`
`
`A FAILS
`
`B=B*0.75+S$2+0.25
`
` A=A*0.75+81*0.25
`
`
`C=C*0.5+83"0.5
`
`
`B=B*0.75+S2"0.25
`
`IF f4{[S2,S3] > kg
`
`
`C=C*0,50+83*0.50
`THEN OUTFIRE=ALARM
`
`
`
`IF f4[S1,S2,83] > ky
`
`
`
`THEN OUTFIRESALARM
`
`IF fo[S2] > m
`
`THEN OUTCO2=YES
`
`PROCESSING
`IF fa[S2] > m ;
`
`ELSE OUTCO2=NO
`THEN OUTC02=YES
`IF OUTFIRESALARM
`
`ROUTINES
`
`
`
`ELSE OUTCO2=NO
`f
`
`
`
`
`IF OUTEIRESALARM
`_ THEN OUTCO2=NO
`(1) FIRE
`
`
`A=A*0.75+5170.25
`THEN OUTCO2=NO
`B=B*0.75+S2"0.25
`
`
`C=C*0.75+S3"0.25
`
`
`
`
`IF(A+B+C) > k
`
`
`THEN OUT,=ALARM
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IF fo[S2] > m
`
`THEN OUTCO2=YES
`OUTCO2=YES
`
`
`IF OUTFIRE=ALARM
`ELSE OUTCO2=NO
`
`
`
`THEN OUTCO2=NO
`IF OUTFIRE=ALARM
`
`
`
`
`~e eee ete eee eee
`THEN OUTCO2=NO
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 6,392,536 B1
`
`PROCESSING
`ROUTINES
`
`
`
`A=A*0,75+81*0.25
`B FAILS
`C=C*0.5+53*0.5
`IF fa[S1,$3] >kg
`THEN OUTFIRE=ALARM
`
`co
`
`(2) GAS HAZARD
`D=D*0.50+51*0.50
`E=E*0.50+83*0.50
`IF(D-E) > m
`THEN OUT9=ALARM
`
`
`
`A=A*0.75+81°0.25
`B=B*0.75+S2*0.25
`C FAILS
`IF f5[S1,S2] > ks
`THEN OUTFIRE=ALARM
`
`CO9
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00004
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`IPR2023-00624 Page 00004
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`

`

`1
`MULTI-SENSOR DETECTOR
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The invention pertains to ambient condition detectors.
`More particularly, the invention pertains to Such detectors
`which incorporate multiple Sensors and processing circuitry
`and which exhibit improved operational characteristics in
`the presence of Sensor failure.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Known ambient condition detectors include one or more
`condition Sensors. Representative Sensors include Smoke,
`heat and gas Sensors.
`In Some detectors outputs from the respective Sensors are
`processed Substantially independently for purposes of deter
`mining if a predetermined condition, to which a respective
`Sensor is responding, meets a Selected alarm criteria. In other
`detectors, outputs from multiple Sensors are taken into
`account in alarm determination processing.
`In those detectors where alarm determinations are made in
`response to Single Sensor processing, a failure of one Sensor
`will not necessarily affect processing of output signals from
`the other sensor. On the other hand, while multi-sensor
`processing can potentially provide the benefit of more
`complex, multi-input processing, loSS of the output from one
`of the Sensors, in known detectors, may result in a loSS of
`Sensitivity.
`Known prior art detectors that proceSS Sensor outputs in
`parallel and independently may have Several Software rou
`tines operating in parallel, one of which is a Safety or bypass
`routine if a Sensor fails. The first routine to determine an
`alarm condition generates an alarm indicating output. These
`routines are fixed and operate without change. They do not
`adjust themselves to compensate for the loSS of a Sensor.
`More specifically, these routines do not make automatic
`adjustments to maintain Sensitivity when a Sensor fails but
`rather have failure mode Sensitivities leSS Sensitive than the
`normal mode Sensitivities. A trouble indication is given by
`these detectors whenever a Sensor fails So the leSS Sensitive
`operating mode during trouble is tolerated. However, in
`many cases, this trouble mode may not be Serviced in a
`timely manner and the fire protection is not optimum during
`the time frame between failure and Servicing.
`There are also prior art detectors that have more than one
`Sensor and provide different audible Sounds as a local
`warning. For example, Some devices combine a Smoke
`detector and a CO detector and give Separate Sounds locally
`at the device indicative of the type of detector responding.
`However, these devices do not transmit that information into
`a System and use this information for controlling other
`processes or functions Such as Ventilation, lighting, heating,
`Security, etc.
`It would be desirable if the advantages of multi-sensor
`processing could be provided with minimal Sensitivity
`losses due to Sensor failure. Preferably, Substantially con
`Stant Sensitivity could be provided even where a Sensor fails.
`It would be most desirable if such functionality could be
`provided without Significantly increasing detector complex
`ity or cost.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`An ambient condition detector includes two or more
`Sensors. Each Sensor is coupled to a control circuit. The
`control circuit could, in one embodiment, be implement, at
`least in part, using integrated circuits including a pro
`grammed processor.
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`US 6,392,536 B1
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`2
`In one aspect of the invention, the Sensors could respond
`to indicia of fire Such as Smoke, heat or gas, Such as carbon
`monoxide. The control circuit processes the Sensors outputs
`to evaluate if a fire condition exists. Depending on the type
`of Sensors used, other conditions can be sensed and evalu
`ated. The Selected Sensors in combination with the proceSS
`ing result in a detector that has a characteristic Sensitivity.
`In yet another aspect of the invention, the characteristic
`Sensitivity can be Substantially maintained even if one of the
`Sensors ceases functioning properly. In this embodiment, in
`response to a Sensor failure the control circuitry processes
`the outputs from the remaining Sensors So as to continue to
`maintain the same Sensitivity.
`Numerous other advantages and features of the present
`invention will become readily apparent from the following
`detailed description of the invention and the embodiments
`thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying draw
`IngS.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a multiple sensor
`detector in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 2 illustrates the detector of FIG. 1 configured with
`Selected Sensors,
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of several different processing
`routines executable by the detector of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of alternate processing
`that takes into account a failure of a Sensor;
`FIG. 5 illustrates processing routines executable by the
`detector of FIG. 1; and
`FIG. 6 illustrates alternate processing routines executable
`by the detector of FIG. 1.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in
`many different forms, there are shown in the drawing and
`will be described herein in detail specific embodiments
`thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is
`to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of
`the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the
`Specific embodiments illustrated.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an ambient condition detector 10 that
`incorporates multiple sensors S1, S2, S3, through SN. Out
`puts from one or more of these Sensors can be processed by
`control circuitry 12 to produce one or more processed
`outputs indicative of the one or more ambient conditions to
`be detected. These outputs 14 can be transmitted to a remote
`processor via a communications medium 16. Medium 16
`can be hardwired or wireless.
`The control circuitry may incorporate a plurality of pro
`cessing routines and may be constructed with discrete
`circuitry, custom integrated circuits, processors, or the like.
`As illustrated in FIG. 2, one or more of the sensors S1, S2 ...
`Sn can be selected depending on each different ambient
`condition desired to be detected. When different sensors are
`Selected, then Such as S1, S3, respective processing routines
`are also Selected and executed.
`Sensor Selection can be implemented locally at the detec
`tor 10 at installation or when convenient. Selection can be by
`hardwired circuitry at the detector 10 or via software pre
`loaded into the control circuitry 12. Alternately, commands
`and/or Selection programs can be downloaded from a remote
`processor via the medium 16.
`The Sensors can include without limitation Smoke,
`particle, gas, temperature, light, Sound, Security, or other
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00005
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`

`

`3
`Sensors of an ambient condition. They can be combined in
`a multi-sensor detector, Such as detector 10 to detect the
`desired ambient condition(s).
`Examples of types of gas Sensors includes optical, NDIR,
`photo-acoustic NDIR, polymers, or other like sensors that
`give a signal when Selected gases are present in the envi
`ronment. Gas Sensors can include CO, CO2, H2, and H2O
`humidity Sensors as well as Sensors of other gases indica
`tive of an environmental condition to be detected.
`Optical Sensors can respond to any light frequency includ
`ing infrared and ultraViolet. They can be used to Sense
`passive infrared, day/night or flames.
`Smoke Sensors can be implemented as Scattering, obscu
`ration or ionization type Sensors. Particle Sensors can
`include particle counters which may or may not measure the
`Size of particles in the environment.
`Temperature Sensors can include thermistors or junction
`temperature Sensing devices. Audio Sensors can include
`microphones, crystals, or other devices Sensitive to Sound
`waves or vibration Sources. Security Sensors can include
`passive infrared or other types of motion or occupancy
`SCSOS.
`An example of a multi-sensor detector 10 includes a
`combination of 1) Smoke, 2) CO2, and 3) temperature
`Sensors. Another example includes a combination of 1)
`Smoke, 2) CO, and 3) temperature Sensors or alternatively 1)
`CO and 2) temperature Sensors.
`FIG.3 illustrates three different processing routines which
`are available at detector 10 for Selection in detecting an
`ambient condition when sensors S1 and S3 are selected.
`Processing routine (1) of FIG, 3 is used if both sensors S1
`and S3 are operational. The routine of FIG. 3 illustrates
`Summing of Smoothed Sensor values.
`Other processing routines can be used for any or all of the
`Sensors without departing from the Scope of this invention.
`The processing routines can use neural network routines,
`algorithms, fuzzy logic, weighed Summing of Sensors and
`the like without limitation.
`If sensor S3 becomes non-operational by failing or by a
`command directing it to not contribute to the processed
`output 14, then the processing routine (2) of FIG. 3 is
`Selected and executed. Routine (2) could be implemented
`using rate of change processing in addition to the Smoothing,
`change in weighing values, and the like to compensate for
`the fact that Sensor S3 is no longer contributing to the output
`processed value 14.
`If Sensor S1 becomes non-operational by failing or by a
`command directing it to not contribute to the processed
`output value 14, then the processing routine (3) of FIG. 3 is
`Selected. Likewise, other routines can be selected other than
`those illustrated in FIG. 3.
`In addition to Selecting different routines, the operating
`routines can be altered during the failure of a Sensor by
`automatically changing coefficients or weighing values.
`Alternately, gain or thresholds can be adjusted to facilitate
`using the responses of the remaining Sensors to maintain
`Sensitivity to the desired ambient condition(s).
`Alteration of the processing routines may include assign
`ing an operating Sensor value to that of a non-operating
`Sensor value. For example, if a detector contains three
`sensors S1, S2, S3 and S2 becomes non-operational, and
`S3 is preferred over S1 in sensing the environmental
`condition, then the values of S3 could be assigned to S2
`Since S2 is non-operational. Outside of this alteration, the
`processing method could be otherwise unchanged. The
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`4
`detector will now determine the environmental condition
`only using Sensors S1 and S3 but maintain a Sensitivity that
`is close to its normal Sensitivity. This proceSS could be
`automatic and predetermined or executed after a command
`is received via the medium 16 directing the detector to make
`this Substitution in Sensor values.
`FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a detector changing an
`alarm threshold when a Sensor fails. The purpose is to adjust
`the Sensitivity back toward the normal operating Sensitivity.
`In FIG. 4 the alarm threshold is reduced by 50% since the
`Sensors were simply Summed together with equal contribu
`tion in this example. If more complex or leSS complex
`processing were used, the alteration in the alarm threshold
`due to Sensor failure could be more complex to maintain the
`desired Sensitivity to the environmental condition.
`The processing routines may be different if the Selected
`sensors were S1 and S2 or if the selected sensors were S2
`and SN. This functionality enables the detector to reconfig
`ure itself by command for several different ambient condi
`tions to be detected using an associated Set of routines. In
`one example, the detector may be configured to detect a fire
`in a hallway. In another case, the detector may be configured
`to detect a fire in a bedroom. Also, the detector can be
`configured to detect a concentration of CO and/or CO2 in the
`desired area using different routines.
`FIG. 5 illustrates an example where the detector contains
`four sensors. S1 and S2 and S3 are used to detect fire as the
`ambient condition. S1 and S3 are used to detect hazardous
`gas as the ambient condition. The respective detector can be
`commanded to Switch or can automatically Switch between
`programs to detect either ambient condition or both ambient
`conditions relatively simultaneously.
`To detect both ambient conditions, the two different
`processing routines are included in the detector. One pro
`cessing routine uses signals from Sensors S1 and S2 and S3.
`The Second processing routine uses signals from Sensors S1
`and S3. It is possible that the same sensors could be included
`in both the first processing and the Second processing and the
`different environmental conditions determined by differ
`ences in the first and Second processing methods. It is also
`possible that the output from a Single Sensor could be used
`as an input to two processing methods. These could output
`two different Signals indicative of two associated environ
`mental conditions.
`FIG. 6 illustrates an example of processing where a
`multi-sensor detector incorporates three Selected Sensors and
`detects two environmental conditions. Outputs from the
`three Sensors are combined to determine the presence of a
`fire condition using Smoke, CO2 (air quality), and T
`(temperature). Sensor S2 is used to detect an air quality
`environmental condition based on the degree of Sensed CO2.
`The different environmental conditions use different pro
`cessing routines. If a sensor S1 or S2 or S3 fails, then the
`processing routines are altered or changed to different pro
`cessing routines for the detection of the environmental
`conditions.
`Various Sensors can be incorporated into a Single detector
`and used to detect different environmental conditions and to
`output signals used to control various functions associated
`with these various environmental conditions. In Some cases,
`the Sensors are located within the same detector but Some of
`the processing is accomplished at another device or control
`unit(s) external from the detector. The environmental infor
`mation is communicated to other devices or control unit(s)
`over the communication medium 16. This communication
`medium could be hardwired, wireless such as RF, light
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00006
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`

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`US 6,392,536 B1
`
`C
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`C
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`C
`
`S
`paths, or other mediums. The environmental information is
`used to control functions associated with the environmental
`conditions Such as Ventilation control, door lock control,
`heating control, lighting control, access control, or other
`controls designed into a System.
`These multi-Sensor detectors can incorporate compensa
`tion circuitry to adjust parameters internal to the processing
`to compensate for changes in the Sensor's Sensitivity or drift
`of Signal values over time. The processing routines can use
`rates of change in Sensor values, absolute Sensor values,
`change in Sensor values from longer term averages of Sensor
`values, differentiation or integration of Sensor values,
`algorithms, neural networks, fuzzy logic and many other
`processing methods to determine the environmental condi
`tion.
`From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous
`variations and modifications may be effected without depart
`ing from the Spirit and Scope of the invention. It is to be
`understood that no limitation with respect to the Specific
`apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.
`It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all
`Such modifications as fall within the Scope of the claims.
`What is claimed:
`1. A multi-Sensor detector comprising:
`at least first and Second Sensors,
`control circuitry coupled to the Sensors wherein when
`both Sensors are operational, outputs from both Sensors
`are processed by the circuitry to evaluate the presence
`of a Selected condition, and, when only one Sensor is
`operational, an output from the one Sensor is processed
`to evaluate the presence of the Selected condition
`wherein a first sensitivity is exhibited when both sen
`Sors are operational, wherein a Second Sensitivity is
`exhibited when only one Sensor is operational and as a
`result of processing by the circuitry, the first and Second
`Sensitivities are Substantially the Same.
`2. A detector as in claim 1 wherein the control circuitry
`includes a programmed processor and prestored executable
`instructions wherein Some of the instructions implement
`dual Sensor Signal processing and others implement Single
`Sensor Signal processing.
`3. A detector as in claim 2 wherein dual Sensor processing
`instructions contribute to a first, dual Sensor Sensitivity and
`Single Sensor processing instructions contribute to a Second,
`Single Sensor Sensitivity and wherein the Sensitivities are
`Substantially identical.
`4. A detector as in claim 2 wherein the Sensors
`different.
`5. A detector as in claim 4 wherein the sensors
`responsive to different types of ambient conditions.
`6. A detector as in claim 4 wherein the Sensors
`responsive to the same type of ambient condition.
`7. A detector as in claim 2 wherein the Sensors are Selected
`from a class which includes a Smoke detector, a heat detector
`and a gas detector.
`8. A detector as in claim 2 wherein the processor includes
`instructions for generation of a signal indicative of a change
`in the number of operational Sensors.
`9. A detector as in claim 8 wherein the instructions
`generate a signal indicative of a reduction in the number of
`operational Sensors.
`10. A detector as in claim 2 which includes an interface,
`coupled to the control circuitry, for communication with an
`external medium.
`11. A detector as in claim 2 wherein the Sensors are
`Selected from a class which includes Smoke Sensors, thermal
`Sensors, gas Sensors and flame Sensors.
`
`6
`12. A multi-Sensor detector comprising:
`a housing:
`at least first and Second Sensors carried by the housing,
`and
`control circuitry responsive to outputs from the Sensors
`wherein when predetermined Sensors are operational,
`outputs from the predetermined Sensors are processed
`by the circuitry using a first proceSS with a first Sensi
`tivity to evaluate the presence of a Selected condition,
`and, when at least one Sensor of the predetermined
`Sensors is not operational and would result in a change
`in the first Sensitivity, one or more outputs from the
`remaining predetermined Sensors are processed by the
`circuitry using a Second process to evaluate the pres
`ence of a Selected condition wherein the Second process
`results in a Sensitivity to the ambient condition
`approaching that of the first Sensitivity to the ambient
`condition.
`13. A detector as in claim 12 wherein at least part of the
`control circuitry is not contained within the housing and is
`remote from the Sensors.
`14. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the control circuitry
`is contained within the same housing as the Sensors.
`15. A detector as in claim 13 wherein representations of
`the outputs are transmitted between the Sensors and at least
`part of the control circuitry by at least one of a wired, or
`wireleSS medium.
`16. A detector as in claim 15 wherein the representations
`are transmitted in a binary form.
`17. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the sensors are
`Selected from a class which includes a Smoke Sensor, a heat
`Sensor, a gas Sensor, a flame Sensor and an optical Sensor.
`18. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the control circuitry
`responds to commands received to select which Sensors are
`to be operational and which Sensors are not to be opera
`tional.
`19. A detector as in claim 18 wherein the selected con
`dition to be detected is altered by commands received by the
`control circuitry.
`20. A detector as in claim 19 wherein processing of sensor
`outputs is changed when the Selected condition to be
`detected is altered.
`21. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the control circuitry
`includes a programmed processor.
`22. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the control circuitry
`generates a Signal indicative of a change in the number of
`operational Sensors.
`23. A detector as in claim 22 wherein the control circuitry
`generates signals indicative of which Sensors are opera
`tional.
`24. A detector as in claim 22 wherein the control circuitry
`generates Signals indicative of which Sensors are non
`operational.
`25. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the Second process
`includes a change in the alarm threshold.
`26. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the Second process
`incorporates a change in the contributions of the outputs of
`Selected Sensors.
`27. A detector as in claim 12 wherein a failed or non
`operational Sensor is assigned a predetermined value as an
`output for use in the processing to determine the existence
`of an environmental condition.
`28. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the Second process
`ing is Substantially different than the first processing.
`29. A detector as in claim 12 wherein a failed or non
`operational Sensor is assigned the output values of another
`Sensor for use in processing to determine the existence of an
`environmental condition.
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`US 6,392,536 B1
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`30. A multi-function unit comprising:
`a plurality of Sensors,
`control circuitry coupled to the Sensors wherein the con
`trol circuitry includes circuitry for identifying active
`Sensors wherein when all active Sensors are
`operational, outputs from the active Sensors are pro
`cessed by the circuitry using a first process with a first
`Sensitivity to evaluate the presence of a Selected
`condition, and, when at least one of the active Sensors
`malfunctions and would result in a change in the first
`Sensitivity, one or more outputs from the remaining
`active Sensors are processed by the circuitry using a
`Second process to evaluate the presence of a Selected
`condition wherein the Second process results in a
`Sensitivity to the ambient condition approaching that of
`the first sensitivity to the ambient condition.
`31. A unit as in claim 30 wherein the control circuitry
`processes outputs of Selected Sensors to evaluate the pres
`ence of the Selected condition and includes circuitry to
`process the output of at least one Sensor to evaluate the
`presence of a Second Selected condition.
`32. A unit as in claim 31 wherein the at least one sensor
`is one of the Selected Sensors.
`33. A unit as in claim 32 wherein the sensors are selected
`from a class which includes fire Sensors, gas Sensors, tem
`perature Sensors, humidity Sensors, light Sensors, audio
`Sensors, motion Sensors and position Sensors.
`34. A unit as in claim 31 wherein the control circuitry
`processes outputs from a Subset of the Selected Sensors to
`evaluate the presence of the Second condition.
`35. A unit as in clam 30 wherein the circuitry for identi
`fying active Sensors comprises at least one of identifying
`circuitry for receiving information from a local Source and
`circuitry for receiving information from a remote Source.
`36. A unit as in claim 30 wherein the control circuitry
`includes a programmed processor.
`37. A multi-sensor detector comprising:
`at least first and Second Sensors for Sensing different types
`of ambient conditions, and
`control circuitry coupled to the Sensors wherein when
`predetermined Sensors are operational, outputs from
`these predetermined Sensors are processed by the cir
`cuitry using a first proceSS for detecting a first envi
`ronmental condition and processed using at least a
`Second proceSS for detecting at least a Second environ
`mental condition different than the first environmental
`condition, wherein the detection of at least one of the
`first and Second environmental conditions is based
`upon the outputs from multiple ones of the at least first
`and Second Sensors, and
`including circuitry to provide information regarding each
`environmental condition which is communicable to at
`least another processor over a communication medium;
`and
`the environmental condition information is used to control
`functions associated with the detected conditions.
`38. A detector as in claim 37 wherein a CO2 sensor is
`combined with a Smoke Sensor and outputs therefrom are
`processed using a first proceSS for determining a fire con
`dition.
`39. A detector as in claim 37 wherein one sensor is a
`Smoke Sensor and another Sensor is a temperature Sensor.
`40. A detector as in claim 39 wherein outputs from the
`Smoke Sensor are combined with outputs from the tempera
`ture Sensor and processed using a first process for determin
`ing a fire condition as the environmental condition.
`41. A detector as in claim 39 wherein outputs from the
`temperature Sensor are processed with a Second process for
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`determining a room comfort condition as the environmental
`condition.
`42. A detector as in claim 41 wherein the room comfort
`information is used to control functions including
`ventilation, heating, or cooling System of at least a portion
`of a building.
`43. A detector as in claim 37 wherein one sensor is a
`Smoke Sensor and another Sensor is a Security or occupancy
`SCSO.
`44. A detector as in claim 43 wherein outputs from the
`Smoke Sensor are combined with outputs from the Security
`or occupancy Sensor and processed using a first process for
`determining a fire condition.
`45. A detector as in claim 43 wherein the security or
`occupancy Sensor is processed with a Second proceSS for
`determining a Security condition.
`46. A detector as in claim 45 wherein the security infor
`mation is used to control a Security notification or alarm
`System of at least a portion of a building.
`47. A detector as in claim 37 wherein the sensors are
`Selected from a class including gas, Smoke, fire, heat, light
`or Sound Sensors.
`48. A detector as in claim 37 wherein at least one process
`for detecting an environmental condition takes place in the
`detector.
`49. A detector as in claim 37 wherein at least one process
`for detecting an environmental condition takes place at a
`displaced processor.
`50. A detector as in claim 49 wherein the detector trans
`mits Sensor information to the remote processor in digital
`form over a communication medium.
`51. A detector as in claim 37 wherein the environmental
`information is a message composed of binary bits.
`52. A detector as in claim 37 wherein the environmental
`information is a measure of the degree of ambient environ
`mental condition.
`53. A multi-sensor detector comprising:
`at least first and Second Sensors for Sensing different types
`of ambient conditions, and
`control circuitry coupled to the Sensors wherein when
`predetermined Sensors are operational, outputs from
`these predetermined Sensors are processed by the cir
`cuitry using a first proceSS for detecting a first envi
`ronmental condition and processed using at least a
`Second proceSS for detecting at least a Second environ
`mental condition different than the first environmental
`condition, wherein at least one of the at least first and
`Second sensors is used in the detection of both the first
`environmental condition and the Second environmental
`condition; and
`including circuitry to provide information regarding each
`environmental condition which is communicable to at
`least another processor over a communication medium;
`and
`the environmental condition information is used to control
`functions associated with the detected conditions.
`54. A detector as in claim 53 wherein the CO2 sensor is
`combined with the Smoke Sensor and processing using a first
`process for determining a fire condition.
`55. A detector as in claim 54 wherein the outputs from the
`CO2 Sensor are processed with a Second process for deter
`mining the air quality condition.
`56. A detector as in claim 54 wherein the air quality
`information is used to control a ventilation function of at
`least a portion of a building.
`57. A unit as in claim 30 wherein the control circuitry
`includes circuitry for transmitting to a remote receiver an
`indicium of a malfunctioning Sensor.
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`IPR2023-006