Manual initiation of device isolation and testing

Abstract

Manual activation device isolation and testing is described herein. A manual activation device includes a switch configured to activate a fire alarm system and a controller configured to receive a command to enter a test mode for the manual activation device, indicate that the manual activation device is in the test mode in response to receiving the command to enter the test mode, receive actuation of the switch while the manual activation device is in the test mode, and indicate that the manual activation device has been tested in response to the actuation of the switch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally pertains to manually initiating device isolation and testing. Background Technology

[0002] Large facilities (e.g., buildings) such as commercial facilities, office buildings, and hospitals may have fire alarm systems that can be triggered during emergencies (e.g., fire) to warn occupants to evacuate. For example, a fire alarm system may include fire control panels located throughout the facility (e.g., on different floors and / or in different rooms), multiple fire sensing devices (e.g., smoke detectors), and multiple manually activated devices (e.g., manual alarm buttons or lever alarms) that can be triggered by occupants to notify other occupants of a fire via an alarm.

[0003] Maintaining a fire alarm system may include mandatory periodic testing of fire sensing and manual activation devices according to operating procedures to ensure their proper functioning. However, to test manual activation devices, the fire alarm system is isolated and placed in test mode. Attached Figure Description

[0004] Figure 1 A block diagram of a manually started device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0005] Figure 2 An example of a manually started device according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0006] Figure 3 A block diagram of a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0007] Figure 4 A block diagram of a fire control panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0008] Figure 5 A fire control system according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown.

[0009] Figure 6 A fire control system according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0010] This document describes the isolation and testing of a manual activation device (e.g., a pull station). A pull station includes: a switch configured to activate a fire alarm system; and a controller configured to receive a command to place the pull station in a test mode, indicate that the manual activation device is in the test mode in response to receiving the command to enter the test mode, receive actuation of the switch while the pull station is in the test mode, and indicate that the manual activation device has been tested in response to actuation of the switch.

[0011] Prior pull stations required isolation of the fire alarm system or the area of multiple pull stations including the fire alarm system to test a single pull station. If a fire occurred during testing, this would cause the fire alarm system or the isolated area of the fire alarm system to not detect a real fire.

[0012] In contrast, a pull station according to the present disclosure can be placed in a test mode while the remainder of the fire alarm system remains active to detect real fires. Thus, testing a pull station according to the present disclosure can help maintain the safety of a building and its occupants because occupants, maintenance engineers, and / or first responders can distinguish whether a real fire event is occurring during testing.

[0013] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings illustrate, by way of example, the manner in which one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced.

[0014] These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and mechanical, electrical, and / or process changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0015] It should be appreciated that elements shown in the various embodiments herein may be added, exchanged, combined, and / or eliminated to provide multiple additional embodiments of the present disclosure. The proportions and relative dimensions of the elements provided in the drawings are intended to illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be limiting.

[0016] The accompanying drawings herein follow the following numbering convention: one or more first digits correspond to the figure number, while the remaining digits identify an element or component within the figure. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by using similar numbers. For example, 102 may refer to Figure 1 element "02" in Figure 2 while a similar element in

[0017] As used in this article, “one,” “a,” or “several” can refer to one or more such things, while “multiple” can refer to more than one such thing. For example, “several parts” can refer to one or more parts, while “multiple parts” can refer to more than one part.

[0018] Figure 1 A block diagram of a self-testing manual activation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Activation device 100 may include a switch 102, a light-emitting diode (LED) 104, and / or a controller (e.g., a microcontroller) 106. Activation device 100 may be a component of a fire alarm system for a facility (e.g., a building). In some examples, activation device 100 may be a lever alarm, or may include a breakable glass element to trigger a fire alarm and / or activate the building's evacuation.

[0019] The controller 106 may include a memory 108 and a processor 110. The memory 108 may be any type of storage medium accessible by the processor 110 to execute various examples of the present disclosure. For example, the memory 108 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions (e.g., computer program instructions) thereon that can be executed by the processor 110 to enter a test mode according to the present disclosure. For example, the processor 110 may execute executable instructions stored in the memory 108 to receive a command to put the boot device 100 into a test mode, instruct the boot device 100 to be in a test mode in response to receiving the command to enter the test mode, receive actuation of the switch 102 while the boot device 100 is in the test mode, and instruct the boot device 100 to be tested in response to actuation of the switch 102.

[0020] Commands to enter test mode can be received from the control panel and / or mobile devices of the fire alarm system. In some examples, controller 106 may isolate activation device 100 from other components of the fire alarm system in response to receiving a command to enter test mode. In response to isolation of activation device 100 from other components of the fire alarm system, activation device 100 may indicate that it is in test mode. Isolating activation device 100 from other components of the fire alarm system prevents activation device 100 from activating (e.g., triggering) the fire alarm of the fire alarm system.

[0021] The activation device 100 may use various types of sound, continuous sound, intermittent sound, colored light, continuous light, and / or intermittent light to indicate that it is in test mode, isolated from other components of the fire alarm system, no longer in test mode, and / or no longer isolated from other components of the fire alarm system. For example, the activation device 100 may include a light-emitting diode (LED) 104. The LED 104 may indicate that the activation device 100 is in test mode and / or has been tested. In several embodiments, light may be emitted via the LED 104 in response to the activation device 100 being isolated from other components of the fire alarm system.

[0022] The user can activate switch 102 after isolating starting device 100 from other components of the fire alarm system. In several embodiments, in response to activating switch 102 after isolating starting device 100 from other components of the fire alarm system, starting device 100 can report that starting device 100 has been tested and the date it was tested.

[0023] Controller 106 can receive a command to stop (e.g., exit) the test mode. After stopping the test mode, the user can activate switch 102. Since the starting device 100 is no longer isolated from other components of the fire alarm system, the starting device 100 can activate the fire alarm of the fire alarm system in response to the activation of switch 102 of the starting device 100 after stopping the test mode.

[0024] Figure 2 An example of a self-test manual start device 200 according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown. The start device 200 can be used with... Figure 1 The starting device 100 corresponds to this. As previously combined Figure 1 The starting device 200 may include a switch 202, which is compatible with... Figure 1 The corresponding switch is 102.

[0025] In several implementations, in response to the activation device 200 entering a test mode, the activation device 200 may be isolated from other components of the fire alarm system (e.g., from the rest of the system). Isolating the activation device 200 prevents false alarms. For example, activating the switch 202 of the activation device 200 without first isolating it will trigger a fire alarm. Thus, isolating the activation device 200 from the rest of the fire alarm system prevents a fire alarm from triggering when the switch 202 of the activation device 200 is activated.

[0026] Once the start-up device 200 has been tested, it can be removed from the test mode and restored to a non-test (e.g., operational) mode so that a user (e.g., a person) can activate the fire alarm (e.g., after the start-up device 200 has been removed from the test mode, the fire alarm can be activated in response to the user activating (e.g., pulling) the switch 202). For example, the start-up device 200 can be removed from the test mode in response to receiving a command to stop the test mode.

[0027] In several implementations, activation of switch 202 can be reported. Deactivation of switch 202 can also be reported. Furthermore, cessation of activation of switch 202, return of switch 202 to the deactivated position, and / or failure of switch 202 to return to the deactivated position can also be reported.

[0028] Figure 3 A block diagram of a mobile device 330 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The mobile device 330 may be a computing device, a personal laptop computer, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a wrist-worn device, and / or redundant combinations thereof, as well as other types of computing devices. The mobile device 330 may include a controller (e.g., a microcontroller) 332 and a transmitter / receiver 338.

[0029] The controller 332 may include a memory 334 and a processor 336. The memory 334 may be any type of storage medium accessible to the processor 336 to execute various examples of this disclosure. For example, the memory 334 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions (e.g., computer program instructions) thereon, which can be executed by the processor 336 to direct to a boot device (e.g., respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 2 The startup devices 100 and 200 send commands. In some examples, the mobile device 330 may send commands via transmitter / receiver 338. The startup device may enter test mode in response to receiving a command.

[0030] In several implementations, mobile device 330 may include a transceiver, such as a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transceiver. Mobile device 330 may send commands in response to initiating the device to be within the wireless range (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) range) of mobile device 330.

[0031] Despite Figure 3Not shown, but mobile device 330 may include a user interface. A user can select, via the user interface, a zone of the fire alarm system associated with the activation device and / or a loop of the fire alarm system associated with the activation device. In some examples, mobile device 330 may run an application, and the user can select the activation device, zone, or loop within the application. In response to receiving a selection of the activation device, zone, or loop, mobile device 330 may send a command to place components of the activation device, zone, or loop into a test mode. Components of the activation device, zone, or loop may isolate themselves from the rest of the fire alarm system in response to receiving the command.

[0032] In some examples, a user can select the stop test mode via the user interface of mobile device 330 and send a command to stop the test mode. Components of the starting device, area, or loop can stop the test mode in response to receiving the stop test mode command.

[0033] Figure 4 A block diagram of a fire control panel (e.g., control panel) 440 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Control panel 440 may be a computing device, monitoring device, or fire detection and control system for a fire alarm system (e.g., the same fire alarm system including activation devices 100 and / or 200). Control panel 440 may include a controller 442 and a transmitter / receiver 449.

[0034] The controller 442 may include a memory 446 and a processor 448. The memory 446 may be any type of storage medium accessible by the processor 448 to execute various examples of this disclosure. For example, the memory 446 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions (e.g., computer program instructions) thereon, which may be executed by the processor 448 to interact with a boot device (e.g., respectively) according to this disclosure. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The processor 448 communicates with the boot devices 100 and 200. For example, the processor 448 may execute executable instructions stored in memory 446 to send commands to the boot device, the area associated with the boot device, or the loop associated with the boot device in response to a selection received by the control panel 440 for the boot device, the area, or the loop. The commands may be commands used to put the boot device, the area, or the loop into test mode and / or isolate itself.

[0035] In several implementations, additional commands may be sent to the additional boot device to enter test mode and / or isolate itself. In some examples, control panel 440 may send commands to the boot device and / or send additional commands to the additional boot device in response to receiving commands from the mobile device. Commands and / or additional commands may be sent via transmitter / receiver 449.

[0036] The auxiliary starting device can receive an auxiliary command and enter test mode in response to receiving the auxiliary command. Furthermore, the auxiliary starting device can isolate itself from other components of the fire alarm system in response to entering test mode, and indicates that the auxiliary starting device is in test mode in response to isolation from other components of the fire alarm system.

[0037] In several embodiments, the control panel 440 may receive a report from the activation device via a transmitter / receiver 449. This report may include information about the user's ability to actuate switches (e.g., respectively). Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 If switch 102 and / or 202 fails to actuate, this is part of the test to start the device. If the switch is actuated, the test to start the device is successful. If the switch fails to actuate, the test to start the device has failed.

[0038] Control panel 440 can receive reports from and / or send other commands to the activation devices via transmitter / receiver 449. For example, control panel 440 can send a command to stop the test mode of the activation device in response to receiving a report from the activation device. If the test is successful, control panel 440 can send a command to stop the test mode, allowing the activation device to revert to being enabled to activate the fire alarm. If the test fails, control panel 440 can send a command to retry the test. Control panel 440 can be configured to send commands to and / or receive reports from several activation devices or fire detection devices via wired or wireless networks.

[0039] Despite Figure 4 Not shown, but in several embodiments, control panel 440 may include a user interface. The user interface may be a GUI that provides information to and / or receives information from the user and / or the startup device. The user interface may display messages and / or data received from the startup device. For example, the user interface may prompt the user whether the startup device test was successful or failed.

[0040] Figure 5A fire control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The fire control system may include several activation devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8, a control panel 540, a cloud computing device 552, and a mobile device 530. The activation devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8 can be respectively connected to… Figure 1 and Figure 2 The startup devices 100 and 200 correspond to each other. Control panel 540 can be used with... Figure 4 The control panel 440 corresponds to this, and the mobile device 530 can be used with... Figure 3 The mobile device 330 corresponds to this.

[0041] The startup devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8, control panel 540, cloud computing device 552, and mobile device 530 can communicate with each other via wired or wireless networks. For example, mobile device 530, cloud computing device 552, and / or control panel 540 can send commands (e.g., enter test mode and / or isolate) to each of the startup devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8 via a network. In several implementations, each of the startup devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8 can send a report via a network to a mobile device 530, a cloud computing device 552, and / or a control panel 540, and the mobile device 530 can display the report.

[0042] The network described herein can be a network relationship through which boot devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8, control panel 540, cloud computing device 552, and mobile device 530 can communicate with each other. Examples of such network relationships can include distributed computing environments (e.g., cloud computing environments), wide area networks (WANs) such as the Internet, local area networks (LANs), personal area networks (PANs), campus networks (CANs), or metropolitan area networks (MANs), and other types of network relationships. For example, the network can include several servers that receive and send information to boot devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8, control panel 540, cloud computing device 552, and mobile device 530 via wired or wireless networks.

[0043] As used herein, a “network” can provide a communication system that directly or indirectly links two or more computers and / or peripherals and allows mobile device 530 to access data and / or resources (or vice versa) on startup devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7 and 500-8, control panel 540, and cloud computing device 552. A network can allow users to share resources on their own systems with other network users and access information on systems located at a central location or at a remote location. For example, a network can connect several computing devices together to form a distributed control network (e.g., cloud computing device 552).

[0044] A network can provide connectivity to the Internet and / or to other entities' networks (e.g., organizations, institutions, etc.). Users can interact with network-enabled software applications to make network requests, such as retrieving data. The application can also communicate with network management software, which interacts with network hardware to transfer information between devices on the network.

[0045] In some examples, startup devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8 and / or control panel 540 may use a network to communicate with mobile device 530. Mobile device 530 may be a personal laptop computer, smartphone, tablet computer, wrist-worn device, and / or a redundant combination thereof, as well as other types of computing devices.

[0046] In several implementations, control panel 540 and / or mobile device 530 may send commands to activation devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8. For example, control panel 540 and / or mobile device 530 may send a command to activation device 500-1 to enter test mode. Activation device 500-1 may receive the command and enter test mode in response to receiving the command. In response to entering test mode, activation device 500-1 may isolate itself from other components of the fire alarm system.

[0047] In some examples, control panel 540 and / or mobile device 530 may select a zone or loop associated with activation device 500-1. This zone or loop may include activation devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8. Therefore, in response to a user selecting this zone or loop, activation devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8 may be isolated from other components of the fire alarm system.

[0048] In several implementations, each of the starting devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8 can respond to a command to enter test mode via an LED (e.g., Figure 1 LED 104 emits light. The emitted light can be intermittent (e.g., flashing) or continuous. Once the starting device in the starting device 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7 and 500-8 receives actuation of its switch, its LED can stop emitting light.

[0049] As shown in the figure, Figure 5 In the diagram, starting devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, and 500-7 are emitting light and are shown as black stars, while starting device 500-8 has stopped emitting light and is shown as a star with a black outline. Therefore, starting device 500-8 has been tested by the user actuating its switch and, in some examples, is no longer isolated from the rest of the fire alarm system. Meanwhile, starting devices 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, and 500-7 await user testing and remain isolated from the rest of the fire alarm system. In some examples, starting device 500-8 may stop the test mode in response to switch actuation.

[0050] The startup device 500-1 may send a report to the control panel 540 in response to a user-activated switch. In some examples, in response to receiving a report, the control panel 540 may send a command to the startup device 500-1 to stop the test mode. The startup device 500-1 may stop the test mode in response to receiving the command to stop the test mode.

[0051] Each of the following startup devices, 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8, may send a report to control panel 540 in response to activation or failure of the switch. In several embodiments, control panel 540 may flag a failure by sending it to cloud computing device 552 and / or mobile device 530. Cloud computing device 552 may store the failure in its memory. Mobile device 530 may communicate the failure to the user so that the user can attempt to reactivate the switch.

[0052] Figure 6A fire control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The fire control system may include several activation devices 600-1, 600-2, 600-3, 600-4, 600-5, 600-6, 600-7, and 600-8, a control panel 640, a cloud computing device 652, and a mobile device 630. The activation devices 600-1, 600-2, 600-3, 600-4, 600-5, 600-6, 600-7, and 600-8 can be respectively connected to… Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 The startup devices 100, 200, 500-1, 500-2, 500-3, 500-4, 500-5, 500-6, 500-7, and 500-8 correspond to these devices. The control panel 640 can be used with... Figure 4 and Figure 5 The control panels 440 and 540 correspond to each other.

[0053] As shown in the figure, Figure 6 In the diagram, starting device 600-4 is emitting light and is shown as a black star, while starting devices 600-1, 600-2, 600-3, 600-5, 600-6, 600-7, and 600-8 have stopped emitting light and are shown as black-outlined stars. Therefore, starting devices 600-1, 600-2, 600-3, 600-5, 600-6, 600-7, and 600-8 have been tested by the user actuating their switches, and starting device 600-4 is awaiting user testing and is isolated from the fire alarm system.

[0054] In several embodiments, mobile device 630 may isolate one or more of the activation devices 600-1, 600-2, 600-3, 600-5, 600-6, 600-7, and 600-8 from components of the fire alarm system in response to the activation devices 600-1, 600-2, 600-3, 600-5, 600-6, 600-7, and 600-8 or an adjacent fire sensing device 660 being within the wireless range of mobile device 630. The wireless range may be Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) range. For example, mobile device 630 and activation device 600-4 and / or fire sensing device 660 may each include a BLE transceiver. In several embodiments, fire sensing device 660 may be within the BLE range of mobile device 630. Therefore, activation device 600-4, known to be located adjacent to fire sensing device 660, may be isolated from the rest of the fire alarm system and tested by the user.

[0055] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those skilled in the art will understand that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same technology may replace the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all modifications or variations of the various embodiments of this disclosure.

[0056] It should be understood that the above description is given by way of illustration and not limitation. Combinations of the above embodiments, as well as other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description.

[0057] The scope of the various embodiments of this disclosure includes any other application using the structures and methods described above. Therefore, the scope of the various embodiments of this disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims and the full scope of their equivalents.

[0058] In the above specific embodiments, for the purpose of simplifying this disclosure, various features are combined in the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. This approach to disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention to require more features than expressly recited in each claim.

[0059] Instead, as reflected in the following claims, the subject matter of the invention lies in fewer than all the features of a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the claims below are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, wherein each claim exists independently as a separate embodiment.

Claims

1. A manual start device (100, 200, 500, 600), said manual start device comprising: Switches (102, 202) are configured to activate a fire alarm system; and Controller (106), the controller is configured to: Receive a command to put the manually started device (100, 200, 500, 600) into test mode; In response to receiving the command to enter the test mode, the manually started device (100, 200, 500, 600) is instructed to be in the test mode; The manual start device (100, 200, 500, 600) receives actuation of the switch (102, 202) when it is in the test mode; and The manual start device (100, 200, 500, 600) is indicated to have been tested in response to the actuation of the switches (102, 202).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller (106) is configured to stop the test mode in response to the actuation of the switch (102, 202).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller (106) is configured to receive a command to stop the test mode.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) (104), wherein the LED (104) is configured to indicate that the manually activated device (100, 200, 500, 600) is in the test mode.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) (104), wherein the LED (104) is configured to indicate that the manually activated device (100, 200, 500, 600) has been tested.

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the controller (106) is configured to isolate the manually activated device (100, 200, 500, 600) from other components of the fire alarm system in response to receiving the command to enter the test mode.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the command to enter the test mode is received from the fire control panel (440) of the fire alarm system.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the command to enter the test mode is received from the mobile device (330, 530, 630).

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the controller (106) is configured to receive from the computing device (552) the command to cause the manually started device (100, 200, 500, 600) to enter the test mode.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the controller (106) is configured to isolate the manual start device (100, 200, 500, 600) from other components of the fire alarm system in response to placing the manual start device (100, 200, 500, 600) into the test mode.

Images