Monitoring system

Abstract

To obtain a monitoring system capable of notifying a person staying indoors of a fire in an early stage when the fire occurs due to arson or the like.SOLUTION: A monitoring system includes: flame sensors having a flame detection section; and fire alarms to be arranged at places different from those of the flame sensors. The fire alarm includes: a communication section for communicating with the flame sensor; a fire detection section for detecting a fire; and a notification section for giving a notification that the fire is detected. When the flame detection section of the flame sensor detects a flame at a first level, the fire detection section of the fire alarm raises sensitivity to detect the fire.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a monitoring system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been proposed a fire detection system including a flame sensor and a human body sensor both installed outdoors. When a human body is detected, the sensitivity of the flame detection unit of the flame sensor, which is usually set to low sensitivity, is set to high sensitivity. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Arson is generally committed by an arsonist outdoors, but the people and property to be protected often exist indoors. When arson occurs in a place such as a garbage disposal site or a garden outdoors, where it is difficult for people indoors to notice, when there is a distance from the arson site to indoors, or at night, etc., it takes time for people indoors to notice the arson, which may lead to being too late to escape.

[0005] The present invention has been made against the background of the above matters, and provides a monitoring system capable of notifying people indoors of a fire earlier when a fire occurs due to arson or the like.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The monitoring system according to the present invention is a monitoring system including a flame sensor having a flame detection unit and a fire alarm installed at a location different from the flame sensor, wherein the fire alarm has a communication unit that communicates with the flame sensor, a fire detection unit that detects a fire, and a notification unit that notifies that a fire has been detected, and when the flame detection unit of the flame sensor detects a first-level flame, the fire detection unit of the fire alarm increases the sensitivity of detecting a fire.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, when the flame sensor detects a flame, the sensitivity of the fire alarm installed at a location different from the flame sensor to detect a fire is increased, so that a fire can be notified earlier in a room or the like where the fire alarm is installed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, the present invention includes all combinations of configurations that can be combined among the configurations shown in the following embodiments. Also, the devices shown in the drawings are examples of the devices of the present invention, and the devices of the present invention are not limited by the devices shown in the drawings. Also, in each figure, those with the same reference numerals are the same or corresponding ones, which is common throughout the entire specification.

[0010] Embodiment (System Configuration) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a monitoring system 1 according to an embodiment. The monitoring system 1 includes one or more flame sensors 2 and one or more fire alarms 3. Further, in the present embodiment, interlocking is performed between the flame sensor 2 and one or more interlocking devices 4. The flame sensor 2 and the fire alarm 3 are installed at different locations from each other. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 1, the flame sensor 2 is installed outdoors 101 which is outside the building 100, and the fire alarm 3 is installed indoors 102 which is inside the building 100. The flame sensor 2 detects a fire caused by arson or the like outdoors 101, and the fire alarm 3 detects and notifies a fire indoors 102.

[0011] When a plurality of flame sensors 2 are installed, the plurality of flame sensors 2 may form one or more groups. Within a group, one flame sensor 2 functions as a master unit, and the other flame sensors 2 function as slave units, and signals are transmitted and received to and from each other by wired communication or wireless communication. The slave unit of the flame sensor 2 that has detected a flame transmits a detection signal indicating that a flame has been detected, and the master unit that has received the detection signal outputs a signal to the fire alarm 3 and the interlocking device 4. Note that the plurality of flame sensors 2 may not form a group, and each flame sensor 2 may communicate with the fire alarm 3 and the interlocking device 4.

[0012] When a plurality of fire alarms 3 are installed, the plurality of fire alarms 3 may form one or more groups. Within a group, one fire alarm 3 functions as a master unit, and the other fire alarms 3 function as slave units, and signals are transmitted and received to and from each other by wired communication or wireless communication. The fire alarm 3 that has detected a fire outputs an alarm and transmits an interlocking alarm signal to the other fire alarms 3. The fire alarm 3 that has received the interlocking alarm signal outputs an alarm in conjunction. When the master unit receives the interlocking alarm signal from the slave unit, it transfers the interlocking alarm signal to the other slave units.

[0013] The interlocking device 4 is a device that interlocks when the flame sensor 2 detects a fire. Specifically, for example, the interlocking device 4 is a smartphone, a mail system, a reporting system of a security company, a fire extinguishing facility installed in the building 100, or a smoke exhaust and prevention device installed in the building 100, etc.

[0014] (Configuration of the flame sensor 2) FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the flame sensor 2 according to the embodiment. The flame sensor 2 includes a flame detection unit 21, a control unit 22, and a communication unit 23. Although not shown, the flame sensor 2 is provided with a battery and a power supply circuit, or a power supply circuit that receives power supply from a commercial power supply, and the flame detection unit 21, the control unit 22, and the communication unit 23 are supplied with power from this power supply circuit.

[0015] The flame detection unit 21 has an infrared detection element or an ultraviolet detection element that detects wavelengths specific to flames. Alternatively, the flame detection unit 21 may include a thermal camera that detects the intensity of infrared rays, and detects a flame by analyzing an image captured by the thermal camera. In addition, as long as it can detect a flame, its specific configuration is not limited. When detecting a flame, the flame detection unit 21 inputs a detection signal indicating that a flame has been detected to the control unit 22.

[0016] The control unit 22 receives the detection signal from the flame detection unit 21, controls the communication unit 23 to transmit an interlocking signal, and causes the interlocking device 4 (see FIG. 1) to interlock. In addition, the control unit 22 determines the level of the flame detected by the flame detection unit 21, and performs an operation according to the level of the size of the flame as described later. In the present embodiment, the control unit 22 discriminates between a flame of the first level and a flame of the second level that is larger than the flame of the first level. The discrimination of the level of the size of the flame is performed by comparing the amount of infrared rays or ultraviolet rays detected by the flame detection unit 21 with a predetermined threshold value. The control unit 22 is composed of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a program stored in the memory.

[0017] The communication unit 23 is a device that communicates with other flame sensors 2, fire alarms 3, and interlocking devices 4, and is equipped with a signal transmission and reception circuit for wireless communication or wired communication. When the communication unit 23 receives a signal transmitted from another device, it inputs the received signal to the control unit 22. Information such as the communication destination address of the communication unit 23 is stored in a memory (not shown) of the control unit 22.

[0018] (Configuration of the fire alarm 3) Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the fire alarm 3 according to the embodiment. The fire alarm 3 is, for example, a residential fire alarm, and is a device that detects a fire and outputs an alarm when a fire is detected. The fire alarm 3 includes a fire detection unit 31, a control unit 32, a communication unit 33, and a notification unit 34. Although not shown, the fire alarm 3 is provided with a battery and a power supply circuit, or a power supply circuit that receives power supply from a commercial power supply, and the fire detection unit 31, the control unit 32, the communication unit 33, and the notification unit 34 are supplied with power from this power supply circuit.

[0019] The fire detection unit 31 detects a physical quantity or a change in a physical quantity caused by a fire. The fire detection unit 31 detects, for example, heat, smoke, infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or odor compounds, etc., and detects the occurrence of a fire by comparing the detected physical quantity with a threshold value, or by comparing the change amount of the physical quantity with a threshold value. The fire detection unit 31 of the present embodiment can set at least two types of sensitivities, a first sensitivity (low sensitivity) and a second sensitivity (high sensitivity) that is more likely to detect a fire than the first sensitivity, and the sensitivity setting is performed by the control unit 32. When the second sensitivity is set, the fire detection unit 31 detects the occurrence of a fire with a smaller physical quantity or a smaller change in the physical quantity. For example, when the fire detection unit 31 detects smoke, the smoke concentration determined to be a fire at the first sensitivity (low sensitivity) is 10%, and the smoke concentration determined to be a fire at the second sensitivity (high sensitivity) is 2.5%. The fire detection unit 31 inputs a detection signal indicating that a fire has been detected to the control unit 32.

[0020] Upon receiving the detection signal from the fire detection unit 31, the control unit 32 controls the communication unit 33 to transmit an interlocking alarm signal to notify other fire alarms 3 of the occurrence of a fire, and controls the notification unit 34 to output an alarm. Further, the control unit 32 switches the sensitivity of the fire detection unit 31 as described later according to the signal received from the flame sensor 2 via the communication unit 33.

[0021] The communication unit 33 is a device that communicates with other fire alarms 3 and the flame sensor 2, and includes a signal transmission and reception circuit for wireless communication or wired communication. When the communication unit 33 receives a signal transmitted from another device, it inputs the received signal to the control unit 32. Information such as the address of the communication destination of the communication unit 33 is stored in a memory (not shown) of the control unit 32.

[0022] The notification unit 34 outputs an alarm by either or both of sound and light. When outputting a voice alarm, the notification unit 34 includes a voice output device such as a speaker or a buzzer. When performing an alarm output by light, the notification unit 34 includes a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode.

[0023] (Operation of the monitoring system 1) The monitoring system 1 of the present embodiment has a flame sensor 2 installed outdoors such as at 101 and a fire alarm 3 installed indoors such as at 102 different from the outdoors 101, and switches the sensitivity of fire detection of the fire alarm 3 according to the detection of a flame by the flame sensor 2. This makes it easier to detect a fire at the location where the fire alarm 3 is installed and notify people in the indoor area 102 of the occurrence of a fire earlier. Hereinafter, the operation of the monitoring system 1 will be described by taking the case where there is one flame sensor 2, one fire alarm 3, and one interlocking device 4 respectively as an example.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the monitoring system 1 according to the embodiment. In the initial state, the flame sensor 2 is installed outdoors at 101 and is monitoring for the presence or absence of a flame, and the fire alarm 3 is installed indoors at 102, and the fire detection unit 31 is monitoring for a fire with the first sensitivity (low sensitivity). The interlocking device 4 is not operating.

[0025] When the flame sensor 2 detects a flame (step S1), the level of the detected flame is determined (step S2). If the level of the flame is the first level (the first level < the second level), a flame detection signal is transmitted from the flame sensor 2 to the fire alarm 3 (step S3). The flame detection signal is a signal indicating that the flame sensor 2 has detected a flame. The flame sensor 2 that has transmitted the flame detection signal returns to the normal monitoring state.

[0026] When the fire alarm 3 receives a flame detection signal from the flame sensor 2, it changes and sets the fire detection sensitivity from the first sensitivity (low sensitivity) to the second sensitivity (high sensitivity) (step S4). Further, the fire alarm 3 may notify the notification unit 34 that the second sensitivity has been set (step S5). By the fire alarm 3 performing the notification, the people in the indoor area 102 can be informed that the sensitivity has been changed, that is, the flame sensor 2 has detected a flame in the outdoor area 101. Note that the notification in step S5 may be to inform, by voice or display, that the flame sensor 2 has detected a flame, or may be to inform, by voice or display, that the sensitivity of the fire alarm 3 has increased.

[0027] The fire alarm 3 with the second sensitivity set returns to the fire monitoring state at the second sensitivity and outputs an alarm when a fire is detected. Since the second sensitivity is higher than the first sensitivity, the occurrence of a fire can be detected by a smaller physical quantity or a smaller change in the physical quantity caused by the fire. Therefore, even if the flame in the outdoor area 101 spreads to the indoor area 102, the occurrence of the fire can be notified to people earlier, and early evacuation can be promoted.

[0028] In addition, the flame sensor 2 installed outdoors such as at 101 has a problem that it may misdetect sunlight or lighting as a flame. In the present embodiment, when the flame sensor 2 detects a first-level flame, instead of the fire alarm 3 performing an interlock alarm, the sensitivity of the fire alarm 3 is increased. Thereby, even if the flame sensor 2 is misdetected, the fire alarm 3 does not immediately give an alarm, so that false alarms due to misdetection can be suppressed. Also, when a fire actually occurs, the fire alarm 3 set to the second sensitivity (high sensitivity) performs fire monitoring and gives an alarm, so that the occurrence of the fire can be notified to people.

[0029] In step S2, when the level of the flame detected by the flame sensor 2 is the second level (first level < second level), an interlock signal is transmitted from the flame sensor 2 to the fire alarm 3 (step S6). The interlock signal is a signal that instructs interlock between the fire alarm 3 and the interlock device 4.

[0030] When the fire alarm 3 receives the interlock signal, it outputs an interlock alarm (step S7). The interlock alarm is output even when the fire alarm 3 has not detected a fire. Thereby, people in the indoor area 102 can be notified that the flame sensor 2 has detected a flame. The second-level flame is a larger flame than the first-level flame, and the scale of the fire is also large. Therefore, when the flame sensor 2 detects a second-level flame, by outputting an alarm regardless of whether a fire is detected by the fire alarm 3, a more rapid evacuation can be promoted.

[0031] When the interlock device 4 receives the interlock signal, it performs an interlock operation (step S8). Here, a specific example of the interlock device 4 and its interlock operation will be described.

[0032] When the interlocking device 4 is a smartphone, the flame sensor 2 transmits an interlocking signal to a server via the Internet or a dedicated line (not shown), and the interlocking signal is transferred from the server to the smartphone. The smartphone uses a pre-installed dedicated application or a general-purpose browser to display the information of the received signal. Thereby, the user using the smartphone can grasp that the flame sensor 2 has detected a flame and can perform operations such as visiting the site or checking a surveillance camera (not shown).

[0033] When the interlocking device 4 is a mail system, the flame sensor 2 transmits an interlocking signal to a server via the Internet or a dedicated line (not shown), and the mail server sends an email to a list of recipients at one or more predetermined email addresses. Thereby, the user can grasp that the flame sensor 2 has detected a flame and can perform operations such as visiting the site or checking a surveillance camera (not shown).

[0034] When the interlocking device 4 is a reporting system of a security company, the flame sensor 2 transmits an interlocking signal to the reporting system via the Internet or a dedicated line (not shown), and the security company that has received the reporting signal can perform operations such as arranging security guards or checking surveillance cameras.

[0035] When the interlocking device 4 is a fire extinguishing facility or a smoke exhaust and prevention device installed in the building 100, etc., the flame sensor 2 transmits an interlocking signal instructing the operation to a controller that operates the fire extinguishing facility or the smoke exhaust and prevention device. When the controller receives the interlocking signal, it operates the fire extinguishing facility or the smoke exhaust and prevention device.

[0036] (Modification Example 1) In the embodiment, it has been described that when the flame sensor 2 detects a flame, the flame sensor 2 outputs either a flame detection signal or an interlocking signal according to the flame level representing the size of the flame. Instead of this, when the flame sensor 2 detects a flame, without determining the flame level, the flame detection signal may be transmitted to the fire alarm 3 to increase the sensitivity of the fire alarm 3. In this case, no interlocking signal is transmitted from the flame sensor 2 to the fire alarm 3, and the fire alarm 3 outputs an alarm when it detects a fire by itself.

[0037] (Modification Example 2) In the embodiment, it has been described that when the flame sensor 2 detects a flame, the flame sensor 2 outputs either a flame detection signal or an interlock signal according to the flame level representing the size of the flame. Instead of this, when the flame sensor 2 detects a flame, without determining the flame level, an interlock signal may be transmitted to either or both of the fire alarm 3 and the interlock device 4. By doing so, the fire alarm 3 or the interlock device 4 can be operated earlier. In this case, the fire alarm 3 does not need to adjust its sensitivity.

[0038] (Modification Example 3) In the embodiment, an example in which the flame sensor 2 directly transmits an interlock signal to the interlock device 4 has been shown. However, the flame sensor 2 may transmit an interlock signal to the fire alarm 3, and the fire alarm 3 that has received the interlock signal may transfer the interlock signal to the interlock device 4. In this case, the flame sensor 2 and the interlock device 4 do not need to communicate directly.

[0039] The monitoring system 1 of the embodiment and the modification examples may be provided with sensors such as a heat sensor or a smoke sensor instead of or in addition to the flame sensor 2. The sensor is installed at a location different from the fire alarm 3 such as outdoors 101, and the fire alarm 3 performs operations such as sensitivity increase or interlock alarm as described in the embodiment according to the fire level detected by the sensor.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0040] 1 Monitoring system, 2 Flame sensor, 3 Fire alarm, 4 Interlock device, 21 Flame detection unit, 22 Control unit, 23 Communication unit, 31 Fire detection unit, 32 Control unit, 33 Communication unit, 34 Notification unit, 100 Building, 101 Outdoors, 102 Indoors.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising a flame sensor having a flame detection unit, and a fire alarm installed at a location different from the flame sensor, wherein the fire alarm includes, a communication unit that communicates with the flame sensor, a fire detection unit that detects a fire, and a notification unit that notifies that a fire has been detected, and when the flame detection unit of the flame sensor detects a first-level flame, the sensitivity of the fire detection unit of the fire alarm to detect a fire is increased. Monitoring system.

2. The notification unit notifies that the sensitivity has been increased when the flame detection unit detects the first-level flame. The monitoring system according to Claim 1.

3. When the flame detection unit of the flame sensor detects a second-level flame, which is a flame larger than the first-level flame, the notification unit of the fire alarm outputs a linked alarm. The monitoring system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2.

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