Telegraph transfer device

Abstract

To provide an information transfer device that securely prevents an output of an unnecessary information transfer signal upon receiving an interlocking signal due to a test to be carried out with an information transfer shut-down function set, or actual fire during the test, and can quickly output the information transfer signal when necessary.SOLUTION: An information transfer control unit 76 of an information transfer device 12 is configured to, when an information transfer shutdown function is set by performing a long pressing operation of a test switch 54, give an information transfer shutdown notification indicating that information transfer is being shut down by blinking of a display lamp 56, and, when receiving a fire interlocking signal during the shutdown of the information transfer, hold a reception history indicating that the fire interlocking signal has been received. The information transfer control unit 76 is configured to, when a release operation is detected by re-performing the long pressing operation of the test switch 54 during the shutdown of the information transfer, release the information transfer shutdown function, set a stand-by time for holding an output of the information transfer, give an alarm operation notification indicating that the alarm is in operation by a voice output of a speaker 58 while the stand-by time continues, and cause the information transfer signal to be output from an information transfer output unit 64 under a condition that holding the reception history continues at a time when the stand-by time goes by.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire alarm transmission device that receives a fire interlocking signal from an alarm system that outputs a fire alarm in a linked manner from multiple alarm devices, and outputs a fire alarm transmission signal to an external device. [Background technology]

[0002] Fire alarms that detect and issue warnings about fires in homes and other areas have become widespread. These residential fire alarms operate on battery power and are equipped with a sensor unit that detects fires and an alarm unit that issues a warning. When a fire is detected based on the detection signal from the sensor unit, the alarm unit emits a fire alarm sound. Unlike so-called automatic fire alarm systems, the alarm unit does not require a receiver or other device, allowing the alarm unit to monitor for fires and issue warnings on its own. This makes them easy to install and inexpensive, and they have become widely used as installation in general homes has become mandatory. Hereinafter, "fire alarm" will be referred to simply as "alarm."

[0003] Additionally, alarm systems using wirelessly linked alarm devices have also been put into practical use and are becoming widespread. These systems enable multiple alarm devices to communicate wirelessly with each other, so that when a fire alarm sound is emitted from any one alarm device, the other alarm devices will also be linked and emit a fire alarm sound.

[0004] Furthermore, automatic fire alarm systems for specified small-scale facilities have been introduced to specified small-scale facilities with floor space of less than 300 square meters, such as group homes that provide housekeeping support for the elderly and intellectually disabled, which are not required to install fire alarm systems. Automatic fire alarm systems for specified small-scale facilities are composed of detectors similar to alarms used in homes, which combine a sensor unit that detects fires with an alarm unit that issues a fire alarm, and the detectors are linked wirelessly so that when any one detector detects a fire, all the detectors in the facility will sound an alarm, alerting the entire facility.

[0005] In an alarm system using such wireless interlocking alarm devices, a reporting device is provided that functions as a repeater that receives a fire interlocking signal from the alarm system and outputs a reporting signal to an external device, and an automatic reporting device, for example, that notifies a fire department of a fire is connected to the reporting device.

[0006] However, if a smoke detection alarm that detects smoke caused by a fire and issues an alarm is installed, a so-called burning test must be conducted periodically using a smoke tester to make the alarm sound a fire alarm.If the alarm sounds a test alarm, a signal will be output from the reporting device even though there is no fire, which can be inconvenient as an automatic report will be made.Therefore, the reporting device is equipped with a reporting blocking function that prevents the output of a signal by operating a switch, so that a signal will not be output when the alarm sounds a test alarm (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-203562 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-113114 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-225055 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In the case of a report transmission device provided in such a conventional alarm system, after a report transmission cutoff function that does not output a report transmission signal even when a fire interlocking signal is received from an alarm device is set by operating a switch, the report transmission cutoff function is deactivated when a predetermined condition for deactivating the report transmission cutoff function is met. The deactivation conditions for this report transmission cutoff function are, for example, when a certain amount of time has passed since the report transmission cutoff function was set, when a fire interlocking signal is received from an alarm device other than the one that received the interlocking signal during the report transmission cutoff, or when the switch for setting the report transmission cutoff function is pressed again during the report transmission cutoff.

[0009] For this reason, even if the alarm transmission cut-off function is set by operating the switch on the transmission device when conducting an alarm heating test, the alarm transmission cut-off function may be deactivated after a certain amount of time has passed while multiple alarms are being tested in sequence, and if a test alarm is sounded on the next alarm before the alarm that sounded the test alarm has recovered, the alarm transmission cut-off function will be deactivated, and a signal will be output due to the deactivation of the alarm transmission cut-off function, resulting in an automatic notification being made erroneously.

[0010] Furthermore, when the alarm's scorching test is completed and the scorching test blocking function is deactivated by operating the switch on the scorching test device, the alarm continues to issue a test alarm and repeatedly sends a fire interlock signal until the smoke that flowed in during the scorching test has disappeared and the fire recovery signal is received. This creates the problem that the alarm will continue to issue a test alarm and repeatedly receive the fire interlock signal, resulting in the automatic notification being made erroneously.

[0011] Furthermore, even if a real fire occurs during an alarm test and a fire interlocking signal is received, as long as the interlocking function of the alarm transmission device is set, an automatic report will not be made by outputting an interlocking signal even if a fire interlocking signal from a real fire is received, and the interlocking function will not be released until the fire spreads and an interlocking signal is received from another alarm device, which means that it takes time from the time a real fire is detected until an interlocking signal is output and an automatic report is made.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a reporting device for use in an alarm system using an alarm device that can reliably prevent the output of unnecessary reporting signals in response to tests conducted with a reporting blocking function set or to the reception of an interlocking signal due to a real fire during testing, and can quickly output a reporting signal when necessary. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] (Transfer device) The present invention is a signal transmission device that relays between an alarm system having an alarm device capable of transmitting and receiving a fire interlocking signal and a predetermined external device, a notification output unit that outputs a notification signal to an external device based on reception of the fire interlocking signal; a signal transfer control unit that controls a signal transfer blocking function that blocks output of a signal transfer signal by the signal transfer output unit; is established, Furthermore, the information transfer control unit When the alarm transmission blocking function is set, if a fire interlocking signal is received while the alarm transmission blocking function is set, the reception history of the fire interlocking signal is retained, and if a fire recovery signal corresponding to the fire interlocking signal in the reception history is received, the retention of the reception history is canceled, If the reception history is not saved when the cancel operation is detected, the transmission blocking function is canceled. If the reception history is held when a cancel operation is detected, an alarm activation notification indicating that the alarm is activated is issued for a predetermined waiting time, The method is characterized in that the report transfer signal is output if the reception history is still being held when the waiting time has elapsed.

[0014] (Suppression of signal transfer output by canceling retention of reception history during waiting time) If the retention of the reception history is released while the waiting time is continuing, the report transfer control unit stops the waiting time and the alarm activation notification midway, suppresses the output of the report transfer signal, and releases the report transfer blocking function.

[0015] (Removal of reception history upon receiving a fire restoration signal) The information transfer control unit A unique notification number indicating the order of the fire notification included in the fire interlocking signal is stored as a reception history of the fire interlocking signal, When a fire recovery signal having the same alarm number as the alarm number in the reception history is received while the reception history is held, it is determined that a fire recovery signal corresponding to the fire interlocking signal in the reception history has been received, and the holding of the reception history is released.

[0016] (Waiting time) The alarm is an alarm that detects smoke and sounds a fire alarm. The waiting time is a predetermined time based on the recovery time required for the smoke to clear from the alarm that was triggered by the burning test and for the alarm to recover.

[0017] (Notification during signal transfer blockage and alarm activation) The information transfer control unit When the setting operation is detected and the alarm transmission cut-off function is set, the indicator light flashes or blinks at a predetermined cycle or pattern to indicate that the alarm transmission is being cut off, and a predetermined voice message indicating that the alarm is in operation is output from the voice output unit to indicate that the alarm is in operation.

[0018] (Receiving a new fire interlock signal during waiting time) If a new fire interlocking signal is received from another alarm device while the waiting time is continuing, the alarm transfer control unit outputs the alarm transfer signal.

[0019] (Determining whether a new fire interlocking signal is received based on the alarm number) The information transfer control unit A unique notification number indicating the order of the fire notification included in the fire interlocking signal is stored as a reception history of the fire interlocking signal, If a fire interlocking signal with an alarm number different from the alarm number in the reception history is received while the waiting time continues, it is determined that a new fire interlocking signal has been received from another alarm device, and a signal transfer signal is output.

[0020] (Transmission output operation during waiting time) The reporting device has an operation unit, The report transfer control unit outputs a report transfer signal when a predetermined report transfer output operation is performed by the operation unit while the waiting time continues.

[0021] (Different operation of switch 1) The reporting device is An operation unit is provided for setting or canceling the signal transmission blocking function, The operation unit has one switch, The information transfer control unit If the switch operation is detected while the alarm transmission blocking function is deactivated, the alarm transmission blocking function is set, If the same switch operation is detected while the alarm transmission blocking function is set, the alarm transmission blocking function is deactivated.

[0022] (Identification by switch operation time) The signal transfer control unit distinguishes and detects switch operations for setting and blocking the signal transfer blocking function from other switch operations based on differences in switch operation times. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] (Basic effect) The present invention is a report transfer device that relays between an alarm system having an alarm device capable of transmitting and receiving a fire interlocking signal and a predetermined external device, and is provided with a report transfer output unit that outputs a report transfer signal to the external device based on the reception of a fire interlocking signal, and a report transfer control unit that controls a report transfer blocking function that blocks the output of the report transfer signal by the report transfer output unit, and further, when the report transfer blocking function is set, if a fire interlocking signal is received while the report transfer blocking function is set, the report transfer control unit stores a reception history of the fire interlocking signal, and cancels the storage of the reception history when a fire recovery signal corresponding to the fire interlocking signal in the reception history is received, and if a cancellation operation is detected and no reception history is stored, the report transfer control unit cancels the report transfer blocking function, and if a reception history is stored when a cancellation operation is detected, the report transfer control unit During the waiting time, an alarm is activated to indicate that the alarm is in operation, and if the reception history is still being retained when the waiting time has elapsed a signal transfer is output. Therefore, if a real fire occurs during an alarm broiling test that is being carried out with the signal transfer cut-off function set, and the signal transfer cut-off function is released at the end of the broiling test, a signal is output that the alarm is in operation in accordance with the reception history of the fire interlocking signal for the real fire, and if the waiting time has elapsed without the reception history being released by the fire recovery signal, a signal transfer is output, making it possible to quickly and reliably output a signal transfer to an external device in response to a real fire that has occurred during a broiling test that is being carried out with the signal transfer cut-off function set, allowing for automatic reporting, etc.

[0024] In addition, while the waiting time continues, an alarm activation notification is given to indicate that the alarm is in operation, so when the roasting test is completed and the alarm transfer shut-off function is deactivated, the user will know that the alarm is in operation, and if there is a real fire, an alarm transfer signal will be output once the waiting time has elapsed, making it possible to prepare for the occurrence of a real fire.

[0025] (Effect of suppressing signal transfer output by canceling the retention of reception history during waiting time) Furthermore, if the retention of the reception history is released while the waiting time is continuing, the alarm transfer control unit is designed to stop the waiting time and the alarm activation notification midway, suppress the output of the alarm transfer signal, and release the alarm transfer blocking function.Therefore, if the operation to release the alarm transfer blocking function is performed after the completion of the broiling test, even if an alarm activation notification is issued indicating that the alarm is activated in accordance with the reception history of the fire interlocking signal from the broiling test, the alarm that performed the broiling test will have its reception history released upon receiving the fire recovery signal before the waiting time has elapsed, and the alarm activation notification will also be stopped, so that the alarm will not erroneously be output when the waiting time has elapsed, and it will be possible to return to the normal monitoring state with the alarm transfer blocking function released.

[0026] (Effect of canceling the retention of reception history upon receiving a fire restoration signal) In addition, the alarm transfer control unit stores a unique alarm number indicating the order of fire alarms contained in the fire interlocking signal as a reception history of the fire interlocking signal, and when a fire recovery signal with the same alarm number as the alarm number in the reception history is received while the reception history is being stored, it determines that a fire recovery signal corresponding to the fire interlocking signal in the reception history has been received and cancels the storage of the reception history.This means that it can be reliably identified as a fire recovery signal corresponding to the fire interlocking signal in the reception history, and by canceling the storage of the reception history, it is possible to prevent the alarm transfer signal from being erroneously output when the waiting time has elapsed, and it is possible to return to the normal state with the alarm transfer blocking function canceled.

[0027] (Waiting time effect) Furthermore, the alarm is an alarm that detects smoke and sounds a fire alarm, and the waiting time is a predetermined time based on the recovery time until the smoke clears from the alarm that sounded the fire in the burning test and the alarm is restored. Therefore, even if the alarm burning test is completed and the operation to disable the alarm transmission blocking function is performed while the test alarm is still sounding, the alarm that sounded the test alarm will be reliably restored during the waiting time until the alarm transmission blocking function is disabled, and as the reception history is released upon receiving the fire recovery signal, the alarm transmission signal will not be output even after the waiting time has elapsed.

[0028] (Effect of the manner of notification during signal transfer blockage and notification during alarm operation) Furthermore, when the alarm transmission control unit detects the setting operation and sets the alarm transmission cut-off function, it causes the indicator light to flash or blink at a predetermined cycle or pattern as an alarm transmission cut-off notification to indicate that the alarm transmission cut-off is in progress, and it causes the audio output unit to output a predetermined audio message to indicate that the alarm is in operation.Therefore, while the alarm transmission cut-off function is being set, the alarm transmission cut-off notification is given to indicate that the function is in the set state, so that testers and other relevant personnel conducting the alarm flame-searing test can confirm that the alarm transmission cut-off function is set by the alarm transmission cut-off notification, and because the alarm transmission cut-off notification can be given by an indicator light, the configuration of the alarm transmission device is simplified, and the alarm transmission cut-off notification is a repeated audio message, for example ``The alarm is in operation,'' making it possible to inform testers and other relevant personnel whether the alarm is in a state where it is waiting for recovery from the test alarm or a state where it is waiting for the alarm to be transmitted in response to a real fire.

[0029] (Effect of receiving new fire interlock signals during waiting time) In addition, the alarm transfer device is equipped with an operation unit, and the alarm transfer control unit outputs an alarm transfer signal from the alarm transfer output unit if a new fire interlocking signal is received from another alarm while the waiting time is continuing.Therefore, if a new fire interlocking signal due to a real fire is received during an active alarm notification after the alarm's burning test has been completed and the alarm transfer blocking function has been deactivated, an alarm transfer signal will be output, and an alarm transfer signal will be quickly output to the real fire, enabling alarm transfer operations such as automatic reporting.

[0030] (Effect of determining whether to receive a new fire interlocking signal using the alarm number) In addition, the reporting device is equipped with an operation unit for setting or canceling the reporting blocking function, and the reporting control unit holds a unique reporting number indicating the order of fire reporting contained in the fire interlocking signal as a reception history of the fire interlocking signal, and if a fire interlocking signal with a reporting number different from the reporting number in the reception history is received while the waiting time is continuing, it is determined that a new fire interlocking signal has been received from another alarm device and a reporting signal is output, so that it can reliably determine that the fire interlocking signal is due to a real fire and output a reporting signal, making it possible to quickly and reliably activate external equipment such as an automatic reporting device in the event of a real fire.

[0031] (Effect of signal transfer output operation during waiting time) In addition, the alarm transfer control unit is configured to output an alarm transfer signal from the alarm transfer output unit if a specified alarm transfer output operation is performed by the operation unit while the waiting time is continuing.Therefore, if, for example, an audio output is being used to notify that an alarm is in operation and a tester or other relevant person notices a real fire, the alarm transfer output operation, for example, by briefly pressing switch 1 on the operation unit, can be performed without waiting for the waiting time to elapse, thereby forcibly outputting an alarm transfer signal and activating external equipment such as an automatic reporting device.

[0032] (The effect of different operations on one switch) In addition, the operation unit is equipped with one switch, and the report transfer control unit sets the report transfer blocking function when a switch operation is detected while the report transfer blocking function is deactivated, and deactivates the report transfer blocking function when the same switch operation is detected while the report transfer blocking function is activated.Furthermore, the report transfer control unit is configured to distinguish and detect switch operations for setting and blocking the report transfer blocking function from other switch operations based on differences in the switch operation time.Therefore, for example, the report transfer blocking function can be set and deactivated by alternately pressing and holding the switch, and other operations, such as reporting signal output operations, can be performed by shortly pressing the switch, and since only one switch is required, the configuration of the report transfer device is simplified, allowing for smaller, lighter, and less expensive devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an alarm system in which the reporting device of the present invention is used. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an alarm device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a report transfer device. [Figure 4] This is a time chart showing the operation when a fire interlock signal is received by a test alarm while the alarm transfer blocking function is set, the reception history is retained, and then a fire recovery signal is received upon completion of the test, the retention of the reception history is released, and then the alarm transfer blocking function is released. [Figure 5] This is a time chart showing the operation when a fire linkage signal is received due to a test alarm while the alarm transmission cut-off function is set, and a fire recovery signal is received while the alarm transmission cut-off function is deactivated and an alarm is being notified when the test is completed. [Figure 6] This is a time chart showing the operation of receiving a fire interlock signal due to a real fire during a test, and outputting an alarm signal after a waiting time has elapsed after the alarm transmission blocking function is released at the end of the test. [Figure 7] This is a time chart showing the operation when the alarm transmission blocking function is released at the end of the test and a fire linkage signal due to a real fire is received while the alarm is reporting that the alarm is in operation. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation by the report transfer device of FIG. 3. [Figure 9] 9 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the report transfer device following FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the information transfer device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0035] [Basic concept of the embodiment] First, the basic concept of the embodiment will be described. The embodiment generally relates to a report transfer device that relays (transfers reports) between an alarm system having an alarm device capable of transmitting and receiving a fire interlocking signal and a predetermined external device.

[0036] Here, the term "alarm" refers to a concept that includes a wirelessly linked residential fire alarm, which has a sensor unit that detects fires and an alarm unit that issues a fire alarm, and which outputs a fire alarm sound when a fire is detected, and which also has a wireless communication unit that allows it to send and receive signals to and from other alarms, as well as fire detectors for automatic fire alarm systems in specific small facilities.

[0037] An "alarm system" is a system in which multiple alarm devices installed in a monitored facility communicate wirelessly with each other, so that when one of the alarm devices detects a fire, all of the alarm devices in the facility will sound an alarm, alerting the entire facility to the fire.

[0038] In this embodiment, the facilities in which the alarm system is installed include specific small facilities with a floor area of ​​less than 300 square meters that are not required to install fire alarm equipment, such as group homes that provide domestic support for the elderly and intellectually disabled.

[0039] Furthermore, the alarm used in this embodiment is a smoke detection type alarm that detects smoke caused by a fire and issues an alarm, and is an alarm that requires periodic so-called burning tests to be performed using a smoke tester to make the alarm sound a fire alarm.

[0040] In addition, a "report transfer device" is a device that functions as a repeater that receives a fire linkage signal from an alarm system having an alarm device that can send and receive fire linkage signals and outputs the signal to an external device, and is equipped with a report transfer output unit, a report transfer control unit, and an operation unit.

[0041] Here, the "alarm output unit" is a unit that outputs an alarm signal to an external device based on the reception of a fire interlocking signal. The "external device" is a device that is installed outside the alarm system and operates by receiving an alarm signal from the alarm device. The type, configuration, function, and use of the device are arbitrary, but an example includes an automatic notification device that notifies a fire department of a fire.

[0042] In addition, the "alarm transfer control unit" controls the alarm transfer blocking function that blocks the output of the alarm transfer signal by the alarm transfer output unit to external devices; if you do not want to operate an external device upon receiving a fire interlocking signal, you set the alarm transfer blocking function to prevent the alarm transfer signal from being output upon receiving a fire interlocking signal; on the other hand, if you want to operate an external device upon receiving a fire interlocking signal, you disable the alarm transfer blocking function to output the alarm transfer signal upon receiving a fire interlocking signal.

[0043] Here, the "alarm transmission blocking function" is a function that prevents the alarm transmission signal from being output to an external device when a fire interlock signal is received, and "blocking" is a concept that includes "stop," "prohibition," "restraint," etc.

[0044] Furthermore, "setting the report transfer blocking function" means enabling the report transfer blocking function, and "setting" is a concept that includes "enabling." Furthermore, "canceling the report transfer blocking function" means preventing the report transfer blocking function from operating, and "canceling" is a concept that includes "disabling," and further means "setting the report transfer blocking cancellation function."

[0045] In addition, "when you do not want to activate external equipment upon receiving a fire interlocking signal" refers to when a fire interlocking signal is received due to a fire being alerted by an alarm's broiling test, and "when you want to activate external equipment upon receiving a fire interlocking signal" refers to when a fire interlocking signal is received due to a fire being alerted by a real fire from another alarm during a broiling test.

[0046] The "operation unit" is a unit that performs an operation to set or cancel the report transmission blocking function on the report transmission control unit, and its configuration, structure, type, etc. are arbitrary, but for example, a push button switch is used.

[0047] The "report transfer control unit" of this embodiment detects the setting operation by the operation unit and issues a report that the report transfer is being blocked when the report transfer block function is set. Therefore, the relevant parties can know from the report transfer block notification that the report transfer device is in a report transfer output block state.

[0048] In addition, when the alarm transmission blocking function is set, the "alarm transmission control unit" generates and stores a reception history of a fire interlocking signal when it receives the fire interlocking signal, and performs control to cancel the retention of the reception history when it receives a fire recovery signal corresponding to the fire interlocking signal in the reception history.

[0049] Here, "reception history" refers to historical information indicating that a fire linkage signal has been received, and is generated when a fire linkage signal is received from an alarm that has detected a fire and sounded a fire alarm, or from an alarm that has sounded a test alarm through a roasting test, and is retained by being stored in a memory unit, etc. Furthermore, when a fire recovery signal corresponding to a fire linkage signal in the reception history is received, the reception history is erased from the memory unit, etc., and is no longer retained.

[0050] In addition, a reception history is also created when a fire-linked signal is received from the same alarm device, and the previous reception history is updated with the newly created reception history, so that the latest fire-linked signal reception history is always maintained.

[0051] In addition, a reception history is generated and stored for each fire linkage signal when consecutive fire linkage signals are received with the alarm transmission cut-off function set, for example, due to consecutive alarm lighting tests.

[0052] In addition, if the "alarm control unit" detects a cancel operation and no reception history is stored, it will cancel the alarm transmission cut-off function. Therefore, if the alarm transmission cut-off function is canceled after the broiling test is completed and the alarm that triggered the fire alarm during the test has cleared of smoke and recovered, the alarm transmission cut-off function will be canceled and the device will be able to return to its normal state of outputting an alarm transmission signal in response to the reception of a fire interlocking signal.

[0053] Furthermore, if the reception history is retained when the "alarm transfer control unit" detects a cancel operation by the operation unit, it causes an alarm activation notification to be issued indicating that the alarm is in operation for a specified waiting time, and if the reception history is still retained when the waiting time has elapsed, it controls the output of an alarm transfer signal.

[0054] Here, the "waiting time" refers to a predetermined time based on the recovery time required for the smoke to clear from an alarm that has been triggered by a burning test and for it to be restored. The waiting time is arbitrary, but is the experimentally determined recovery time plus a predetermined margin of time, and specifically, is a predetermined time that falls within the range of approximately 1 to 2 minutes.

[0055] In this embodiment, even if the alarm transmission shutoff function is deactivated, it does not immediately become ready to output a signal in response to a fire interlocking signal. Instead, the deactivation of the alarm transmission shutoff function is suspended for a predetermined waiting time, and the deactivation of the alarm transmission shutoff function is enabled after the waiting time has elapsed while an alarm activation notification is being sent to indicate that the alarm is activated. Therefore, even if the alarm transmission shutoff function is deactivated after the alarm's flame test is completed and smoke has not yet escaped from the alarm that triggered the fire, the deactivation is suspended for the waiting time, during which time the alarm that triggered the fire is reliably restored, preventing the alarm transmission signal from being erroneously output. On the other hand, if the reception history of the fire interlocking signal is retained when the waiting time has elapsed, one of the alarms is in an activated state, and the alarm transmission signal is output, activating the external device.

[0056] In addition, the "fire interlock signal reception history" holds a unique alarm number that indicates the order of fire alerts contained in the fire interlock signal, and when a fire recovery signal with the same alarm number as the alarm number in the reception history is received while the reception history is being held, it is determined that a fire recovery signal corresponding to the fire interlock signal in the reception history has been received, and the retention of the reception history is released.

[0057] Here, the "alarm number" is number information that includes the identification information of the alarm device and the number of times it has been activated, and the format of the alarm number is arbitrary, but for example it could be "XXYY", which combines the alarm device identification number "XX" and the number of times it has been activated "YY". Specifically, as the maximum number of alarm devices that make up the alarm system is 15, "XX" will take on a value between 1 and 15, and the number of times it has been activated "YY" will take on a value between 1 and 99.

[0058] Furthermore, a different predetermined initial value is set for the alarm number for each alarm device, and when a fire interlocking signal is transmitted in response to a fire alert and the fire is subsequently recovered, the number of times the alarm has been issued "YY" in the alarm number is incremented by 1. Furthermore, the alarm device of this embodiment transmits a fire interlocking signal repeatedly at predetermined time intervals while activated in response to a fire alert, and the number of times the alarm has been issued "YY" in the alarm number is incremented by 1 in accordance with the number of times it has been transmitted.

[0059] Furthermore, when an alarm that has issued a fire alarm is restored, a fire restoration signal is transmitted that includes the notification number of the last fire interlocking signal transmitted before the alarm was restored. Therefore, if the dispatch number of the fire interlocking signal in the reception history is compared with the dispatch number of the fire restoration number received subsequently and they match, it can be determined that the fire restoration signal corresponds to the fire interlocking signal in the reception history, and the retention of the reception history can be canceled.

[0060] Furthermore, the form of the "report transfer blocking notification indicating that the report transfer blocking function is being set" and the "alarm device operating notification indicating that the alarm device is in operation" is arbitrary, but the report transfer control unit controls the indicator light to flash or blink at a predetermined cycle or pattern as the report transfer blocking notification, and controls the audio output unit to output a predetermined audio message indicating that the alarm device is in operation and the remaining waiting time as the alarm device operating notification.

[0061] This type of alarm shutoff notification lets the relevant personnel know that the alarm shutoff function of the alarm transmission device is set and that an alarm transmission signal will not be output even if an alarm is tested, allowing them to carry out the test work with peace of mind. Also, the alarm activation notification lets the relevant personnel know that an alarm transmission output is pending in response to an activated alarm.

[0062] Furthermore, the "alarm transfer control unit" performs control to output an alarm transfer signal if a new fire interlocking signal is received from another alarm device while the waiting time is continuing. In this case, the determination of "reception of a new fire interlocking signal from another alarm device" is made by storing a unique alarm number indicating the order of fire alerts contained in the fire interlocking signal as the reception history of fire interlocking signals received while the alarm transfer blocking function is set, and by comparing the alarm number of a fire interlocking signal received between the release of the alarm transfer blocking function and the elapse of the waiting time with the alarm number of the fire interlocking signal in the reception history and finding a difference, it can be determined that a new fire interlocking signal has been received.

[0063] Furthermore, if a relevant person becomes aware of the occurrence of a real fire while the waiting time is continuing, the "alarm control unit" will perform control to forcibly output an alarm signal when a specified alarm output operation is performed by the operation unit, without waiting for the end of the waiting time.

[0064] In addition, the "operation unit" has one switch such as a test switch, and correspondingly, the "reporting control unit" sets the reporting blocking function when operation of the switch is detected while the reporting blocking function is deactivated, and controls the function to be deactivated when the same operation of the switch is detected while the reporting blocking function is set.

[0065] Furthermore, when the "operation unit" is equipped with a switch such as a test switch, the "report control unit" detects a "long press operation" as a switch operation for setting and canceling the report blocking function, based on the difference in the operation time of the switch, and detects other switch operations, for example, a "short press operation" as a report output operation during a waiting time.

[0066] Specific embodiments are described below. In the specific embodiments shown below, the "external device" is an "automatic reporting device," "when setting the reporting cutoff function in the reporting device" is "when conducting a heating test of an alarm device provided in the alarm system," "the reporting cutoff notification indicating that the reporting cutoff is in progress" is "the flashing of an indicator light," and "the alarm activation notification indicating that the alarm is activated" is "a voice message from the voice output unit."

[0067] [Specific details of the embodiment] The report transfer device will be explained in more detail below. Alarm system b.Alarm b1. Functional configuration b2. Fire control function c. Transfer device c1. Functional configuration c2. Signal transfer control function d. Signal transfer control operation d1. Operation when test alarm is restored while alarm transmission blocking function is set d2. Operation when test notification is restored after the notification blocking function is released d3. Operation when a real fire occurs while the alarm shutoff function is set d4. Actions to be taken if a real fire occurs during the waiting time e. Control operation of the signal transfer device f. Modifications of the present invention

[0068] [a. Alarm System] The alarm system in which the notification device of this embodiment is installed will be described in more detail below. In this description, reference will be made to Figure 1, which shows the alarm system in which the notification device of this embodiment is used. The alarm system in this embodiment is an example of an alarm system consisting of wireless alarm devices installed in specific small-scale facilities with a floor area of ​​less than 300 square meters, such as group homes that provide housekeeping support for the elderly and intellectually disabled.

[0069] As shown in Figure 1, wireless interlocking alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 1 (10-4) that detect smoke caused by a fire and issue an alarm are installed in shared spaces such as rooms and corridors of the facility, and a reporting device 12 of this embodiment is also provided that receives fire interlocking signals sent from the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 1 (10-4) and outputs a reporting signal, and an automatic reporting device 14 that automatically reports to a fire department or the like is connected to the reporting device 12 as an external device, for example, via a telephone line 16. The external device that can be connected to the reporting device 12 is arbitrary, and other appropriate devices besides the automatic reporting device 12 can be connected as needed.

[0070] The alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-4) have the function of wirelessly transmitting and receiving interlocking signals for fires, etc. between each other. Furthermore, the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-4) form an interlocking group by using the same channel frequency. In this embodiment, the maximum number of alarm devices that can form an interlocking group is arbitrary, but is, for example, 15.

[0071] An interlocking group of the alarm system is made up of alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-4) and a reporting device 12. To form an interlocking group, the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-4) and the reporting device 12 are lined up on a table or the like before installation to register the group.

[0072] Any method can be used to register a group, but for example, the battery power of the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 1 (10-4) and the report transmission device 12 arranged on a table or the like is turned on and the registration switch for each is operated. For example, when the registration switch for the alarm device 10 (10-1) is operated, address A1 is registered in the alarm device 10 (10-1), and address A1 is sent to and registered in the other alarm devices 10 (10-2) to 10 (10-4) and the report transmission device 12. By repeating this registration operation in sequence for the remaining alarm devices 10 (10-2) to 10 (10-4) and the report transmission device 12, the own addresses A1 to A5 are registered in each of the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 1 (10-4) and the report transmission device 12, and other addresses that are in an interlocking relationship are also registered.

[0073] Now, if a fire breaks out in a location where an alarm device 10 (10-1) is installed, the alarm device 10 (10-1) will detect smoke from the fire (issue a fire alert) and output a fire alarm indicating the interlock source (source of the fire) using an alarm sound and alarm display. The alarm device 10 (10-1) that detected the fire will also wirelessly transmit a fire interlock signal indicating the occurrence of a fire to the other alarm devices 10 (10-2) to 1 (10-4) and the alarm transfer device 12. When the other alarm devices 10 (10-2) to 1 (10-4) receive a fire interlock signal from the interlock source alarm device 10 (10-1), they will output a fire alarm indicating the interlock destination using an alarm sound and alarm display.

[0074] The alarm transfer device 12 can set and cancel the alarm transfer blocking function by setting and canceling the switch provided on the operation unit, and in the normal monitoring state, the alarm transfer blocking function is canceled, and when a fire linkage signal is received from the linkage source alarm device (10-1), the alarm transfer device outputs the alarm transfer signal to the automatic notification device 14, activating the automatic notification device 14 to make an automatic notification.

[0075] When an alarm stop operation is performed on an alarm device 10 (10-1) to 1 (10-4) while a fire alarm is being output, it stops its own alarm and sends an alarm stop interlocking signal to the other alarm devices, causing them to perform alarm stop operation. Also, when the alarm device 10 (10-1) that detected a fire detects that the fire has been restored, it stops its own alarm and sends a fire restoration signal to the other alarm devices 10 (10-2) to 10 (10-4) and the report transfer device 12, causing the alarm devices 10 (10-2) to 1 (10-4) to perform alarm stop operation and stopping the output of the report transfer signal by the report transfer device 12.

[0076] Furthermore, the alarm system for specific small-scale facilities of this embodiment is required to undergo regular inspections, and normal operation is confirmed by conducting a fire alarm (test alarm) by carrying out a fire-searing test using a test jig that generates artificial smoke (smoke tester). When carrying out a fire-searing test of the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 1 (10-4) in this way, the fire-searing shutoff function of the alarm transmitting device 12 is set by switch operation, so that even if a fire interlocking signal is received due to the test alarm being activated by the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 1 (10-4), no fire-searing signal will be output to the automatic reporting device 14.

[0077] [b.Alarm] The alarm device provided in the alarm system will now be described in more detail, with reference to Figure 2, which shows the functional configuration of the alarm device.

[0078] (b1. Functional configuration) The functional configuration of the alarm device will be explained in more detail. As shown in Figure 2, the alarm device 10 (10-1) is equipped with a control processor 18, and the control processor 18 is provided with a communications section 20, a smoke detection section 22, a test switch 24, an indicator light 26 using LEDs, and a speaker 28. The other alarm devices 10 (10-2) to 10 (10-4) shown in Figure 1 are similar.

[0079] The control processor 18 is provided with a CPU 36, and a control logic 38, a ROM 40, and a RAM 42 are connected to a bus 44 extending from the CPU 36. The control logic 38 realizes various hardware functions such as bus control associated with the control processing of the CPU 36.

[0080] The communication unit 20 is provided with a wireless communication unit 32 connected to a communication processor 30 and an antenna 34. The wireless communication unit 32 sends and receives linkage signals for fires, etc., to and from other alarm devices and the alarm transmission device 12 in accordance with a specified communication protocol. In Japan, this communication protocol complies with STD-30 (standard radio equipment for specified low-power security system radio stations), which is known as the standard for specified low-power radio stations in the 426 MHz band.

[0081] For specific low-power security system radio station equipment in the 426 MHz band, 48 channels with a frequency bandwidth of 12.5 kHz are allocated between 426.2500 MHz and 426.8375 MHz, and one of the channel frequencies is assigned to an interlocking group consisting of multiple alarm devices.

[0082] The wireless communication unit 32 MSK-modulates the data signal such as the fire interlock signal output from the communication processor 30, and then FM-modulates it to transmit it from the antenna 34 as a signal radio wave of the assigned channel frequency in the 426 MHz band.

[0083] Furthermore, the wireless communication unit 32 receives signal radio waves transmitted by other alarm devices via the antenna 34, performs FM demodulation, then FSK demodulation, and further performs bit determination to demodulate data signals such as fire interlocking signals.

[0084] The communications processor 30 also instructs the wireless communication unit 32 to perform a communications test, for example, once every three days (72 hour cycle). The communications test transmits a communications test signal from the alarm device that first reaches the 72 hour cycle, and is deemed to have ended normally if response signals are received from all other alarm devices and report transfer devices; it is deemed to have ended abnormally if there are any destinations from which no response signals are received; and if abnormal terminations occur a predetermined number of times in succession, it is determined to have been a communications error and a fault is reported.

[0085] The smoke detector 22 has a known scattered light type smoke detector structure, and intermittently drives an infrared LED light emitter at a predetermined cycle, amplifies the scattered light signal received by a light receiver such as a photodiode, and outputs a smoke concentration detection signal.

[0086] The test switch 24 is, for example, a push button switch, and when the test switch 24 is pressed in the normal monitoring state, a predetermined test message indicating normal operation is output from the speaker 28. Furthermore, when a fire alarm is being output as sound from the speaker 28 and as display by the indicator light 26, the test switch 24 functions as an alarm stop switch, and when the test switch 24 is pressed, the fire alarm stops and an alarm stop interlocking signal is sent to other alarm devices.

[0087] The indicator lamp 26 uses an LED, and displays differently depending on whether the fire alarm indicating the link source is an alarm that is linked to the fire alarm that is linked to, for example, one is lit and the other is flashing or blinking.

[0088] The speaker 28 outputs a test message, a link source fire alarm message, a link destination fire alarm message, and the like.

[0089] (b2. Fire control function) The fire control function of the alarm will now be described in more detail. The CPU 36 is provided with the function of a fire control unit 46 which is realized by executing a program stored in the ROM 40.

[0090] The fire control unit 46 performs AD conversion and reads the smoke density detection signal output from the smoke detection unit 22, and when the smoke density satisfies a predetermined fire determination condition, it determines that there is a fire (issues a fire alert) and performs control to output a fire alarm indicating the linked fire. Here, "when the fire determination condition is satisfied" means when the smoke density is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold, or when the state in which the smoke density is equal to or exceeds the predetermined threshold continues for a predetermined accumulation time.

[0091] When the fire control unit 46 outputs a fire alarm, it generates a fire linkage signal including a unique alarm number, instructs the communication unit 20, controls the communication unit 20 to transmit the fire linkage signal to alarm devices in other dwelling units, and causes the alarm devices in other dwelling units that receive the fire linkage signal to output a fire alarm indicating the linkage destination.

[0092] The format of the alarm number is arbitrary, but for example, it could be "XXYY," which combines the alarm device's identification number "XX" and the number of times it has been activated "YY." A unique initial value is set for each alarm device, and if a fire is detected and then recovered, and then a fire is detected again, the number of times "YY" in the alarm number is incremented by one. Also, if the fire detection continues, the number of times "YY" in the alarm number is incremented by one after a predetermined time, for example 13 minutes, has elapsed. Therefore, the party receiving the fire signal can check the alarm number to determine whether the fire-linked signal is due to continued fire detection by the same alarm device, or due to fire detection by a different alarm device.

[0093] Furthermore, when the fire control unit 46 transmits a fire interlocking signal, it receives response signals including the responder addresses from other alarm devices, and if the response condition that response signals are received from all other destinations belonging to the interlocking group is met, it determines that the process has ended normally; if the response condition is not met, it retransmits the fire interlocking signal; and if the response condition is not met even after retransmission is repeated a predetermined number of times, it reports a fault as a communication error.

[0094] Furthermore, when the fire control unit 46 receives a fire interlocking signal transmitted by another alarm device in the same interlocking group within a dwelling unit, it performs control to output a fire indicating the interlocking destination. When the fire control unit 46 receives a fire interlocking signal from another alarm device, it performs control to transmit a response signal including its own address.

[0095] Similarly to the fire interlocking signal, the fire control unit 46 also transmits an alarm stop interlocking signal and a fire recovery signal for alarm stop control by operating the test switch 24 during a fire alarm, and for fire recovery control when the smoke density in the smoke detector unit 22 drops below the threshold. The fire recovery signal transmitted by the fire control unit 36 ​​includes the alarm number contained in the previously transmitted fire interlocking signal. Furthermore, when the fire control unit 46 receives an alarm stop interlocking signal or a fire recovery signal from another alarm device, it controls the transmission of a response signal including its own address, making it possible to determine whether the transmission was completed successfully at the source of transmission.

[0096] [c. Transfer device] The report transfer device of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 3, which shows the functional configuration of the report transfer device.

[0097] (c1. Functional configuration) The functional configuration of the reporting device will be described in more detail below. As shown in Fig. 3, the reporting device 12 includes a control processor 48, which is provided with a communication unit 50, a test switch 54 that functions as an operation unit, an indicator light 56 ​​using an LED, and a speaker 58 that functions as an audio output unit.

[0098] The control processor 48 is provided with a CPU 66, and a control logic 68, a ROM 70, and a RAM 72 are connected to a bus 74 extending from the CPU 66. The control logic 68 realizes various hardware functions such as bus control associated with the control processing of the CPU 66.

[0099] The communication unit 50 is provided with a communication processor 60, a wireless communication unit 62 connected to an antenna 63, and a report output unit 64. The wireless communication unit 62 receives the fire interlocking signal, fire recovery signal, and alarm stop interlocking signal sent from the alarm device in accordance with a specified communication protocol. The details of the communication processor 60 and wireless communication unit 62 are basically the same as those of the wireless communication unit 32 of the alarm device 10 (10-1) in Figure 2.

[0100] The report output unit 64 outputs a report signal based on instructions from the communication processor 60, and operates the automatic reporting device 14 shown in Fig. 1. The function and configuration of the report output unit 64 are arbitrary, but for example, it is a no-voltage a-contact circuit that outputs a no-voltage a-contact signal as a report signal.

[0101] The test switch 54 provided in the operation unit and functioning as switch 1 is, for example, a push button switch, and when the test switch 54 is "pressed and held" for, for example, six seconds in the normal monitoring state in which the report transmission cutoff function is deactivated, the setting operation of the report transmission cutoff function is detected, and the report transmission cutoff function is set in the report transmission device 12. Also, when the test switch 54 is "pressed and held" for, for example, six seconds in the state in which the report transmission cutoff function is set in the report transmission device 12, the canceling operation of the report transmission cutoff function is detected, the report transmission cutoff function of the report transmission device 12 is deactivated, and the normal monitoring state is entered. In other words, when the test switch 54 is pressed and held with the report transmission cutoff function deactivated, the report transmission cutoff function is set, and when the test switch 54 is subsequently pressed and held with the report transmission cutoff function set, the report transmission cutoff function is deactivated, and the setting and deactivation of the report transmission cutoff function are alternately repeated with each long press.

[0102] The indicator light 56 ​​uses an LED, and when the signal transmission blocking function is set by pressing and holding the test switch 54 during normal monitoring when the signal transmission blocking function is deactivated, the LED flashes at a predetermined cycle while the signal transmission blocking function remains set, indicating that the signal transmission blocking function has been set and is in a signal transmission blocking state. The flashing at a predetermined cycle of the indicator light 56 ​​that notifies the user that the signal transmission blocking function is set is, for example, a 2-second cycle with the light on for 0.01 seconds and off for 1.99 seconds, which results in a display in which the light flashes momentarily in a 2-second cycle.

[0103] The speaker 58 functions as an audio output unit, includes an audio amplifier circuit (not shown), and repeatedly outputs a predetermined audio message to notify the user that an alarm is in operation, as will be described later.

[0104] (c2. Signal transfer control function) A more detailed description will be given of the report transfer control function of the report transfer device 12. The CPU 66 shown in FIG.

[0105] When the alarm transmission control unit 76 detects that the alarm transmission blocking function has been set by pressing and holding the test switch 54 while the alarm transmission blocking function is deactivated (normal monitoring state), it sets the alarm transmission blocking function and performs control so that the alarm transmission signal is not output from the alarm transmission output unit 64 even if a fire linkage signal is received.

[0106] Furthermore, when the report transfer blocking function is set, the report transfer control unit 76 issues a report transfer blocking notification indicating that the report transfer blocking state is in progress while the report transfer blocking function remains set. The report transfer blocking notification is optional, but may be, for example, by flashing the indicator light 56 ​​at a predetermined cycle, for example, by repeatedly momentarily lighting it at two-second cycles. Furthermore, the report transfer control unit 76 stops the report transfer blocking notification when the report transfer blocking function is released.

[0107] Furthermore, when the report transfer control unit 76 receives a fire interlocking signal from an alarm device in a report transfer cutoff state in which the report transfer cutoff function is set, it performs control to generate a reception history including the alarm number of the fire interlocking signal and store and retain it in the RAM 72. The reception history retained by the report transfer control unit 76 is subsequently released from retention (deleted) when it detects the reception of a fire recovery signal including the same alarm number as the reception history.

[0108] In addition, when the report transmission control unit 76 detects that the report transmission blocking function has been deactivated by pressing and holding the test switch 54 while the report transmission blocking function is set in the report transmission blocking state, it deactivates the report transmission blocking function, and if a reception history of the fire interlock signal is retained, it suspends the output of the report transmission signal and sets a predetermined waiting time T, and if the reception history is still retained when the waiting time T has elapsed, it instructs the communication processor 60 of the communication unit 50 to control the report transmission output unit 64 to output the report transmission signal.

[0109] Here, as described above (basic concept of the embodiment), the waiting time T is the recovery time experimentally determined from the time it takes for the smoke to clear from an alarm that has triggered a fire alarm in a burning test and for the alarm to recover, and is the time obtained by adding a predetermined margin to this recovery time; specifically, it is set to a predetermined time within the range of 1 to 2 minutes, for example 100 seconds (1 minute 40 seconds).

[0110] Furthermore, the alarm transfer control unit 76 issues an alarm activation notification indicating that the alarm is activated while the waiting time T during which the alarm transfer output is suspended continues. The alarm activation notification by the alarm transfer control unit 76 is issued by repeatedly outputting an audio message stating, for example, "The alarm is activated" from the speaker 58 at predetermined time intervals.

[0111] The alarm transfer control unit 76 may also repeatedly output an audio output that combines a warning sound and a voice message, such as "Beep, the alarm is activated, beep, beep." Furthermore, the alarm activation notification by the alarm transfer control unit 76 may be made by not only outputting an audio signal from the speaker 58 but also by flashing or blinking the indicator light 56 ​​at a cycle or pattern different from the cycle of the alarm interruption notification that indicates that the alarm transfer is in an interrupted state.

[0112] Furthermore, the alarm transfer control unit 76 stops the alarm activation notification if a fire recovery signal corresponding to a fire interlocking signal in the reception history is received and storage of the reception history is canceled while the waiting time T continues. Therefore, test personnel and other relevant parties can know from the cessation of the alarm activation notification while the waiting time T continues that the alarm that triggered a fire in the roasting test while the alarm transfer output was on hold has been restored normally.

[0113] The report transfer control unit 76 also stops the alarm activation notification if the waiting time T continues and the waiting time T has elapsed without the storage of the reception history being released. In this case, when the alarm activation notification stops as the waiting time T has elapsed, a report transfer signal is output from the report transfer output unit 64. Therefore, relevant parties such as test personnel can know from the cessation of the alarm activation notification when the waiting time T has elapsed that a report transfer signal has been output in response to a fire interlocking signal from an alarm that has issued a fire alarm. Note that when the waiting time T has elapsed and the alarm activation notification has stopped, a voice message indicating the output of the report transfer signal may be output, for example, "The alarm is activated. A report transfer signal has been output."

[0114] With this control of the report transfer control unit 76, if a real fire occurs during an alarm broiling test that is being carried out with the report transfer cutoff function set, when the report transfer cutoff function is released at the end of the broiling test, a notification that the alarm is in an activated state will be issued based on the retention of the fire interlock signal reception history, indicating the remaining time of the waiting time T, and as this is a real fire, the retention of the reception history will not be released upon receipt of the fire recovery signal, and a report transfer signal will be output once the waiting time T has elapsed, and a report transfer signal can be quickly and reliably output in response to a real fire that occurs during a broiling test that was being carried out with the report transfer cutoff function set, allowing automatic reporting, etc.

[0115] Furthermore, if the alarm transfer control unit 76 receives a new fire linkage signal from another alarm device while the waiting time T during which the alarm device is being notified by audio output from the speaker 58 is continuing, it instructs the communication processor 60 of the communication unit 50 to control the output of an alarm transfer signal from the alarm transfer output unit 64 once the waiting time T has elapsed.

[0116] That is, if the alarm transfer control unit 76 receives a fire linkage signal with a new alarm number that is different from the alarm number in the reception history while the waiting time T during which the alarm is activated is continuing, it determines that a new fire linkage signal based on the detection of a real fire has been received, and when the waiting time T has elapsed, it instructs the communication processor 60 of the communication unit 50 to control the output of the alarm transfer signal from the alarm transfer output unit 64.

[0117] Therefore, by completing the alarm's burning test and disabling the alarm transfer blocking function, if a new fire linkage signal due to a real fire is received while the waiting time T during which the alarm is reporting while in operation continues, a signal transfer signal will be output once the waiting time T has elapsed, and a signal transfer signal will be output quickly to the real fire, allowing automatic reporting by the automatic reporting device 14.

[0118] Furthermore, if the alarm transfer control unit 76 receives a fire recovery signal with the same alarm number as the alarm number in the reception history during the waiting time T during which the alarm activation notification is being made by audio output from the speaker 58, it cancels the retention of the reception history and performs control to return to the normal monitoring state in which the alarm transfer blocking function is deactivated without outputting an alarm transfer signal even after the waiting time T has elapsed.

[0119] Therefore, even if the alarm transmission blocking function is deactivated before the test alarm generated by the scorching test is restored, the alarm transmission signal will not be output until the waiting time T, which takes into account the time required for test restoration, has elapsed.If the fire restoration signal generated by the test restoration is received before that time, the retention of the reception history will be canceled and the alarm transmission signal will not be output, thereby reliably preventing the alarm transmission signal from being output erroneously and causing external equipment to malfunction.

[0120] [d. Signal transfer control operation] Next, the operation of the report transfer device to control the report transfer will be described in more detail.

[0121] (d1. Operation when test alarm is restored while alarm transmission blocking function is set) First, we will explain in more detail the operation when the test alarm is restored while the alarm transmission cutoff function of the alarm transmission device is set. In this explanation, we will refer to the time chart in Figure 4, which shows the operation when a fire interlock signal is received due to a test alarm while the alarm transmission cutoff function is set, and a fire recovery signal is received before the alarm transmission cutoff function is released upon completion of the test. Here, Figure 4(A) shows the operation of the test switch 54, Figure 4(B) shows the reception of the fire interlock signal, Figure 4(C) shows the reception of the fire recovery signal, Figure 4(D) shows the storage of the fire interlock signal reception history, Figure 4(E) shows the setting or release state of the alarm transmission cutoff function, Figure 4(F) shows the notification of alarm transmission cutoff by the indicator light 56, Figure 4(G) shows the notification of alarm activation by audio output from the speaker, and Figure 4(H) shows the output of the alarm transmission signal.

[0122] When a heating test is carried out during regular inspection of the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-4) installed in the alarm system of Figure 1, as shown in Figure 4, when an examiner presses and holds the test switch 54 of the alarm transfer device 12, the setting operation of the alarm transfer cut-off function by pressing and holding the test switch 54 is detected at time t1, the alarm transfer cut-off function is set, and the indicator light 56 ​​flashes at a predetermined interval to notify that the alarm transfer is cut-off.

[0123] When a fire interlock signal is detected from an alarm that was activated by a burning test at time t2 after the alarm transmission was cut off at time t1, a reception history including the alarm number of the received fire interlock signal is generated and stored in a memory such as RAM.

[0124] The fire interlocking signal received at time t2 is the fire interlocking signal sent as a result of the last alarm's roasting test, and once the smoke from the roasting test has completely cleared, the alarm sends a fire recovery signal containing the same alarm number. When the reception of the fire recovery signal is detected at time t3, the reception history that was kept when the fire interlocking signal was received at time t2 is released (erased).

[0125] Next, the tester presses and holds the test switch 54 again to complete the inspection, and the release operation is detected at time t4. At this time, since there is no history of the fire interlock signal being received, the alarm transmission cutoff function is released and the normal state is restored without setting a waiting time T to suspend the alarm transmission output, and without issuing an alarm activation notification indicating that the alarm is in an activated state and the remaining waiting time.

[0126] (d2. Operation when test notification is restored after the notification blocking function is released) Next, we will explain in more detail the operation when the test alarm is restored after the alarm transmission cutoff function is released. In this explanation, we will refer to the time chart in Figure 5, which shows the operation when a fire interlocking signal is received by the test alarm while the alarm transmission cutoff function is in the cutoff state, and a fire restoration signal is received within the set waiting time after the test is completed and the alarm transmission cutoff function is released. Note that Figures 5(A) to (H) correspond to Figures 4(A) to (H).

[0127] In Figure 5, at time t1, the setting operation of the alarm transmission cutoff function by pressing and holding the test switch 54 is detected, the alarm transmission cutoff function is set, the indicator light 56 ​​flashes at a predetermined interval to notify that the alarm transmission cutoff state is in effect, and at time t2, when the reception of a fire interlocking signal from an alarm that was activated by the roasting test is detected, a reception history including the alarm number of the received fire interlocking signal is created and stored in memory. This is the same as Figure 4, but differs in that in Figure 5, smoke did not completely escape from the alarm that issued a test alarm with the alarm transmission cutoff function set, and after the alarm transmission cutoff function was released, the smoke escaped from the alarm and the alarm was restored, and a fire recovery signal was received.

[0128] 5, when the tester finishes the inspection, he / she presses and holds the test switch 54 again, which detects the operation to disable the alarm transmission cutoff function at time t3 and disables the function. At this time, because the reception history of the fire interlocking signal is being maintained while the alarm transmission cutoff function is set, a waiting time T is set to suspend the output of the alarm transmission signal, and an alarm activation notification is started from time t3 by audio output from the speaker 58.

[0129] The test personnel will know that the last alarm that sounded the test alarm has not been restored by hearing the alarm activation notification via audio output from the alarm transfer device 12, and will wait for the alarm to be restored. The smoke that has flowed into the alarm during the roasting test will completely escape after a certain amount of time has passed, and fire detection will be restored before the waiting time T has elapsed, and the fire restoration signal will be sent.

[0130] The report transfer device 12 detects the reception of a fire recovery signal at time t4 while the waiting time T during which the standby alarm is being notified continues, and because the report number of the fire recovery signal is the same as the report number in the fire interlocking signal reception history held at time t3, it cancels (deletes) the retention of the reception history, the audio output from the speaker 58 to notify the alarm is not completed, and no report transfer signal is output even after the waiting time T has elapsed. This allows the inspector to confirm that the last alarm that was test-issued has been restored, and the inspection work is completed.

[0131] (d3. Actions to be taken when a real fire occurs while the alarm shutoff function is set) Next, we will explain in more detail the operation of the alarm transfer device when a real fire occurs while the alarm transfer cutoff function is set. In this explanation, we will refer to the time chart in Figure 6, which shows the operation of receiving a fire interlocking signal due to a real fire during testing, and outputting an alarm transfer signal when the waiting time has passed since the alarm transfer cutoff function was released at the end of the test. Note that Figures 6(A) to (H) correspond to Figures 4(A) to (H).

[0132] As shown in Figure 6, at time t1, the setting operation of the alarm transmission cutoff function by a long press of the test switch 54 is detected, and the setting of the alarm transmission cutoff function causes the indicator light 56 ​​to flash at a predetermined interval to notify that the alarm transmission is cut off, after which the alarm device is repeatedly subjected to a scorching test, and after the final alarm device is restored from the scorching test, a real fire occurs, and at time t2, the reception of a fire interlocking signal is detected from the alarm device that detected the real fire. In this case, a reception history including the alarm number of the fire interlocking signal received and detected at time t2 is generated and stored in memory for retention.

[0133] When the inspection is complete, the tester presses and holds the test switch 54 again, which detects the operation to deactivate the alarm transmission cutoff function at time t3 and deactivates the function. At this time, because the reception history of fire interlocking signals received while the alarm transmission cutoff function was set is retained, a waiting time T is set when the alarm transmission cutoff function is deactivated, and an alarm activation notification is given by audio output from the speaker 58, indicating that the alarm is activated and the remaining waiting time.

[0134] When the tester hears the audio output from speaker 58 announcing that the alarm is activated, he determines that the alarm that was last used in the roasting test has not been restored and begins to wait for it to be restored. However, since the fire linkage signal received and detected at time t2 is due to a real fire, the fire restoration signal is not received.

[0135] The alarm activation notification continues via audio output from speaker 58, and when the waiting time T has elapsed at time t4, since the reception history of the fire interlocking signal continues to be retained, the alarm transfer signal is output by rising from L level to H level, and an automatic notification device can be activated to make an automatic notification, for example.

[0136] Therefore, even if the alarm transmission shutoff function is deactivated when a real fire occurs during the burning test, if the alarm operation notification continues for the waiting time T, an alarm transmission signal will be output, and the real fire can be dealt with quickly and reliably by outputting an alarm transmission signal.

[0137] (d4. Actions to be taken if a real fire occurs during the waiting time) Next, we will explain in more detail the operation of the alarm transmission device when a real fire occurs during the waiting time T associated with the release of the alarm transmission cutoff function. In this explanation, we will refer to the time chart in Figure 7, which shows the operation when a fire interlocking signal from a real fire is received during the waiting time after the alarm transmission cutoff function is released at the end of the test. Figures 7(A) to (H) correspond to Figures 4(A) to (H).

[0138] As shown in Figure 7, at time t1, the setting operation of the alarm transfer cancellation function by pressing and holding the test switch 54 is detected, and the setting of the alarm transfer blocking function causes the indicator light 56 ​​to flash in the first cycle to notify that the alarm transfer is blocked, and the reception of a fire interlocking signal by the last alarm burning test is detected at time t2, and a reception history including the fire interlocking signal alarm number is generated and stored in memory for retention.

[0139] When the inspection is complete, the tester presses and holds the test switch 54 again, which at time t3 detects the operation to disable the alarm transmission blocking function and disables the alarm transmission receiving function. At this time, because the reception history of the fire interlocking signal received in the alarm transmission blocking state is retained, a waiting time T is set to suspend the alarm transmission output, and an audio message is output from the speaker 58 to notify the user that the alarm is in operation.

[0140] In this way, if a fire interlocking signal is received from an alarm that has been activated due to the occurrence of a real fire while the waiting time T from time t3 continues and an alarm is being output via audio output, the alarm number of the received fire interlocking signal will be different from the alarm number of the fire interlocking signal received at time t2 and determined from the test of the reception history that was retained, and therefore it will be determined at time t4 that a new fire alarm signal has been received based on the difference in alarm number, and the alarm signal from the alarm output unit 64 will rise from L level to H level and be output without waiting for the waiting time T to elapse, and an automatic notification can be made by operating the automatic notification device 14, for example.

[0141] Therefore, even if a real fire occurs while the alarm is reporting that the alarm is in operation and there is a waiting period after the burning test is completed and the alarm transfer block is released, the real fire can be detected reliably and a signal can be quickly output to deal with the situation.

[0142] After the alarm transfer signal is output at time t4, a fire recovery signal is received at time t5, and since the alarm number of the fire recovery signal matches the alarm number of the fire interlocking signal in the reception history held at time t2, the reception history is released, and the alarm activation notification is stopped midway through before time t6 when the waiting time T has elapsed, which is the same as in the case of Figure 5.

[0143] [e. Control operation of the reporting device] Next, the control operation of the report transfer device will be explained in more detail. In this explanation, reference will be made to the flowchart of Fig. 8 showing the control operation by the report transfer device of Fig. 3 and the flowchart of Fig. 9 showing the control operation of the report transfer device subsequent to Fig. 8. In addition, the control operation of the report transfer device of Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 is the control operation by the report transfer control unit 76 of the report transfer device 12 shown in Fig. 3.

[0144] 8, when the report transfer device 12 is turned on and put into operation, the report transfer control unit 76 cancels the report transfer cutoff function in step S1 and proceeds to step S2. When the report transfer control unit 76 determines in step S2 that a fire interlocking signal has been received from an alarm device that has detected a fire and been activated, the process proceeds to step S3, where, since the report transfer cutoff function has been canceled in step S1, it instructs the report transfer output unit 64 to output a report transfer signal and activates the automatic reporting device 14 to make an automatic report.

[0145] Furthermore, if the alarm transmission control unit 76 determines in step S4 that the test switch 54 has been pressed and held to set the alarm transmission cut-off function, for example in connection with a heating test of the alarm, it proceeds to step S5, sets the alarm transmission cut-off function, and then in step S6 flashes the indicator light 56 ​​at a predetermined interval to notify that the alarm transmission is in a cut-off state.

[0146] When the alarm transmission control unit 76 determines in step S7 that it has received a fire-linked signal from an alarm device that was triggered by a roasting test when the alarm transmission blocking function is in the set state, it generates a reception history including the trigger number of the received fire-linked signal in step S8 and stores and retains it in memory.

[0147] Next, in step S9, the alarm transfer control unit 76 monitors whether or not a fire recovery signal has been received. If it determines in step S9 that a fire recovery signal has been received, it proceeds to step S10, and, on the condition that the alarm number contained in the fire recovery signal matches the alarm number in the reception history held in step S8, it cancels and erases the reception history held in step S8.

[0148] Next, in step S11, the alarm transfer control unit 76 monitors whether the test switch 54 is pressed and held down, and when it determines that the test switch 54 has been pressed and held down in response to the end of the roasting test, it proceeds to step S12 and deactivates the alarm transfer blocking function.

[0149] Next, the alarm transfer control unit 76 proceeds to step S13 in Figure 9, where it determines whether or not a reception history of the fire interlocking signal is retained while the alarm transfer is cut off, and if a reception history of the fire interlocking signal is retained, it proceeds to step S14, where it starts a timer with a set waiting time T, and then proceeds to step S15, where it issues an alarm activation notification by audio output from the speaker 58, indicating that the alarm is in an activated state and the remaining waiting time.

[0150] If the alarm transfer control unit 76 determines in step S16 that a fire recovery signal has been received while the alarm activation notification made in step S15 is continuing, it proceeds to step S20 on the condition that the notification number in the reception history held at that time matches the notification number of the received fire recovery signal, stops the alarm activation notification, and returns to step S2 in Fig. 8. The timer may be stopped in conjunction with the stopping of the alarm activation notification.

[0151] Furthermore, if the notification transfer control unit 76 does not determine in step S16 that a fire recovery signal has been received, it proceeds to step S17, and if a fire interlocking signal with the same notification number as the notification number in the reception history held in the setting state of the notification transfer blocking function is received, it determines that a new fire interlocking signal has not been received and proceeds to step S18. At this time, the reception history is updated to include the notification number of the fire interlocking signal that has been received again.

[0152] When it is determined in step S18 that the waiting time T has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S19, where, since the reception history of the fire interlocking signal is retained, the alarm output unit 64 is instructed to output the alarm interlocking signal, and then in step S20 the alarm activation notification is stopped, after which the process returns to step S2 in Figure 8 and the process enters a state of waiting to receive the fire interlocking signal.

[0153] Furthermore, if a fire interlocking signal with an alarm number different from the alarm number in the reception history stored in the setting state of the alarm interlocking function is received in step S17, it is determined that a new fire interlocking signal has been received, and the process proceeds to step S19, instructing the alarm interlocking output unit 64 to output the alarm interlocking signal without waiting for the waiting time T to elapse, and then in step S20 the alarm activation notification is stopped, after which the process returns to step S2 in Figure 8 and the process enters a standby state for receiving a fire interlocking signal.

[0154] [f. Modifications of the present invention] (Operation to output a signal during the waiting time) The test switch 54 provided in the alarm transmission device 12 of the above embodiment is set with a waiting time T when the alarm transmission blocking function is released, and functions as an alarm transmission output operation switch while an alarm activation notification is being issued by audio output from the speaker 58 to indicate that the alarm is in an activated state, and when the test switch 54 is short-pressed, which is the normal operation, it may be configured to control the output of an alarm transmission signal.

[0155] Therefore, if a tester or other relevant person notices a real fire while the alarm is being notified by audio output from the speaker 58, they can briefly press the test switch 54 to forcibly output a report signal without waiting for the waiting time T to elapse, thereby activating external equipment such as the automatic reporting device 14.

[0156] (Alarm activated) In the above embodiment, the alarm activation notification is an audio message that indicates that the alarm is activated, such as "The alarm is activated," which is repeatedly output, but the remaining time of the waiting time T may also be included. For example, the alarm activation notification may include an audio message that reads "The alarm is activated. The remaining waiting time is XX seconds." This allows the relevant parties to know the remaining time from the alarm activation notification until the alarm transmission output, and prepare for the output of the alarm transmission signal.

[0157] (Notification during signal transfer blockage and alarm activation) The above-mentioned notification is made by flashing the indicator light 56 ​​at a predetermined interval to indicate that the signal transmission cutoff function is set, but the signal transmission cutoff notification may also be made by combining the flashing of the indicator light 56 ​​with audio output from the speaker 58.

[0158] (parent-child method) In the above embodiment, when multiple alarm devices are installed within a security area to form an interlocking group, there is no distinction between parent and child devices and the alarm devices communicate with each other, but it is also possible to form an interlocking group by providing a parent device and multiple child devices, and providing a reporting device as a child device of the group.

[0159] (Alarm) The above embodiment has been described as an example of a reporting device installed in an alarm system that uses wireless interlocking alarm devices that detect fires and issue alarms, but the invention can also be applied to cases where a reporting device is installed in an alarm system that uses wireless fire alarms, gas leak alarms, CO alarms, and various types of security alarms other than alarm devices, or in a system that includes a combination of these alarm devices.

[0160] Furthermore, the above embodiment takes as an example a case where the sensor unit and alarm output processing unit are integrated into a wireless interlocking alarm device, but as another embodiment, it may be a reporting device for an alarm system that uses a wireless interlocking alarm device in which the sensor unit and alarm output processing unit are separate units.

[0161] In addition, although the above embodiment takes an example in which the report transfer device and the automatic reporting device are provided separately, they may be configured as an integrated device. For example, the integrated device may include a functional unit corresponding to the report transfer device and a functional unit corresponding to the automatic reporting device, and the functional unit corresponding to the report transfer device may output a signal to the functional unit corresponding to the automatic reporting device.

[0162] (others) Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes appropriate modifications that do not impair the objects and advantages thereof, and is not limited by the numerical values ​​shown in the above-described embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0163] 10(10-1)~10(10-4):Alarm 12: Transfer device 14: Automatic reporting device 16: Telephone line 18,48: Control processor 20,50: Communications Department 22: Smoke Detection Department 24,54: Test switch 26,56: Indicator light 28,58:Speaker 30,60:Communication processor 32,62: Wireless communication unit 36,66:CPU 38,68:Control logic 40,70:ROM 42,72:RAM 44,74: Bus 46: Fire Control Department 64: Signal transfer output unit 76: Signal transfer control unit

Claims

1. A relay device that relays between an alarm system having an alarm device capable of transmitting and receiving a fire interlocking signal and a predetermined external device, a notification output unit that outputs a notification signal to the external device based on reception of the fire interlocking signal; a signal transfer control unit that controls a signal transfer cutoff function that cuts off the output of the signal transfer signal by the signal transfer output unit; is established, Furthermore, the information transfer control unit When the fire interlocking signal is received while the alarm transmission cutoff function is set, a reception history of the fire interlocking signal is maintained, and when a fire restoration signal corresponding to the fire interlocking signal in the reception history is received, the maintenance of the reception history is cancelled; If the reception history is not stored when the cancellation of the message transfer blocking function is detected, the message transfer blocking function is cancelled; If the reception history is being held when the cancellation of the alarm transmission blocking function is detected, an alarm activation notification indicating that the alarm is in operation is issued for a predetermined waiting time, When the waiting time has elapsed, if the reception history is still being held, the signal transfer signal is output. A reporting device characterized by:

2. In the information transfer device according to claim 1, The report transfer control unit is characterized in that, if the retention of the reception history is released while the waiting time is continuing, the waiting time and the alarm activation notification are stopped midway, the report transfer signal is not output, and the report transfer blocking function is released.

3. In the information transfer device according to claim 1, The information transfer control unit A unique fire alarm number indicating the order of fire alarms included in the fire interlocking signal is stored as a reception history of the fire interlocking signal, This is a report transfer device characterized in that when a fire recovery signal with the same alert number as the alert number in the reception history is received while the reception history is being held, the device determines that a fire recovery signal corresponding to the fire linkage signal in the reception history has been received and cancels the holding of the reception history.

4. In the information transfer device according to claim 1, The alarm is an alarm that detects smoke and issues a fire alarm, This alarm transfer device is characterized in that the waiting time is a predetermined time based on the recovery time until the smoke clears from the alarm that has triggered a fire alarm through a burning test and recovery is completed.

5. In the information transfer device according to claim 1, The information transfer control unit When the setting of the signal transmission cutoff function is detected and the signal transmission cutoff function is set, the indicator light is made to flash or blink in a predetermined cycle or pattern as a signal transmission cutoff in progress notification indicating that the signal transmission cutoff function is being set, a notification device that outputs a predetermined voice message indicating that the alarm device is in operation from a voice output unit as the notification that the alarm device is in operation;

6. In the information transfer device according to claim 1, The alarm transfer device is characterized in that the alarm transfer control unit outputs the alarm transfer signal if a new fire interlocking signal is received from another alarm device while the waiting time is continuing.

7. The information transfer device according to claim 6, The information transfer control unit A unique fire alarm number indicating the order of fire alarms included in the fire interlocking signal is stored as the reception history of the fire interlocking signal, This is a feature of the reporting device, which is characterized in that if a fire interlocking signal with an alarm number different from the alarm number in the reception history is received while the waiting time is continuing, it is determined to be a new fire interlocking signal from an alarm device and outputs the reporting signal.

8. In the information transfer device according to claim 1, The reporting device includes an operation unit, The report transfer device is characterized in that, if a predetermined report transfer output operation is performed by the operation unit while the waiting time is continuing, the report transfer control unit outputs the report transfer signal without waiting for the waiting time to elapse.

9. In the information transfer device according to claim 1, The report transfer device is An operation unit for setting or canceling the signal transmission blocking function is provided, The operation unit includes one switch, The information transfer control unit When the operation of the switch is detected in a state where the signal transmission interruption function is released, the signal transmission interruption function is set, When the same operation of the switch is detected while the signal transmission cutoff function is set, it is detected that the signal transmission cutoff function is released. A reporting device characterized by:

10. In the report transfer device described in claim 9, the report transfer control unit is characterized in that it distinguishes and detects switch operations for setting and canceling the report transfer blocking function from other switch operations based on differences in the operation time of the switch.

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