Operational Control Apparatus for Fire Detectors with Addressable Base Using Power Line Communication and Method for Bidirectional Circuit Switching and Fault Type Identification Thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a bidirectional circuit switching method that utilizes the detector lines of an existing automatic fire detection system as a power line communication medium, wherein an operation control device (OCD) installed at a starting point sequentially scans a plurality of ADR-type bases connected in series by address, and if the communication response after a specific address is interrupted, determines the corresponding section as a disconnection and activates a switching device installed at an end point to supply power and communication in the reverse direction as well, thereby maintaining the normal operating state of the detectors after the disconnection point; subsequently, sequentially supplies forward and reverse power, and if a communication response is confirmed at all addresses during the forward supply, determines that the line has been restored and releases the reverse supply to automatically restore the system to a forward-only operation state; an operation control device that realizes address operation and fire detection history management per detector through additional installation without modifying the existing receiver, detector, or lines; and a fault type determination method that prevents false alarms by distinguishing between disconnections and short circuits based on the distribution and continuity of communication response patterns and outputting a fault signal to the receiver in the event of a short circuit.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation control device for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication, and a method for bidirectional circuit switching and fault type determination using the same. More specifically, the invention relates to an operation control device and a method that monitors the operational status of each detector in real time via power line communication by assigning a unique address to a general fire detector without modifying the detector lines and receivers of an existing automatic fire detection system, automatically supplies power and communication in the reverse direction from the terminal point in the event of a disconnection in the detector line to maintain the operation of the detector after the point of disconnection, distinguishes between disconnection and short circuit by analyzing the distribution and continuity of communication response patterns, and reduces false alarms by outputting a fault signal rather than a fire signal to the receiver in the event of a short circuit. Background Technology

[0002] Automatic fire detection systems are firefighting equipment that enables rapid evacuation and initial fire suppression by detecting heat, smoke, or flames upon the occurrence of a fire, transmitting a signal to a receiver, and issuing an alarm. Under the "Act on the Prevention of Fire, Installation and Maintenance of Firefighting Facilities and Safety Management," their installation is mandatory in buildings of a certain size or larger. Currently, more than 97% of automatic fire detection systems installed in Korea utilize a general fire detector system that processes fire signals collectively at the boundary zone level. These systems have structural limitations in that they lack a unique address function for each detector, which restricts the verification of individual operating status and the identification of fault locations.

[0003] As a technology to overcome these limitations, Korean Published Patent Application No. 10-2014-0004974 (hereinafter referred to as the 'prior art') discloses an addressable automatic fire detection system comprising an addressable fire detector equipped with address setting and address transmission functions in a general-type detector, and a dedicated addressable receiver linked thereto, wherein, upon the occurrence of a fire, the address signal of the detector is transmitted to the receiver via power line communication to display the fire location using a boundary zone number and a detector number.

[0004] However, the aforementioned prior art contains the following problems. First, since a dedicated addressable receiver must be installed together with the addressable fire detector, the existing P-type or R-type receivers and general detectors already installed in the building cannot be used as is, making the replacement of the entire system unavoidable and resulting in a very high cost burden. Second, the prior art does not disclose a means to maintain detector operation after the point of disconnection in the event of a disconnection in the detector line, nor does it include a function to output a differential signal to the receiver by distinguishing between the types of failures between disconnection and short circuits. Third, the prior art lacks a function to identify the point of disconnection when it occurs, making it difficult to resolve disconnection issues as in existing systems. Fourth, the prior art fails to resolve a structural problem where a false alarm may occur because it cannot distinguish a short circuit from a fire signal.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to develop technology that simultaneously achieves per-detector address operation, automatic recovery of downstream detectors in the event of a disconnection, identification of the disconnection point address, and prevention of false alarms by determining the type of disconnection / short circuit fault, solely through additional installation without modifying the receiver, detector wiring, or general detectors of existing automatic fire detection systems. The problem to be solved

[0006] The present invention was devised to solve the problems of the conventional technology described above. Its purpose is to provide an operation control device and a method for adding an address operation function to general fire detectors at low cost by utilizing existing detector lines as a power line communication medium to assign a unique address to each detector and monitor the operating status of each detector in real time, without replacing the receiver, detector lines, or general fire detectors of existing automatic fire detection systems or installing additional wiring, but simply by attaching an ADR-type lower base to an existing detector base and installing an Operation Control Device (OCD) in a fire hydrant enclosure or SVP.

[0007] In addition, the present invention aims to provide a bidirectional circuit switching method that solves the problem in which power and communication are not provided to detectors after the disconnection point solely through forward power supply from the starting point when a disconnection occurs in the detector line, by automatically supplying power and communication in the reverse direction through a switching device installed at the end point, thereby maintaining continuous operation of the detectors after the disconnection point, and automatically returning to a forward-only operation state when the circuit is restored.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide a disconnection point address so that when a disconnection occurs in a detector line, the address of an ADR-type home base whose communication response has been interrupted can be recognized, thereby enabling the rapid restoration of the disconnection point.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide a fault type determination method that distinguishes between open circuits and short circuits by analyzing the spatial distribution and continuity of communication response patterns based on power line communication scan results, in order to solve the problem of false alarms that occur in existing automatic fire detection systems where a short circuit is transmitted to a receiver identically to a fire signal, and outputs a fault signal rather than a fire signal to a receiver when a short circuit occurs. means of solving the problem

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, a bidirectional circuit switching method for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a step of utilizing the detector line of an existing automatic fire detection system as a power line communication medium to sequentially scan a plurality of ADR-type bases connected in series by address, wherein an operation control device installed at a starting point determines a section as a disconnected line if the communication response after a specific address is interrupted; a step of operating a switching device provided within the operation control device upon determining a disconnected line to supply power and communication in the reverse direction as well, thereby ensuring that the detector after the disconnected point maintains a normal operating state; a step of subsequently supplying forward and reverse power sequentially; and a step of determining line restoration and releasing reverse supply to automatically restore the starting point to a forward-only operation state when a communication response is confirmed at all addresses during the forward supply.

[0011] The step of determining a disconnection above can prevent misjudgment caused by temporary communication noise by definitively determining a disconnection only when a communication response is not received continuously for a preset number of times (N times) or more from an ADR-type base at a specific address.

[0012] The step of determining the above-mentioned disconnection can specify the section between the last address where a communication response was confirmed (n) and the first address where a communication response was not confirmed (n+1) as the disconnection section, and display the location information of the specified disconnection section on the operation control device.

[0013] The step of sequentially supplying the forward and reverse power described above involves alternating supply by electrically disconnecting the reverse power supply circuit when supplying forward power and electrically disconnecting the forward power supply circuit when supplying reverse power, and it is possible to verify whether the line has been restored by independently reading the communication response results for each address during the forward supply section.

[0014] The above automatic recovery step sets the line recovery condition as the confirmation of a communication response from an ADR-type base at all addresses from the start point to the end point during the forward power supply while bidirectional power is supplied, and makes it possible to switch to forward standalone operation by immediately cutting off the reverse power supply when the condition is satisfied.

[0015] Meanwhile, an operation control device for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication according to one embodiment of the present invention is characterized by realizing address operation per detector without additional wiring by utilizing the existing detector line as a power line communication medium by attaching an ADR-type base with a unique address (ID) assigned to the base location of each detector without modifying the receiver, detector line, and general fire detector of the existing automatic fire detection system, while maintaining the method in which a general detector determines a fire within itself and provides it to the receiver, and adding functions for address assignment and operation status monitoring per detector, communicating data with each ADR-type base via UART serial communication, identifying the operation status of each addressable base in real time through periodic scanning, and storing fire detection history to enable tracking of the fire occurrence location and spread path.

[0016] The above ADR-type Habase is classified into a variable address type (B-Type) where the address is set on-site using a DIP switch on the front panel, and a fixed address type (A-Type) where the address is pre-entered via a program; it is possible to prevent address conflicts by treating the corresponding Habase as unrecognized if duplicate addresses are entered within the same line.

[0017] The above-mentioned operation control device stores fire detection events received from ADR-type HABASE for each address up to a preset maximum number using a First-In, First-Out (FIFO) method, and automatically deletes the oldest events first when the storage limit is exceeded, thereby enabling an administrator to verify the fire alarm occurrence history and fire spread path retrospectively.

[0018] The above-mentioned operation control device may have a wiring structure in which it receives power by being connected in parallel to the indicator (+) and common (-) terminals of a P-type receiver or the power (+, -) terminals of an R-type receiver, is connected in series to the circuit terminals of each boundary zone of the P-type receiver, and a plurality of ADR-type lower bases are connected in parallel to the above-mentioned operation control device.

[0019] Meanwhile, a method for determining the fault type of a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a step in which an operation control device analyzes the spatial distribution and continuity of a communication response pattern based on a power line communication scan result to distinguish between an open circuit and a short circuit; a step in which, if determined to be an open circuit, a fault signal is output to a receiver and open circuit location information is displayed inside the operation control device; a step in which, if determined to be a short circuit, a fault signal other than a fire signal is output to a receiver and short circuit information is displayed inside the operation control device; and a step in which, if the ADR-type base independently determines a fire using a voltage check method and then provides a fire signal to the operation control device using a communication method, the operation control device outputs a fire signal to the receiver.

[0020] The step of distinguishing between the above-mentioned open circuit and short circuit determines an open circuit when communication responses are sequentially and continuously disconnected after a specific address, and determines a short circuit when communication responses become simultaneously unavailable at all addresses within the line; however, it is possible to distinguish between the two based on the difference in the spatial distribution of communication response patterns in each case.

[0021] The step of outputting a fault signal to the receiver when the above short circuit is determined is performed through a circuit configured to output a fault signal instead of a fire signal current to the receiver's detector circuit, thereby making it possible to prevent false alarms that occurred when the existing receiver misidentified a short circuit as a fire. Effects of the invention

[0022] According to the present invention, address operation functions per detector can be implemented in compatibility with both P-type and R-type receivers simply by attaching an ADR-type base and installing an additional operation control device, without changing the receiver, detector lines, and single-panel fire detectors of the existing automatic fire detection system. Therefore, the performance of the automatic fire detection system in existing buildings can be improved to a similar level without the large-scale costs required for a complete replacement with a dedicated analog detector system. This can be widely applied to approximately 7.4 million existing buildings nationwide and contributes to substantially improving the safety level of fire-vulnerable facilities such as apartment buildings, lodging facilities, schools, and hospitals.

[0023] Furthermore, according to the bidirectional circuit switching method of the present invention, even if a disconnection occurs in the detector line, reverse power and communication supply from the terminal is automatically provided, so that the detectors after the disconnection point maintain a normal operating state. This completely resolves the problem in conventional general wiring methods (Class-B) where all downstream detectors cease to operate upon a disconnection. Moreover, since the disconnection section is identified and displayed within the operation control unit, maintenance personnel can quickly identify the location of the fault, thereby reducing inspection personnel and time.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the fault type determination method of the present invention, when a short circuit occurs, a fault signal rather than a fire signal is output to the receiver, thereby significantly reducing unnecessary 119 dispatches due to false alarms, complaints, and complacency regarding safety caused by alarm fatigue. In addition, through a signal path in which the ADR-type Harbase self-determines a fire using a voltage check method and provides it to the operation control device via a communication method, the three states of fire, open circuit, and short circuit are clearly distinguished and output differentially to the operation control device, thereby improving the reliability of the entire automatic fire detection system. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0025] Figure 1 is an overall system configuration diagram of an automatic fire detection system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the operation control device according to the present invention and the connection relationship with the ADR type base. FIG. 3 is a wiring structure diagram of a P-type receiver of an operation control device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a bidirectional circuit switching method according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for determining the type of failure according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the structure and installation method of an ADR type base according to the present invention. Figure 7 is a diagram comparing the signal output by fault type according to the existing method and the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0026] Hereinafter, various embodiments and / or aspects are disclosed with reference to the drawings. For illustrative purposes, numerous specific details are disclosed in the following description to aid in a general understanding of one or more aspects. However, it will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that these aspects may be practiced without such specific details. The following description and the accompanying drawings describe specific exemplary aspects of one or more aspects in detail. However, these aspects are exemplary, and some of the various methods in the principles of the various aspects may be used, and the description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

[0027] As used herein, terms such as "examples," "examples," "aspects," "examples," etc., may not be interpreted as implying that any aspect or design described is better or more advantageous than other aspects or designs.

[0028] Additionally, the terms “comprising” and / or “comprising” should be understood to mean that the relevant feature and / or component is present, but not to exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, components and / or groups thereof.

[0029] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. Such terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0030] Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present invention, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, unless otherwise defined, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 1 is an overall system configuration diagram of an automatic fire detection system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of an operation control device according to the present invention and the connection relationship with an ADR-type base, FIG. 3 is a wiring structure diagram of a P-type receiver of an operation control device according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a bidirectional circuit switching method according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a fault type determination method according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure and installation method of an ADR-type base according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram comparing the signal output by fault type according to the existing method and the present invention.

[0032] Meanwhile, in the following description, some components described in the drawings may be omitted or excessively enlarged or reduced in order to explain the function of each component of the present invention, but it will be understood that such illustrated components do not limit the technical features and scope of rights of the present invention.

[0033] In addition, in the following description, multiple drawings will be referred to simultaneously to explain a single technical feature or a component constituting the invention.

[0034] In this specification, the term "Operational Control Device" refers to the English term "Operational Control Device," abbreviated as OCD. It refers to a device that is additionally installed on the detector line of an existing automatic fire detection system, communicates with an ADR-type HARbase (600) via power line communication, and automatically manages circuit failures in the detector line. For convenience of explanation, the terms "Operational Control Device" and "OCD" may be used interchangeably below, and both should be understood as referring to the same configuration.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1 and the like, the automatic fire detection system according to the present invention comprises a receiver (100), an operation control device (400) having a switching device (500) inside, a plurality of ADR type receiver bases (600-1 to 600-n), and a general fire detector main body (700-1 to 700-n). The receiver (100) can be implemented as a P-type receiver or an R-type receiver. The P-type receiver uses a method of receiving fire signals through changes in circuit voltage for each boundary zone, while the R-type receiver uses a method of receiving fire information through digital communication signals via a repeater. Since the operation control device (400) according to the present invention is designed to be compatible with both P-type and R-type receivers, it has a significant advantage in that it can be applied regardless of the type of receiver installed in existing buildings.

[0036] In the conventional general wiring method, namely the Class-B method, a two-wire power supply is supplied in the forward direction from the circuit terminals of each boundary zone of the receiver (100), and the normality of the circuit of each detector line is checked by a termination resistor (200) connected in series to the corresponding line. However, in the Class-B method, there is a structural problem in that if a disconnection occurs at a point in the detector line, the power supply and communication to all detectors connected after that disconnection point are cut off, and the detection function is completely lost. In contrast, in the Class-A method according to the present invention, the operation control device (400) operates a switching device (500) provided inside to supply power and communication in the reverse direction when a disconnection occurs, thereby allowing the operation of the detectors after the disconnection point to be maintained continuously.

[0037] In the present invention, the ADR-type base (600-1 to 600-n) is attached to the base location of the existing detector, that is, the detector socket location installed on the ceiling surface, and the general fire detector body (700-1 to 700-n) is installed in a manner that is coupled on top of the ADR-type base (600-1 to 600-n). The ADR-type base (600) means a base equipped with an address function, and is an accessory product that enables individual address operation for each detector without replacing the existing detector body by embedding an addressable IC chip and a power line communication circuit in the conventional detector base. Here, the term base refers to a socket-based structure to which the detector is detached, and typically serves to be separated from the detector body, fixedly installed on the ceiling, and connected to the detector line.

[0038] The core configuration of the operation control device (400) according to the present invention is to enable address operation per detector without additional wiring by attaching an ADR-type base (600) with a unique address (ID) assigned to the base location of each detector without changing the receiver, detector line, and general fire detector of the existing automatic fire detection system, and utilizing the existing detector line as a power line communication medium, while maintaining the method in which the general detector determines the fire itself and provides it to the receiver, and adding functions for address assignment and operation status monitoring per detector, thereby communicating data with each ADR-type base (600) via UART serial communication, identifying the operation status of each ADR base by address in real time through periodic scanning, and storing fire detection history to enable tracking of the fire occurrence location and spread path.

[0039] In this regard, the present invention clarifies that, unlike the method in which an analog detector provides analog signals such as temperature changes to a receiver in real time and the receiver determines a fire based on the amount of change, it maintains the method in which a general detector determines a fire itself and provides it to a receiver while adding a detector-specific addressing function, thereby distinguishing the fire detection method from that of an analog detector and possessing an addressing operation function similar to that of an analog detector.

[0040] Power Line Communication (PLC) is a technology that utilizes power supply lines as a communication medium, allowing for the transmission and reception of data by superimposing communication signals onto existing power lines without the need for installing separate communication lines. Power Line Communication is classified into various types based on frequency bands and modulation methods; in this invention, a method of superimposing communication signals onto power lines based on Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) serial communication is adopted. UART is a type of asynchronous serial communication method in which the transmitting and receiving sides transmit and receive data serially according to a pre-agreed transmission speed (baud rate) without a clock signal. It is simple to implement and can operate even on two-wire lines, making it suitable for application to detector lines of existing automatic fire detection systems. Although the transmission speed of UART serial communication may be slower than parallel communication because data is transmitted serially in bit units, it provides sufficient performance for the purpose of checking detector status and has the advantage of operating relatively stably even in environments with line noise.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 2, the operation control device (400) is configured to include a power supply unit (410), a UART communication module (420), a control unit (430), a display unit (440), a switching device control output unit (450), and a receiver connection terminal (460). The power supply unit (410) rectifies and stabilizes the power supplied from the display (+) terminal and common (-) terminal of the receiver (100) and distributes it to each component inside the operation control device (400). The power supply unit (410) may include an AC-DC conversion circuit, a constant voltage circuit, a battery charging circuit, etc., and can be configured to enable operation for a certain period of time through a built-in auxiliary power even when the commercial power is cut off.

[0042] The UART communication module (420) is a circuit that transmits and receives serial communication data with each ADR type base (600-1 to 600-n) through the existing detector line, and includes a coupling circuit and a noise filtering circuit for superimposing communication signals on the power line. Since the detector line is an environment where power supply and signal transmission occur simultaneously, a coupling capacitor, a band-pass filter, etc., may be used to effectively separate the power line communication signal and the power signal. In addition, the UART communication module (420) is designed to comply with the Multimedia Device Electromagnetic Interference Prevention Test Standard (KSC 9832:2024) and the Electromagnetic Immunity Test Standard (KSC 9835:2019), thereby ensuring the reliability of communication even in the electrical noise environment of the existing automatic fire detection system.

[0043] The control unit (430) is a digital control circuit including a microcontroller (MCU) or a CPU, and analyzes address-specific communication response data of each ADR-type harbase (600) received through a UART communication module (420), determines circuit conditions such as open circuit, short circuit, and fire, and controls the operation of the terminal switching device (500) through the switching device control output unit (450). The control unit (430) can be implemented as a low-power microcontroller with a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) structure, and an operating program is stored in an internal flash memory. The control unit (430) stores and manages operating parameters such as the scan cycle of the ADR-type harbase, the open circuit confirmation threshold (N times), and the circuit recovery condition, and performs the function of recording the fire detection event history in the internal memory.

[0044] The display unit (440) is installed on the front of the operation control device (400) and is configured to visually display the current operation status and fault type, and can be implemented in various ways such as a 7-segment display, an LED indicator, or an LCD panel. The display unit (440) operates in two operation modes: SCAN MODE and MEMORY MODE. In SCAN MODE, the status of the detector currently being scanned is displayed in real time, and F is displayed when a fire is detected, E when an error occurs, and Sht when a short circuit occurs, so that the administrator can immediately identify the fault type. In MEMORY MODE, all detector addresses (IDs) registered in the operation control device (400) can be viewed, and detector addresses (IDs) with a history of fire occurrence can be checked, allowing for subsequent tracking of fire alarm occurrence history and fire spread paths, and enabling the checking of detector addresses (IDs) with a history of wire breakage.

[0045] The switching device control output unit (450) is an output circuit that drives the operation of the switching device (500) provided within the operation control device (400) according to the control signal of the control unit (430), and can be implemented as a relay, a solid-state relay (SSR), a transistor switching circuit, etc. The receiver connection terminal (460) is a terminal block connected to the indicator (+) terminal, common (-) terminal of a P-type receiver, or the power (+, -) terminal and boundary zone circuit terminal of an R-type receiver, and can be implemented in the form of a detachable screw terminal or a connector.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 3, the wiring structure of a P-type receiver of an operation control device (400) according to the present invention is described. The operation control device (400) receives power by being connected in parallel to the indicator (+) terminal and the common (-) terminal of a P-type receiver (100), and is connected in series to the circuit terminals for each boundary zone of the P-type receiver (100). A plurality of ADR-type lower bases (600-1 to 600-n) have a wiring structure in which they are connected in parallel to the operation control device (400). Specifically, the indicator (+) terminal of the P-type receiver (100) is a terminal that supplies 24V DC power for monitoring the circuits of each boundary zone, and the common (-) terminal is a terminal that serves as a common ground. By connecting in parallel to these indicator (+) and common (-) terminals, the operation control device (400) receives power necessary for operation from the receiver (100). Meanwhile, the circuit terminals of the P-type receiver (100) are designated one per boundary zone, and the operation control device (400) is connected in series to the corresponding circuit terminal to transmit a fire signal or a fault signal to the receiver (100) as a circuit signal of the corresponding boundary zone. Multiple ADR-type receivers (600-1 to 600-n) are connected in parallel to the operation control device (400) to receive power and communication signals from the operation control device (400). When connecting with an R-type receiver, the operation control device (400) can be connected to the input terminal of the repeater, and the structure is compatible with both P-type and R-type receivers.

[0047] Meanwhile, the operation control device (400) according to the present invention can be installed inside a fire hydrant enclosure or an SVP (an abbreviation for Super Visory Panel, a manual control box that manually operates the pre-action valve in a pre-action sprinkler) (it can be installed in other locations depending on the environment of the automatic fire detection system), and the implementation of the entire function is completed by attaching an ADR-type base (600) and additionally installing the operation control device (400) without installing new wiring for the existing automatic fire detection system or replacing the receiver or detector body. This non-destructive installation structure has a significant advantage in that it minimizes construction work for improving the performance of fire fighting equipment in existing buildings and can significantly reduce construction time and costs.

[0048] When independent operation control devices (400) are installed in each of multiple boundary zones, the circuits are configured independently for each boundary zone so that a failure occurring in the operation control device (400) of a specific boundary zone does not affect the normal operation of the operation control device (400) of another boundary zone. This means that even if a problem occurs in one boundary zone, the fire detection function of another boundary zone is maintained, and this contributes to improving the reliability and availability of the entire system. In addition, a mixed operation method is possible in which the operation control device (400) and the ADR-type H-base (600) are selectively applied only to some boundary zones where malfunctions frequently occur, while the existing general wiring method is maintained in the boundary zones where they are not applied, which is advantageous in terms of optimizing installation costs.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 4, the overall processing flow of the bidirectional circuit switching method according to the present invention is explained. A bidirectional circuit switching method for a fire detector equipped with an ADR-type base using power line communication according to the present invention comprises: utilizing the detector line of an existing automatic fire detection system as a power line communication medium to sequentially scan a plurality of ADR-type bases (600-1 to 600-n) connected in series by an operation control device (400) installed at a starting point according to an address, and determining the section as a disconnected line if the communication response after a specific address is disconnected (S10, S20, S30); operating a switching device (500) installed at an ending point when a disconnected line is determined to supply power and communication in the reverse direction as well, thereby maintaining the detector after the disconnected point in a normal operating state (S70); subsequently supplying forward and reverse power sequentially (S80); and determining the line as restored and releasing the reverse supply when a communication response is confirmed at all addresses during the forward supply, thereby automatically restoring the starting point to a forward-only operation state (S90, S100).

[0050] In step S10, power is supplied to the operation control device (400) and the system is initialized. During the initialization process, the address list of ADR-type harbases (600) registered in the operation control device (400) is verified, and operation parameters such as the scan period and the disconnection confirmation threshold (N times) are set. In step S20, the operation control device (400) sequentially transmits a communication request signal to ADR-type harbases (600-1 to 600-n) from address 1 through n via the UART communication module (420) and performs a forward sequential scan to verify the response from each harbase (600). This scan is performed repeatedly at preset cycles, and the scan period is set considering the balance between the real-time nature of fire detection and the communication load. In step S30, it is determined whether a communication response has been successfully received from all addresses. If the response is normal from all addresses, the process proceeds to step S40 to maintain a forward standalone operation state, and if no response is received from a specific address, the process proceeds to step S40'.

[0051] In step S40', a disconnection is definitively determined only when a communication response is not received from the ADR-type base (600) of the address for a preset number of consecutive times (N times), thereby preventing misjudgment due to temporary communication noise. Here, N times is an integer set by considering the balance between the noise level of the communication environment and the response time requirements of the system, and can be set, for example, to 3 to 5 times. Since 1 to 2 communication response failures may occur due to temporary electrical noise, communication signal interference, or transient contact failure, such temporary phenomena can be distinguished from a disconnection by applying a threshold value of N consecutive non-responses. If a disconnection is definitively determined, proceed to step S50.

[0052] In step S50, the section between the last address where a communication response was confirmed (n) and the first address where a communication response was not confirmed (n+1) is designated as a disconnected section, and the designated disconnected section location information can be displayed or stored inside the operation control device (400). At this time, the disconnected section location information is not transmitted to the receiver (100) but is displayed on the display unit (440) of the operation control device (400) and recorded in internal memory.

[0053] This is because, since the P-type receiver (100) does not have the function to process information in units of detector addresses, it is appropriate for the operation control device (400) to manage the disconnection location information itself in terms of system compatibility. The manager can check the disconnection section location information through the display unit (440) of the operation control device (400) and perform maintenance quickly. For example, if the communication response is normal up to address 5 (600-5) and there is no response from address 6 (600-6), the section between 5 and 6 is specified and displayed as a disconnection section on the display unit (440).

[0054] In step S60, the operation control device (400) outputs a fault signal to the corresponding boundary zone circuit terminal of the receiver (100). The receiver (100) receives the fault signal and notifies the administrator that a disconnection failure has occurred through a screen, an indicator light, an alarm signal, etc. In step S70, the switching device control output unit (450) operates the switching device (500) inside the operation control device (400) to supply power and communication signals in the reverse direction even at the end point of the detector line, that is, at the last ADR-type base (600-n). As a result, the ADR-type base (600) and the general fire detector main body (700) located after the disconnection point, that is, after address n+1, maintain normal operation through the reverse power supplied from the end point.

[0055] The switching device (500) is provided inside the operation control device (400) and connected to the end-side line of the detector line, and can be implemented as a relay circuit or a semiconductor switching element. The switching device (500) is normally maintained in an open state, but when it receives a switching control signal from the control unit (430), it switches to a closed state to form a reverse power supply circuit.

[0056] In step S80, a step of sequentially supplying forward and reverse power is performed. Specifically, the power is supplied alternately by electrically disconnecting the reverse power supply circuit when supplying forward power and electrically disconnecting the forward power supply circuit when supplying reverse power, and the line restoration status is confirmed by independently reading the communication response results for each address during the forward supply section. The reason for supplying forward and reverse power alternately is to prevent a situation where the current direction conflicts at the point of disconnection when bidirectional power is supplied simultaneously, and to clearly confirm whether the line is restored by reading only the purely forward communication response during the forward supply section. Electrical disconnection is implemented by alternately turning on / off the switching element within the terminal switching device (500) according to the signal of the control unit (430).

[0057] In step S90, it is determined whether a communication response is confirmed from the ADR-type harbases (600-1 to 600-n) of all addresses from the starting point to the ending point of the forward supply. This is a step to verify whether the disconnected section has been physically restored; if a communication response is received normally from all addresses after the disconnection is restored, it is determined that the line has been restored. A condition for line restoration is set when a communication response is confirmed from the ADR-type harbases (600) of all addresses from the starting point to the ending point of the forward power supply while bidirectional power is supplied. When this condition is met, a step (S100) is performed to immediately cut off the reverse power supply and switch to forward standalone operation. In step S100, the reverse supply is released to automatically restore the starting point to the forward standalone operation state, thereby automatically returning the system to a normal operation state after the line restoration. The automatic restoration function ensures the continuity of operation by immediately recognizing the line restoration and normalizing the system without manual intervention by an administrator.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 6, the ADR type Habase (600) according to the present invention is divided into an address fixed type (A-Type, ZN-1200-1) and an address variable type (B-Type, ZN-1200-2). It is divided into an address variable type (B-Type) in which an address is set on-site using a DIP switch (610) on the front panel, and an address fixed type (A-Type) in which an address is pre-entered through a program. When duplicate addresses are entered within the same line, the corresponding Habase (600) is treated as unrecognized to prevent address conflicts.

[0059] The fixed-address type (A-Type, 600) is installed by pre-entering an address using a program on the IC chip (620) and attaching it to an existing detector base. Since the IC chip (620) stores address information in internal non-volatile memory, the address information is maintained even when the power is cut off. An 8-bit DIP switch (610) is installed on the front of the variable-address type (B-Type, 600), and addresses from 1 to 99 can be set using binary code. The DIP switch (610) consists of eight small slide switches, and the address is determined in binary according to the on / off combination of each switch. Before installation, the address is entered using the DIP switch (610), and the detector is rotated to connect to the ADR-type base (600). If duplicate addresses are entered within the same line, the corresponding base (600) is processed as unrecognized by the operation control device (400), thereby preventing address conflicts. A detector line connection terminal (630) is installed on the rear of the variable address type (B-Type) and is connected to the front and rear lines, and can be connected regardless of polarity direction, and is attached and fixed to the ceiling surface using a screw through a screw hole (640).

[0060] The main body of the ADR-type base (600) is manufactured from a material requiring heat resistance and flame retardancy, and may use ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) resin, PC (Polycarbonate) resin, or a mixture thereof. Since these polymer materials are lightweight and possess excellent electrical insulation, moldability, and flame retardant properties, they are suitable as materials for indoor firefighting equipment components. The ADR-type base (600) is manufactured with the same external dimensions as a standard detector base, so that the existing detector main body (700) can be combined as is, making it applicable regardless of the type of standard fire detector (differential, fixed temperature, photoelectric, etc.).

[0061] The operation control device (400) stores fire detection events received from the ADR-type base (600) for each address up to a preset maximum number in a First-In, First-Out (FIFO) manner, and automatically deletes the oldest events first when the storage limit is exceeded, thereby enabling an administrator to verify the history of fire alarm occurrences and the fire spread path afterward. FIFO (First In, First Out) is a data structure in which data stored first is output or deleted first, and is a method widely used for storing and managing historical data. In the present invention, the maximum number of fire detection events to be stored can be set to, for example, 255, and when the storage limit is exceeded, the oldest events are deleted sequentially. Through this, the administrator can view the history of the location of the recent fire alarm occurrence and track the fire spread path afterward.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 5, the overall processing flow of the fault type determination method according to the present invention is explained. A method for determining the type of fault of a fire detector equipped with an ADR-type base using power line communication according to the present invention includes the steps of: an operation control device (400) analyzing the spatial distribution and continuity of a communication response pattern based on a power line communication scan result to distinguish between a disconnection and a short circuit (S110, S120, S130); when a disconnection is determined, outputting a fault signal to a receiver (100) and displaying the disconnection location information inside the operation control device (400) (S140, S160); when a short circuit is determined, outputting a fault signal other than a fire signal to the receiver (100) and displaying the short circuit information inside the operation control device (400) (S150, S170); and when the ADR-type base (600) determines the fire itself using a voltage check method and then provides a fire signal to the operation control device (400) using a communication method, causing the operation control device (400) to output a fire signal to the receiver (100) (separately indicated in the drawing).

[0063] In step S110, the operation control device (400) performs an address-by-address scan via power line communication. In step S120, it is determined whether a communication response anomaly has been detected, and if no anomaly has been detected, the normal operation state is maintained. If an anomaly has been detected, in step S130, the spatial distribution and continuity of the communication response pattern are analyzed. Here, spatial distribution refers to the positional relationship of addresses where communication response anomalies have occurred, and continuity refers to whether the anomaly addresses appear continuously or sporadically on the line.

[0064] In the step of distinguishing between a disconnection and a short circuit (S130, S140, S150), a case where communication response is sequentially and continuously disconnected after a specific address is determined to be a disconnection, and a case where communication response becomes impossible at all addresses within the line simultaneously is determined to be a short circuit, but the two are distinguished based on the difference in the spatial distribution of the communication response pattern in each case. In the case of a disconnection, a pattern in which communication is continuously disconnected at all addresses after the point where the line is physically cut is observed, whereas in the case of a short circuit, a pattern in which communication becomes impossible at all addresses within the line simultaneously appears because the resistance between the two lines approaches zero at a specific point on the line, causing the voltage of the entire line to drop rapidly. The control unit (430) distinguishes between a disconnection and a short circuit by analyzing the difference in the spatial distribution of these communication response patterns.

[0065] In conventional automatic fire detection systems, two states of open circuit and fire are identified by a voltage check method, and a short circuit is recognized as the same as a fire. However, in the present invention, two fault states of open circuit and short circuit are distinguished by the distribution and continuity of the communication response pattern, and the fire state is processed through a path in which an ADR type base (600) identifies the fire by a voltage check method and then provides a fire signal to an operation control device (400) by a communication method. That is, when a connected general fire detector main body (700) detects a fire and outputs an operating current, the ADR type base (600) identifies this by a voltage check method and transmits a fire signal to the operation control device (400) by a communication method along with the address information of the detector, and the operation control device (400) outputs a fire signal to a receiver (100).

[0066] If a short circuit is determined (S140), the operation control device (400) displays the location information of the short circuit section on the internal display unit (440) and outputs a fault signal to the receiver (100) (S160). If a short circuit is determined (S150), the operation control device (400) displays the short circuit information on the internal display unit (440) and outputs a fault signal other than a fire signal to the receiver (100) (S170). The step of outputting a fault signal to the receiver (100) when a short circuit is determined (S170) is performed through a circuit configured to output a fault signal instead of a fire signal current to the detector circuit of the receiver (100), thereby preventing false fire alarms that would occur if the existing receiver (100) misidentified a short circuit as a fire. In existing automatic fire detection systems, when a short circuit occurs in the detector line, the voltage of the corresponding circuit decreases rapidly, causing the receiver (100) to recognize this as a fire signal and issue an alarm. However, in the present invention, the operation control device (400) identifies the short circuit as a communication pattern and outputs a fault signal to the receiver (100), thereby fundamentally blocking false fire alarms.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 7, the signal output by fault type according to the conventional method and the present invention is explained by comparison. In the conventional method, when a short circuit occurs, a fire signal is output to the receiver (100), resulting in a false fire alarm, whereas in the present invention, when a short circuit occurs, a fault signal is output to the receiver (100), preventing a false fire alarm. When a disconnection occurs, a fault signal is output to the receiver (100) in both the conventional method and the present invention, but in the present invention, the location information of the disconnection section is separately displayed inside the operation control device (400), thereby improving maintenance convenience. When a fire occurs, a fire signal is output to the receiver (100) in both the conventional method and the present invention. In the SCAN MODE of the display unit (440), the Fire, Error, and Short states are differentially displayed as F, E, and Sht, respectively, and in the MEMORY MODE, the registered address (ID) and the fire address (ID) are displayed.

[0068] Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the operation control device (400) may optionally implement a remote monitoring function linked with an external monitoring server by adding a wired or wireless communication module. In this case, by transmitting address-specific detector status information collected by the operation control device (400) to an external monitoring server via the wired or wireless communication module, the fire safety manager can check the detector operation status and circuit abnormalities in real time without visiting the site. Wired communication methods such as Ethernet and RS-485 may be used, and wireless communication methods such as Wi-Fi, LTE, Zigbee, and LoRa may be used. However, this remote monitoring function is an optional configuration and is not implemented in the current model, but is scheduled to be provided through the development of an accessory product in the future.

[0069] As described above, according to the operation control device for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication according to the present invention, and the bidirectional circuit switching and fault type determination method using the same, it is possible to simultaneously achieve address operation per detector, maintenance of operation of downstream detectors through automatic switching in the event of a disconnection, and prevention of false alarms by distinguishing the types of disconnection and short circuits, while utilizing the existing infrastructure of automatic fire detection facilities. This is a technology that can be widely applied to approximately 7.4 million existing buildings nationwide, and is expected to contribute significantly to substantially improving the fire safety level of fire-vulnerable facilities such as apartment buildings, lodging facilities, schools, and hospitals.

[0070] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the internal configuration of a computing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, descriptions of unnecessary embodiments that overlap with the descriptions of FIG. 1 to 7 described above will be omitted.

[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the computing device (10000) may include at least one processor (11100), memory (11200), peripheral interface (11300), input / output subsystem (I / O subsystem) (11400), power circuit (11500), and communication circuit (11600). In this case, the computing device (10000) may correspond to the computing device (B) described above.

[0072] The memory (11200) may include, for example, high-speed random access memory, a magnetic disk, SRAM, DRAM, ROM, flash memory, or non-volatile memory. The memory (11200) may include software modules, instruction sets, or various other data required for the operation of the computing device (10000).

[0073] At this time, access to memory (11200) from other components, such as the processor (11100) or peripheral device interface (11300), can be controlled by the processor (11100).

[0074] The peripheral device interface (11300) can connect input and / or output peripheral devices of the computing device (10000) to the processor (11100) and memory (11200). The processor (11100) can perform various functions for the computing device (10000) and process data by executing software modules or instruction sets stored in the memory (11200).

[0075] The input / output subsystem (11400) can connect various input / output peripherals to the peripheral interface (11300). For example, the input / output subsystem (11400) may include a controller for connecting peripherals such as a monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, or, if necessary, a touchscreen or sensor to the peripheral interface (11300). According to another aspect, input / output peripherals may be connected to the peripheral interface (11300) without passing through the input / output subsystem (11400).

[0076] The power circuit (11500) can supply power to all or part of the components of the terminal. For example, the power circuit (11500) may include one or more power sources such as a power management system, a battery or alternating current (AC), a charging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converter or inverter, a power status indicator, or any other components for power generation, management, and distribution.

[0077] The communication circuit (11600) can enable communication with another computing device using at least one external port.

[0078] Alternatively, as described above, the communication circuit (11600) may enable communication with other computing devices by including an RF circuit and transmitting and receiving an RF signal, also known as an electromagnetic signal.

[0079] The embodiment of FIG. 8 is merely an example of a computing device (10000), and the computing device (11000) may have some components shown in FIG. 8 omitted, additional components not shown in FIG. 8 added, or a configuration or arrangement that combines two or more components. For example, a computing device for a communication terminal in a mobile environment may include, in addition to the components shown in FIG. 8, a touchscreen or a sensor, and the communication circuit (1160) may include a circuit for RF communication of various communication methods (WiFi, 3G, LTE, Bluetooth, NFC, Zigbee, etc.). The components that can be included in the computing device (10000) may be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware and software, including one or more integrated circuits specialized for signal processing or applications.

[0080] Methods according to embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computing devices and recorded on a computer-readable medium. In particular, the program according to the present embodiment may be configured as a PC-based program or an application dedicated to a mobile terminal. An application to which the present invention is applied may be installed on a user terminal through a file provided by a file distribution system. For example, the file distribution system may include a file transmission unit (not shown) that transmits the file upon a request from the user terminal.

[0081] The device described above may be implemented as a hardware component, a software component, and / or a combination of a hardware component and a software component. For example, the device and components described in the embodiments may be implemented using one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers, such as, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing and responding to instructions. The processing unit may execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications executed on said operating system. Additionally, the processing unit may access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to the execution of the software. For ease of understanding, the processing unit may be described as being used as a single unit, but those skilled in the art will understand that the processing unit may include a plurality of processing elements and / or a plurality of types of processing elements. For example, the processing unit may include multiple processors or one processor and one controller. Additionally, other processing configurations, such as parallel processors, are also possible.

[0082] Software may include computer programs, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of these, and may configure a processing unit to operate as desired or command the processing unit independently or collectively. Software and / or data may be permanently or temporarily embodied in any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage medium, or device so as to be interpreted by the processing unit or to provide instructions or data to the processing unit. Software may be distributed across networked computing devices and stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be stored on one or more computer-readable recording media.

[0083] The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc., either alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be those specifically designed and configured for the embodiment, or they may be those known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes; optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory. Examples of program instructions include machine code, such as that generated by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operation of the embodiment, and vice versa.

[0084] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations from the description above. For example, appropriate results may be achieved even if the described techniques are performed in a different order than described, and / or if the components of the described system, structure, device, circuit, etc. are combined or assembled in a form different from described, or replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents. Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims below also fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claim 1 A method for bidirectional circuit switching of a fire detector equipped with an addressable harbase using power line communication, performed by a computing device comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing instructions that can be executed by said processors, wherein the method comprises: a step of utilizing the detector line of an existing automatic fire detection system as a power line communication medium to sequentially scan a plurality of ADR-type harbases connected in series by address, wherein if the communication response after a specific address is interrupted, the corresponding section is determined to be a disconnected line; a step of operating a switching device provided within the operation control device upon determination of a disconnected line to supply power and communication in the reverse direction as well, thereby ensuring that the detector after the disconnected point maintains a normal operating state; a step of subsequently supplying forward and reverse power sequentially; and a step of determining line restoration and releasing reverse supply to automatically restore the starting point to a forward-only operating state if a communication response is confirmed at all addresses during the forward supply. Claim 2 A bidirectional circuit switching method for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication, wherein the step of determining a disconnection is determined only when a communication response is not received continuously for a preset number of times (N times) or more from an ADR-type base of a specific address, thereby preventing misjudgment due to temporary communication noise. Claim 3 A bidirectional circuit switching method for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication, wherein the step of determining a disconnection is characterized by specifying the section between the last address where a communication response was confirmed (n) and the first address where a communication response was not confirmed (n+1) as a disconnection section, and displaying the specified disconnection section location information to an operation control device. Claim 4 A bidirectional circuit switching method for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication, wherein the step of sequentially supplying forward and reverse power supplies alternately by electrically disconnecting the reverse power supply circuit when supplying forward power and electrically disconnecting the forward power supply circuit when supplying reverse power, and checking whether the circuit is restored by independently reading the communication response result for each address in the forward supply section. Claim 5 A method for switching a bidirectional circuit of a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication, wherein, in claim 1, the automatic restoration step is characterized by setting a circuit restoration condition in which a communication response is confirmed from an ADR-type base of all addresses from the start point to the end point between the forward power supply while bidirectional power is supplied, and immediately cutting off the reverse power supply to switch to forward standalone operation when the condition is satisfied. Claim 6 An operation control device for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication, comprising a computing device including one or more processors and one or more memories for storing instructions that can be executed by said processors, wherein, without modifying the receiver, detector lines, and general fire detectors of an existing automatic fire detection system, an ADR-type base with a unique address (ID) assigned to it is attached to the base location of each detector, thereby utilizing the existing detector lines as a power line communication medium to realize address operation per detector without additional wiring, while maintaining the method in which a general detector determines a fire within itself and provides it to the receiver, and adding functions for address assignment and operation status monitoring per detector, wherein data is exchanged with each ADR-type base via UART serial communication, the operation status of the addressable base corresponding to each addressable detector is identified in real time through periodic scanning, and fire detection history is stored to enable tracking of the fire occurrence location and spread path. Claim 7 An operation control device for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication, wherein, in claim 6, the ADR type base is classified into an address variable type (B-Type) in which an address is set on-site using a DIP switch on the front panel and an address fixed type (A-Type) in which an address is pre-entered through a program, and the base is treated as unrecognized to prevent address conflicts when duplicate addresses are entered within the same line. Claim 8 The operation control device of claim 6, wherein the operation control device stores fire detection events received from an ADR-type harbase for each address up to a preset maximum number in a first-in, first-out (FIFO) manner, and automatically deletes the oldest events first when the storage limit is exceeded, thereby enabling an administrator to verify the fire alarm occurrence history and fire spread path afterward. Claim 9 An operation control device for a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication according to claim 6, wherein the operation control device receives power by being connected in parallel to the indication (+) and common (-) terminals of a P-type receiver or the power (+, -) terminals of an R-type receiver, is connected in series to the circuit terminals for each boundary zone of the P-type receiver, and has a wiring structure in which a plurality of ADR-type bases are connected in parallel to the operation control device. Claim 10 A method for determining the type of fault of a fire detector equipped with an addressable harbase using power line communication, wherein the computing device comprises one or more processors and one or more memories storing instructions executable by said processors, the method comprising: a step in which an operation control device analyzes the spatial distribution and continuity of a communication response pattern based on a power line communication scan result to distinguish between an open circuit and a short circuit; a step in which, if determined to be an open circuit, a fault signal is output to a receiver and open circuit location information is displayed inside the operation control device; a step in which, if determined to be a short circuit, a fault signal other than a fire signal is output to a receiver and short circuit information is displayed inside the operation control device; and a step in which, if the ADR type harbase self-determines a fire using a voltage check method and then provides a fire signal to the operation control device using a communication method, the operation control device outputs a fire signal to the receiver. Claim 11 A method for determining the fault type of a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication according to claim 10, wherein the step of distinguishing between a disconnection and a short circuit is characterized by determining a disconnection when communication responses are sequentially and continuously disconnected after a specific address, and determining a short circuit when communication responses become simultaneously unavailable at all addresses within the line, and distinguishing between the two based on the difference in the spatial distribution of communication response patterns in each case. Claim 12 A method for determining the type of fault of a fire detector equipped with an addressable base using power line communication, wherein, in claim 10, the step of outputting a fault signal to a receiver when a short circuit is determined is performed through a circuit configured to output a fault signal instead of a fire signal current to the detector circuit of the receiver, thereby preventing a false fire alarm that would otherwise occur when an existing receiver misidentifies a short circuit as a fire.

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