Acoustic Message Encoding for Smoke Alarm Data Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alarm devices require regular testing for compliance and data collection, which is costly and cumbersome when incorporating a display interface, and existing solutions for coded signals or RF communication are not efficient for user-friendly and cost-effective data retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A processor-driven alarm device with a test button generates coded acoustic messages including serial number, contamination level, and installation date, using time or frequency modulation, allowing for remote decoding and data storage, and a testing system with a central host for efficient data management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a display interface is provided to show testing information, then information display capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic display interface with an acoustic communication system. The processor encodes testing information (serial number, battery level, contamination level) as acoustic signals transmitted through the existing speaker, eliminating the need for a display screen and associated hardware while maintaining information accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobile phone as an intermediary device. The alarm device transmits encoded acoustic signals to the mobile phone, which then displays and processes the testing information. This shifts the display functionality from the alarm device itself to a separate, user-friendly mobile device.
2Loss of information
If a display interface is provided for testing information, then information accessibility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service testing by automatically generating and transmitting encoded acoustic messages containing all testing information when the test button is pressed. The mobile phone automatically receives, decodes, and displays the information without requiring user intervention in the data collection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile phone serves as an intermediary that handles all user interaction with the testing information. Users simply press the test button on the alarm, and the mobile phone manages the entire process of receiving, decoding, and displaying information, making the system easier to operate than direct display interfaces.
3Loss of information
If a display interface is provided for device information, then data collection capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the display interface with an acoustic communication system that transmits data to a mobile phone. This eliminates potential faults in display hardware while maintaining reliable data collection and transmission of testing information including serial number, battery level, and contamination level.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast, convenient, and cost-effective testing of alarm devices with minimal additional complexity, using existing hardware and user devices like mobile phones, facilitating compliance and data tracking while reducing user operation complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the sound emitter is a piezo emitter
Implementation Method 2
the detector is a piezo disc adapted to act as a tuned microphone
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
A smoke alarm device has an interface (1) with a microprocessor (2), and transistors (3, 4) controlling a piezo horn (5). The microprocessor (2) is programmed to generate a test output record including various items of data such as the device's serial number, the battery level, a contamination level if it is an optical alarm, an event log, and an installation date. This information is encoded by control of the transistors (3, 4) in an acoustic output from the piezo horn (5) using an encoding technique akin to Morse code. The data is decoded by any electronic testing device having a microphone and a processing capability, such as a PDA, a laptop computer, or even a mobile phone. Devices with stereo microphones can also be used for better performance. If the device has a camera then it could both capture the acoustic signal and take an image of the alarm device to provide a more comprehensive record. In one example, a mobile phone downloads over a mobile network an application to do this processing. In order to do an audit it is only necessary for the technician to press a test button upon which the microprocessor (1) generates the acoustic signal with audit data. This acoustic signal is captured by the testing device and either decoded by that device or uploaded to a central host for decoding and further processing and storage.