Fire Alarm ASIC Architecture for Low-Power Smoke Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire alarm devices rely on CPUs or MCUs with numerous modules, leading to high power consumption, large chip area, and reduced computation capability, despite providing flexibility in programming.
Innovation Solution
The use of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for functions like bus communication, smoke detection, and button status detection, eliminating the need for modules such as watchdog, RAM, and large-capacity flash, and utilizing a small-capacity storage unit for configuration data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a CPU or MCU is used in the fire alarm device to ensure flexibility and functionality, then the device can perform bus communication, smoke detection algorithm, and button status checking, but the power consumption increases, chip wafer area increases, and computation capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monolithic CPU/MCU into separate functional modules: a dedicated logic circuit for computation, a separate storage unit for data, and specific hardware modules for smoke detection and button status checking. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary components from the traditional CPU/MCU architecture. Specifically, it eliminates the need for large-capacity flash memory and complex operating systems by implementing a simplified storage unit that only stores necessary configuration data and alarm thresholds, thereby reducing chip area and power consumption while retaining essential functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a CPU or MCU with numerous modules is used to ensure universality, then the device achieves flexibility in usage, but the chip wafer area increases due to more memory and other modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving each component its specific optimized characteristics rather than using a general-purpose CPU/MCU. The logic circuit is designed with dedicated computation units for specific algorithms, the storage unit is sized precisely for configuration data only, and hardware modules are implemented with minimal necessary components, thereby reducing overall chip area while maintaining flexibility through specialized design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a CPU or MCU is used with large-capacity flash memory for storing code, then the device can run complex programs, but the chip wafer area increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the large-capacity flash memory and complex program storage from the traditional CPU/MCU architecture. Instead, it implements a minimal storage unit that only stores necessary configuration data and alarm thresholds. The logic circuit is designed to execute fixed algorithms directly in hardware, eliminating the need for large program storage while maintaining the essential functionality of the fire alarm device.
4Reliability
If a CPU or MCU is used with numerous modules such as watchdog timer, basic interval timer, and analog-to-digital converter, then the device achieves comprehensive functionality, but the computation capability is reduced due to the complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex CPU/MCU modules into dedicated hardware components. Each function (smoke detection, button status checking, alarm generation) is implemented by specialized hardware modules rather than software routines on a general-purpose processor. This segmentation enables parallel operation of multiple functions, significantly improving computation capability and response time while maintaining comprehensive functionality through dedicated hardware acceleration.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a fire alarm device, the device comprising: an application-specific integrated circuit ASIC for performing one or more of bus communication, smoke detection, and button status detection, wherein the application-specific integrated circuit ASIC comprises: a storage unit for storing configuration data; a hardware encoder/decoder for communicating with a bus; and a logic circuit for receiving a parsed command from the hardware decoder and providing a returned command to the bus via the hardware encoder based on the configuration data, the returned command is used to indicate whether a fire exists. The present application also relates to a fire alarm system.