Fire Alarm Dual Protocol Intermittent Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire alarms that need to communicate with both other fire alarms and a management device experience increased power consumption, which reduces battery life, and existing systems do not effectively address this challenge.
Innovation Solution
A fire alarm system that uses a dual communications protocol, where fire alarms communicate with each other using a first protocol and with the management device using a second protocol, with synchronization established by the management device, allowing for intermittent reception cycles and adaptive power management based on signal strength thresholds to minimize power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fire alarms communicate with both other fire alarms and a management device, then communication functionality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments communication into two distinct protocols: a first communication protocol for peer-to-peer fire alarm communication and a second communication protocol for management device communication. This segmentation allows the system to optimize power consumption by selectively activating only the necessary communication path, reducing overall energy usage while maintaining full communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic communication cycles where fire alarms alternately perform signal receiving periods and idle periods in a predetermined cycle time. During each cycle, the alarm activates the communication circuit only when needed for signal transmission or reception, then enters a low-power idle state. This periodic action significantly reduces average power consumption compared to continuous communication operations.
2Use of energy by moving object
If intermittent reception is performed in a predetermined cycle time, then power consumption is reduced, but communication responsiveness may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the communication cycle parameters based on system state. When a fire alarm detects a fire condition, it transitions from the periodic intermittent reception mode to continuous transmission mode, ensuring immediate communication of the fire signal. This dynamic adaptation maintains low power consumption during normal operation while eliminating response delays during emergency conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where fire alarms monitor for incoming signals during their idle periods. When a signal is detected, the alarm immediately activates to receive and process the signal, then responds appropriately. This feedback-driven approach ensures that while most time is spent in low-power mode, the system remains responsive to critical communications by quickly transitioning to active state when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a fire alarm contributing to extending the life of its battery even when communicating with at least one more fire alarm and a management device. Afire alarm (30) includes: a communication circuit (32) configured to: receive a signal by intermittent reception; communicate with another fire alarm (30) as a different fire alarm (30) according to a first communications protocol and communicate with a management device (20) according to a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol; after being activated, measure the strength of a signal received according to the first communications protocol and the strength of a signal received according to the second communications protocol; and then, when any one of results measured according to the first and second protocols is equal to or greater than a threshold level, receive a signal according to a corresponding one of the first or second protocol, a result measured by which is equal to or greater than the threshold level; and a controller (33) configured to activate the communication circuit (32) in a cycle time of the intermittent reception.