Fire Alarm Receiver Control via Prior Notice Signal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fire alarm systems experience delays in cooperative fire warnings due to intermittent receiver operation, which affects battery life and the time required for multiple alarms to alert simultaneously, especially when the intermittent reception interval exceeds three seconds, violating wireless communication regulations.

Innovation Solution

A fire alarm system with a controller that activates the receiver only during a calculated cooperation waiting period, starting from a prior notice signal, to ensure timely wireless signal reception and reduce power consumption, thereby shortening the time for cooperative warnings while extending battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the receiver operates intermittently to extend battery life, then power consumption is reduced, but the time required for cooperative fire warnings increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtime required for cooperative fire warnings
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fire alarm that detects fire first sends a prior notice signal to other fire alarms in advance, enabling them to activate their receivers before the actual fire warning signal is transmitted. This preliminary activation ensures that receivers are ready to receive signals without needing to operate continuously, thus extending battery life while reducing warning time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver operation mode is dynamically changed from fixed intermittent operation to adaptive operation based on received signals. When a prior notice signal is received, the receiver switches to an active state and remains active during the calculated waiting period, optimizing both power consumption and response time based on actual fire detection events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If the intermittent reception interval is shortened to reduce warning time, then cooperative fire warnings are faster, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewarning timeVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By sending a prior notice signal that includes timing information, the system enables other fire alarms to calculate and activate their receivers at the precise moment needed to receive the warning signal, eliminating the need for continuous or frequent intermittent reception while ensuring timely warning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Each fire alarm uses the timing information from the prior notice signal to autonomously determine when to activate its receiver, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring or frequent intermittent checks. This self-synchronized approach optimizes battery life while ensuring timely response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of time

If the receiver operates continuously to ensure immediate signal reception, then warning time is reduced, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal reception timeVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The prior notice signal enables other fire alarms to activate their receivers in advance of the actual warning signal transmission. This preliminary activation ensures immediate signal reception without requiring continuous operation, as receivers are activated only when and where fire events occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver transitions from static continuous operation to dynamic event-driven operation. The receiver remains inactive during normal conditions and activates only when a prior notice signal is received, maintaining immediate response capability while dramatically reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2728561B1Fire alarm apparatus and fire alarm system
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP2728561B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2728561B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2728561B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The fire alarm in accordance with the present invention includes: an alarm for providing fire warning; a receiver for receiving a wireless signal; and a controller configured to control the alarm and the receiver. The controller is configured to, upon acknowledging that the wireless signal received via the receiver is a warning signal, provide the fire warning by use of the alarm. The controller is configured to, upon determining that the wireless signal received via the receiver is a prior notice signal, calculate a cooperation waiting period including a sending time at which the warning signal is sent, and deactivate the receiver until the cooperation waiting period starts and activate the receiver throughout the cooperation waiting period.