Fire Alarm Communicator Voltage Emulation for Retrofit Supervision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retrofitting existing fire alarm control panels with alternative communication devices poses challenges, including the need for additional wiring and programming, as traditional telephone lines are inactivated, leading to phantom communication line signals and system troubles, which prior art solutions attempt to address by adding extra supervision lines but require complex installations and programming.
Innovation Solution
A system that manipulates the voltage of emulated telephone lines to simulate a system trouble condition, eliminating the need for a separate supervisory line and allowing fire alarm communicators to indicate issues through existing telephone line inputs, thereby avoiding the need for additional hardware and programming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional telephone lines are inactivated when retrofitting with alternative communication devices, then the alternative communication device can be installed, but the FACP receives phantom inoperable communication line signals causing system trouble
Solution Approach 1:
A supervision circuit is introduced as an intermediary component between the alternative fire alarm communication device and the FACP. This circuit includes a voltage source that provides a constant voltage signal to the FACP's telephone line input, emulating an active telephone line and preventing phantom trouble signals while still allowing the alternative communication device to function
Solution Approach 2:
The supervision circuit creates a voltage copy or emulation of what an active telephone line would produce. By providing a constant voltage signal that mimics the electrical characteristics of an operational telephone line, the system prevents the FACP from detecting the absence of the traditional telephone line
2Reliability
If a constant voltage is provided to the FACP to emulate an operational telephone line, then the FACP does not receive phantom inoperable signals, but the telephone lines become inoperable as supervisory lines for the communicator
Solution Approach 1:
The supervision function is segmented into two separate pathways: (1) a constant voltage emulation pathway that provides stability to the FACP by preventing phantom trouble signals, and (2) a separate supervisory output pathway on the alternative communication device that maintains self-supervision capability. This segmentation allows both functions to operate independently without interference
Solution Approach 2:
A separate supervisory output circuit acts as an intermediary to maintain the communicator's ability to report its own status. This dedicated supervisory pathway allows the alternative communication device to independently monitor and report its operational status to the FACP without interfering with the constant voltage emulation function
3Reliability
If an additional trouble output line is established from the communicator to a supervision input on the FACP, then the communicator can be supervised, but the installation complexity increases requiring separate wire run and programming
Solution Approach 1:
The supervision function is merged into the existing telephone line connection infrastructure. By utilizing the same physical connection pathway that carries the constant voltage emulation signal, the system eliminates the need for separate supervisory wiring while maintaining supervision capability through intelligent signal processing
Solution Approach 2:
The telephone line connection is given multiple functions: it simultaneously provides the constant voltage emulation to prevent phantom trouble signals and carries the supervisory information from the alternative communication device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated supervisory wiring and reduces installation complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A fire alarm communication device having a first and second output voltage which are constant during normal operation of the fire alarm communicator. During a trouble condition of the fire alarm communicator, one of the output voltages is manipulated