Fire Sensor Electronic Unit Self-Testing Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire detection systems suffer from false alarms and missed real alarms due to incorrect reception and interpretation of sensor signals, often caused by faults or malfunctions in the reception electronic circuits and communication network issues like short-circuits or overcurrents, which reduces their reliability.
Innovation Solution
An electronic control unit for fire sensors that periodically tests the correct operation of receiving and interpreting circuits, and detects malfunctions in the communication network by using a managing stage with a receiver circuitry block to distinguish digital pulses from an analogue background and detect line anomalies, and includes checking blocks to simulate signals and test the receiver circuitry's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reception electronic circuits are used to receive and interpret sensor signals, then the fire detection system can operate, but false alarms and missed real alarms occur due to faults or malfunctions in the circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-test function that periodically tests the reception electronic circuits before they are used to receive actual sensor signals. This preliminary testing detects potential faults or malfunctions in advance, preventing false alarms and missed real alarms caused by defective circuits. The test signal is generated and routed through the reception circuits to verify their operational status before normal sensing begins.
2Reliability
If circuits for detecting short-circuits or overcurrents are provided in the control unit, then network malfunctions can be detected, but these circuits themselves are not free from malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the reception electronic circuits self-testing by routing a test signal through them. The circuits automatically test themselves without requiring separate external testing equipment or complex additional circuitry. This self-service approach verifies the operational status of the reception circuits and their ability to detect network malfunctions like short-circuits and overcurrents, while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
3Reliability
If periodic testing of reception circuits is implemented, then false alarms are minimized, but the system requires additional testing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the test signal generation and routing functionality with the existing signal processing infrastructure of the fire detection system. The test signal is generated by the same processing stage that handles sensor signals, and the reception circuits that are tested are the same circuits used for normal operation. This integration minimizes additional complexity while enabling periodic self-testing to reduce false alarms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electronic unit (10) for controlling one or more fire sensors (SEN) of a fire detection system (100). Such an electronic unit comprises: - a processing stage (1); - a managing stage (2) of the one or more sensors (SEN) which can be connected, during a first interval of time (t1), to a data communication line (20) configured to connect the sensors to one another. The managing stage is activated to generate first digital querying signals (S1) to be sent to the sensors through the data communication line during said first interval of time (t1) to check the operating status of the sensors. Such a managing stage comprises a receiver circuitry block (40) connected to the data communication line to receive and measure second digital signals (S2) sent by the sensors in reply to the first digital signals and detect transmission faults through the data connection line. Such a managing stage further comprises an operating status checking circuitry block (50) of the receiver circuitry block directly connected to an output (OUT) of the receiver circuitry block. Such a checking circuitry block is activated by the processing stage to check the operating status of the receiver circuitry block during a second interval of time (t2) in which the managing stage is disconnected from the data communication line.