Infrared Fire Detector Using Segmented Sensor Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire detection systems in confined spaces face challenges in achieving high precision and reliability while minimizing false alarms and ensuring functional safety, particularly in accurately detecting and localizing thermal anomalies.
Innovation Solution
An infrared radiation fire detector with a curved support surface and multiple sensors arranged to intersect at a central point, each with a narrow field of view, processes sequential images to detect thermal parameter changes, identifying the source of thermal energy through direct and reflected radiation, using thermopile array sensors and a microcontroller for real-time temperature mapping and alarm activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple infrared radiation sensors are arranged with overlapping fields of view to ensure complete coverage, then detection reliability is improved, but false alarms increase due to redundant detection of the same thermal source
Solution Approach 1:
The detector divides the monitoring space into distinct non-overlapping zones, with each sensor responsible for a specific sector. This segmentation eliminates redundant detection of the same thermal source while maintaining complete coverage, thereby improving reliability without increasing false alarms.
Solution Approach 2:
Each sensor is designed with a narrow field of view that covers only the necessary portion of the monitoring space. By using partial coverage rather than excessive overlapping coverage, the system achieves complete surveillance without redundant detection that would cause false alarms.
2Area of stationary object
If sensors are arranged to cover the entire 360° monitoring area, then detection coverage is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to precise angular positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The 360° monitoring area is segmented into discrete sectors, each assigned to a specific sensor. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing sensors to be positioned at fixed angular intervals without requiring ultra-precise alignment, as each sensor only needs to cover its designated sector.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor array is arranged in a curved or circular configuration to naturally achieve 360° coverage. This geometric arrangement simplifies positioning compared to linear arrays, as the curved support structure provides natural angular references that reduce manufacturing complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensors have wide fields of view to detect thermal sources from various angles, then detection versatility is improved, but measurement precision decreases due to reduced angular resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring space is segmented into multiple sectors, each handled by a sensor with a narrow field of view. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high angular resolution within each sector while collectively providing wide coverage through the array of sensors, thus maintaining both versatility and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying on a single sensor with a wide field of view, the system uses multiple sensors arranged in a spatial array. This dimensional arrangement allows the system to achieve wide coverage through spatial distribution while maintaining high angular resolution through the combined data from multiple narrowly-focused sensors.
4Device complexity
If a single sensor is used to reduce device complexity, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but detection reliability decreases due to limited coverage and single-point failure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is segmented across multiple sensors, each responsible for a specific sector. This segmentation improves reliability by eliminating single-point failure risks while maintaining manageable complexity through modular sensor design and standardized processing for each sector.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensors are merged into a unified detection system with centralized processing. This merging approach improves reliability through redundancy while controlling complexity by using a common control unit that processes data from all sensors using standardized algorithms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively detects the start of a fire with high reliability, minimizing false alarms and accurately localizing the source, enabling timely extinguishing actions with error rates less than 10^-8 and safety levels greater than 10^-6, and can monitor areas at a 360° angle.
Implementation Method 1
receiving a plurality of sequential series of infrared radiation images of the space, each of said images comprising an array of pixels with each pixel having a value that is representative of a temperature
Implementation Method 2
a second fraction of the infrared radiation emitted by the source being detected by at least another sensor of the fire detector after having been reflected by at least one surface of the space
Data Source
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AI summary
Infrared radiation fire detector, comprising a curved support surface (12) and a plurality of infrared radiation sensors (14) arranged on the support surface (12). Each sensor (14) comprises a planar array (15) of infrared radiation-sensitive elements (16), having a respective sight direction (SD) and a solid angle of view (β) defined around the sight direction (SD), which define a field of view associated to the sensor (14). The sight directions (SD) of the sensors (14) intersect with one another at a central point (C) and the sensors (14) are spaced apart from one another by a given angular distance referred to the central point (C), the solid angles of view (β) of the sensors (14) having a same narrow width so that the fields of view of the sensors are non-intersecting with one another.