Integrated Fire Alarm System with Preliminary and Primary Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire alarms often issue false or nuisance alarms due to limited detection capabilities, leading to credibility issues and potential delays in alerting people to real fires, as increasing sensitivity increases false alarms while decreasing sensitivity delays alerts.
Innovation Solution
An integrated fire alarm system employing at least two different types of fire detectors (smoke, carbon monoxide, and heat detectors) with a preliminary and primary detection setup, where preliminary detection signals trigger early-warning notifications and primary detection signals confirm formal notifications, using an integrated controller to manage notification devices and transceivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensitivity of fire alarm is increased, then detection capability is improved, but false alarm rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple different types of fire detectors (smoke detector, heat detector, carbon monoxide detector) into an integrated system. The controller evaluates signals from multiple detectors with different detection principles simultaneously, requiring corroboration across detector types before triggering a formal alarm. This merging of diverse detection methods allows the system to maintain high sensitivity while reducing false alarms through cross-validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a two-stage alarm process where a preliminary detection signal first triggers an early-warning notification, followed by a primary detection signal that confirms the threat and triggers a formal notification. This preliminary action allows the system to detect potential fires early with high sensitivity while providing a verification opportunity before committing to a full alarm, thereby reducing false alarm rates.
2Reliability
If sensitivity of fire alarm is decreased, then false alarm rate is reduced, but alert time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a two-stage alarm process where a preliminary detection signal first triggers an early-warning notification, followed by a primary detection signal that confirms the threat and triggers a formal notification. This preliminary action allows the system to detect potential fires early with high sensitivity while providing a verification opportunity before committing to a full alarm, thereby reducing false alarm rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its response based on the detection stage. When a preliminary signal is detected, the system transitions to early-warning mode with lower thresholds. If a primary signal follows, the system commits to formal alarm mode. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to be highly sensitive during preliminary detection while maintaining reliability through the two-stage verification process.
3Reliability
If multiple fire alarms are employed, then detection coverage is improved, but confusion among users increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple different types of fire detectors (smoke detector, heat detector, carbon monoxide detector) into an integrated system. The controller evaluates signals from multiple detectors with different detection principles simultaneously, requiring corroboration across detector types before triggering a formal alarm. This merging of diverse detection methods allows the system to maintain high sensitivity while reducing false alarms through cross-validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated controller serves multiple functions: it receives signals from various detector types, processes preliminary and primary detection signals, controls different notification devices (visual and audio), and manages transceivers for remote alerts. This multi-functionality consolidates the operation of multiple detectors into a single unified system, preventing user confusion while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage.
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
This approach significantly reduces false alarms by using multiple detectors to verify alerts, enhancing the credibility and timeliness of fire alarms, ensuring that only confirmed threats trigger formal notifications.
Implementation Method 1
a smoke detector 11, which can detect a concentration of smoke
Implementation Method 2
a carbon monoxide detector 12, which can detect a concentration of carbon monoxide
Implementation Method 3
a heat (or temperature) detector 13, which can detect temperature or a (calculated) rate of temperature rise
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated fire alarm method includes receiving a preliminary detection signal from a preliminary detector, and comparing the preliminary detection signal with a predetermined corresponding threshold; controlling a notification device to issue an early-warning notification if the preliminary detection signal is greater than the corresponding threshold; receiving a primary detection signal from a primary detector after issuing the early-warning notification, and comparing the primary detection signal with predetermined corresponding threshold; and controlling the notification device to issue a formal notification if the primary detection signal is greater than the corresponding threshold.