Manual Call Point With MEMS Accelerometer for Activation Cause Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manual call point (MCP) systems lack the ability to determine whether activations are due to user interaction or other causes, such as false alarms or external incidents, without the impractical use of closed-circuit television (CCTV), leading to uncertainty in emergency response.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer within the MCP to measure forces applied during frangible element operations, distinguishing between intentional user actions, malicious operations, and external incidents through historical data analysis, and generating reports to clarify activation causes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If CCTV is deployed at each MCP location to determine activation causes, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential measurement function from the complex CCTV system by implementing a simple accelerometer sensor within the MCP device itself. This sensor captures force data directly at the source, eliminating the need for external surveillance infrastructure while maintaining measurement precision for determining activation causes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical surveillance system (CCTV) with an electronic sensing system (accelerometer). The accelerometer uses microelectromechanical principles to detect force vectors, substituting a simple electronic component for complex optical monitoring infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If a sensor is added to the MCP to measure forces, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) accelerometer sensors that are mass-producible and low-cost. These compact sensors add minimal complexity to the MCP while providing precise force measurement capabilities, representing a cost-effective sensing solution.
3Reliability
If historical data analysis is implemented to distinguish event types, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis by immediately comparing measured force vectors against pre-established historical event patterns at the moment of activation. This real-time pattern matching enables rapid event classification without requiring extensive post-event data processing, maintaining both reliability and response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from historical data to continuously improve event classification accuracy. By comparing current activation patterns with historical event databases, the system refines its ability to distinguish between different event types, enhancing reliability through learned patterns.
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
Enables accurate determination of activation causes, reducing false alarms and providing evidence for incident analysis, thereby enhancing emergency response reliability without the need for extensive CCTV coverage.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to measure forces applied to the frangible element, wherein the sensor comprises a micro-electromechanical systems, MEMS, accelerometer
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 2C~5
AI summary
A manual call point (MCP) (130) is provided and includes a housing (210), a frangible element (220) disposed on the housing (210) to be accessible to and operable by a user and a control system (120). The control system (120) is disposed within the housing (210). The control system (120) includes a detector (232) configured to detect frangible element (220) operations, a sensor (233) configured to measure forces applied to the frangible element (220) and a processing unit (234) configured to initiate an alarm responsive to the detector (232) detecting a frangible element (220) operation, to determine whether the measured forces are indicative of an event and to generate a report in accordance with determination results.