Ring Shaped Light Guide for Smoke Detector Soiling Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire detectors face challenges in reliably detecting soiling of smoke inlet openings, as current methods either fail to provide comprehensive contamination assessment or are hindered by labyrinth structures that obstruct light penetration, leading to incomplete or inaccurate contamination measurements.
Innovation Solution
A fire detector equipped with an auxiliary light source mounted outside and a ring-shaped light guide inside, which collects and directs light to a receiver for comprehensive contamination assessment, utilizing electrochromatic materials in windows and labyrinth elements to control light transmission and detection, allowing for accurate measurement of soiling across the smoke inlet openings and insect screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an auxiliary light source is placed inside or outside the detector to detect soiling, then contamination detection capability is improved, but the labyrinth structure prevents light penetration and reduces measurement effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide as an intermediary component that bridges the auxiliary light source and the measuring chamber. The light guide conducts light from the external source through the insect screen to the measuring chamber, enabling contamination detection while bypassing the obstruction problem caused by the labyrinth structure. This mediator allows light transmission without requiring direct line-of-sight penetration through the labyrinth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the auxiliary light source outside the detector housing, changing the spatial arrangement from internal to external placement. This dimensional change allows the light source to be positioned where it does not interfere with the labyrinth structure, while the light guide provides a new light transmission path that bypasses the obstruction.
2Reliability
If an external labyrinth element is used to protect against light interference, then light contamination is reduced, but only a single point on the insect screen can be monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light detection function by using multiple auxiliary light sources positioned at different locations around the detector. Each light source monitors a specific region of the insect screen through its own light guide, enabling comprehensive coverage of the entire screen surface rather than monitoring only a single point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the contamination detection system universal by enabling monitoring of the entire insect screen surface rather than just a single point. The combination of multiple light sources and light guides creates a multi-functional system that can assess contamination across all regions of the screen, providing comprehensive protection and monitoring capability.
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 reliable and comprehensive detection of soiling on smoke inlet openings and insect screens, reducing the need for frequent manual inspections and improving the accuracy of contamination assessment, thereby enhancing the operational readiness and cost-effectiveness of fire detection systems.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide (13) which receives light incident from outside in the direction of the smoke inlet openings and which conducts the light onto a receiver (15) arranged inside the measuring chamber (3)
Implementation Method 2
The light guide (13) is designed in such a way that the light is emitted through the smoke inlet openings (10) into the interior of the detector (1)
Implementation Method 3
at least one auxiliary light source (9b) inside the housing (2), the light from which is guided outwards
Implementation Method 4
a scattered light smoke detector (1) with a housing (2) and a measuring chamber (3)... a scattered light measuring receiver (5) which receives light emitted by the measuring light transmitter (4) and smoke in a scattered light measuring volume (19)
Implementation Method 5
utilizing electrochromatic materials in windows and labyrinth elements to control light transmission and detection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The detector (1) has a measuring light transmitter (4) provided in a measuring chamber (3) for transmitting light into the chamber. A diffused light test receiver (5) receives the light emitted by the transmitter. A diffused light measuring volume (19) is provided in the chamber with a labyrinth. A detector housing and the chamber are partially manufactured from a material with shiftable optical characteristics. The shiftable material that fulfills function of shiftable panel is not arranged between the transmitter or the receiver and the measuring volume. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for manufacturing a smoke detector (2) a method for detecting contamination of a smoke inlet opening and/or insect grid of a detector (3) a method for coloring a detector.