Smoke Detector Antenna Mounting for Signal Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smoke detectors with radio modules and antennas mounted on metallic surfaces face challenges in ensuring reliable and energy-efficient radio transmission due to material interference, affecting signal reliability and safety.

Innovation Solution

The smoke detector design features a measuring chamber with a housing element and an antenna positioned inside, where the antenna is mounted within the chamber, creating a spacer effect and maintaining a distance from the mounting surface, allowing for energy-efficient and safer radio transmission across multiple frequency bands, and utilizing a PIF antenna for electrostatic discharge protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the antenna is mounted directly on the housing element for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but radio transmission reliability deteriorates due to material interference from mounting surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna mounting structureVSAvoidradio transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The measuring chamber serves as an intermediary spacer between the antenna and the mounting surface. By positioning the antenna inside the measuring chamber rather than directly on the housing element, the patent creates a physical separation that prevents material interference from the mounting surface (metal, wood, plaster, etc.) while maintaining a compact overall device structure. This intermediary space ensures reliable radio transmission without requiring complex additional mounting structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the antenna is positioned close to the mounting surface for compact design, then device dimensions are reduced, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to increased transmission power requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidradio transmission energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the third dimension (depth) by positioning the antenna inside the measuring chamber, which is located between the housing element's outer and inner surfaces. This spatial arrangement in the depth dimension allows the antenna to be distant from the mounting surface while keeping the device's external dimensions compact. The measuring chamber's depth provides the necessary separation distance for energy-efficient transmission without increasing the device's overall footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the antenna is mounted on metallic surfaces for structural integration, then ease of manufacture is improved, but harmful factors increase due to signal interference and electrostatic charges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna installationVSAvoidsignal interference and electrostatic discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the antenna from direct contact with metallic mounting surfaces by positioning it inside the measuring chamber. This separation removes the antenna from the harmful metallic environment, eliminating signal interference and electrostatic discharge risks associated with metal mounting surfaces. The antenna can still be integrated into the device structure through the housing element without requiring direct metallic mounting, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while eliminating harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 configuration enhances signal reliability and energy efficiency by minimizing material interference, ensuring consistent radio transmission on various surfaces, including metal, while providing effective smoke detection using IR LEDs and optoelectronic components.

Implementation Method 1

an antenna for radio transmission of a signal to the outside, wherein the antenna is mounted in/on the measuring chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Such a PIF antenna naturally has a ground connection. This allows electrostatic charges to be dissipated without damaging the electronics connected to the antenna.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic discharge: Electrostatic Discharge

Data Source

PatentEP2677507B1Hazard warning device using radio communication
Publication Date: 2018.01.17 SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
  • EP2677507B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2677507B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2677507B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The hazardous warning unit (6) has disc-shaped main portion such as housing chamber whose outer side is mounted to carrier. A measuring unit (8) is placed inside the housing chamber, and an antenna (11) transmitting a signal is located at significant distance in assembled state. A hazardous detector is mounted on circular detector support (7) that is attached to main portion, for detecting hazardous pollutant from surrounding air.