Time-Aware Detector Annunciation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ambient condition detectors, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, often emit trouble signals at inconvenient times, disturbing users and damaging their reputation due to lack of integration with a time base, leading to delayed and disruptive alerts.
Innovation Solution
A system that connects detectors with a control unit and keypad, allowing users to set time windows for annunciations, enabling earlier and less disruptive alerts for non-emergency conditions like low battery warnings and sensor end-of-life notices, using a programmable control unit and wireless communication to synchronize clocks and adjust alert times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If detectors emit trouble signals immediately when detected, then the reliability of signal transmission is improved, but the user experience deteriorates due to nighttime disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by determining the current time and comparing it against a pre-configured time window before emitting the trouble signal. This allows the detector to prepare the signal for emission only at appropriate times, preventing nighttime disturbances while maintaining signal reliability during acceptable time periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making the signal emission timing adjustable and configurable through a time window parameter. The control unit allows users to dynamically set acceptable time ranges for signal emission, transforming a static immediate-emission system into a flexible time-aware system that adapts to user preferences.
2Ease of operation
If detectors are integrated with a control unit and time base, then the ease of operation is improved through user-configurable time windows, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves as an intermediary between the detector and the user, handling the complexity of time window configuration and signal timing logic. The detector communicates with the control unit, which processes the time-based decisions and manages the configurable parameters, thereby isolating the detector's core function while providing advanced operational capabilities.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If delayed trouble signals are implemented without system integration, then the user disturbance is reduced, but the loss of time information occurs due to lack of synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the current time from the control unit's time base and comparing it against the configured time window parameters. This feedback mechanism ensures that trouble signals are emitted only when the current time falls within the acceptable range, maintaining both user comfort and accurate time-based control.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to set an output window includes an ambient condition detector from which non-alarm messages can be output at a pre-determined time. The ambient condition detector includes a real-time clock that can be set wirelessly by a real-time synchronizing message. A message emitting window can also be wirelessly pre-set. The non-alarm messages are emitted at respective times in the message emitting window.