Array-based capacitance sensor device and methods for the detection of applied streams of water or other extinguishants

A method for detecting streams of water or other extinguishants, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a series of measured capacitances from each of a plurality of capacitance sensors disposed upon substrate;
• analyzing a time-varying component of a series of measured capacitances for each respective capacitance sensor to determine a degree of similarity to a stored reference component of a reference signal in which one of the plurality of capacitance sensors is proximate to a stream of an extinguishant;
• and
• outputting a signal based upon the analysis and representing a degree of similarity between the series of measured capacitances the reference signal in which one of the plurality of capacitance sensors is proximate to a stream of an extinguishant,
• wherein the analyzing step further comprises calculating a power spectral density of the series within a preselected time window, calculating a metric for the calculated power spectral density, and comparing the metric for the calculated power spectral density to the same metric determined for at least one reference signal in which the respective capacitance sensor is proximate to a stream of an extinguishant.

A method for detecting streams of water or other extinguishants, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a series of measured capacitances from each of a plurality of capacitance sensors disposed upon substrate;
• analyzing a time-varying component of a series of measured capacitances for each respective capacitance sensor to determine a degree of similarity to a stored reference component of a reference signal in which one of the plurality of capacitance sensors is proximate to a stream of an extinguishant;
• and
• outputting a signal based upon the analysis and representing a degree of similarity between the series of measured capacitances the reference signal in which one of the plurality of capacitance sensors is proximate to a stream of an extinguishant.