# US 2022/0036710 A1 · Smoke detector with integrated sensing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0036710 A1 - Document ID: US20220036710A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/443,199 - Filed: 2021-07-22 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-30 - Assignees: Carrier Corporation - Applicants: Carrier Corporation - Inventors: Dennis M. Gadonniex; Rick Wolf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220036710A1 ## CPC - G08B 17/107: for detecting light-scattering due to smoke - G08B 29/145: {of fire detection circuits} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A smoke detector and method for testing a smoke detector are provided. The smoke detector includes a housing defining a chamber, an emitter, and a receiver. The housing includes an inlet port and an outlet port configured to allow an airflow to pass through the chamber. The emitter is configured to emit light into the chamber. The receiver is configured to receive light reflected by ambient materials in the airflow passing through the chamber. The smoke detector includes an entry point and an exit point, defining a channel therebetween. At least a portion of the airflow passes through the channel. The channel is in fluid communication with a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect at least one of a pressure differential and a mass flow of the airflow. The smoke detector and method for testing the smoke detector enable in situ testing of the smoke detector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A smoke detector, comprising: a housing defining a chamber, the housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port configured to allow an airflow to pass through the chamber; an emitter configured to emit light into the chamber; a receiver configured to receive light reflected by ambient materials in the airflow passing through the chamber; and an entry point and an exit point, defining a channel therebetween, at least a portion of the airflow passing through the channel, the channel in fluid communication with a sensor, the sensor configured to detect at least one of a pressure differential and a mass flow of the airflow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The smoke detector of claim 1, wherein the entry point is disposed in the inlet port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The smoke detector of claim 1, wherein the exit point is disposed in the outlet port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The smoke detector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the entry point and the exit point comprise a manifold configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The smoke detector of claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the sensor, the controller configured to trigger a notification when the sensor detects at least one of: a mass flow outside of an acceptable mass flow range, a negative pressure differential, and a negative mass flow. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The smoke detector of claim 5, wherein the acceptable mass flow range is between 100 CFM and 4000 CFM. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The smoke detector of claim 5, further comprising a supporting structure, at least one of the emitter, the receiver, the sensor, and the controller disposed on the supporting structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The smoke detector of claim 7, wherein the supporting structure is a printed circuit board (PCB). ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The smoke detector of claim 7, further comprising an optics cover disposed between the housing and the supporting structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The smoke detector of claim 9, wherein the optics cover comprises a recessed area the recessed area configured to receive a channel cover, the channel defined between the recessed area and the channel cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The smoke detector of claim 9, further comprising at least one O-ring disposed between the optics cover and the sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The smoke detector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port are configured to receive a tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The smoke detector of claim 1, wherein the smoke detector is configured to detect ambient materials within an HVAC duct. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The smoke detector of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises at least one attachment point for securing the smoke detector to the HVAC duct. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The smoke detector of claim 13, wherein the smoke detector detects ambient materials within the HVAC duct using at least one of: a multi-wave multi-angle detection method, a backscatter detection method, and a forward scatter detection method. ### Claim 16 A method for testing a smoke detector comprising a controller in communication with a sensor, the smoke detector comprising a housing defining a chamber, the housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port configured to allow an airflow to pass through the chamber, the smoke detector further comprising an entry point and an exit point, defining a channel therebetween, at least a portion of the airflow passing through the channel, the channel in fluid communication with the sensor, the method performed in the controller, the method comprising: receiving, from the sensor at the controller, output signals indicating at least one of a pressure differential and a mass flow of the airflow; and determining, in the controller, whether the output signals indicate a need to trigger a notification. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising triggering a notification when the output signals indicate at least one of: a mass flow outside of an acceptable mass flow range, a negative pressure differential, and a negative mass flow. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the acceptable mass flow range is between 100 CFM and 4000 CFM.