Fire detection system

A fire detection system comprising:

• video means for producing color video images of an observed area;
• object means for determining the presence of bright objects in the observed area;
• analyzing means for determining that at least one bright object exhibits a spectrum corresponding to a known fire spectrum;
• and
• threshold means for causing a fire response when bright object determined to be a fire by said analyzing means equals or exceeds a predetermined area.

A method for detecting the presence of a fire within an observed area comprising the steps of:

• producing color information video images including object information of the observed area;
• examining the color information video images of the observed area produced by said producing step for the presence of bright objects therein;
• determining the edge profiles of any bright objects found in said examining step and any change of edge profiles thereof;
• determining the image area of said bright objects and the occurrence of growth of said bright objects found in said examining step;
• observing the spectra of bright objects found in said examining step and comparing the spectra observed therein to the spectrum of a known fire;
• determining the occurrence of spectral changes in selected portions of the bright objects found in said examining step;
• confirming the existence of a fire when the image area of any bright object exhibits ragged edges, edge flicker, growth, stationarity, spectra corresponding to a known fire spectrum, and spectral changes;
• comparing the image area of a bright object confirmed to be a fire in said confirming step to a predetermined threshold image area;
• and
• releasing a fire suppressant when the size of the image area confirmed to be a fire in said confirming step equals or exceeds said predetermined threshold image area.