System and method for fire detection
AssigneeAmbient Control Systems, Inc.
InventorsWilliam R. Garmer, Jonathan M. Luck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for detecting radiation indicative of fire, such as forest fire. In one embodiment, a threshold energy level is determined based on ambient sensor conditions. A sensor unit may be setup to scan a predetermined area for electromagnetic radiation. Any detected electromagnetic radiation may then be band pass filtered to a wavelength range centered about a predetermined frequency associated with the presence of fire. The resulting energy level signal may then be further filter to pass only those signals which exhibit a “flicker” frequency. If the resulting filtered signal exceeds the threshold signal, a fire notification signal may then be generated.
Claims24
A method comprising:
- receiving electromagnetic radiation from an energy source;
- filtering said electromagnetic radiation to a wavelength range centered about a predetermined frequency associated with the presence of fire;
- generating an energy level signal based on said received electromagnetic radiation;
- filtering said energy level signal to a flicker frequency range indicative of fire;
- comparing a magnitude of said energy level signal to a dynamically computed threshold value based on ambient infrared energy levels, wherein the threshold value is determined using the formula,
- threshold value=EVMean+(γ·EVSD),
- where,
- EVMean=the mean of the plurality of energy samples,
- EVSD=the standard deviation of the plurality of energy samples, and,
- γ=Q−1.(Desired False Alarm Rate), where Q−1 is the inverse probability function;
- and
- generating a fire notification signal if said energy level signal is greater than said threshold value.
A system comprising:
- a sensor for receiving electromagnetic radiation from an energy source;
- a first filter coupled to the sensor for filtering said electromagnetic radiation to a wavelength range centered about a predetermined frequency associated with the presence of fire;
- a second filter for filtering an energy level signal to a flicker frequency range indicative of fire;
- and
- a processor coupled to the sensor to compare a magnitude of said energy level signal to a dynamically computed threshold value based on ambient infrared energy levels, and if said energy level signal is greater than said threshold value, said processor is to generate a fire notification signal, wherein said threshold value is determined using the formula,
- threshold value=EVMean'(γ·EVSD),
- where,
- EVMean=the mean of the plurality of energy samples,
- EVSD=the standard deviation of the plurality of energy
- samples, and,
- γ=Q−1. (Desired False Alarm Rate), where Q−1 is the inverse probability function.
A computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, wherein said computer readable program code causes processing circuitry to:
- receive electromagnetic radiation from an energy source;
- filter said electromagnetic radiation to a wavelength range centered about a predetermined frequency associated with the presence of fire;
- generate an energy level signal based on said received electromagnetic radiation;
- filter said energy level signal to a flicker frequency range indicative of fire;
- compare a magnitude of said energy level signal to a dynamically computed threshold value based on ambient infrared energy levels, wherein said threshold value is determined using the formula,
- threshold value=EVMean+(γ·EVSD),
- where
- EVMean=the mean of the plurality of energy samples,
- EVSD=the standard deviation of the plurality of energy samples, and,
- γ=Q−1. (Desired False Alarm Rate), where Q−1 is the inverse probability function;
- and
- generate a fire notification signal when said energy level signal is greater than said threshold value.
A system comprising:
- a sensor for receiving electromagnetic radiation from an energy source;
- a first filter coupled to the sensor for filtering said electromagnetic radiation to a wavelength range centered about a predetermined frequency associated with the presence of fire;
- a second filter for filtering an energy level signal to a flicker frequency range indicative of fire;
- and
- a processing circuitry coupled to the sensor and including at least one of a microprocessor, a root mean square conditioning circuit and a digital frequency converting circuit, said processing circuitry to compare a magnitude of said energy level signal to a dynamically computed threshold value based on ambient infrared energy levels, and if said energy level signal is greater than said threshold value, said processing circuitry is to generate a fire notification signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.