WO2009030912A1

WO2009030912A1 - Detection apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2009030912A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/002996
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brent Dunleavey
Original assignee: Brent Dunleavey
Priority date: 2007-09-06
Filing date: 2008-09-05
Publication date: 2009-03-12
Also published as: GB0717283D0

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus which allows the detection of one or more factors to be achieved and, in response to a detection, the generation of one or more audible messages. The messages can be selected from a plurality of messages stored in a memory and the selection is made with respect to the factor or factors which are detected, thereby allowing the message generated to be relevant to a particular activity which is being performed and which has caused the factor or factors to be detected.

Description

Detection Apparatus

The invention to which this application relates is to apparatus which can be used to detect a plurality of factors, which factors may be linked and, as a result of the detection of said plurality of factors, to control the operation of apparatus in a particular manner.

The use of devices to detect particular factors is known. Conventionally a unit will be provided with particular components to allow a particular single factor to be detected. For example, a unit to detect the presence of a person, will typically include an infrared or PIR detector. A unit to detect the presence of a particular gas, will be provided with components to allow the gas to be detected, and so on. Conventionally, these units will then be connected to a central processing unit which can cause an alarm to be activated either at the location of the detection of the particular factor or remotely therefrom. Furthermore, it is known to connect to the said processing unit, a voice message generator, which may be controlled to generate a particular message on the detection of a factor from a particular unit.

Systems typically require a plurality of detection units to be mounted at selected locations of a premises and for these units to then be wired into communication with the processing means which will typically be provided at a location remote to the detection unit.

It is often found that the various units are not connected correctly so as to provide the opportunity of malfunction and/or the connection of the said units requires skilled personnel to be used, which increases the expense of the installation. It is also recognised that in order to provide apparatus which can recognise various factors or various parameters of a single occurrence, that a plurality of units with different detection means, are required to be selected and then installed. This therefore can mean that for a given occurrence which is to be deleted, such as, for example, a person smoking, a number of different units with different detection means, are required to be installed and each individually connected to the processing means.

An aim of the present invention is to provide apparatus which can be installed relatively easily and which can provide for the detection of a number of factors, which factors may be linked to a particular occurrence without the need to install a plurality of detection units.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for the detection of a plurality of factors, said apparatus including at least two detection means, said detection means provided to detect the occurrence of differing factors; and an audible message generator, said generator having, a memory means on which a plurality of different messages in one or more languages are stored for selective generation and wherein the message that is to be generated is selected with respect to the particular factor detection which occurs at that time.

Thus, for example, once a particular factor is detected, the apparatus selects a particular message, from the range of messages which are available, which message is linked to that detected factor in a predetermined manner.

In one embodiment, a sequence of messages may be selected when a particular factor is detected. In one embodiment, the factors which are detectable, via the apparatus are linked to a particular occurrence.

In one embodiment, the occurrence is the smoking of a cigarette in which the apparatus preferably includes detection means for detecting CO gas which is typically emitted from a smoker in the vicinity of the device, and flame detection means which is capable of detecting the use of a flame to light the cigarette.

In this embodiment, if either or both of these events factors are detected, the apparatus will select to generate the message or messages stored in memory which relate to the detection of the occurrence of smoking. Typically the message or messages which are generated will indicate to the person to stop smoking.

Typically the apparatus components arte all provided as a single unit.

In one embodiment, the detection means provided within the apparatus unit, are any or any combination of a detection device for a particular gas, a detection device for a flame, and/or a detection device for the presence of a person.

In one embodiment, all three of said detection devices may be provided or alternatively two of the same may be provided.

In addition, the device preferably includes a receiving device for the reception of remote control signals, which allow the control of the apparatus to be performed by a person using a remote control device.

In one embodiment, the apparatus can be used in differing modes of operation which can be used to determine the particular message, from the range of messages to be generated at that time or over a particular time period.

In one embodiment, the detection means for detecting the presence of a person, when activated causes the generation of an informative message to that person to indicate the particular rules or regulations relating to the environment in which the person and apparatus is present. Thus, for example, a message may be generated indicating that the environment is a no smoking area, or that CCTV cameras are present, or the like.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes first and second person detection devices, said devices located to provide an indication of direction of movement of a person. In one embodiment, the messages which are selected for generation, are dependent upon the direction of movement of the particular person such that, for example, a first message is generated when a person enters the environment within the apparatus and a second message can be generated when a person is detected as leaving the environment.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is provided in a single, self contained housing, said housing locatable on a surface, such as a wall or ceiling without the need to be connected to any other apparatus so that a self contained apparatus unit can be provided which provides the required functionality and thereby removes the need for a plurality of different units to be provided.

In one embodiment, the device is provided with a power supply from the mains or alternatively, the housing may be provided with a battery power source located therein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a detection device to detect the presence of a person and, when detected, the apparatus is moved from a standby to a fully active mode to conserve power consumption.

In recognition of the fact that apparatus in accordance with invention may include different combinations of detection means, the detection means are typically provided in location on a platform, said platform located with respect to an aperture in an external face of the unit and wherein said platform is interchangeable so that an appropriate platform, with appropriate locations for the combination of detection devices which are to be used for that unit configuration can be placed in position.

This arrangement therefore means that a range of platforms can be provided, each design of said platforms provided with location means for a particular combination of detection means and the appropriate platform can be selected for the appropriate combination of detection means which are to be used in that particular unit. This therefore means that the remainder of the unit design can be standard.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a communication means which preferably allows communication between the unit and a further item of apparatus so as to control operation of that further item of apparatus upon a particular detection being made.

Preferably, the communication means allows the transfer of data with or without the need for hard wired connection. The communication to other devices may be for example to image recording apparatus, emergency services, or the like. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for the detection of at least one factor, said at least one factor caused by the occurrence of a particular activity and wherein, when the at least one factor is detected, an audible and/or visual indication is generated by the apparatus, said indication related to the particular activity which has resulted in the at least one factor being detected.

In one embodiment of the invention a combination of factors are detected and said combination is analysed and used to determine the particular indication which is to be selected to be generated.

In one embodiment the indication is an audible spoken message selected from a range of messages.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figures I a to b illustrate views of an apparatus unit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure I a, there is illustrated apparatus unit 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The unit comprises an outer housing with a front face 4 on which there is exposed, in aperture 6, a platform 8. In this case, the platform 8 has a combination of detection devices mounted thereon or formed therein, these detection devices, in this case, being an infrared person detection device 10, a flame detection device 12, and a gas detection device 14.

In this arrangement, the unit is directed towards use in detecting the activity of the smoking of a cigarette, by a person, in an environment 16 shown in Figure I b in which the apparatus is fitted and in which smoking is typically not permitted, such as for example, a public area. Also provided within the device, is an audible message generating means (not shown) which has a memory, in this case provided on a flash card which can be inserted into the device via slot 20. The use of a flash card, although not critical to the apparatus, does allow for ease of message recording and also ease of changing of the messages from time to time.

Also provided within the unit is a processing means, which receives data representative of the activation of one or more of the detection means to indicate the detection of at least one factor which relates to the particular activity which is to be detected. The processing unit then selects an appropriate message to be generated and causes the generation of the audible message from the unit 2 within the environment 16.

In this case, the apparatus also includes means 22 for receiving infrared remote control signals, from a remote control device which can be used by a person to control a particular mode of operation of the apparatus.

Thus, in accordance with one example of the invention, the apparatus, via the person presence detection means 10, detects the presence of a person when they enter the environment 16 through door 18. At this stage, the activation of detection means 10, is noted and a signal sent to a message generator to select one of a range of messages, which, in this case, is a welcome message to the person and which also indicates to the person that the environment 16 is a no smoking environment.

The detection of the presence of a person may also be used to activate the other sensors which may have been held in a standby mode or which may have been held at a less sensitive mode but which are moved to a more sensitive mode, when the presence of a person is detected. If that person, when in the environment, subsequently does light a cigarette, the ignition of the flame will be detected by the flame detection means 12 and/or the gas emitted by the person smoking the cigarette will be detected by the gas detection means 14.

Activation of either of these two detection means is noted by the processing means and a signal sent to the message generating means to select another of the available messages within the range. This message will be generated at least once but perhaps repeatedly, in this example, warning the person that smoking has been detected, and requesting that they distinguish the cigarette. The same or a further message may also be generated if the smoking continues to be detected, which message may indicate that an alarm is about to be emitted or that an alarm signal is being transmitted to a remote location.

Thus, in addition to the message being generated, the device may also transmit data via a wired or wireless communication means mounted within the device, to a remote location, indicating that one or more factors have been detected within that environment and therefore an authority may then take steps to visit the environment to attempt to apprehend the person in question.

In one embodiment, the person leaving the environment may also be detected by a further person presence detection device which may lead to the unit being moved to standby mode or a less sensitive mode.

The unit is also particularly adaptable in that different combinations of detection devices can be mounted on the unit by the selection of the appropriate platform 8. Thus, for example, a platform 8 may be provided with location for a flame detection means 12, a gas detection means 14 and a PIR detection device 10. Alternatively a platform may be provided with location means for gas and flame detection devices 14, 12; or a platform may be provided with location means for gas and PIR detection means, 14, 10.

It will also be appreciated that in each case, the platform 8 is located, on support legs . The support legs are the same for each platform so as to always ensure that the detection means mounted on the platform, are presented on the unit at the appropriate location.

It will therefore be appreciated that by providing a self contained unit in accordance with the manner herein described, so the occurrence of a range of factors can be detected from the single unit and this combination of possible detection of different factors can be used to select an appropriate message to be generated.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the detection of a plurality of factors, said apparatus including at least two detection means, said detection means provided to detect the occurrence of differing factors; and an audible message generator, said generator having a memory means on which a plurality of different messages in one or more languages are stored for selective generation and wherein the message that is to be generated is selected with respect to the particular factor detection which occurs at that time.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein once a particular factor is detected, the apparatus selects a particular message, from the range of messages which are available, which message is linked to that detected factor in a predetermined manner.

3 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a sequence of messages may be selected when a particular factor is detected.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the factors which are detectable via the apparatus are linked to a particular activity.

5 Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the factors are linked to a common activity.

6 Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the activity is the smoking of a cigarette and the apparatus includes detection means for detecting the factor of CO gas and the factor of flame detection.

7 Apparatus according to any one of claims 4-6 wherein if any one, or combination of the factors is detected, the apparatus selects to generate a message or messages which relate to the detection of the occurrence of the said activity.

8 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the message or messages which are generated will indicate to the person to stop a particular activity to which the detected factors relate.

9 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus components are provided as a single unit.

10 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detection means are any or any combination of a detection device for a particular gas, a detection device for a flame, and/or a detection device for the presence of a person.

1 1 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a receiving device for the reception of remote control signals, which allow the control of the apparatus to be performed by a person using a remote control device.

12 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus can be used in differing modes of operation which determine the particular message, from the range of messages, to be generated at that time or over a particular time period.

13 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein detection means arc provided for detecting the presence of a person and, when activated, cause the generation of an informative message to that person to indicate the particular rules or regulations relating to the environment in which the person and apparatus is present.

14 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes first and second person detection devices, said devices located to provide an indication of direction of movement of a person.

15 Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the message or messages which are selected for generation, are dependent upon the detected direction of movement of the person.

16 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a detection device to detect the presence of a person and, when detected, the apparatus is moved from a standby to a fully active mode to conserve power consumption.

17 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus components are provided in a single, self contained housing.

18 Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the housing can be used without connection to any other apparatus.

19 Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the detection means are located on a platform, said platform located with respect to an aperture or apertures in an external face of the housing.

20 Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said platform is interchangeable so that an appropriate platform, with appropriate locations for the combination of detection means which are to be used for a particular configuration can be placed in position.

21 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a communication means which allows communication between the apparatus and a further item of apparatus so as to control operation of that further item of apparatus upon a particular factor detection being made. 22 Apparatus for the detection of at least one factor, said at least one factor caused by the occurrence of a particular activity and wherein, when the at least one factor is detected, an audible and/or visual indication is generated by the apparatus, said indication related to the particular activity which has resulted in the at least one factor being detected.

23 Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein a combination of factors are detected and said combination analysed and used to determine the particular indication which is to be selected to be generated.