SMOKE DETECTOR COMBINATION
The present invention relates to a combination of a smoke warning apparatus and a wireless telecommunication unit, and can be referred to as such a combination, or a wireless telecommunication unit having a smoke detection apparatus, or even a smoke warning apparatus using a power source and an audio-visual interface in a wireless telecommunication unit.
Most people will often stay in an environment that is connected with a risk of fire development. It is important to be able to warn about a fire at an early stage, and smoke detectors are actually a very important feature. There remains however, a problem regarding the time aspect and regarding the efficiency of ordinary smoke detectors. The sound may be too muffled through closed doors for heavy sleepers, and other types of warning may be too late.
There are some previous attempts to combine a smoke detector and another communication system. US patent no. 5,283,816 discloses a smoke detector with the ability to establish a call automatically. Such a "telephone smoke detector" will protect the room or house in which the detector is mounted, regardless of whether a person is present.
Another publication is US 4,471 ,346 that discloses an ordinary fixed-line telephone with a built-in smoke sensor in the handset of the telephone, for warning by means of the telephone ringer, and possibly for calling an emergency central automatically. Such an apparatus will, like the apparatus of US 5,283,816, only protect the room or house in which the telephone is mounted.
Another combination is known from US patent no. 5,745,849, in which a cordless telephone set is connected to one or more remote smoke detectors. The novelty is the combination of an alarm central and a telephone case unit in one and the same box.
From US patent no. 5,867,105 is previously known a wireless smoke alarm system with a "personal aspect", i.e. a person carries a radio receiver. However, the signal transmitted to the personal receiver is based on a response from traditional fire/smoke detectors mounted in the person's premises. Further, German Gebrauchsmusterschrift DE 299 15 240 U1 describes the integration of signal transmitters in (among a wide variety of closets, building structures, technical apparatuses and devices for fitting up rooms) mobile phones, for warning regarding inter alia smoke or high temperatures. It appears however, from this publication that the idea is to provide warning regarding a situation within the device, apparatus or structure in question, i.e. when regarding a mobile phone, a situation with an elevated temperature inside the mobile phone. So, the point is to detect that the mobile phone is defect, and to provide warning about this by giving off an alarm signal from the built-in signal transmitter. DE 299 15240 U1 thus relates to monitoring of the mobile phone, not the surroundings of the mobile phone. Since the interior of the mobile phone where smoke may develop, may be sealed off from the surroundings, such a phone may not at all work to safeguard a person against fire/smoke in the surroundings. None of the above combinations solve the problem of establishing a general portable communication apparatus that will always be with a person and will always be able to act as a fire/smoke detector.
The present invention aims at solving this problem, and does so by providing, in a first aspect of the invention, a wireless telecommunication unit comprising a power source, transceiver equipment and antenna as well as an audio-visual interface towards a user. The wireless telecommunication unit of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a smoke detection apparatus for detecting smoke from the surroundings, connected so as to provide signal warning through the audio-visual interface. In a preferred embodiment, the smoke detection apparatus is integrated in the telecommunication unit. Further, the wireless telecommunication unit is preferably a mobile phone (or a PDA).
In another embodiment, the smoke detection apparatus may be an external module connectable to the telecommunication unit. The wireless telecommunication unit may be operative to, upon receiving a signal from the detection apparatus when smoke is detected, make an automatic call to an emergency station. The function of automatic emergency call can be activated and deactivated by the user.
It is preferable that the smoke detection apparatus is adapted to be activated and deactivated by the user.
In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a smoke warning apparatus comprising a power source, a smoke detection apparatus and a warning unit connected to deliver an audio-visual warning signal upon receipt of a signal from the smoke detection apparatus. The smoke warning apparatus of the invention is characterized in that the power source and the warning unit are constituted by a power source and an audio-visual interface in a wireless telecommunication unit to which the smoke detection apparatus is connected, and in that the smoke detection apparatus is operative to detect smoke from the surroundings.
In an important embodiment, the wireless telecommunication unit is a mobile phone or PDA accommodating the smoke detection apparatus as an integral part. In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination of a wireless telecommunication unit and a smoke warning apparatus, in which a power source and an audio-visual interface in the telecommunication unit is utilized as a power source and an alarm signal emitter for the smoke warning apparatus, a smoke detection apparatus for detecting smoke from the surroun- dings being included in the smoke warning apparatus being powered by the power source and being integral in or connected to the wireless telecommunication unit. The idea behind the present invention is to integrate or combine a smoke detector with a product that has become almost an article of clothing for very many people, namely a mobile phone. The invention can be used anywhere, by anybody who is a mobile phone user, independently of whether there is network coverage. In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by discussing practical embodiments thereof, and reference will be made to the appended drawings, of which fig. 1 shows, in a schematical manner, a telecommunication unit, e.g. a mobile phone, with a built-in smoke detector in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, fig. 2 shows an interconnectable combination of a telecommunication unit, e.g. a mobile phone, and a smoke detector module, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 3 is a sketch to illustrate the personal safety feature of the telecommunication unit in accordance with the invention.
In the most preferred embodiment, the present invention builds on previously known technology in the field of mobile phones/PDAs and in the field of smoke detectors. A mobile phone (and a PDA, Personal Digital Assistant) already has an energy source in the form of a battery, and it already is capable of emitting an alarm audio signal, i.e. a ringing tone. Thus, by installing a smoke sensor in a mobile phone or PDA, it is not very difficult to connect the sensor signal so as to provide a signal to the phone/PDA processor, thereby to enable the mobile phone/PDA to provide a smoke alarm audio signal. Fig. 1 shows such a solution, in a schematical manner. Reference numeral 1 indicates an antenna on a mobile phone/PDA, this antenna is often completely integrated in the mobile phone/PDA and may not even be visible from the outside. Reference numeral 7 indicates a loudspeaker, which in most mobile phones/PDAs is completely integral in the unit. Further normal features of a mobile phone/PDA are represented in the drawing with reference numerals 8 indicating a display, 9 a key pad, 10 an internal processor (comprising all functions regarding transmission and reception connected with normal mobile telephony, for instance in accordance with the GSM standard). Further, reference numeral 11 indicates a power source (battery), and reference numeral 12 a built-in microphone. All these elements are common elements in mobile phones/PDAs, and should not need further explanation here.
Reference numeral 5 indicates a smoke sensor that has been built into the mobile phone/PDA as an integral part thereof. This sensor relies on power from the already existing battery in the mobile phone/PDA, and is able to deliver a signal to the processor 10. Processor 10 contains instructions regarding response to a signal from sensor 5. When sensor 5 detects smoke, processor 10 will immediately provide an audio alarm signal by means of loudspeaker 7. Of course the mobile phone/PDA must be turned on to provide such an alarm function. In a preferred embodiment, it is possible for the user to activate and deactivate the smoke sensor alarm function.
One further option is a visual alarm signal, for example by flashing in display 8, but for persons with normal ears, the audio alarm is of much higher importance. However, one may envisage embodiments in which a built-in flashlight (not shown in the drawing) may be activated, as a special feature for people with a hearing impairment. But, since the alarm function has its greatest importance when the user is sleeping, other solutions like a built-in vibrator may be more practical. Such a vibrator alarm is hereby included in the term "audio-visual signal", i.e. such a vibrator is intended to constitute one type of an "audio-visual interface towards a user".
As regards the smoke sensor, it may use any known principle for responding to the presence of smoke particles in the air, as long as the physical dimensions of the sensor can be held within limits set by the build-in requirement. The sensor may be of the commonly known radiation or optical types, or more preferably of a type that can be integrated onto a multi-function chip built into the unit, see for instance the solid state smoke detector type presented in US patent no. 5,382,341. Or possibly, a SIM card may also include such a sensor part that is activated upon smoke detection.
At the moment of writing this specification, there exists no mobile phone or PDA with such a built-in feature. Of course, constructing a mobile phone/PDA with such an extra feature as a smoke sensor, as described above, will represent no particular problem for a manufacturer. But for many people who already own a mobile phone or PDA, a first solution may be to equip a present mobile phone or PDA with a snap-on module, for instance a small module to be attached to the ordinary connector socket (for a charger, an external antenna or for connection to a PC or other external equipment) arranged normally at the lower end of a mobile phone/PDA.
Fig. 2 shows schematically such a solution, in which reference numeral 6 indicates an ordinary mobile phone (with antenna 1 and loudspeaker 7 preferably integrated as previously mentioned in connection with fig. 1), and the add-on module to the right in the drawing contains a smoke sensor 5, while reference numeral 4 indicates necessary circuitry, for instance a microcontroller or processor providing necessary extra control functions for the mobile phone 6. Reference numeral 2 signifies the interface arrangement between the mobile phone and the snap-on module. The module takes power from the battery in the mobile phone, and the processor 4 is connected to the mobile phone processor. Preferably, such a module as described above, is equipped with a similar interface connector at the other end, as the interface connector at the lower end of the mobile phone, to result in an apparatus with just the same functionality as originally, but with the added function of smoke detection and warning as previously explained. Since the original processor in the mobile phone has no instructions regarding processing a smoke detector signal, such processing is executed in processor 4. Processor 4 then "instructs" the mobile phone processor regarding all smoke detection functions. In the above description we have mostly used the term "mobile phone", however the invention is not restricted to mobile phones or PDAs, but is intended to cover any wireless telecommunication unit with built-in audio-visual interface, like portable terminals, PCs, cordless telephones or hand-held or portable radio telephones, connected in wireless fashion to some type of network. Fig. 3 illustrates the personal safety feature inherent in the combination apparatus of the present invention. A mobile phone with a smoke warning unit will provide a fire/smoke warning function in any situation, because the mobile phone is always present and active. Whether the user sleeps in a hotel room, in a boat, in a ferryboat cabin, in a train compartment, in a cottage, in a tent, in a caravan or somewhere else, the presence of the combination apparatus of the invention will provide the necessary safety against fire or smoke in the surroundings.
As previously mentioned, the smoke detector telephone will be operative even when not connected to its normal network, by emitting a warning signal in the presence of smoke. However, when network coverage exists and a connection is present, this novel combination apparatus may go further, by providing the possibility of calling an emergency station as a further response to smoke detection. Preferably, such a function is activated and deactivated by the user. This means that, in addition to activation of the apparatus as a unit, the user has three optional settings to choose between: (1) a setting with personal smoke alarm (sound, flash, vibration) as well as an emergency telephone call, (2) a setting with only a personal alarm, and (3) no alarm.
When this emergency call function has been activated, and in a situation with smoke detection, a call is made automatically at the same time as the alarm signal is set off. When an emergency station receives such a call, the emergency station will immediately call back for verification and to check the user's situation. Of course, if the user does not reply, the emergency station will start an emergency procedure. On the other hand, if the user is able to reply, he/she may stop such a procedure, if the situation turns out to be controllable for the user, or if the alarm was false.
Such a call from the smoke detector telephone to the nearest emergency station, will be made, independent of the location of the user, as long as the user is within network coverage. The network will automatically search for the nearest emergency station. The call may also be in the form of a text message.
The emergency call function will be one further function in an integrated solution like in fig. 1 , but such a function must of course be part of the programming in processor 4 in the snap-on module as shown in fig. 2. The software, either in processor 10 or in processor 4, will control the emergency call in accordance with standardized emergency telephone numbers for different countries, and like for instance in GSM, the processor will always know, after a set-up procedure, in which country it is located for the moment. When such an emergency station is called, the telephone number of the caller will be signaled, even if the telephone has a hidden number. The telephone emergency software will override the hide instruction.
In general, the normal mobile phone network knows, to a certain degree of precision, the whereabouts of a mobile phone that is active and connected. However, in order to enhance the precision of the localization, it is possible to combine in a GPS unit in the mobile phone, or more generally, in the wireless telecommunication unit. The GPS satellite system will then be able to localize the wireless telecommunication unit to a precision of about 20 m, which will be a great help when determining a location for the emergency action. Consequently, such a GPS add-on will be a further benefit in a "smoke detector phone" in accordance with the present invention.
One important advantage of the invention is of course that the smoke detector is powered by the already existing power supply in the wireless telecommunication unit, and consequently the smoke detector will not need separate charging connectors or the like. The telecommunication apparatus will have to be charged as usual. However, to provide an additional safety margin, it is possible to connect the smoke detector in such a manner that a standard "backup battery" (arranged to maintain functions like memory and clock even when the normal battery is down) will be used to power an alarm signal upon detection of smoke for instance when the main battery is getting too weak.
Another possibility to be mentioned, is an embodiment in which an integrated smoke detector in a wireless telecommunication unit can be remote- activated on order from the user. The smoke detector is then attached to the software part of the unit. The user may establish an ordering/subscription arrangement with an operator (a network operator, an insurance company etc.), and when the user transmits an SMS message, Email or similar to the operator with an activating order, the operator will activate this service. In one embodiment of the invention, the sensitivity of the smoke detector unit is adjustable, so that a warning signal will not result until a higher smoke concentration than normal is sensed by the detector. (The same result can of course be obtained by adjusting a threshold level for triggering the alarm signal on the basis of an output signal from the detector unit.) Such a function may be of interest for instance when staying in a room with higher smoke concentration than what is usual, typically in a room with cigarette smokers, or in an air polluted room.