Systems and methods for dynamic building evacuation
View Patent ↗A disclosure and claims to systems and methods for allowing rapid detection and display of an emergency condition using a plurality of specially-constructed multifunction sensors and display units, which allow building evacuation plans to be evaluated, modified, and transmitted to building occupants.
1. A building emergency evacuation system comprising:
a plurality of sensor and signal units comprising:
a smoke sensor disposed within a cavity recessed into a ceiling;
a signal housing adapted to accommodate either an array of signal lights or a multifunction display;
a vent section comprising a plurality of vents adapted to permit smoke flow to said smoke sensor disposed in said cavity, said vent section disposed in a connecting structure joining said cavity and said signal housing; and
a microcontroller adapted to (i) receive an evacuation signal; (ii) cause said signal housing to display information-associated with an evacuation route in response to said evacuation signal;
a local control unit comprising a general purpose computer, said local control unit adapted to: (a) autonomously generate an initial evacuation plan in response to an emergency condition, and (b) grant a plurality of access levels to users; and
a remote control station comprising a general purpose computer in communication with said local control unit, said remote control station adapted to permit a user to obtain command access to said local control unit, wherein command access permits said remote control station to (a) manually edit said initial evacuation plan, and (b) transmit an evacuation signal corresponding to the modified evacuation plan to said sensor and signal units.
2. A building evacuation system capable of detecting an evacuation condition and automatically generating an evacuation plan comprising:
a local control unit located within a structure subject to an evacuation condition, said local control unit being adapted to, grant a remote control station authority to access building plans and sensory data, and permit a user to modify an automatically-generated evacuation plan; and
a plurality of sensor and signal units adapted to communicate with said local control unit comprising:
a smoke sensor disposed in a cavity portion recessed into a ceiling;
a signal housing accommodating an array of signal lights, wherein said signal lights are disposed evenly around the periphery of said housing to provide omnidirectional coverage;
a vent section joining said smoke sensor and said housing; and
a microprocessor adapted to convert a modified evacuation plan into a signal light pattern associated with an evacuation route.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said signal housing accommodates a plurality of multicolored LED lights disposed omnidirectionally around its perimeter.