Smoke and steam detector
A device for detecting a hazardous condition in an area includes a housing defining a chamber. There is at least one smoke sensing device for detecting the presence of smoke in the chamber. An extremely-high frequency detector includes at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter positioned relative to at least one extremely-high frequency receiver.
1. A device for detecting a hazardous condition in an area, comprising:
a housing defining a chamber;
at least one smoke sensing device for detecting the presence of smoke in the chamber; and
an extremely-high frequency detector including at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter positioned relative to at least one extremely-high frequency receiver, wherein the at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter includes a high frequency generator in communication with a transmitting antenna and the at least one extremely-high frequency receiver includes an antenna in electrical communication with a receiver and a lens for focusing EHF waves.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter is configured to generate a frequency of approximately 183 GHz.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter is configured to generate a frequency between 180 GHz and 190 GHz.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter and the at least one extremely-high frequency receiver are located within the chamber.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter is located directly across the chamber from the at least one extremely-high frequency receiver.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter and the at least one extremely-high frequency receiver are located on an exterior of the housing.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter includes a plurality of extremely-high frequency transmitters and the at least one extremely-high frequency receiver includes a plurality of extremely-high frequency receivers.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of extremely-high frequency transmitters are positioned in a non-line of sight configuration with the plurality of extremely-high frequency receivers.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the housing includes a plurality of openings in fluid communication with the chamber and an exterior of the housing.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one smoke sensing device includes a photoelectric detector having a light source and a photoelectric sensor.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one smoke sensing device includes an ionization detector including a ionization source, a positive plate electrode, and a negative plate electrode.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one smoke sensing device includes a photoelectric detector and an ionization detector.
13. A method of operating a device for detecting a hazardous condition in an area, comprising the steps of:
determining with at least one smoke sensing detector if smoke is present in the air adjacent the device;
determining with an extremely-high frequency detector if water is present in air adjacent the device; and
determining if an alarm should be triggered to indicate a hazardous condition based on the extremely-high frequency detector and the at least one smoke sensing detector;
wherein the device does not provide an alarm if the extremely-high frequency detector detects water in the air and if the at least one smoke sensing device is triggered.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the extremely-high frequency detector includes at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter and at least one extremely-high frequency receiver and the at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter generates a frequency between 180 GHz and 190 GHz to determine the presence of the water in the air.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one smoke sensing detector includes at least one of a photoelectric detector or an ionization detector.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the extremely-high frequency detector and the at least one smoke sensing detector are located within a chamber at least partially defined by a housing of the device.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the device provides an alarm if the extremely-high frequency detector does not detect water in the air and if the at least one smoke sensing detector is triggered.
18. The method of claim 14 , including determining the presence of water in the air by measuring a distortion of the signal generated by the at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter with the at least one extremely-high frequency receiver.
19. A method of operating a device for detecting a hazardous condition in an area, comprising the steps of:
determining with at least one smoke sensing detector if smoke is present in the air adjacent the device;
determining with an extremely-high frequency detector if water is present in air adjacent the device, wherein the extremely-high frequency detector includes at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter and at least one extremely-high frequency receiver and at least one extremely-high frequency transmitter generates a frequency between 180 GHz and 190 GHz to determine the presence of the water in the air;
determining if an alarm should be triggered to indicate a hazardous condition based on the extremely-high frequency detector and the at least one smoke sensing detector; and
determining the presence of water in the air by measuring a distortion of the signal generated by the at least one extremely-high frequency with the at least on extremely-high frequency receiver.