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EP-4210015-B1 - ADDRESSABLE DETECTION SYSTEM

EP4210015B1EP 4210015 B1EP4210015 B1EP 4210015B1EP-4210015-B1

Inventors

  • Escofet Via, Jordi
  • CORDOBA GALERA, ANDRES
  • DE LA TORRE RODRIGUEZ, Ramon

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220107

Claims (14)

  1. A detection system (10) for hazard detection, comprising a control loop (16); an addressable base unit (18) connected to the control loop (16), the base unit (18) comprising a first near-field communication module (22) storing a unit address; and a mounting unit (20) removably coupled to the base unit (18), the mounting unit (20) comprising a second near-field communication module (24) operable to read the unit address from the first near-field communication module (22) and store the unit address so that the mounting unit (20) is thereby addressable via the control loop (16); wherein the second near-field communication module (24) is operable to write to the first near-field communication module (22) with a unit address, configuration information, unit health information, profile information, alarm information, sensor data and/or disablement information.
  2. A system (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first near-field communication module (22) is removably attached to the rest of the base unit (18).
  3. A system (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second near-field communication module (24) is integral to the mounting unit (20).
  4. A system (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a mobile device (26), the mobile device (26) comprising a third near-field communication module (28) operable to write to the second near-field communication module (24) and thereby configure the mounting unit (20) for use.
  5. A system (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of near-field communication modules each storing a different unit address, wherein at least one of the plurality of near-field communication modules is unattached to any other part of the system (10).
  6. A system (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mounting unit (20) is configured to be powered wirelessly via the second near-field communication module (24) and the first near-field communication module (22) of the base unit (18).
  7. A system (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of a sensor, a processor, a memory, an audible indicator, or a visual indicator of the mounting unit (20) is configured to be powered wirelessly via the second near-field communication module (24) and the first near-field communication module (22) of the base unit (18).
  8. A system (10) as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the base unit (18) does not comprise electrical terminals for contact with the mounting unit (20).
  9. A method of operating a detection system (10) for hazard detection, the system (10) comprising: a control loop (16); an addressable base unit (18) connected to the control loop (16), the base unit (18) comprising a first near-field communication module (22) storing a unit address; and a mounting unit (20) removably coupled to the base unit (18), the mounting unit (20) comprising a second near-field communication module (24); the method comprising reading the unit address from the first near-field communication module (22) using the second near-field communication module (24); storing the unit address in the mounting unit (20) so that the mounting unit (20) is thereby addressable via the control loop (16); and writing, using the second near-field communication module (24), to the first near-field communication module (22) with a unit address, configuration information, unit health information, profile information, alarm information, sensor data and/or disablement information.
  10. A method as claimed in claim 9, comprising selecting the first near-field communication module (22) from a plurality of available near-field communication modules, each of the plurality of available near-field communication modules having stored therein a respective unit address.
  11. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 or 10, comprising using a mobile device (26) comprising a third near-field communication module (28) to read the unit address from the mounting unit (20) and/or the base unit (18) while the mounting unit (20) is coupled to the base unit (18).
  12. A method as claimed in any of claim 11 when dependent on claim 10, comprising configuring the plurality of near-field communication modules remotely using the mobile device (26).
  13. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the mounting unit (20) is a first mounting unit, the method comprising uncoupling the first mounting unit from the base unit (18), coupling a second mounting unit comprising a respective near-field communication module (24) to the base unit (18), reading the unit address from the first near-field communication module (22) using the respective near-field communication module (24) of the second mounting unit; and storing the unit address in the second mounting unit so that the second mounting unit is thereby addressable via the control loop (16).
  14. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, comprising powering the mounting unit (20) wirelessly via the first near-field communication module (22) and the second near-field communication module (24).

Description

The present invention relates to a detection system for hazard detection and a method of operating a detection system for hazard detection. BACKGROUND Detection systems are typically employed in structures, such as ship trailers, train carriages, or buildings, in order to identify hazards or hazardous conditions within the structure. For example, detection systems may be employed to detect fires or gas leaks within the structure. Typical detection systems employ a control panel and a number of units connected to the control panel on a loop. At least some of the units may be detector units. Other units may be alarm units. The units may be distributed throughout the structure in order to detect a hazardous condition. The units and control panel may communicate with one another by sending signals through the loop. These signals may be e.g. modulations in current and/or voltage in the loop. For example, the control panel may interrogate each unit in the loop to determine its state. The interrogation signals may be received by every unit in the loop; however, the control panel may only want to interrogate one unit at a time. As such, the control panel may encode an interrogation signal with a unit address of the unit it is to communicate with, thereby focussing communication to the unit with the corresponding unit address. The units may therefore need to store their unit address in order to determine if they are the unit that an interrogation signal is intended for. If the encoded address matches the unit address, then the unit may respond with the requested information. If the encoded address does not match the unit address, then the unit may ignore the interrogation signal. Units within the detection system are typically composed of a base unit and a mounting unit coupled together, where the mounting unit may comprise the detecting and/or alarm capabilities of the unit. The base unit may be located in a fixed location in both the loop and the structure in which the system is installed. However, the mounting unit may be detachable from the base unit. As such, the mounting units within the detection system may be removed, replaced, and/or switched with one another. It is therefore important to ensure that the mounting unit is addressable. In prior art systems, the unit address may be communicated to the mounting unit through an electrical contact with the base unit e.g. a metal-to-metal contact. Alternatively, the unit address may be input to the mounting unit manually by a user positioning a mechanical switch (or a series of mechanical switches) on the mounting unit. However, both of these solutions are time-consuming and complex. In addition, electrical contacts between units may wear over time (e.g. due to friction), may be subject to corrosion (e.g. in environments near the sea, or with high humidity), may be disrupted by movement of the structure, may spark, and so on. In environments with flammable or volatile surroundings, this can be disastrous. There is therefore a need for a simpler and more reliable method of operating a mounting unit of a detection system. WO 2020/162954 A1 discloses an emergency alarm system detector including a permanently installed base, a head that mounts to the base, and various methods for assigning addresses to the detectors. US 5,818,334 A1 discloses a fire detection system comprising individual addressable devices that determine their addresses from address interface modules at the device locations. EP 0 362 985 B1 discloses a detector comprising a mounting base and a sensor part, wherein an address code is set in the base by passive means, and the sensor has means for reading the address code when it is fitted to the base. SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, a detection system for hazard detection is provided. The detection system comprises a control loop; an addressable base unit connected to the control loop, the base unit comprising a first near-field communication (NFC) module storing a unit address; and a mounting unit removably coupled to the base unit, the mounting unit comprising a second near-field communication (NFC) module operable to read the unit address from the first near-field communication (NFC) module and store the unit address so that the mounting unit is thereby addressable via the control loop. The second NFC module is configured to write to the first NFC module with a unit address, configuration information, unit health information, profile information, alarm information, sensor data and/or disablement information. In use, the detection system may comprise a plurality of units connected to the control loop (e.g. a plurality of base units and/or a plurality of mounting units), and a communication may be sent through the control loop (e.g. by a control panel) that is intended for a specific unit connected the control loop. This communication signal may be encoded with an address of the single unit that it is intended for. A