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EP-4738303-A2 - EVENT DETECTION DEVICE TESTING

EP4738303A2EP 4738303 A2EP4738303 A2EP 4738303A2EP-4738303-A2

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems for event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400) testing are described herein. One device includes a memory (124, 724) and a processor (126, 726) to execute instructions stored in the memory to enable a filter-mode while the event detection device is simultaneously operating in a normal operational mode, cause a self-test module (106, 406) of the event detection device to generate an amount of test medium for a testing chamber (104, 204, 404) of the event detection device, cause an air movement device (116, 216, 416) of the event detection device to pass the test medium through the testing chamber, and cause the event detection device to perform an anti-mask test using the test medium to determine whether the testing chamber is blocked while in the filter-mode.

Inventors

  • WOLF, BENJAMIN H.
  • BARSON, MICHAEL
  • Chitturi, Prudhvi Ranga

Assignees

  • Honeywell International Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20250922

Claims (15)

  1. A controller (122, 422, 722) for testing an event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400), comprising: a memory (124, 724); and a processor (126, 726) configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory (124, 724) to: enable a filter-mode while the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400) is simultaneously operating in a normal operational mode; cause a self-test module (106, 406) of the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400) to generate an amount of test medium for a testing chamber (104, 204, 404) of the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400); cause an air movement device (116, 216, 416) of the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400) to pass the test medium through the testing chamber (104, 204, 404); and cause the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400) to perform an anti-mask test using the test medium to determine whether the testing chamber (104, 204, 404) is blocked while in the filter-mode.
  2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to enable the filter-mode in response to a preliminary event check indicating no event is occurring.
  3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to cause the event detection device to enter an alarm condition in response to a non-test medium event being detected during the anti-mask test.
  4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to cause the air movement device to evacuate the generated amount of test medium from the testing chamber.
  5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the anti-mask test includes an obscuration test.
  6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to perform the obscuration test by: causing, prior to generating the test medium, a sensor (412) to take an initial value to verify a clean air status for the sensor (412); causing, after the test medium is generated, the sensor (412) to take a number of obscuration test values until one of the number of obscuration test values is within a threshold amount of the initial value; and determining an amount of time elapsed between the initial value and the one of the number of obscuration test values that is within the threshold amount of the initial value.
  7. The controller of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the obscuration test by determining, in response to the amount of time being less than a threshold, the testing chamber is not blocked.
  8. The controller of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the obscuration test by determining, in response to the amount of time being greater than a threshold, the testing chamber is blocked.
  9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to generate and transmit, in response to determining the testing chamber is blocked, a notification.
  10. A method for testing an event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400), comprising: performing, by a controller (122, 422, 722), a preliminary event check via a testing chamber (104, 204, 404) of the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400); enabling, by a controller (122, 422, 722) based on the preliminary event check, a filter-mode of the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400) while the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400) is simultaneously operating in a normal operational mode; causing, by the controller (122, 422, 722), a self-test module (106, 406) of the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400)to generate an amount of test medium for the testing chamber (104, 204, 404) of the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400); causing, by an air movement device (116, 216, 416) of the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400), the test medium to pass through the testing chamber (104, 204, 404); and causing, by the controller (122, 422, 722), the event detection device (100, 200, 300, 400) to perform an anti-mask test using the test medium to determine whether the testing chamber (104, 204, 404) is blocked while in the filter-mode, wherein the anti-mask test is an obscuration test.
  11. The method of claim 10, wherein enabling the filter-mode includes enabling a software filter to prevent the controller from generating an alarm condition in response to a sensor (412) of the event detection device detecting the test medium in the testing chamber.
  12. The method of claim 11, wherein: the obscuration test includes taking, by the sensor, an obscuration test value having an associated signal including a predetermined signal characteristic; and the software filter is configured to prevent, in response to detecting the predetermined signal characteristic, the event detection device from transmitting an alarm signal.
  13. The method of claim 10, wherein the method includes causing, by the controller in response to a sensor of the event detection device detecting smoke separate from the test medium during the anti-mask test, the event detection device to enter an alarm condition while the event detection device is in the filter-mode.
  14. The method of claim 10, wherein the method includes causing, by the controller in response to the preliminary event check indicating an event is occurring, the event detection device to enter an alarm condition.
  15. The method of claim 10, wherein: the preliminary event check includes: causing, by the air movement device, air surrounding the event detection device to move through the testing chamber; and taking, by the sensor, a preliminary sample of the air moving through the testing chamber to determine whether an event is occurring; and the method includes enabling, by the controller in response to the preliminary event check indicating no event is occurring, the filter-mode and causing the self-test module to generate the test medium.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to devices, methods, and systems for event detection device testing. Background Large facilities (e.g., buildings), such as commercial facilities, office buildings, hospitals, and the like, may have an alarm system that can be triggered during an emergency situation (e.g., a fire) to warn occupants to evacuate. For example, an alarm system may include a control panel and a plurality of event detection devices located throughout the facility (e.g., on different floors and/or in different rooms of the facility) that can sense an event occurring in the facility and provide a notification of the event to the occupants of the facility via alarms. Maintaining the alarm system can include regular cleaning and testing of event detection devices. Such cleaning and/or testing of event detection devices may be mandated by codes of practice in an attempt to ensure that the event detection devices are functioning properly. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an event detection device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Figure 2 illustrates a portion of an example of an event detection device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of an alarm system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Figure 4 illustrates a system for event detection device testing in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Figure 5 illustrates a timing diagram for event detection device testing in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Figure 6 illustrates a method for a software filter for event detection device testing in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Figure 7 is an example of a controller for event detection device testing, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Description Devices, methods, and systems for event detection device testing are described herein. One device includes a memory and a processor to execute instructions stored in the memory to enable a filter-mode while the event detection device is simultaneously operating in a normal operational mode, cause a self-test module of the event detection device to generate an amount of test medium for a testing chamber of the event detection device, cause an air movement device of the event detection device to pass the test medium through the testing chamber, and cause the event detection device to perform an anti-mask test using the test medium to determine whether the testing chamber is blocked while in the filter-mode. As mentioned above, maintaining the alarm system can include regular cleaning and testing of event detection devices. However, since tests may only be completed periodically, there is a risk that faulty event detection devices may not be discovered quickly or that tests will not be carried out on all the event detection devices in an alarm system. Testing each event detection device can be time consuming, expensive, and disruptive to a business. For example, a maintenance engineer is often required to access event detection devices which are situated in areas occupied by building users or parts of buildings that are often difficult to access (e.g., elevator shafts, high ceilings, ceiling voids, etc.). As such, the maintenance engineer may take several days and several visits to complete testing of the event detection devices, particularly at a large site. Additionally, it is often the case that some event detection devices never get tested because of access issues. In order to ensure event detection devices are tested, the event detection devices can utilize a self-test procedure. The self-test procedure can be an automatic testing procedure performed by an event detection device without a user, such as a maintenance engineer or other type of user. The self-test procedure can therefore allow event detection devices to be tested, even if such event detection devices are remotely located and/or difficult to access. The self-test procedure can include generating a test medium and providing the test medium to a test chamber for sensing. The test medium can be provided from a self-test module included in the event detection device. However, if the testing chamber is blocked, the event detection device may not be able to monitor for events in the facility while the event detection device is in a normal operational mode as smoke, for example, may not be able to enter the testing chamber. As such, it can be important to ensure that the testing chamber is not blocked. One way to determine whether the testing chamber is blocked is to perform an anti-mask test. An anti-mask test can be a procedure that, when performed, can determine whether the testing chamber of the event detection device is blocked, whether the event detection device is c