Thermal Sensor for Fire Localization

Fire prevention is one of the main topics regarding home safety of old-renovated and newly built buildings. While it is possible to install modern fire extinguisher system in new houses, during house building, to prevent and stop fires in the old ones, it is easier and less expensive to place some portable automated system to perform this task. To create an automated system, a sensor to localize a fire in a closed environment such as a room is necessary. The sensor has to provide the coordinates of the fire onset to an automated arm with a fire extinguisher. The sensor is based upon a couple of matrix of thermopiles; as a result, their images are opportunely elaborated and they give the dimensional position of the fire onset where the fire extinguisher will direct its beam. This system is a very promising system in closed environment, due to its cost and relative simplicity of installation in order to better prevent fire propagation.