Motorola has introduced two new smoke detector integrated circuit (IC) devices which provide the "temporal three" horn pattern that was recently adopted as a standard by Underwriter's Laboratories from the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). The new standard, scheduled to take effect in August 1999, mandates this new horn pattern for all new smoke detectors installed in residential, commercial and industrial sites.

Compliant with and recognized by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standards UL217 and UL268, the new units support the NFPA 72, ANSi 53.41, and ISO8201 Audible Emergency Evacuation signals. The new horn pattern uses a series of distinctive 1/2 second "on" and "off" signals that are becoming the universal standard evacuation signal and meets the U.S. standard. The new IC's are also capable of driving a piezoelectric horn and externally visible LED.

The new smoke integrated circuits consume very little power, can be operated using either battery or AC power and can function individually or in multiple, interconnected systems.

Each smoke integrated circuit can interface with an ionization chamber and a small number of external components to detect very small concentrations of smoke.

The two detector integrated circuit types, the MC145017 and MC145018, offer the designer either a stand alone device (MC145017) which is designed for single detector applications or a device (MC145018) which is interconnectable with up to 40 detectors for applications where broad area detection is required.

When you are first in the market with a product that is going to be a statutory requirement in products -- with a declared deadline, no less -- you make money. The price is right, too, for maximum penetration into the first-generation designs of the new three-horn products, which also coincide with the legislation in many states of guaranteed battery lives and the ability to temporarily kill an alarm when you are broiling something! The latter is to offer users the opportunity to kill the noise without removing the battery -- which often doesn't go back in the device. Remember too that the market for smoke detectors is not a one-off thing; when a property is sold it generally has to be retrofitted with the latest requirements in safety areas such as this. We should expect to see new detectors on the shelves before the end of this year.

The MC145017 and MC145018 are in production with low-volume pricing of $1.50.