Status indication triggering and user interfacing in a smart-home hazard detector

• US 10,140,849 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sloo, David, Fadell, Anthony M., Rogers, Matthew L., Veron, Maxime, Le Guen, Sophie, Matsuoka, Yoky, Boyd, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mizra
• Application Number:
  US14/508,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 340517
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/34 by opening air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/02 by investigating impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/121 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity, of the fluid moisture content of the tested material G01N27/048
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 CO or CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/46 Extracting features or characteristics from the video content, e.g. video fingerprints, representative shots or key frames
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 : responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 : Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 : Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 : Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 : Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/012 : using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 : using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 : Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 : Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 : of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 : Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/22 : Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 : by updating and storing reference thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 : indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 : from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 : based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 : Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/196 : characterised by user interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 : using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/197 : Sound control or voice control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1975 : Gesture control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

In various embodiments, a hazard detector may be presented. The hazard detector may include at least one hazard detection sensor that detects a presence of at least one type of hazard. The hazard detector may include a speaker, a light, and a motion detection sensor that detects motion in an ambient environment of the hazard detector. A processing system of the hazard detector may be configured to select an illumination state based on a determined status. The processing system may cause the light to illuminate based on the selected illumination state. The processing system may determine a gesture has been performed in the ambient environment of the hazard detector following the light being illuminated based on the selected illumination state. The processing system may output a detail of the status via the speaker corresponding to the illumination state in response to determining the gesture has been performed.

Claims

1. A hazard detector, comprising:

at least one hazard detection sensor that detects a presence of at least one type of hazard;

a motion detection sensor that detects motion in an ambient environment of the hazard detector;

a speaker;

a light that comprises multiple lighting elements; and

a processing system provided in operative communication with the at least one hazard detection sensor, the motion detection sensor, and the light, the processing system configured to;

select an illumination state from a plurality of illumination states, wherein each illumination state of the plurality of illumination states is assigned to a status associated with the hazard detector;

cause the light to illuminate based on the selected illumination state of the plurality of illumination states;

determine a gesture has been performed based on analyzing motion detected by the motion detection sensor in the ambient environment of the hazard detector following the light being illuminated based on the selected illumination state; and

output a detail of the status via the speaker corresponding to the illumination state in response to determining the gesture has been performed.

2. The hazard detector of claim 1, further comprising:

a light sensor that senses a brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector.

3. The hazard detector of claim 2, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

receive an indication of the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from the light sensor;

determine the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has decreased to a threshold value; and

activate the motion detection sensor in response to the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector reaching the threshold value.

4. The hazard detector of claim 3, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

monitor, using the motion detection sensor, for the gesture for up to a predefined period of time following activation.

5. The hazard detector of claim 4, further comprising:

an on-board battery module that powers the hazard detector, wherein the motion detection sensor is powered exclusively by the on-board battery module.

6. The hazard detector of claim 5, wherein the illumination state is indicative of a low-battery status of the on-board battery module of the hazard detector.

7. The hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the detail of the status output by the speaker is a spoken auditory message.

8. The hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the processing system being configured to determine the gesture has been performed comprises the processing system being configured to:

determine a plurality of waves have been performed as the gesture by a user in the ambient environment of the hazard detector.

9. The hazard detector of claim 1, wherein the at least one hazard detection sensor comprises a smoke detection sensor and a carbon monoxide detection sensor.

10. A method for a hazard detector to output a status detail, the method comprising:

selecting, by the hazard detector, an illumination state from a plurality of illumination states, wherein each illumination state of the plurality of illumination states is assigned to a status associated with the hazard detector;

causing, by the hazard detector, a light of the hazard detector to illuminate based on the selected illumination state of the plurality of illumination states;

determining, by the hazard detector, a gesture has been performed based on analyzing motion detected in an ambient environment of the hazard detector following the light being illuminated based on the selected illumination state; and

outputting, by the hazard detector, a detail of the status via a speaker corresponding to the illumination state in response to determining the gesture has been performed.

11. The method for the hazard detector to output the status detail of claim 10, the method further comprising:

sensing, by the hazard detector, a brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from a light sensor;

determining, by the hazard detector, the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has decreased to a threshold value; and

activating, by the hazard detector, a motion detection sensor in response to the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector reaching the threshold value.

12. The method for the hazard detector to output the status detail of claim 10, the method further comprising:

determining, by the hazard detector, a plurality of waves have been performed as the gesture by a user in the ambient environment of the hazard detector.

13. The method for the hazard detector to output the status detail of claim 10, the method further comprising:

monitoring, by the hazard detector, for the gesture for up to a predefined period of time following activation.

14. The method for the hazard detector to output the status detail of claim 10, wherein the at least one hazard detection sensor detects smoke and carbon monoxide.

15. A hazard detector apparatus comprising:

means for selecting an illumination state from a plurality of illumination states, wherein each illumination state of the plurality of illumination states is assigned to a status associated with the hazard detector apparatus;

means for causing an illumination means of the hazard detector apparatus to illuminate based on the selected illumination state of the plurality of illumination states;

means for determining a gesture has been performed based on analyzing motion detected in an ambient environment of the hazard detector apparatus following a lighting means being illuminated based on the selected illumination state; and

means for outputting a detail of the status via an auditory means corresponding to the illumination state in response to determining the gesture has been performed.

16. The hazard detector apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for sensing a brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector apparatus from a light sensor;

means for determining the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector apparatus has decreased to a threshold value; and

means for activating a motion detection means in response to the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector apparatus reaching the threshold value.

17. The hazard detector apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for determining a plurality of waves have been performed as the gesture by a user in the ambient environment of the hazard detector apparatus.

18. The hazard detector apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for monitoring for the gesture for up to a predefined period of time following activation.

19. The hazard detector apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a means for powering the hazard detector apparatus, the means for powering the hazard detector apparatus being used to store power within the hazard detector apparatus.

20. The hazard detector apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for detecting smoke; and

means for detecting carbon monoxide.