Systems for coupling the operations of an environmental modifying unit and a smart appliance

• US 10,437,266 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Hasenoehrl, Erik John
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria, Satish
• Application Number:
  US15/684,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20170351271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 700275-306
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/11 Apparatus for controlling air treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/132 Piezo or ultrasonic elements for dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/135 Vaporisers for active components
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/16 Connections to a HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/032 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/60 Odour
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/16 by purification, e.g. by filtering; by sterilisation; by ozonisation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/30 by ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/50 by odorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

Systems for coupling the operations of an environmental modifying unit and a smart appliance are described. In one form the system includes a central communication unit, a baby monitor, and a dispenser for modifying the environment in which the baby monitor exists. The central communication unit, the baby monitor, and the dispenser are wirelessly connected to one another.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a. a central communication unit;

b. a one or more smart appliance component comprising a baby monitor; and

c. a dispenser for modifying the environment in which the baby monitor exists;

d. wherein the central communication unit, the baby monitor, and the dispenser are wirelessly connected to one another,

e. wherein the central communication unit comprises a processor to control dispensing from the dispenser, and

f. wherein the dispenser comprises a composition to assist with a state or condition selected from the group comprising sleep, wake, respiratory health, and combinations thereof,

wherein the composition has a scent that matches a scent associated with sleep, waking, and/or respiratory health, and wherein the central communication unit is operating ON/OFF controls of the composition dispenser with the ON/OFF controls or the particular cycles START or END times of the one or more smart appliance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the baby monitor and/or central communication unit comprises a sensor to sense temperature.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the baby monitor and/or central communication unit comprises a sensor to sense relative humidity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless connection is via an ad hoc mesh network protocol.

5. A system, comprising:

a. an environment modifying component;

b. a smart appliance component comprising a baby monitor comprising a relative humidity sensor and a temperature sensor; and

c. a central communication unit component, the relative humidity sensor and the temperature sensor sends sensor measurements to the central communication unit in the form of incoming signals;

d. a user interface comprising a smart phone, the user interface displaying information received from the relative humidity sensor and the temperature sensor, wherein the received information is stored in a database to recommend optimum set points taking comfort and energy efficiency into consideration;

e. wherein the environment modifying component, the smart appliance component, and the central communication unit component are communicably connectable; and

f. wherein the central communication unit component controlling the environment modifying component with the information stored in the database.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the central communication unit component controls the environment modifying component based on signals from the relative humidity sensor and the temperature sensor.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein setpoints of the environment modifying component can be adjusted via the user interface.

8. A system, comprising:

a. a central communication unit;

b. a one or more smart appliance component comprising a baby monitor; and

c. a dispenser for modifying the environment in which the baby monitor exists;

d. wherein the central communication unit, the baby monitor, and the dispenser are wirelessly connected to one another,

e. wherein the central communication unit comprises a processor to control dispensing from the dispenser, and

f. wherein the dispenser comprises a composition to assist with a state or condition selected from the group comprising sleep, wake, respiratory health,

wherein the composition has a scent that matches a scent associated with sleep, waking, and/or respiratory health, and wherein the central communication unit is operating ON/OFF controls of the composition dispenser with the ON/OFF controls or the particular cycles START or END times of the one or more smart appliance.