Monitoring device with volatile organic compounds sensor and system using same

• US 10,441,178 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Withings S.A.
• Original Assignee: Withings S.A.
• Inventors: Campo, David, Carpentier, Stephane, Dumoulin, Amaury, Buard, Nadine, Carreel, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang, Frank F
• Application Number:
  US14/805,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20160015278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4803 Speech analysis specially adapted for diagnostic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0047 for organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/10 by analysing the shape of a waveform, e.g. extracting parameters relating to peaks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10024 Color image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10048 Infrared image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30076 Plethysmography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30201 Face
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0016 involving temporal comparison
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/75 involving models
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/25 Determination of region of interest [ROI] or a volume of interest [VOI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

Video monitoring device comprising a computing unit, a camera, a communication interface, and a volatile organic compounds sensor configured to measure at least a concentration of organic compounds in a room of interest, said computing unit being configured to record the concentrations of organic compounds reported by the volatile organic compounds sensor, and configured to send images taken by the camera and volatile organic compounds concentrations to a remote entity, such as a smartphone over a wireless link.

Claims

1. A video monitoring device for monitoring air quality in a room of interest, comprising a computing unit, a camera, a communication interface, and a volatile organic compounds sensor configured to measure concentrations of organic compounds in the room of interest and to provide an aggregate concentration level of organic compounds which combines all the organic compounds present in the air of the room of interest, including butane, propane, octane, methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol, and aromatic compounds including benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene, said computing unit being configured to record the concentrations of organic compounds reported by the volatile organic compounds sensor, and configured to send images taken by the camera and volatile organic compounds concentrations to a remote entity of a user, so that the user can decide whether it is required to ventilate/air the room.

2. The video monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the computing unit stores successive organic compound concentration level values in memory, for transmission at regular intervals to the remote entity.

3. The video monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein an alert threshold is provided in the computing unit, which allows to send immediately to the smartphone an alert message, as soon as the volatile organic compounds concentration level exceeds the predetermined alert threshold.

4. The video monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the volatile organic compounds sensor is an electrochemical MOS on-chip sensor using oxidation-reduction reactions with gas(es) present in ambient air, whereby a volatile organic compounds concentration level can be measured.

5. The video monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein some vital signs of a baby, such as the heart rate and/or respiratory rate of the baby are evaluated by photoplethysmographic analysis of the captured images, thereby forming a device suitable for monitoring the baby in a room or in a crib.

6. The video monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a loudspeaker and a microphone, thereby forming two-way audio link, particularly suitable for interacting with a baby in a room or in a crib, remotely from a parent/caretaker using the smartphone.

7. A video monitoring system comprising a monitoring device according to claim 1, and a smartphone.

8. A method to monitor events in a room and an air quality in the room, the method comprising:

measuring a concentration of organic compounds in a room with a volatile organic compounds sensor

taking images of at least part of the room,

storing the organic compound concentration data in a memory of a computing unit,

send images taken by the camera and volatile organic compounds concentrations, from the computing unit to a remote entity such as a smartphone over a wireless link, and

decide whether it is required to ventilate/air the room.

9. The method to according to claim 8, wherein the transmission to the smartphone occurs at regular intervals.

10. The method to according to claim 8, wherein an alert threshold is provided in the computing unit, the method further comprising:

sending quickly to the smartphone an alert message, as soon as the volatile organic compounds concentration exceeds the predetermined alert threshold.

11. A video monitoring device for monitoring air quality in a room of interest, comprising a computing unit, a camera, a communication interface, and a volatile organic compounds sensor configured to measure concentrations of organic compounds in the room of interest and to provide an aggregate concentration level of organic compounds which combines all the organic compounds present in the air of the room of interest, including butane propane, octane, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and aromatic compounds including benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene, said volatile organic compounds sensor being arranged within the video monitoring device, said computing unit being configured to record the concentrations of organic compounds reported by the volatile organic compounds sensor, and configured to send images taken by the camera and volatile organic compounds concentrations to a remote entity.