Enhancements to mechanical robot

• US 20060293789A1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Frazier, Milton Massey
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/194 using image scanning and comparing systems
• 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 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• 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 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A mechanical robot senses smoke or CO or other indication of air quality and alarms when air quality falls below a threshold.

Claims

1. A mechanical robot, comprising:

a body;

at least one processor mounted on the body;

at least one electromechanical mechanism controlled by the processor to cause the body to ambulate;

an airborne sensor on the body and outputting signals representative of air content;

a spectral analysis device receiving signals from the airborne sensor and outputting an analysis signal representative thereof; and

an alarm on the body for selectively alarming based on the analysis signal.

2. The robot of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a CO sensor.

3. The robot of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a C02 sensor.

4. The robot of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a smoke sensor.

5. The robot of claim 1, wherein the spectral analysis device is implemented by the processor.

6. The robot of claim 1, wherein the spectral analysis device is implemented in the sensor.

7. A mechanical robot, comprising:

a body;

at least one processor mounted on the body;

at least one electromechanical mechanism controlled by the processor to cause the body to ambulate;

means on the robot for sensing airborne material; and

means on the robot for selectively alarming in response to the means for sensing.

8. The robot of claim 7, wherein the means for sensing is a CO sensor.

9. The robot of claim 7, wherein the means for sensing is a C02 sensor.

10. The robot of claim 7, wherein the means for sensing is a smoke sensor.

11. A method for alerting a person to hazardous air quality, comprising:

providing a mechanical robot;

causing the robot to ambulate;

causing the robot to sense at least one indicia of air quality; and

causing the robot to alarm if the indicia exceeds a threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicia is smoke.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicia is CO.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicia is C02.