MULTI-SENSE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20110316699A1
• Filed: 06/24/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Scientific Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Industrial Scientific Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: ARUNACHALAM, RAGHU
• Granted Patent: US 9,000,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0006 Calibrating gas analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0063 using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/24 Self-calibration, e.g. compensating for environmental drift or ageing of components
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

An environmental monitoring device for detecting and warning users of unhealthy levels of a given substance is disclosed having more than one sensor for each substance to be detected. Each sensor for each substance detected may be positioned in more than one plane or surface on the device. The device may be capable of auto or self calibration. Methods for reading substance levels and auto calibrating are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A monitoring device comprising:

at least two sensors for each substance to be detected;

a display;

an alarm;

a user interface; and

a processing unit with memory.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the at least two sensors are positioned in more than one plane or surface of the device.

3. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the user interface is at least one of a button, key, or touch screen.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit interfaces with the sensors and alarm.

5. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the alarm is at least one of vibration, visual, or audio.

6. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a user panic button.

7. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising an orientation sensor.

8. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a means to determine an actual reading to be displayed based on the amount of substance detected by the sensors.

9. The monitoring device of claim 8, further comprising a means to instruct or trigger the alarm if the actual reading is greater than or lesser than a threshold amount.

10. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a means to auto or self calibrate the sensors.

11. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a means to instruct a user to perform a calibration with a measured quantity of substance.

12. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a means to request a user to allow auto or self calibration of the sensors.

13. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensors are connected to the processing unit through a wired or wireless connection.

14. A network comprising at least two monitoring devices of claim 1.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein the monitoring devices are connected through a wired or wireless connection.

16. A method for monitoring at least one substance with a monitoring device having at least two sensors specific for each substance, the method comprising:

calculating an actual reading to be displayed based on the amount of the substance detected by the sensors;

determining if the actual reading is greater than a threshold limit; and

instructing an alarm if the actual reading is greater or lesser than the threshold limit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of calculating the actual reading of the substance comprises determining the maximum reading detected by the sensors for the substance.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of calculating the actual reading of the substance comprises determining the minimum reading detected by the sensors for the substance.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of calculation the actual reading of the substance comprises compensating for orientation of the device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of calculating the actual reading of the substance comprises determining the average or weighted average of the readings detected by the sensors for the substance.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining if the reading detected by one sensor deviates by a threshold amount compared to the other sensors specific for the same substance and if so instructing a user to calibrate with a measured quantity of substance, requesting the user to auto or self calibrate, automatically calibrating, or indicate sensor failure.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising auto or self calibrating the sensors.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein self or auto calibrating comprises adjusting a gain of the sensors that deviate by a threshold amount to minimize variance among the sensors for the substance.

24. A method for auto calibrating a monitoring device having at least two sensors for detecting a substance, the method comprising adjusting a gain of the sensors that deviate by a threshold amount to minimize variance among the sensors for the substance.