MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND PRINTER HAVING A PARTICULATE SENSOR FOR AIR QUALITY MONITORING

• US 20130038895A1
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alexander Govyadinov, Pavel Cornilovich, Tommy D. Deskins
• Inventors: Deskins, Tommy D., GOVYADINOV, Alexander, Cornilovich, Pavel
• Application Number:
  US13/204,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20130038895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/06 Investigating concentration of particle suspensions by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/075 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0046 in gas, e.g. smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1486 Counting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00976 Arrangements for regulating environment, e.g. removing static electricity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2346 according to a detected condition or state of the reproducing device, e.g. temperature or ink quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2392 for displaying or indicating, e.g. a condition or state details of displaying or indicating means H04N1/00405
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32635 of reproducing apparatus or receiver, e.g. out of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32657 locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32662 remotely, e.g. to the transmitter from the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A mobile communication device includes a wireless transceiver to provide voice communications and a particulate sensor that indicates the amount of particulates detected by the sensor. Control logic in the mobile communication device causes data indicative of the sensor signal to be transmitted through a wireless transceiver. A printer is also disclosed that includes a particulate sensor to monitor air quality at the printer.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver to provide communications;

a particulate sensor; and

control logic coupled to said particulate sensor and said wireless transceiver, said control logic to acquire a sensor signal from said sensor, said sensor signal indicative of an amount of a characteristic of particulate detected by said sensor.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1 further comprising a location determination unit, and said data transmitted through said wireless transceiver is indicative of the sensor signal as well as a location of said mobile communication device as determined by said location determination unit.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1 further comprising a fan configured to move air across said sensor, and wherein said control logic activates said fan upon said control logic acquiring said sensor signal.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said control logic acquires said sensor signal upon initiation of a voice communication.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said particulate sensor comprises a back scattering drop detector.

6. A computing system, comprising:

a processor to receive data from a plurality of mobile communication devices, said mobile communication devices configured to provide voice communications;

wherein said data being indicative of air quality.

7. The computing system of claim 6 wherein said processor causes air quality information obtained from said data to overlay a map.

8. The computing system of claim 6 wherein said processor generates an alert based on said data.

9. The computing system of claim 6 wherein said processor causes a text message or email to be transmitted to at least one of said plurality of mobile communication devices, said text message or email indicative of said air quality.

10. A printer, comprising:

a printhead;

a particulate sensor; and

control logic coupled to said printhead and said particulate sensor, said control logic to receive a particulate sensor signal from said particulate sensor, said data being indicative of the air particulate sensor signal;

wherein said sensor operative, when the printer is in a printing mode, to detect a characteristic of ink drops ejected by the printhead, and operative, when the printer is in a non-printing mode, to detect a characteristic of particulate in the air in or around the printer.

11. The printer of claim 10 further comprising a lid sensor that detects when a lid of said printer is in an open position, and wherein said processor receives a lid signal from said lid sensor and, based on detection that the lid is open, said control logic receives said air particulate sensor signal.

12. The printer of claim 10 further comprising a display, wherein said control logic is configured to cause an alert to be provided on said display based on said air particulate sensor signal.

13. The printer of claim 10 wherein said control logic is configured to compare said air particulate sensor signal to a threshold and generate an alert on the basis of the comparison.

14. The printer of claim 10 further comprising the control logic to transmit data indicative of the particulate sensor signal to a computer.

15. The printer of claim 10 further comprising a display and wherein the control logic is to display information indicative of the particulate sensor signal on said display.

16. The printer of claim 10 wherein said particulate sensor comprises a back scattering drop detector integrated into said printer.

17. A computer, comprising:

a processor; and

an interface configured to communicate with a printer;

wherein said processor receives data from the printer, the data being indicative of air quality.

18. The computer of claim 17 wherein said processor causes a command to be sent to the printer for an air quality reading to be taken by the printer.

19. The computer of claim 17 wherein said processor generates an alert based on said data received from the printer.

20. The computer of claim 17 wherein said alert comprises an email message or a pop-up window.

21. A non-transitory storage device containing software that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

transmit a request to a printer, said request being for the printer to take an air quality reading;

receive a response from the printer, the response containing data indicative of air quality; and

generate an alert based on said response.

22. The non-transitory storage device of claim 21 wherein the software causes the processor to compare said data to a threshold, and to generate the alert on the basis of the comparison.

23. The non-transitory storage device claim 22 wherein the alert comprises an email message or a pop-up window.

24. The non-transitory storage device of claim 21 wherein said software also causes the printer to print a print job.