SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR USING A WIRELESS SMART DEVICE TO PERFORM FIELD CALCULATIONS

• US 20140053586A1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TSI Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TSI Incorporated
• Inventors: Poecher, Arndt, Bark, Gerald M., Menon, Rajagopala
• Granted Patent: US 9,933,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/83 by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/18 with arrangements for signalling that a predetermined value of an unspecified parameter has been exceeded G01D1/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/086 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0009 General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment G01N1/22 takes precedence

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and apparatus for connecting remote and environmental sensors and other operating systems to a portable computing and communications device. The portable device configured to receive and process a set of data and transmit a response or message to at least the user on the quality of the data received. The portable device adapted to reconfigure the remote sensors or operating systems to produce a new set of data.

Claims

1. A system for measuring at least one parameter in a fluid flow, the measuring system comprising:

a portable probing device having an extended body portion with a sensor assembly disposed at one end of the probing device configured to measure at least one parameter, the probing member having means for transmitting parameter data therefrom, the sensor assembly configured to receive a replaceable pre-calibrated sensor element; and

a handheld communications device having a screen display thereon adapted to receive a set of parameter data from the probing device, said communications device adapted to process the parameter data and generate a message when the parameter of the fluid flow exceeds a predefined range.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is sent to a message destination selected from the group consisting of the screen display, a remote printer, a remote server, and a remote controller adapted to receive the message.

3. The system of claim 1, the pre-calibrated sensor element is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and pressure sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pre-calibrated sensor element is selected from the group consisting of a particle counter, a viable biological particle detector and a non-viable biological particle detector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld device is communicate wirelessly with the probing device.

6. A system for measuring and calibrating a controller used for controlling fluid flow in a selected space comprising:

a portable probing device having an extended body portion with a sensor assembly disposed at one end of the probing device configured to measure at least one parameter characteristic of the fluid flow, the probing member having means for transmitting parameter data therefrom; and

a handheld communications device having a screen display thereon adapted to wirelessly receive a set of parameter data from the probing device, said communications device adapted to process the parameter data and generate a message when the parameter of the fluid flow exceeds a predefined range, and

wherein the controller is coupled to the handheld communications device and is adapted to receive and be responsive to the message by changing the fluid flow in the selected space.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor assembly is configured to include a sensor element selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor element, humidity sensor element, and pressure sensor element.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor element is selected from the group consisting of a particle counter, a viable biological particle detector and a non-viable biological particle detector.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor element is a pre-calibrated, replaceable sensor element.

10. A system for improving indoor air quality and air flow within a facility comprising:

an air quality monitoring system adapted to detect biologically viable and non-biologically viable particles, said air quality monitoring system capable of transmitting a set of air quality data upon request;

a controller adapted to wirelessly receive the set of air quality data from said monitoring system and analyze the air quality data, said controller further adapted to transmit an instruction to at least change the air quality data; and

a ventilation system having at least one air cleansing device and a least one airflow control device, the ventilation system adapted to be responsive to said air quality monitoring system and said controller to reconfigure the air cleansing device and the airflow control device to change the air quality data within the facility.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the air quality monitoring system further includes at least one sensor adapted to measure a desired parameter in the facility, the sensor parameter selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, humidity, air velocity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and industrial gases.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the air cleansing device is selected from the group consisting of a filter, an irradiation apparatus and a gel capture device.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the air control device is selected from the group consisting of a blower, an adjustable vent, a set of adjustable baffles, and a set of adjustable louvres.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller is selected from the group consisting of a tablet PC, a smartphone, a cellphone, a notebook computer and a server.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller is adapted through a wireless protocol selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, radio frequency and optically.

16. An apparatus for managing data traffic from remote sensors in agricultural equipment, the apparatus comprising:

a portable controller adapted to communicate with at least one remote sensor assembly and configured to receive a set of farming parameter data from said at least one remote sensor assembly, the controller further adapted to process the farming parameter data and provide results to a user; and

a frame configured as a docking station for said controller having disposed thereon at least one control button and a power button, the frame adapted to receive said portable controller, wherein said power button is energized upon docking said controller in said frame.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the controller is selected from the group consisting of a tablet PC, a smartphone, a cellphone and a notebook computer.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the controller is adapted to receive the set of data through a wireless protocol selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, radio frequency and optically.

19. A system for measuring at least one parameter in a fluid flow, the measuring system comprising:

a handheld communications device having a screen display thereon adapted to receive a set of parameter data from a probing accessory coupled thereto, said communications device adapted to process the parameter data and generate a message when the parameter of the fluid flow exceeds a predefined range, wherein the probing accessory includes a sensor assembly disposed at one end of the probing accessory for measuring at least one parameter, the sensor assembly configured to receive a replaceable pre-calibrated sensor element.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the handheld device is adapted to receive the data wireless from a probing accessory.