CHEMICAL ALERT SYSTEM USING A PROTABLE DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED CHEMICAL SENSOR

• US 20140225738A1
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensirion AG (Sensirion Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Sensirion AG (Sensirion Holding AG)
• Inventors: LECHNER, Moritz, SANTSCHI, Rafael
• Granted Patent: US 9,401,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/122 Circuits particularly adapted therefor, e.g. linearising circuits
• 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: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A chemical alert system for generating an alarm is described including a portable electronic device, preferably with telecommunication capabilities to allow for data and/or voice communication via private or public networks, and at least one chemical sensor integrated with the housing of the portable device and controlled by a chemical sensor processing unit, further comprising an alert discriminator receiving input based on measurements of the chemical sensor, performing a test on the input and based on an outcome of the test initiating the transfer of measurements of the chemical sensor to a remote processing facility.

Claims

1. A chemical alert system for generating an alarm, the system including a portable electronic device, preferably with telecommunication capabilities to allow for data and/or voice communication via private or public networks, and at least one chemical sensor integrated within the housing of the portable device and controlled by a chemical sensor processing unit, further comprising an alert discriminator receiving input based on measurements of the chemical sensor, performing a test on the input and based on an outcome of the test initiating the transfer of measurements of the chemical sensor to a remote processing facility.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the alert discriminator includes a first and a second test wherein based on an outcome of the first test an alert mode in the portable device is activated and based on the outcome of the second test either a transfer of measurements is initiated or an activation of an alarm state of the portable device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the alert discriminator is configured such that passing of the second test causes the activation of the alarm state, whereas passing of the first test without passing of the second test initiates the transfer of measurements.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein transfer of measurements includes measurements as used as input to the alert discriminator and additional measurements as gained from any prior stage in the processing of the measurements including raw data representing direct sensor measurements.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the alarm state includes the activation of built-in elements of the portable device to generate an alarm.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising the remote processing facility to receive the measurements of the chemical sensor as transferred by the portable device, whereby the remote facility is adapted to augment processing steps for the measurement of the chemical sensor as performed by the portable device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the augmented processing comprises the addition of further measurements or information from sources other than the portable device itself for use in the augmented processing steps.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the chemical sensor comprises a metal-oxide sensing material.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the chemical sensor is integrated onto a common substrate including CMOS circuitry.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is selected from a group comprising:

a mobile phone,

a handheld computer,

an electronic reader,

a tablet computer,

a game controller,

a pointing device,

a photo or a video camera,

a digital music player,

an electronic wrist watch,

a personal health tracking device,

a headset, and

a computer peripheral.

11. A method for generating an alarm in response to a chemical measurement, the system including a portable electronic device, preferably with telecommunication capabilities to allow for data and/or voice communication via private or public networks, and at least one chemical sensor integrated with the housing of the portable device and controlled by a chemical sensor processing unit, further comprising the steps of using an alert discriminator receiving input based on measurements of the chemical sensor, performing a test on the input and based on an outcome of the test initiating the transfer of measurements of the chemical sensor to a remote processing facility.