SENSOR DEVICE MEASUREMENTS ADAPTIVE TO HVAC ACTIVITY

• US 20150061878A1
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 8,981,950 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/628
• 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 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/007 with forced flow using ducting systems F24F7/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0006 Calibrating gas analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0065 using more than one threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• 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 17/107 for detecting light-scattering due to smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/11 using an ionisation chamber for detecting smoke or gas
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques

Abstract

Various devices, systems, and methods may be presented. A sensor unit may be presented that includes a housing and a chamber arranged within the housing. The sensor unit may include a controller arranged within the housing. The controller may receive information from an HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) system, wherein the information is indicative of operation of the HVAC system. The controller may determine an effect of the HVAC system on measurements made by the sensor using the information from the HVAC system.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a housing;

a sensor arranged within the housing and configured to make measurements;

a controller arranged within the housing, the controller configured to;

receive information from an HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) system, wherein the information is indicative of operation of the HVAC system; and

determine an effect of the HVAC system on measurements made by the sensor using the information from the HVAC system.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller being configured to determine the effect of the HVAC system on measurements made the sensor comprises the controller being configured to adjust a threshold value based on the determined effect.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the adjusted threshold value with measurements made by the sensor.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine one or more measurements made by the sensor are above the adjusted threshold value; and

in response to determining the one or more measurements made by the sensor are above the adjusted threshold value, output an indication of an alarm condition.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the information from the HVAC system is indicative of whether the HVAC system is on or off.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller being configured to determine the effect of the HVAC system on measurements made by the sensor comprises using an adaptive algorithm to determine the effect of the HVAC system on measurements made by the sensor using the information from the HVAC system.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a smoke chamber arranged within the housing and configured to receive air from outside of the housing of the device; and

an emitter arranged within the housing and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation into the smoke chamber.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the sensor is configured to measure a scattered portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter into the smoke chamber.

9. A method for controlling sensor sensitivity, comprising:

measuring an environmental characteristic;

receiving information from an HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) system, wherein the information is indicative of operation of the HVAC system;

adjusting a threshold value at least partially based on the information from the HVAC system; and

comparing a measurement of the environmental characteristic with the adjusted threshold value.

10. The method for controlling sensor sensitivity of claim 9, further comprising:

listening to a radio frequency channel to determine the radio frequency channel is not in use by another device; and

transmitting, via the radio frequency channel, communication packets that each comprise an address that distinguishes a sensor unit from other sensor units of a wireless sensor system.

11. The method for controlling sensor sensitivity of claim 9, further comprising:

readjusting the threshold value following an airflow pattern adjusting to a state of the HVAC system indicated in the information received from the HVAC system.

12. The method for controlling sensor sensitivity of claim 9, further comprising:

adjusting a brightness level of electromagnetic radiation at least partially based on the adjusted threshold value, wherein measuring the environmental characteristic comprises;

emitting the electromagnetic radiation into a smoke chamber, the smoke chamber configured to receive air; and

measuring a scattered portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the smoke chamber.

13. The method for controlling sensor sensitivity of claim 9, further comprising:

measuring a signal strength of wireless communications received from a repeater; and

routing wireless transmission of the measured environmental characteristic based on the signal strength.

14. The method for controlling sensor sensitivity of claim 9, further comprising:

wirelessly communicating information indicative of the measured environmental characteristic to a remote electronic device via a wireless transceiver using a spread spectrum technique.

15. The method for controlling sensor sensitivity of claim 14, wherein wirelessly communicating the information indicative of the measured environmental characteristic comprises encrypting the information indicative of the measured environmental characteristic and the information indicative of the measured environmental characteristic is transmitted unit a handshaking acknowledgement is received.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

means for emitting electromagnetic radiation into a smoke chamber;

means for measuring an amount of smoke based on the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation into the smoke chamber;

means for receiving information from an HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) system, wherein the information is indicative of operation of the HVAC system;

means for adjusting a threshold value at least partially based on the information from the HVAC system, wherein the threshold value is used for evaluating the amount of smoke; and

means for comparing a measurement of the amount of smoke with the adjusted threshold value.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprises:

means for powering up a wireless transceiver from a low power mode when a defined sleep period has expired; and

means for transmitting the measurement to a remote device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprises:

means for transmitting an authentication code within the measurement, the authentication code being used to verify authenticity of a packet containing the measurement.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for adjusting the threshold value at least partially based on the information from HVAC system comprises:

means for temporarily increasing the threshold value in response to the information indicative of the operation of the HVAC system indicating the HVAC system has been turned on.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

means for outputting an indication indicative of a rate of change of the adjusted threshold value.