ROOM PRIVACY DEVICE

• US 20170186303A1
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Published: 06/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Larte, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,697,718 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/78 Detection of presence or absence of voice signals switching of direction of transmission by voice frequency in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/10

Abstract

A room privacy device sounds an audible alarm when a door to a room is not closed and sound is detected in the room. This helps prompt people in the room to close the door to maintain the privacy of the conversation and/or prevent sound in the room from disturbing others outside the room. In some embodiments, the room privacy device includes a door sensor for detecting whether a door is open, a microphone for capturing sound, and a speaker for providing an audible alarm. The room privacy device also includes a processor that causes the speaker to sound an audible alarm based on a signal from the door sensor indicative of the door being open and a signal from the microphone indicative of sound being detected.

Claims

1. A device for providing a room privacy alarm, the device comprising:

a door sensor;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a processor configured to receive a first signal from the door sensor, receive a second signal from the microphone, and cause the speaker to sound an audible alarm in response to receiving the first signal and the second signal; and

a main body having an enclosure that houses the microphone, the speaker, and the processor, wherein the main body is integral with a door hinge pin.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the door sensor comprises at least one selected from the following:

two electrical contacts;

a magnetic switch and a magnet; and

a photoelectric sensor and photoelectric transmitter.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the microphone comprises a directional microphone.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes a main body having an enclosure that houses the microphone, the speaker, and the processor.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the main body is integral with a door hinge pin.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the door sensor comprises a magnetic switch, and the enclosure houses the magnetic switch.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the door sensor is not housed by the enclosure.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the door sensor includes a transmitter that wirelessly communicates with a receiver in the main body.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm when the second signal is indicative of a sound being detected using the microphone for a predetermined period of time.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm when the second signal is indicative of a sound being detected using the microphone having a volume that satisfies a threshold volume level.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm when the second signal is indicative of a sound being detected using the microphone that is determined to comprise human speech.

3-4. -4. (canceled)

14-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A device for providing a room privacy alarm, the device comprising:

a door sensor;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a processor configured to receive a first signal from the door sensor, receive a second signal from the microphone, and cause the speaker to sound an audible alarm in response to receiving the first signal and the second signal; and

a main body having an enclosure that houses the microphone, the speaker, and the processor, wherein the door sensor comprises a magnetic switch, and the enclosure houses the magnetic switch.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm when the second signal is indicative of a sound being detected using the microphone for a predetermined period of time.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm when the second signal is indicative of a sound being detected using the microphone having a volume that satisfies a threshold volume level.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm when the second signal is indicative of a sound being detected using the microphone that is determined to comprise human speech.

25. A device for providing a room privacy alarm, the device comprising:

a door sensor;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a processor configured to receive a first signal from the door sensor, receive a second signal from the microphone, and cause the speaker to sound an audible alarm in response to receiving the first signal and the second signal; and

a main body having an enclosure that houses the microphone, the speaker, and the processor, wherein the door sensor is not housed by the enclosure.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the door sensor comprises at least one selected from the following:

a pair of electrical contacts;

a magnetic switch and a magnet;

and a photoelectric sensor and photoelectric transmitter.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the microphone comprises a directional microphone.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the door sensor includes a transmitter that wirelessly communicates with a receiver in the main body.

29. The device of claim 25, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm when the second signal is indicative of a sound being detected using the microphone for a predetermined period of time.

30. The device of claim 25, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm when the second signal is indicative of a sound being detected using the microphone having a volume that satisfies a threshold volume level.

31. The device of claim 25, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm when the second signal is indicative of a sound being detected using the microphone that is determined to comprise human speech.

32. The device of claim 25, wherein the processor causes the speaker to sound the audible alarm in response to determining a door is open based on the first signal from the door sensor.