On-site environment monitoring system

• US 6,252,505 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Bade, Russell Elbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): La, Anh
• Application Number:
  US09/287,024
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/589, 340/521, 340/693.1, 340/545.6, 340/584, 340/585, 340/586, 340/588, 621/27, 621/29, 165/11.1
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/003 Control or safety devices for sterilisation or pasteurisation systems
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3418 in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3445 in a controlled atmosphere comprising other gases in addition to CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices

Abstract

An on-site environment monitoring system including at least one on-site environment condition sensor, an on-site alarm signal, and an on-site alert system. The monitoring system includes an on-site alert system having an on-site programmable microprocessor for activating the on-site alarm signal and in communication with the at least one environment condition sensor. The microprocessor is programmable to thereby provide pre-set respective ranges of environment condition values such that activation of the on-site alarm signal occurs when at least one on-site sensed environment condition value is below or above the programmed pre-set range of values. The present system achieves local control of environmental factors by providing on-site monitoring coupled with on-site alerting to thereby facilitate correction of unwanted ambient conditions by on-site personnel without requiring network-monitoring interaction and consequent time consumption.

Claims

1. An on-site environment monitoring system for monitoring at least one condition of an environment, the system comprising:

a) at least one on-site environment condition sensor within said environment for sensing temperature or humidity of said environment;

b) an on-site alarm device within said environment;

c) an on-site alert system mounted within, isolated from, and visible from within said environment and comprising an on-site programmable microprocessor for activating said on-site alarm device and in communication with the at least one environment condition sensor, said microprocessor programmable with pre-set respective ranges of environment condition values such that activation of the on-site alarm device occurs when at least one on-site sensed environment condition value is below or above said pre-set range of values; and

d) a dedicated housing within said environment and outside of which is the at least one on-site environment condition sensor and within which the microprocessor is disposed, said housing accessible through an opening having a door securable in a closed configuration with a non-alarm securement device to thereby prohibit unauthorized microprocessor intrusion.

2. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the on-site alarm device is a visible stimulus.

3. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the on-site alarm device is an audible stimulus.

4. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the on-site alarm device is both a visible stimulus and an audible stimulus.

5. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising a battery back-up power source for the system.

6. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the microprocessor correlatively stores alarm activation with occurrence time and sensed value of the environment condition causing said alarm activation.

7. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising an on-site system initiation switch.

8. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securement device is an integrity seal.

10. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the on-site alarm device is a visible stimulus.

11. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the on-site alarm device is an audible stimulus.

12. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the on-site alarm device is both a visible stimulus and an audible stimulus.

9. An on-site environment monitoring system for monitoring at least one condition of an environment, the system comprising:

a) an on-site temperature sensor within said environment;

b) an on-site humidity sensor within said environment;

c) an on-site alarm device within said environment;

d) an on-site alert system within said environment comprising an on-site alert system mounted within, isolated from, and visible from within said environment and comprising an on-site programmable microprocessor for activating said on-site alarm device and in communication with the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, said microprocessor programmable with pre-set respective ranges of temperature and humidity values such that activation of the on-site alarm device occurs when an on-site sensed temperature value or an on-site sensed humidity value is below or above said pre-set range of values; and

e) a dedicated housing within said environment and outside of which is the at least one on-site environment condition sensor and within which the microprocessor is disposed, said housing accessible through an opening having a door securable in a closed configuration with a non-alarm securement device to thereby prohibit unauthorized microprocessor intrusion.

13. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 9 additionally comprising a battery back-up power source for the system.

14. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the microprocessor correlatively stores alarm activation with occurrence time and sensed value of a condition causing said alarm activation.

15. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 9 additionally comprising an on-site system initiation switch.

16. An on-site environment monitoring system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said securement device is an integrity seal.