Apparatus and method for wireless gas monitoring

• US 6,252,510 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bud Dungan
• Inventors: Dungan, Bud
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US09/333,352
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 340/632, 340/633, 340/634, 340/539, 340/521, 340/601, 340/602, 73/232, 73/310-- 3
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms

Abstract

The current invention discloses a wireless monitoring system. The system has one or more monitoring devices. Each device can transmit data to and receive messages from an output center or alarm system. The output center can also transmit and receive messages. Both the output center and each device preferably have a transceiver that enables both the transmission and receipt of messages. No remote terminal units or hardwiring is required for the system to function. The system is truly a wireless gas monitoring system. The system may use low earth orbit satellite technology, or licensed radio frequencies or any other means to wirelessly transmit and receive messages.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring atmospheric conditions, comprising the steps of:

providing an air-monitoring unit having a weather-sensing means for use in sensing a plurality of ambient atmospheric conditions, said weather-sensing means providing a first quantitative output;

gas-sensing means for use in sensing levels of associated toxic gases, said gas-sensing means providing a second quantitative output;

wireless communication means for communicating said first and second quantitative output to an associated control center;

power-supplying means for supplying power to said air-monitoring unit; and

, logic controlling means having at least a first threshold value, said logic-controlling means operatively connected said weather and gas-sensing means and said wireless communication-means for use in enabling said wireless communication-means to transmit said first and second quantitative output;

sensing levels of said associated toxic gases and said ambient atmospheric conditions;

comparing said second quantitative output of said gas-sensing means to said threshold values; and

,

selectively enabling said wireless communication-means to transmit said first and second quantitative output to said associated control center.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selectively enabling said wireless communication means occurs only while said second output surpasses said threshold value.

3. An air-monitoring unit for monitoring atmospheric conditions, comprising:

weather sensing means for use in sensing a plurality of ambient atmospheric conditions, said weather sensing means providing a first quantitative output;

gas-sensing means for use in sensing levels of toxic gases, said gas-sensing means providing a second quantitative output;

wireless communication means for use in communicating said first and second output to an associated control center;

power-supplying means for independently supplying power to said air-monitoring unit; and

, logic-controlling means for use in operatively controlling said air-monitoring unit, said logic-controlling means stores at least a first toxic gas level value for use in comparing said value to said second output, and wherein said logic-controlling means enables said wireless communication means to communicate said first and second quantitative outputs to said associated control center based on comparing said value with said second quantitative output.