Carbon monoxide emitting apparatus, carbon monoxide monitor shutoff, and circuit therefor
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring carbon monoxide concentrations in an environment for use with an apparatus emitting carbon monoxide, said system comprising:
- a. a carbon monoxide sensor for measuring a concentration of carbon monoxide in the environment, said sensor providing a sensor signal representative of the measured concentration of carbon monoxide;
b. a memory storing data relating to past carboxyhemoglobin levels;
c. a processor receiving and responsive to the sensor signal for generating an output signal indicative of the concentration of carbon monoxide, said processor;
i. receiving the sensor signal from the carbon monoxide sensor, ii. determining the concentration of carbon monoxide corresponding to the sensor signal, iii. retrieving the stored carboxyhemoglobin level data from the memory, iv. calculating a carboxyhemogolobin level corresponding to the determined concentration of carbon monoxide and the retrieved carboxyhemoglobin level data, and v. storing the calculated carboxyhemoglobin level to memory for a predetermined period of time while the apparatus is shut off for retrieval by the processor and calculation of subsequent carboxyhemoglobin levels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring carbon monoxide in an environment which includes an apparatus emitting carbon monoxide, such as an internal combustion engine. A carbon monoxide sensor measures a concentration of carbon monoxide in the environment and provides an electrical signal to a processor that is representative of the measured concentration of carbon monoxide. The processor determines the concentration of carbon monoxide corresponding to the electrical signal, provides an output signal at or above predetermined carbon monoxide concentration thresholds, calculates an estimated carboxyhemoglobin level for the operator corresponding to the carbon monoxide concentrations calculated over time, and provides an output signal at or above predetermined carboxyhemoglobin thresholds. The signals are then received by one or more devices which provide textual, visual, and/or audible warnings indicating that environmental concentrations of carbon monoxide have caused a predetermined warning threshold to be met or exceeded. The signals may also be received by a device which shuts down the carbon monoxide generating apparatus.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring carbon monoxide concentrations in an environment for use with an apparatus emitting carbon monoxide, said system comprising:
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a. a carbon monoxide sensor for measuring a concentration of carbon monoxide in the environment, said sensor providing a sensor signal representative of the measured concentration of carbon monoxide;
b. a memory storing data relating to past carboxyhemoglobin levels;
c. a processor receiving and responsive to the sensor signal for generating an output signal indicative of the concentration of carbon monoxide, said processor;
i. receiving the sensor signal from the carbon monoxide sensor, ii. determining the concentration of carbon monoxide corresponding to the sensor signal, iii. retrieving the stored carboxyhemoglobin level data from the memory, iv. calculating a carboxyhemogolobin level corresponding to the determined concentration of carbon monoxide and the retrieved carboxyhemoglobin level data, and v. storing the calculated carboxyhemoglobin level to memory for a predetermined period of time while the apparatus is shut off for retrieval by the processor and calculation of subsequent carboxyhemoglobin levels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A carbon monoxide emitting apparatus having a carbon monoxide monitor for measuring carbon monoxide in an environment, said apparatus comprising:
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a. a carbon monoxide monitor comprising;
i. a carbon monoxide sensor for measuring a concentration of carbon monoxide in the environment, said sensor providing a sensor signal representative of the measured concentration of carbon monoxide;
ii. a memory storing data relating to past carboxyhemoglobin levels;
iii. a processor receiving and responsive to the sensor signal for generating an output signal indicative of the concentration of carbon monoxide, said processor;
(1) receiving the sensor signal from the carbon monoxide sensor, (2) determining the concentration of carbon monoxide corresponding to the sensor signal, (3) retrieving the stored carboxyhemoglobin level data from the memory, (4) calculating a carboxyhemoglobin level corresponding to the determined concentration of carbon monoxide and the retrieved carboxyhemoglobin level data, (5) storing the calculated carboxyhemoglobin level data to the memory for a predetermined period of time while the apparatus is shut off for retrieval by the processor and calculation of subsequent carboxyhemoglobin levels, and (6) providing an output signal at or above specified carboxyhemoglobin concentration thresholds; and
b. a device that indicates the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A carbon monoxide monitor comprising:
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a. a carbon monoxide sensor for measuring a concentration of carbon monoxide in the environment, said sensor providing a sensor signal representative of the measured concentration of carbon monoxide;
b. a memory storing data relating to past carboxyhemoglobin levels;
c. a processor receiving and responsive to the sensor signal for generating an output signal indicative of the concentration of carbon monoxide, said processor;
i. receiving the sensor signal from the carbon monoxide sensor, ii. determining the concentration of carbon monoxide corresponding to the sensor signal, iii. retrieving the stored carboxyhemoglobin level data from the memory, iv. calculating a carboxyhemoglobin level corresponding to the determined concentration of carbon monoxide and the retrieved carboxyhemoglobin level data, v. storing the calculated carboxyhemoglobin level data to memory for a predetermined period of time while the apparatus is shut off for retrieval by the processor and calculation of subsequent carboxyhemoglobin levels, and vi. providing an output signal at or above specified carboxyhemoglobin concentration thresholds;
d. a device that indicates the output signal; and
e. electrical leads adapted to receive and transfer data between the carbon monoxide monitor and equipment powered with internal-combustion equipment that emits carbon monoxide. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for monitoring carboxyhemoglobin levels of people in an environment for use with all apparatus emitting carbon monoxide, said system comprising:
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a. a sensor for measuring oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels in blood, said sensor providing a signal representative of the measured oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels; and
b. a processor receiving and responsive to the signal for generating an output signal corresponding to estimated oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels, said processor;
i. receiving the signal from the sensor, ii. determining the oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels corresponding to the signal, iii. providing an output signal at or above a specified carboxyhemoglobin level threshold. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
a. receiving the signal from the sensor, b. retrieving stored oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels from memory, c. determining the oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels corresponding to the signal and stored oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels, d. storing determined oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin level data to memory, and e. providing an output signal at or above a specified carboxyhemoglobin level threshold;
wherein the stored oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels are retained in memory for a predetermined period of time while the apparatus is shut off for retrieval and calculation of subsequent oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels.
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40. The system of claim 39 further comprising a device that indicates a carboxyhemoglobin level at a specified output signal.
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41. The system of claim 40 wherein the signals activate a device, wherein the device is an analog display, digital display, light emitting device, sound emitting device, shut-down device for the apparatus, or combination thereof.
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42. The system of claim 39 wherein the processor calculates a period of time remaining until a predetermined carboxyhemoglobin level is reached.
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43. The system of claim 39 wherein the oxygen saturation sensor is a pulse oximeter.
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44. A carbon monoxide emitting apparatus having the carboxyhemoglobin level monitoring system of claim 39.
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45. The system of claim 39 the predetermined period of time is a workshift.
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46. The system of claim 39 wherein the predetermined period of time is eight or more hours.
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47. The system of claim 39 wherein the oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels are calculated from stored oxygen saturation or carboxyhemoglobin levels determined before the apparatus was shut off and the oxygen saturation or carbon monoxide levels measured when the apparatus is restarted.
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48. The carbon monoxide emitting apparatus of claim 39 wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a floor polisher and a power washer.
Specification