Scanning device with sensors and camera or tricorder

• US 7,598,860 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Francis Niemi
• Original Assignee: Michael Francis Niemi
• Inventors: Niemi, Michael Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US11/935,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/500, 340/521
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems

Abstract

An application to use of a robotic controller board to manage the influx of data from one or more sensors, and to send that data, in RS232 or serial form, to a Computing Device (see CLAIM VIII). In this case, the images attached are created from a Prototype built for a Palm Handspring Visor Prism PDA with an Eye Module 2 Camera to sense heat, motion, direction and distance from objects from the Scanning device. The Prism also has onboard Clock and Palm OS software that can be used, like Notepad, to take notes, and other built in applications for the user to store data about an incident(s) that the Scanner is recording or had recorded. The Application in its prototype form, and as shown, is short ranged and is meant to be used by a coordinated number of users to find changes hazardous to human life.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring hazardous conditions detected in a 360 degree manner surrounding the system Including:

A Computing device comprising;

A screen to display information; and

A Memory for storing information; and

An operating system for controlling the operation of the computing device; and

A software machine for controlling actions; and

A Sensor Pack that is operably connected to the computing device, the Sensor Pack comprising;

A BrainStem robotic controller for controlling the operation of the Sensor Pack; and

A plurality of color cameras and Sensors for detecting surrounding conditions, the Sensors being operably connected to the BrainStem robotic controller, the Sensors including sensors for heat, motion, direction, distance, radiation, UV radiation, smoke, and Global Positioning System (GPS) information; and

A software machine on the BrainStem robotic controller to query each sensor mounted; and

A Power Supply that provides power to smaller computing devices and the Sensor Pack, the Power Supply being selected from the group consisting of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, or by pronged cord attached to a vehicle battery or a standard AC power source; and

Wherein the BrainStem robotic controller receives sensor Information from the Sensors and transmits the sensor information to the computing device for constant display of the information to the computing device screen, and/or to the computing device memory and/or alerting a user.

2. The claimed system according to claim 1 further comprising a Software machine on the computing device comprising;

user interface to change and/or add new sensors thresholds and storing them; and

A monitor of values when the threshold is reached, the software machine queries the Sensors on the BrainStem and records the information as it is received, attaches a timestamp to the information, activates the camera and records all the information.

3. The claimed system according to claim 2 further comprising when the said Computing device becomes contaminated, whereby the total of the data stored in the said computing device can be remotely ordered to transmit to another Computing Device and then the contaminated device can be disposed of.

4. The claimed system according to claim 1 further comprising a software Machine on the BrainStem robotic controller comprising;

Additional Sensors are hot-swapped into the system and controlled by the BrainStem robotic controller; and

A user interface on the Software Machine to the Computing device to set or reset current Sensors the values they need to respond, to add or remove a Sensor on the BrainStem; and

A command inside the Software Machine to activate cameras or other Sensors not affixed on the BrainStem, affixed to the Computing Device instead.

5. The claimed system according to claim 1 further uses said Sensors comprising;

Said Sensors are continuously read by the said BrainStem robotic controller in round robin fashion each second, whereby the Sensors are not blocked by the system itself are not limited by obstacles of materials used in the system and can sense in any direction; and

Said Sensors sends current positions for mapping software, compass directions, current temperature, current Images, current distance to any object near the Sensor; and

The amount of added Sensors to the said BrainStem robotic controller is expandable to include additional Sensors up to the functional limit of the said BrainStem robotic controller.

6. The claimed system according to claim 1 further comprising of a longer serial cable, whereby the said Sensor Pack is attached by the longer serial Cable, allowing the Sensors to work in hazardous confines while the said Computing device can serve as a remote monitor.