Sensing and reporting devices, systems and methods

• US 8,284,049 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interlink Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: KWJ Engineering, Inc. (Interlink Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blanchard, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/575,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.26, 340/540, 340/691.7, 340/568.1, 340/545.6, 340/531
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

Environmental sensing devices, systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an environmental sensing device includes an environmental sensor and an internal signal generator. The environmental sensing device may be configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more interior surfaces of an enclosure. The environmental sensor may be operable to detect one or more substances within the enclosure and provide a status signal to the internal signal generator corresponding to the presence of the one or more substances. The internal signal generator may be operable to generate a mechanical report sequence corresponding to the status signal. The mechanical report sequence may be a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure.

Claims

1. An environmental sensing device comprising an environmental sensor and an internal signal generator, wherein:

the environmental sensing device is configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more interior surfaces of an enclosure;

the environmental sensor is operable to detect one or more substances within the enclosure and provide a status signal to the internal signal generator corresponding to the presence of the one or more substances; and

the internal signal generator is operable to generate a mechanical report sequence corresponding to the status signal and comprising a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure.

2. The environmental sensing device of claim 1 wherein the internal signal generator comprises one or more of the following:

a knocker device comprising a motor and a knocker element, the knocker device operable to generate the mechanical report sequence by operating the motor such that the knocker element strikes the interior surface of the enclosure to form a series of one or more pulses;

an ultrasonic generator operable to generate the mechanical report sequence by providing a series of one or more ultrasonic pulses to the interior surface of the enclosure; and

a vibrating element operable to generate the mechanical report sequence by providing a series of one or more vibratory pulses to the interior surface of the enclosure.

3. The environmental sensing device of claim 1 wherein a first mechanical report sequence corresponds to a status signal indicating no detection of the one or more substances, and a second mechanical report sequence corresponds to a status signal indicating a detection of the one or more substances.

4. The environmental sensing device of claim 1 wherein the mechanical report sequence is operable to indicate one or more particular substances.

5. The environmental sensing device of claim 1 wherein:

the environmental sensor is configured to operate in a plurality of sensor modes; and

each sensor mode of the plurality of sensor modes corresponds to the detection of a particular class of substance.

6. The environmental sensing device of claim 1 wherein the environmental sensing device further comprises a memory operable to store a sensor log comprising a plurality of received status signals.

7. The environmental sensing device of claim 1 wherein the internal signal generator is operable to generate the mechanical report sequence in accordance with a signal generating schedule.

8. The environmental sensing device of claim 1 wherein:

the environmental sensing device further comprises an internal signal receiver operable to receive a mechanical external signal corresponding to an initiation sequence; and

the internal signal generator is operable to generate the mechanical report sequence upon receipt of the mechanical external signal.

9. The environmental sensing device of claim 8 wherein the mechanical external signal comprises a series of mechanical pulses applied to one or more exterior surfaces of the enclosure.

10. An environmental sensing system comprising an internal sensor device and an external device, wherein:

the internal sensor device comprises an environmental sensor, an internal signal generator, and an internal signal receiver;

the external device comprises an external signal receiver;

the internal sensor device is configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more interior surfaces of an enclosure;

the environmental sensor is operable to detect one or more substances within the enclosure and provide a status signal corresponding to a presence of the one or more substances;

the internal signal generator is operable to receive the status signal from the environmental sensor and upon receipt of a mechanical external signal generate a mechanical report sequence corresponding to the status signal and comprising a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure; and

the external signal receiver is operable to receive and decode the mechanical report sequence to generate a decoded status signal.

11. The environmental sensing system of claim 10 wherein the external device further comprises an external signal generator operable to apply the mechanical external signal to the exterior surface of the enclosure.

12. The environmental sensing system of claim 11 wherein the external signal generator comprises one or more of the following:

a knocker device comprising a motor and a knocker element, the knocker device operable to generate the mechanical external signal by operating the motor such that the knocker element strikes the interior surface of the enclosure to form a series of one or more pulses;

an ultrasonic generator operable to generate the mechanical external signal by providing a series of one or more ultrasonic pulses to the interior surface of the enclosure; and

a vibrating element operable to generate the mechanical external signal by providing a series of one or more vibratory pulses to the interior surface of the enclosure.

13. The environmental sensing system of claim 10 wherein the internal signal generator comprises one or more of the following:

a knocker device comprising a motor and a knocker element, the knocker device operable to generate the mechanical report sequence by operating the motor such that the knocker element strikes the interior surface of the enclosure to form a series of one or more pulses;

an ultrasonic generator operable to generate the mechanical report sequence by providing a series of one or more ultrasonic pulses to the interior surface of the enclosure; and

a vibrating element operable to generate the mechanical report sequence by providing a series of one or more vibratory pulses to the interior surface of the enclosure.

14. The environmental sensing system of claim 10 wherein a first mechanical report sequence corresponds to a status signal indicating no detection of the one or more substances, and a second mechanical report sequence corresponds to a status signal indicating a detection of the one or more substances.

15. The environmental sensing system of claim 10 wherein the internal sensor device further comprises an internal sensor device memory operable to store an internal sensor log comprising a plurality of received status signals.

16. The environmental sensing system of claim 10 wherein the external device further comprises an external device memory operable to store an external sensor log comprising a plurality of decoded status signals.

17. The environmental sensing system of claim 10 wherein the external device further comprises a wireless communications module operable to wirelessly transmit the decoded status signal to a remote computing device.

18. The environmental sensing system of claim 10 wherein:

the environmental sensor is configured to operate in a plurality of sensor modes; and

each sensor mode of the plurality of sensor modes corresponds to the detection of a particular class of substance.

19. A method of reporting a status of an enclosure comprising:

providing a mechanical external signal comprising a series of mechanical pulses applied to an exterior surface of an enclosure;

receiving the mechanical external signal by an internal sensor device positioned within the enclosure;

determining a status of the enclosure and providing a status signal corresponding to the status of the enclosure;

generating with the internal sensor device a mechanical report sequence in response to the receipt of the mechanical external signal, wherein the mechanical report sequence comprises a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure and corresponds with the status signal;

receiving the mechanical report sequence; and

decoding the mechanical report sequence to generate a decoded status signal.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises transmitting the decoded status signal to a remote computing device.