Flow sensing system and method
First Claim
1. A flow sensing system, comprising:
- a multiplicity of devices distributed at different locations within a three-dimensional space, each of the devices comprising;
a housing;
a light source coupled to the housing and configured to emit visible light;
a sensor system coupled to the housing, the sensor system including an air flow sensor subsystem sensing an air flow rate through the housing; and
a device controller coupled to the sensor system and the light source and configured to activate the light source in response to a change in the sensed air flow rate, which is greater than a predefined threshold amount, provided by the sensor system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A visual display is provided through the combined effect of many devices that individually illuminate in response to wind flow. The devices are distributed at different locations within a three-dimensional space, so as to provide an overall illumination effect throughout the space that visually indicates wind (air) or other fluid flowing through the space. Each device can include a housing, at least one light source, a sensor system, and a device controller. The sensor system can include any of various types of sensor subsystems, each having one or more sensors, but includes at least a flow sensor subsystem. The device controller is configured to activate the light source in response to the sensor system detecting a change in an environmentally-related input, such as air flow, sensed by the sensor system.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A flow sensing system, comprising:
a multiplicity of devices distributed at different locations within a three-dimensional space, each of the devices comprising; a housing; a light source coupled to the housing and configured to emit visible light; a sensor system coupled to the housing, the sensor system including an air flow sensor subsystem sensing an air flow rate through the housing; and a device controller coupled to the sensor system and the light source and configured to activate the light source in response to a change in the sensed air flow rate, which is greater than a predefined threshold amount, provided by the sensor system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A flow sensing device, comprising:
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a housing; a light source coupled to the housing and configured to emit light visible from within a range of distances from the light source; a sensor system coupled to the housing, the sensor system sensing a wind direction based on air flow through the housing or an orientation of the housing; and a device controller coupled to the sensor system and the light source and configured to activate the light source in response to a change in the wind direction, provided by the sensor system, greater than a predefined threshold amount. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for providing an illuminated flow sensing display, comprising:
distributing a multiplicity of devices at different locations within a three-dimensional space, each device comprising; a housing; a light source coupled to the housing and configured to emit visible light; a sensor system coupled to the housing, the sensor system including an orientation sensor subsystem and an air flow sensor subsystem; and a device controller coupled to the sensor system and the light source and configured to adjust a color of light emitted from the light source in response to change in a sensed wind direction input provided by the air flow sensor subsystem and to determination of a geographic orientation of the housing from data provided by the orientation sensor subsystem.
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32. A flow sensing system, comprising:
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a housing; a light source coupled to the housing and configured to emit visible light; a sensor system coupled to the housing, the sensor system sensing wind speed and geographic orientation of the housing; and a device controller coupled to the sensor system and the light source, wherein the device controller is configured to adjust a brightness of the light source in response to a change in the sensed wind speed as measured by the sensor system, and wherein the device controller is configured to adjust a color of the light source in response to a change in the geographic orientation of the housing as measured by the sensor system. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification