Mobile communication device with electromagnetic radiation sensors

• US 8,825,112 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patent Armory Inc. (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: David A. Pintsov, Jacob Fraden
• Inventors: Fraden, Jacob, Pintsov, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US14/190,456
• Time in Patent Office: 188 Days
• Field of Search: 455/344, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/67.11, 455/423
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/429 applied to measurement of ultraviolet light using counting tubes G01T
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4266 for measuring solar light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/07 Arrangements for adjusting the solid angle of collected radiation, e.g. adjusting or orienting field of view, tracking position or encoding angular position optical collimating elements G01J5/0806
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

A hand-held mobile communication device, such as smart telephone, alone or in protective case, incorporating sensors and signal conditioning modules for measuring signals from external sources of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in different spectral ranges. These include detector monitoring EMR that pose potential health hazards or may interfere with various electronic devices. Other integrated EMR sensor is a photodiode for the ultraviolet detection to monitor the user'"'"'s sun exposure and a thermal infrared detector for non-contact measurement of temperature of humans or inanimate objects. This detector in combination with a digital camera and a pattern recognition signal processing allows accurate non-contact measuring temperatures at specific location.

Claims

1. A method of measuring the magnitude of electromagnetic radiation in a selected location by a mobile communication device, comprising the steps of:

providing a mobile communication device that comprises an enclosure, a digital imaging sensor having a first field of view, such sensor is for generating a digital image of the selected location, a computer, and an output component for conveying information to an operator;

coupling to the enclosure a module that is responsive to intensity of the electromagnetic radiation in a selected spectral range;

enabling positioning the enclosure in a vicinity of the selected location;

enabling the module for generating a signal representative of the electromagnetic radiation;

enabling processing said signal to extract information related to intensity of the electromagnetic radiation in the selected location, and

enabling sending said information to the output component for conveying the information to the operator.

2. The method of measuring the magnitude of electromagnetic radiation of claim 1 comprising a further step of

positioning in the module at least one electromagnetic radiation sensor having a second field of view wherein said first field of view is wider than the second field of view and said electromagnetic radiation sensor generates a signal representative of a physical property of the selected location within the second field of view.

3. The method of measuring the magnitude of electromagnetic radiation of claim 1 further comprising the steps of

enabling moving said enclosure to aim the digital imaging sensor at the selected location and observing on the output device the digital image of the selected location, wherein such selected location has a geometrical feature;

enabling storage in the computer a pre-defined template being a desired outline of the geometrical feature;

enabling superimposing a template with the digital image of the geometrical feature;

enabling the output component to indicate the moment when the template and the image of the geometrical features are substantially superimposed, and

enabling determining information from said signal, such information being related to intensity of the electromagnetic radiation.

4. The method of measuring intensity of electromagnetic radiation of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

enabling said computer for identifying and locating a landmark from said geometrical features within the first field of view, such landmark having salient geometrical features of the selected location;

enabling the computer for comparing the size and position of said landmark with a reference outline of the landmark stored in the computer;

enabling the output device for generating a feedback signal to the operator for moving the enclosure to a position where the landmark and the reference outline are substantially of the same size and substantially at the same position;

enabling determining the output information from said signal.

5. A method of extracting information about temperature by a mobile communication device from electromagnetic radiation being naturally emanated from a selected portion of an object, comprising the steps of

providing a mobile communication device comprising an enclosure, a digital imaging sensor, a computer, and an output device for conveying information to an operator;

coupling to the enclosure an electromagnetic radiation detector operating in the infrared thermal spectral range and having a field of view;

coupling to the enclosure the digital imaging sensor in a mutual proximity and alignment with the electromagnetic radiation detector;

enabling an operator for aiming the digital imaging sensor and electromagnetic radiation detector at the object;

enabling the digital imaging sensor for generating a first signal representative of an image of the object;

enabling the electromagnetic radiation detector for generating a second signal representative of surface temperature of the object within the field of view;

enabling extraction of information about the surface temperature of the object from the said second signal, and

enabling sending the information to said output device.

6. The method of extracting information about temperature of claim 5, further comprising the steps of

enabling the computer for generating a template approximating the shape of a landmark, such landmark being an identifiable part of the object;

enabling said computer for identifying and locating said landmark;

enabling comparing the sizes and positions of said landmark and said template;

enabling the output device for generating a feedback signal to the operator;

enabling moving said enclosure for substantial matching the sizes and positions of said landmark and said template.

7. The method of extracting information about temperature of claim 5, further comprising the steps of

enabling the output device for displaying an image of the object derived by the computer from said first signal;

enabling displaying a target, such target being an outline of the field of view;

enabling moving the enclosure to superimpose the target and the selected portion of the object.

8. The method of extracting information about temperature of claim 5,

further comprising the step of enabling a conversion of the surface temperature of the object into the inner temperature of the object.

9. The method of extracting information about temperature of claim 5,

further comprising the step of enabling a generation an alarm when temperature of the object exceeds a preset limit.

10. The method of extracting information about temperature of claim 5, further comprising the step of enabling a modification of the second signal by the first signal.

11. A mobile communication device comprising a computer and output device, further comprising

a module incorporating a first sensor for receiving from an object electromagnetic radiation in a selected spectral range and related to a property of the object, such first sensor generating a first signal;

a second sensor for generating a second signal related to the object, and

a signal conditioner connected to the first sensor for receiving and conditioning said first signal, wherein the computer is coupled to the signal conditioner and adapted for determining from the first signal the property of the object, said computer is further adapted for modifying the first signal by the second signal.

12. A mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein said first sensor is a thermal radiation sensor responsive to surface temperature of the object.

13. A mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein said second sensor is a digital imaging camera.