Electronic device with environmental monitoring
First Claim
1. An environmental monitoring device, comprising:
- an acoustic sensor configured to provide acoustic data based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device;
a control mechanism, electrically coupled to the acoustic sensor, configured to determine if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data;
a sensor mechanism, coupled to the control mechanism, configured to provide sensor data when a biological life form is present in the external environment;
an antenna; and
an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna and the control mechanism, configured to communicate that the biological life form is present to an electronic device in response to an output signal from the control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine if the biological life form is present in the external environment based on the sensor data; and
wherein the control mechanism is configured to provide the output signal if the alarm device is activated and the biological life form is present.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An environmental monitoring device that includes an acoustic sensor is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the acoustic sensor provides acoustic data based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Based on the acoustic data, a control mechanism determines if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated. For example, the environmental monitoring device may determine if a smoke detector is activated based on measurements of sound, such as a temporal 3 acoustic pattern. In addition, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on measurements of an environmental condition in the external environment. The control mechanism may use the sensor data to assess a degree of threat in the external environment, and the environmental monitoring device may output different audible sounds as the degree of threat changes.
168 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An environmental monitoring device, comprising:
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an acoustic sensor configured to provide acoustic data based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device; a control mechanism, electrically coupled to the acoustic sensor, configured to determine if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data; a sensor mechanism, coupled to the control mechanism, configured to provide sensor data when a biological life form is present in the external environment; an antenna; and an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna and the control mechanism, configured to communicate that the biological life form is present to an electronic device in response to an output signal from the control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine if the biological life form is present in the external environment based on the sensor data; and wherein the control mechanism is configured to provide the output signal if the alarm device is activated and the biological life form is present. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-program product for use in conjunction with an environmental monitoring device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein to determine if an alarm device is activated, the computer-program mechanism including:
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instructions for receiving acoustic data from an acoustic sensor in the environmental monitoring device, wherein the acoustic data is based an measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device; instructions for determining if the alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data; instructions for receiving sensor data from a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, wherein the sensor data indicates that a biological life form is present in the external environment; instructions for determining if the biological life form is present in the external environment based on the sensor data; and instructions for providing an output signal to an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device if the alarm device is activated and the biological life form is present, wherein the interface circuit communicates that the biological life form is present to an electronic device in response to the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A control-mechanism-implemented method for determining if an alarm device is activated, wherein the method comprises:
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receiving acoustic data from an acoustic sensor in the environmental monitoring device, wherein the acoustic data is based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device; using the control mechanism, determining if the alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data; receiving sensor data from a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, wherein the sensor data indicates that a biological life form is present in the external environment; determining if the biological life form is present in the external environment based on the sensor data; and providing an output signal to an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device if the alarm device is activated and the biological life form is present, wherein the interface circuit communicates that the biological life form is present to an electronic device in response to the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification