System and method for high-sensitivity sensor
First Claim
1. A wireless device comprising:
- a smoke chamber;
an emitter that operates to emit electromagnetic radiation into the smoke chamber;
a sensor for sensing a scattered portion of the electromagnetic radiation;
a calibration module configured to;
determine a first threshold value by performing operations comprising;
taking a plurality of first measurements from the sensor while the emitter is not operating and during a period when smoke is expected to be substantially absent from the smoke chamber;
averaging the plurality of first measurements; and
storing the average of the plurality of first measurements as the first threshold value; and
determine a second threshold value by performing operations comprising;
taking a plurality of second measurements from the sensor while the emitter is operating and during a period when smoke is expected to be substantially absent from the smoke chamber;
averaging the plurality of second measurements; and
storing the average of the plurality of second measurements as the second threshold value; and
a notification module configured to;
obtain a first operating measurement from the sensor while the emitter is not operating and during a period when it is unknown whether smoke is present in the smoke chamber;
obtain a second operating measurement from the sensor while the emitter is operating and during a period when it is unknown whether smoke is present in the smoke chamber; and
communicate a notification based on the first and second operating measurements and the first and second threshold values.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor unit that includes at least one sensor configured to measure an ambient condition is described. The controller can be configured to receive instructions, to report a notice level when the controller determines that data measured by the at least one sensor fails a report threshold test corresponding to a report threshold value. The controller can also be configured to obtain a plurality of calibration measurements from the at least one sensor during a calibration period and to adjust the threshold based on the calibration measurements. The controller can be configured to compute a first threshold level corresponding to background noise and a second threshold level corresponding to sensor noise, and to compute the report threshold value from the second threshold. In one embodiment, the sensor unit adjusts one or more of the thresholds based on ambient temperature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless device comprising:
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a smoke chamber; an emitter that operates to emit electromagnetic radiation into the smoke chamber; a sensor for sensing a scattered portion of the electromagnetic radiation; a calibration module configured to; determine a first threshold value by performing operations comprising; taking a plurality of first measurements from the sensor while the emitter is not operating and during a period when smoke is expected to be substantially absent from the smoke chamber; averaging the plurality of first measurements; and storing the average of the plurality of first measurements as the first threshold value; and determine a second threshold value by performing operations comprising; taking a plurality of second measurements from the sensor while the emitter is operating and during a period when smoke is expected to be substantially absent from the smoke chamber; averaging the plurality of second measurements; and storing the average of the plurality of second measurements as the second threshold value; and a notification module configured to; obtain a first operating measurement from the sensor while the emitter is not operating and during a period when it is unknown whether smoke is present in the smoke chamber; obtain a second operating measurement from the sensor while the emitter is operating and during a period when it is unknown whether smoke is present in the smoke chamber; and communicate a notification based on the first and second operating measurements and the first and second threshold values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a wireless device, the method comprising:
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determining a first threshold value by performing operations comprising; taking a plurality of first measurements from a sensor of the wireless device while an emitter of the wireless device is not operating and during a period when smoke is expected to be substantially absent from the smoke chamber, the emitter emitting electromagnetic radiation into a smoke chamber and the sensor sensing a scattered portion of the electromagnetic radiation; averaging the plurality of first measurements; and storing the average of the plurality of first measurements as the first threshold value; and determining a second threshold value by performing operations comprising; taking a plurality of second measurements from the sensor while the emitter is operating and during a period when smoke is expected to be substantially absent from the smoke chamber; averaging the plurality of second measurements; and storing the average of the plurality of second measurements as the second threshold value; obtaining a first operating measurement from the sensor while the emitter is not operating and during a period when it is unknown whether smoke is present in the smoke chamber; obtaining a second operating measurement from the sensor while the emitter is operating and during a period when it is unknown whether smoke is present in the smoke chamber; and communicating a notification based on the first and second operating measurements and the first and second threshold values. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wireless device comprising:
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means for operating a sensing means of the wireless device to sense a scattered portion of electromagnetic radiation emitted into a smoke chamber by emitting means of the wireless device; means for determining a first threshold value by performing operations comprising; taking a plurality of first measurements with the sensing means while the emitting means is not operating; averaging the plurality of first measurements; and storing the average of the plurality of first measurements as the first threshold value; and means for determining a second threshold value by performing operations comprising; taking a plurality of second measurements with the sensing means while the emitting means is operating and during a period when smoke is expected to be substantially absent from the smoke chamber; averaging the plurality of second measurements; and storing the average of the plurality of second measurements as the second threshold value; means for obtaining a first operating measurement from the sensing means while the emitting means is not operating; means for obtaining a second operating measurement from the sensing means while the emitting means is operating; and means for communicating a notification based on the first and second operating measurements and the first and second threshold values. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification