Environmental sensing systems having independent notifications across multiple thresholds

• US 9,007,225 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US14/536,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20150061877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 158 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/628
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/007 with forced flow using ducting systems F24F7/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0006 Calibrating gas analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0065 using more than one threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/107 for detecting light-scattering due to smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/11 using an ionisation chamber for detecting smoke or gas
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques

Abstract

Various devices, systems, and methods may be presented. A wireless device may include a smoke sensor configured to obtain measurement data regarding a level of smoke. The wireless device may operate in a sleep mode while the smoke sensor obtains the measurement data. The wireless device may determine, from the measurement data, whether the level of smoke has exceeded a warning threshold. In response to determining that the level of smoke has exceeded the warning threshold, the wireless device may communicate a warning indication. The wireless device may determine, from the measurement data, whether the level of smoke has exceeded an alarm threshold. In response to determining that the level of smoke has exceeded the alarm threshold, the wireless device may communicate an alarm indication, the alarm indication indicating that the alarm threshold has been exceeded.

Claims

1. A wireless device, comprising:

a smoke sensor configured to obtain measurement data regarding a level of smoke;

a wireless transceiver capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving information to and from an electronic device located remotely from the wireless device;

a power source for powering operation of the wireless device; and

a controller operatively coupled to the smoke sensor, the wireless transceiver, and the power source, the controller configured to;

operate the wireless device in a sleep mode while the smoke sensor obtains the measurement data, wherein power consumption of the wireless device from the power source is lower when the wireless device operates in the sleep mode as compared to when the wireless device operates in an awake mode;

determine, from the measurement data, whether the level of smoke and/or a rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded a warning threshold;

in response to determining that the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded the warning threshold, communicate a warning indication, the warning indication indicating that the warning threshold has been exceeded;

determine, from the measurement data, whether the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded an alarm threshold, the alarm threshold being indicative of a higher level of smoke and/or a higher rate of rise of the level of smoke as compared to the warning threshold; and

in response to determining that the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded the alarm threshold, communicate an alarm indication, the alarm indication indicating that the alarm threshold has been exceeded.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

switch the wireless device from the sleep mode to the awake mode periodically.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect a fault occurring at the wireless device; and

exit from the sleep mode in response to detecting the fault occurring at the wireless device.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate the measurement data obtained by the smoke sensor while the wireless device is operating in the awake mode.

5. The wireless device of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the measurement data to be repeatedly wirelessly communicated until the wireless device receives an acknowledgement that the signal has been received.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller being configured to determine, from the measurement data, whether the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded the warning threshold comprises the controller being configured to:

determine, from the measurement data, whether the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded the warning threshold while in the sleep mode.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, the controller being further configured to:

in response to determining that the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded the warning threshold, enter the awake mode.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, the controller being further configured to:

listen for a predefined period of time for instructions received via the wireless transceiver; and

in response to no instruction being received via the wireless transceiver, enter the sleep mode from the awake mode.

9. A method for assessing ambient smoke, the method comprising:

operating a wireless device in a sleep mode while a smoke sensor of the wireless device obtains measurement data, wherein;

power consumption of the wireless device from a power source is lower when the wireless device operates in the sleep mode as compared to when the wireless device operates in an awake mode, and

the measurement data is indicative of a level of smoke in an ambient environment of the wireless device;

determining, using the measurement data, whether the level of smoke and/or a rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded a warning threshold;

in response to determining that the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded the warning threshold, communicating a warning indication, the warning indication indicating that the warning threshold has been exceeded;

determining, from the measurement data, whether the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded an alarm threshold, the alarm threshold being indicative of a higher level of smoke and/or a higher rate of rise of the level of smoke as compared to the warning threshold; and

in response to determining that the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded the alarm threshold, communicating an alarm indication, the alarm indication indicating that the alarm threshold has been exceeded.

10. The method for assessing ambient smoke of claim 9, wherein communicating the warning indication comprises:

wirelessly transmitting the warning indication to a remote computer system.

11. The method for assessing ambient smoke of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, prior to communicating the signal, an available wireless frequency channel; and

communicating the signal on the available wireless frequency channel.

12. The method for assessing ambient smoke of claim 11, further comprising:

embedding, in the signal and prior to communicating the signal, a unique identifier of the wireless device.

13. The method for assessing ambient smoke of claim 12, further comprising:

listening for a predefined period of time for instructions received via a wireless transceiver; and

entering the sleep mode from the awake mode in response to no instruction being received via the wireless transceiver within the predefined period of time.

14. The method for assessing ambient smoke of claim 12, wherein communicating the alarm indication comprises:

prior to performing transmitting one or more communication packets, listening to a radio frequency channel to determine the radio frequency channel is not in use by another device; and

transmitting, via the radio frequency channel, the one or more communication packets that comprise an address that identifies the wireless device and comprises the alarm indication.

15. The method for assessing ambient smoke of claim 12, wherein transmitting the one or more communication packets comprises transmitting an authentication code as part of the one or more communication packets, the authentication code used for verifying authenticity of the one or more communication packets, wherein the one or more communication packets are encrypted.

16. The method for assessing ambient smoke of claim 9, further comprising:

entering the awake mode in response to determining that a tamper sensor of the wireless device has been triggered.

17. A wireless apparatus, comprising:

means for operating in a sleep mode while a smoke sensing means obtains measurement data, wherein;

power consumption of the wireless apparatus from a power source is lower when the wireless apparatus operates in the sleep mode as compared to when the wireless apparatus operates in an awake mode, and

the measurement data is indicative of a level of smoke in an ambient environment of the wireless apparatus;

means for determining, using the measurement data, whether the level of smoke and/or a rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded a warning threshold;

means for wirelessly transmitting a warning indication in response to determining that the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded the warning threshold, wherein the warning indication indicating that the warning threshold has been exceeded;

means for determining, from the measurement data, whether the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded an alarm threshold, the alarm threshold being indicative of a higher level of smoke and/or a higher rate of rise of the level of smoke as compared to the warning threshold; and

means for transmitting an alarm indication in response to determining that the level of smoke and/or the rate of rise of the level of smoke has exceeded the alarm threshold, wherein the alarm indication indicating that the alarm threshold has been exceeded.

18. The wireless apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a means for relaying wireless communications between the means for transmitting and a base unit using a spread-spectrum technique.

19. The wireless apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for measuring a received signal strength; and

means for routing transmission of the alarm indication based on the received signal strength.

20. The wireless apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving a message that comprises one or more instructions from a remote computerized device while in the awake mode; and

means for performing the one or more instructions received from the remote computerized device.