Programmable carbon monoxide safety device

• US 9,053,626 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daydream Believers, LLC
• Original Assignee: Daydream Believers, LLC
• Inventors: Cristoforo, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, John H
• Application Number:
  US13/462,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 702/23, 702/24, 702/31, 702/54, 702/62, 702/93, 123/179.2, 340/521, 340/531, 340/606, 340/632, 340/870.16, 454/195, 454/239, 454/343, 701/29, 701/211
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 for CO, CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0063 using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarm actuated by the presence of smoke or gases G08B17/10, for other abnormal conditions G08B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0073 Control unit therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

A programmable toxic gas safety device for detecting a toxic gas, such as carbon monoxide, is provided. The programmable safety device is preferably used in an enclosed area for monitoring the levels of gas emitted by a device that can produce a toxic gas. The device contains a controller which is operably coupled to at least one transmitter and at least one sensor for sensing the level of the toxic gas in the enclosed area, and is operable to provide a signal to remotely operate the toxic gas producing device. The device further contains one or more receivers for learning a command signal which actuates a specific functionality to the toxic gas producing device.

Claims

1. A programmable device for detection of toxic gasses comprising:

a controller in electrical communication with a gas sensor, a transmitter and a power source, said controller including a memory for storage of at least one predetermined command;

a gas sensor in electrical communication with said controller, said gas sensor constructed and arranged to sense the concentration of a predetermined gas in the enclosed area, whereby an electrical signal indicative of concentration is transferred to said controller;

a transmitter in electrical communication with said controller, said transmitter constructed and arranged for transmission of coded commands in the form of radio waves;

a power source for supplying electrical power to said controller, said, gas sensor and said transmitter;

said controller receiving electrical signals from said gas sensor, said controller being constructed and arranged to cause said transmitter to transmit said at least one preprogrammed command to an external device upon said controller receiving a signal indicative of said gas concentration exceeding a predetermined level,

said external device being a vehicle, said vehicle including a vehicle network interface in electrical communication to a vehicular on-board computer system for sending command signals to said on-board computer system, said vehicular on-board computer system including a learn feature, whereby said vehicular on-board computer can be programmed to respond to said at least one predetermined command.

2. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 including a receiver for teaching said controller said at least one preprogrammed command, said receiver in electrical communication with said controller and said power source.

3. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 2 wherein said receiver is constructed and arranged to receive radio frequency signals.

4. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 2 wherein said receiver is constructed and arranged to receive infrared frequency signals.

5. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 including at least one speaker in electrical communication with said controller and said power supply, said at least one speaker constructed and arranged to deliver an audible sound upon operation of said transmitter.

6. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 wherein said predetermined command is an engine shut down code for a specific vehicle, said predetermined command being received by the vehicles on board computer for execution.

7. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 wherein said vehicle network interface cooperates with a J2534 connector of a vehicular on-board computer system.

8. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 7 wherein said on board computer programming includes encryption to prevent said on-board computer from responding to unwanted signals.

9. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 wherein said vehicle network interface is a transceiver.

10. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 wherein said controller includes a second predetermined command stored therein, said second command configured for communication with a cell phone network, said controller constructed and arranged to transmit said first command signal and said second command signal in an alternating manner upon receipt of said signal indicative of said gas concentration exceeding a predetermined level.

11. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 10 wherein said cell network is an on-board vehicular monitoring system, said on-board vehicular monitoring system being constructed and arranged to shut down the internal combustion engine within the vehicle.

12. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 wherein said controller includes a second predetermined command stored therein, said second command configured for communication with a satellite network, said controller constructed and arranged to transmit said first command signal and said second command signal in an alternating manner upon receipt of said signal indicative of said gas concentration exceeding a predetermined level.

13. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is an FM transmitter that is constructed and arranged to broadcast signals in the FM frequency band and said at least one predetermined command is a verbal warning of danger, whereby said warning is audible to FM receivers within a predetermined area.

14. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 including an enclosure surrounding said controller, said transmitter, said gas sensor and said power source, said enclosure constructed and arranged for mounting to a vertical wall surface.

15. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 14 wherein said enclosure is mounted on a first side of a wall, a tube extending through said wall to a second side thereof, a first end of said tube open to said second side of said wall, a second end of said tube open to said gas sensor, whereby said gas sensor monitors the concentration of said predetermined gas present at said second side of said wall.

16. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 wherein said predetermined gas is carbon monoxide.

17. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 wherein said vehicle network interface in electrical communication to a vehicular on-board computer system includes a global positioning system.

18. The programmable toxic gas detection device of claim 1 wherein said vehicle network interface in electrical communication to a vehicular on-board computer system includes a vibration sensor.