Electronic device with environmental monitoring

• US 9,324,227 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2014
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leeo, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leeo, Incorporated
• Inventors: Gettings, Adam M., Stevens, Andrew G., Hovland, Bjorn H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US14/283,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/00 Indicating measured values
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/00 Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0437 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators, spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/84 Systems specially adapted for particular applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/00 Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/02 Mechanical actuation
• 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 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/00 Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 : Snap or like fastening

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 and predefined characterization of the external environment, a control mechanism determines if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated. For example, the predefined characterization may include a location of the alarm device. This location may be specified by: an image of the external environment, a positioning system, a communication network, and/or an acoustic latency in the external environment. Alternatively, the predefined characterization may include an acoustic transfer function of the external environment proximate to the alarm device and the environmental monitoring device. Furthermore, if the alarm device is activated, the environmental monitoring device may provide an alert.

Claims

1. An environmental monitoring device, comprising:

an acoustic sensor that, during operation, provides acoustic data based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device; and

a control mechanism, electrically coupled to the acoustic sensor, which, during operation, determines if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data and predetermined characterization of the external environment, and provides an alert if the alarm device is activated, wherein the predetermined characterization includes determined acoustic latency of the external environment, and

wherein the predefined characterization specifies a location of the alarm device relative to a location of the environmental monitoring device in the external environment.

2. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the predefined characterization specifies a location of the alarm device in the external environment.

3. The environmental monitoring device of claim 2, wherein the location of the alarm device is specified by one of:

an image of the external environment, a positioning system, a communication network, and the acoustic latency in the external environment.

4. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the predefined characterization includes an acoustic transfer function of the external environment proximate to the alarm device and the environmental monitoring device.

5. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the environmental monitoring device further includes an acoustic output mechanism that provides the alert by outputting an audible sound in the external environment.

6. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the environmental monitoring device further includes:

an antenna; and

an interface circuit, electrically coupled to the antenna and the control mechanism, which, during operation, receives the predetermined characterization from a portable electronic device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, after the portable electronic device determines the acoustic latency of the external environment.

18. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein, during operation, the control mechanism corrects the acoustic data for distortion associated with the external environment based at least on the determined acoustic latency.

7. 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 provide an alert, the computer-program mechanism including:

instructions for receiving acoustic data from an acoustic sensor in the environmental monitoring device based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device;

instructions for determining if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data and predetermined characterization of the external environment, wherein the predetermined characterization includes determined acoustic latency of the external environment, and

wherein the predefined characterization specifies a location of the alarm device relative to a location of the environmental monitoring device in the external environment; and

instructions for providing the alert if the alarm device is activated.

8. The computer-program product of claim 7, wherein the predefined characterization specifies a location of the alarm device in the external environment.

9. The computer-program product of claim 8, wherein the location of the alarm device is specified by one of:

an image of the external environment, a positioning system, a communication network, and the acoustic latency in the external environment.

10. The computer-program product of claim 7, wherein the predefined characterization includes an acoustic transfer function of the external environment proximate to the alarm device and the environmental monitoring device.

11. The computer-program product of claim 7, wherein the alert is provided by outputting an audible sound in the external environment.

12. The computer-program product of claim 7, wherein the alert is provided by communicating with an electronic device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device.

19. The computer-program product of claim 7, wherein the computer-program mechanism includes instructions for correcting the acoustic data for distortion associated with the external environment based at least on the determined acoustic latency.

13. A control-mechanism-implemented method for providing an alert, wherein the method comprises:

receiving acoustic data from an acoustic sensor in an environmental monitoring device based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device;

using the control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, determining if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data and predetermined characterization of the external environment, wherein the predetermined characterization includes determined acoustic latency of the external environment, and

wherein the predefined characterization specifies a location of the alarm device relative to a location of the environmental monitoring device in the external environment; and

providing the alert if the alarm device is activated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predefined characterization specifies a location of the alarm device in the external environment.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the location of the alarm device is specified by one of:

an image of the external environment, a positioning system, a communication network, and the acoustic latency in the external environment.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined characterization includes an acoustic transfer function of the external environment proximate to the alarm device and the environmental monitoring device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the alert is provided by one of:

outputting an audible sound in the external environment; and

communicating with an electronic device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises correcting the acoustic data for distortion associated with the external environment based at least on the determined acoustic latency.