Portable sensor

• US 20040050188A1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sparky Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sparky Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Richards, Ann Lee, Richards, Robert D., Richards, James F., Richards, Dean F.
• Application Number:
  US10/244,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050188A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/866.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0004 Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air gaseous biological material G01N33/497; exhaust gas of internal combustion engines G01M15/102
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera

Abstract

A portable sensor includes (i) a housing; (ii) one or more sensing devices, such as a video camera and/or a gas sensor (iii) a transmitter, electrically coupled to the sensing device(s) for transmitting a signal generated by the sensing devices; and (iv) a power source electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, the sensing devices, and the transmitter. The sensor is particularly useful for surveillance, inspections, medical emergencies and a variety of different settings in which remote transmission of inspected images is desired.

Claims

1. A portable sensor comprising:

a housing;

a first sensing device housed by the housing;

a second sensing device housed by the housing;

a transmitter, electrically coupled to at least one of the first and second sensing devices for transmitting sensory data generated by the first and second sensing device; and

a power source electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, the first and second sensing devices and the transmitter.

2. The portable sensor of claim 1 wherein the first sensing device is a camera and the second sensing device is a gas sensing device.

3. The portable sensor of claim 1 wherein the second sensing device comprises a gas sensing device electrically coupled to the power source and the transmitter such that information from the gas sensing device may be transmitted via the transmitter.

4. The portable sensor of claim 1 wherein the first sensing device is a camera and the second sensing device is one of:

(i) a gas sensing device;

(ii) a motion sensing device; and

(iii) a radiation sensing device.

5. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the radiation sensing device comprises a gieger counter.

6. The portable sensor of claim 1 wherein the sensing device comprises an electromagnetic radiation sensing device.

7. The portable sensor of claim 6 wherein the electromagnetic radiation sensing device comprises at least one of a radiation sensing device, a visible light sensing device, an ultraviolet light sensing device, and an infrared light sensing device.

8. The portable sensor of claim 7 wherein the sensing device is a visable light sensing device comprising a video camera capable of sensing an object and generating a video signal of the object.

9. The portable sensor of claim 8 wherein the video camera is a low light video camera capable of producing a video signal in low ambient light conditions.

10. The portable sensor of claim 1, further comprising a light source capable of illuminating the object.

11. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

12. The portable sensor of claim 1 further comprising display means electrically coupled to the sensing device and power source for displaying data sensed by the sensing device.

13. The portable sensor of claim 12, wherein the sensing device comprises a video camera configured to generate a video signal of an object and wherein the display means displays an image of the object sensed by the sensing device and wherein a signal from the sensing device is transmitted by the transmitter.

14. The portable sensor of claim 1 wherein at least one sensing device comprises a motion sensing device.

15. The portable sensor of claim 1 wherein at least one sensing device comprises a sound sensing device.

16. The portable sensor of claim 1 wherein at least one sensing device comprises a gas sensing device comprising at least one of an oxygen sensing device, a hydrogen sulfide sensing device, a carbon monoxide sensing device, a methane sensing device, a natural gas sensing device, an ozone sensing device, a radon sensing device and a carbon dioxide sensing device.

17. The portable sensor of claim 1 further comprising a personal digital assistant electrically coupled to the power source.

18. The portable sensor of claim 17, wherein at least one sensing device comprises video imaging means for generating a video signal of an object and wherein the personal digital assistant is electrically coupled to the video imaging means.

19. The portable sensor of claim 17 wherein the transmitter is an integral part of the personal digital assistant.

20. The portable sensor of claim 18 wherein the transmitter is a PCMCIA card inserted into a corresponding PCMCIA slot in the personal digital assistant.

21. The portable sensor of claim 17 wherein the personal digital assistant stores and manipulates the data.

22. The portable sensor of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is a cellular telephone.

23. The portable sensor of claim 22 wherein the cellular telephone is integrated into the personal digital assistant.

24. The portable sensor of claim 1 wherein the first sensing device is a camera and the second sensing device is a gas sensing device, and further comprising a third sensing device comprising a microphone.

25. A portable sensor comprising:

a housing;

a sensing device housed by the housing;

a transmitter, electrically coupled to the sensing device for transmitting sensory data generated by the sensing device;

a global positioning system receiver housed by the housing; and

a power source electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, the sensing device, the transmitter and the global positioning system receiver.

26. A portable sensor comprising:

a housing;

a first sensing device housed by the housing;

an interactive display, housed by the housing and electrically coupled to the sensing device for viewing the data collected by the sensing device;

a transmitter, electrically coupled to the sensing device and the interactive display for transmitting the sensory data generated by the sensing device,

wherein the interactive display is configured to receive input from a user operating the portable sensor, such that the input can be transmitted via the transmitter; and

a power source electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, the sensing device, the interactive display and the transmitter.

27. The portable sensor of claim 26 wherein the interactive display is electrically coupled to the transmitter and allows a user operating the portable sensor to highlight at least a portion of the image of the object viewed in the display such that an individual reviewing the sensory data can also view the highlighted portion of the image.

28. The portable sensor as recited in claim 26, wherein the interactive display is at least a portion of a personal digital assistant having:

an interactive display that is configured to receive input from a user operating the personal digital assistant.

29. A portable sensor comprising:

a housing;

a light source housed by the housing;

video imaging means for generating a video signal of an object, the video imaging means being housed by the housing;

display means electrically coupled to the video imaging means for displaying an image of the object;

a transmitter, electrically coupled to the video imaging means for transmitting the video signal generated by the video imaging means; and

a power source electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, the video imaging means, the light source, the display means and the transmitter; and

a handle coupled to the housing for convenient grasping by the user, such that a user can grasp the handle and conveniently view the image displayed by the display means.

30. The portable sensor of claim 29, wherein the display is mounted on a top portion of the housing and a handle is coupled to a bottom portion of the housing such that a user holding the handle can conveniently view an image of an object within on the display.

31. The portable sensor of claim 30, wherein the handle selectively pivots between a position substantially parallel to the housing and a position substantially perpendicular to the housing.

32. The portable sensor of claim 29 wherein the display means is selectively positioned into a closed position and an open position and wherein the sensor is configured to rest partially on the display means and partially on the housing when the sensor is placed on a support surface.

33. A sensor as recited in claim 29, wherein the housing further comprises a heat resistant mounting plate within the housing, wherein the mounting plate is configured to maintain the video imaging means and light source in a desired position within the housing.

34. The portable sensor of claim 29 wherein the video imaging means comprises a video camera and the display means comprises a monitor having a screen for viewing by a user.

35. The portable sensor of claim 29, wherein the sensor selectively acts as a flashlight.