Mobile communication device with environmental sensors

• US 20070004449A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GT Investments (BVI) Limited
• Original Assignee: GT Investments (BVI) Limited
• Inventors: Sham, John
• Application Number:
  US11/169,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20070004449A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile communication device such as a cellular phone or wireless personal digital assistant (PDA) that incorporates environmental monitoring sensors to detect such factors as humidity, temperature and ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels. The invention integrates these key environmental sensors into a module that is integrated with a mobile phone or, in one embodiment, may be adapted as a separate device in wireless communication with a mobile phone or other mobile communication device. Integration is accomplished by the use of a microprocessor control unit and may employ an op-amplifier and analog-to-digital converter for certain data streams.

Claims

1. An environmental sensing and communication device, comprising:

a mobile communication device having a housing;

the housing having a display;

the housing also having a sensor module, the sensor module having at least one sensor for detecting a first environmental condition;

the sensor communicating environmental condition data relating to the first environmental condition to a microprocessor control unit;

the microprocessor control unit outputting the environmental condition data to the display.

2. An environmental sensing and communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first environmental condition is selected from the group consisting of a temperature condition, a humidity condition, or a UV radiation condition.

3. An environmental sensing and communication device, comprising:

a mobile communication device having a housing;

the housing having a display;

the housing also having a sensor module, the sensor module having at least one sensor for detecting a first environmental condition;

the sensor communicating environmental condition data relating to the first environmental condition to an operational amplifier for amplification;

the operational amplifier outputting the environmental condition data to an analog-to-digital converter for converting the environmental condition data from analog to digital form;

the analog-to-digital converter outputting the environmental condition data to a microprocessor control unit;

the microprocessor control unit outputting the environmental condition data to the display.

4. An environmental sensing and communication device according to claim 3, wherein the first environmental condition is a UV radiation condition.

5. An environmental sensing and communication device according to claim 4, wherein the environmental condition data comprises a UV index value.

6. An environmental sensing and communication device, comprising:

a housing having a sensor module, the sensor module having at least one sensor for detecting a first environmental condition;

the sensor communicating environmental condition data relating to the first environmental condition to a microprocessor control unit;

the microprocessor control unit outputting the environmental condition data to a communication module for transmission to a remote mobile communication device.

7. An environmental sensing and communication device according to claim 6, wherein the first environmental condition is selected from the group consisting of a temperature condition, a humidity condition, or a UV radiation condition.

8. An environmental sensing and communication device, comprising:

a housing having a sensor module, the sensor module having at least one sensor for detecting a first environmental condition;

the sensor communicating environmental condition data relating to the first environmental condition to an operational amplifier for amplification;

the operational amplifier outputting the environmental condition data to an analog-to-digital converter for converting the environmental condition data from analog to digital form;

the analog-to-digital converter outputting the environmental condition data to a microprocessor control unit;

the microprocessor control unit outputting the environmental condition data to a communication module for transmission to a remote mobile communication device.

9. An environmental sensing and communication device according to claim 8, wherein the first environmental condition is a UV radiation condition.

10. An environmental sensing and communication device according to claim 9, wherein the environmental condition data comprises a UV index value.