Method and system for visually reporting a local environmental condition

• US 20130278427A1
• Filed: 07/10/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Setton
• Original Assignee: Michael Setton
• Inventors: Setton, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/545,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0006 Calibrating gas analysers
• 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 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations

Abstract

A method of reporting local environmental conditions in real time is implemented by providing a sensor that takes measurements of an environmental condition; attaching the sensor to a vehicle, a person, an object such as a street lamp or other structure; and displaying visible light to the public at a scale visible from at least 30 feet from the visible light. The visible light is controlled by a microcontroller receiving information from the sensor. The visible light is either variable to depict the measurements, such as in color, frequency of illumination, or is variable in a plurality of lamps lighted in accordance with the magnitude of the measurements or in accordance with a composite index. The sensor is preferably modular so that it can be swapped in and out of a printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A method of reporting local environmental conditions in real time, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor that takes measurements of an environmental condition;

attaching the sensor to an object, the object selected from the group consisting of a vehicle, a person, and a fixed-position structure; and

displaying visible light to the public at a scale visible from at least 30 feet from the visible light, said visible light controlled by a microcontroller receiving information from the sensor, said visible light being variable to depict the measurements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a module that is removably added to a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board comprising the microcontroller, a physical storage medium, and an input and output transceiver;

the method further comprising the steps of;

storing the measurements on the physical storage medium; and

transmitting the measurements to a remote receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of setting the microcontroller power mode and data sampling frequency automatically using a speed measuring electronic component.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of calibrating the sensor periodically using data transmitted to the input and output transceiver from a reference station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition comprises a level of a contaminant selected from the group consisting of ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, radiation, noise, and particulates.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition comprises a gas concentration, the method further comprising the step of controlling air flow to the sensor using a direct current fan to provide a constant air flow through a fixed volume.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

measuring temperature and relative humidity values in vicinity of the sensor; and

calculating correction factors for the measurements using said temperature and humidity values.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

correcting the measurements by compensating for resistivity spread pertaining to manufacturing or aging of the sensor; and

maintaining an optimal operating temperature of the sensor while in use.