Multifunctional portable electronic device and method for using the same

• US 8,242,921 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yang, Sheng-Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US12/555,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20100148974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628
• US Class Current: 340/628
• 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 17/125 by using a video camera to detect fire or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes an image capturing unit, a processor unit connected to the image capturing unit, and an alarm unit connected to the processor unit. The image capturing unit captures outside images, the processor unit detects if there is any smoke near the portable electronic device according to the images and measuring relative parameters of detected smoke, and the alarm unit alarms when at least one parameter of detected smoke is out of predetermined acceptable ranges.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a processor unit connected to the image capturing unit; and

an alarm unit connected to the processor unit;

wherein the image capturing unit captures outside images, the processor unit detects if there is any smoke near the portable electronic device according to the images and measures relative parameters of detected smoke, and the alarm unit generates an alarm when at least one parameter of the detected smoke is out of predetermined acceptable ranges; and

wherein the processor unit measures at least thickness and diffusing speed of the detected smoke.

2. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an A/D converter unit connected between the image capturing unit and the processor unit for converting image signals generated by the image capturing unit into digital signals to be transmitted to the processor unit.

3. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an operating unit connected to the processor unit for operating the portable electronic device.

4. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the image capturing frequency of the image capturing unit is set by the operating unit and stored in the processor unit.

5. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alarm unit is any one selected from a speaker, an LED and a vibrator.

6. A smoke detecting method, comprising the steps of:

providing a portable electronic device including an image capturing unit, a processor unit connected to the image capturing unit, and an alarming unit connected to the processor unit;

setting detecting parameters and storing the detecting parameters in the processor unit, wherein the detecting parameters include at least image capturing frequency, acceptable ranges of smoke thickness, and smoke diffusing speed;

using the image capturing unit to capture outside images in a predetermined frequency;

using the processor unit to detect if there is any smoke near the portable electronic device according to the images captured by the image capturing unit; and

using the alarm unit to generate an alarm when smoke is detected in the images.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of switching the processor unit to standby after storing the parameters therein.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of resuming the processor unit to standby when no smoke is detected.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of measuring the detecting parameters of detected smoke.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a step of resuming the processor unit to standby when the detecting parameters of the detected smoke are in predetermined acceptable ranges.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a step of using the alarming unit to alarm when at least one detecting parameter of the detected smoke is out of predetermined acceptable ranges.

12. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of converting the images captured by the image capturing unit into digital signals and transmitting the digital signals to the processor unit.

13. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a processor unit connected to the image capturing unit;

an alarm unit connected to the processor unit;

the image capturing unit capturing outside images, and the processor unit detecting if there is any smoke near the portable electronic device according to the images and measuring relative parameters of detected smoke, and the alarm unit generating an alarm when at least one parameter of the detected smoke is out of predetermined acceptable ranges; and

an operating unit connected to the processor unit for operating the portable electronic device;

wherein an image capturing frequency of the image capturing unit is set by the operating unit and stored in the processor unit.

14. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an A/D converter unit connected between the image capturing unit and the processor unit for converting image signals generated by the image capturing unit into digital signals to be transmitted to the processor unit.

15. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the processor unit measures at least thickness and diffusing speed of the detected smoke.

16. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the alarm unit is any one selected from a speaker, an LED and a vibrator.