Electronic device with environmental monitoring

• US 8,947,230 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2014
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• 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): KING, CURTIS J
• Application Number:
  US14/283,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/540
• 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 electrochemical electrode arrays G01N27/27
• 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 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, a control mechanism determines if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated. For example, the environmental monitoring device may determine if a smoke detector is activated based on measurements of sound, such as a temporal 3 acoustic pattern. In addition, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on measurements of an environmental condition in the external environment. The control mechanism may use the sensor data to assess a degree of threat in the external environment, and the environmental monitoring device may output different audible sounds as the degree of threat changes.

Claims

1. An environmental monitoring device, comprising:

an acoustic sensor configured to provide acoustic data based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device;

a control mechanism, electrically coupled to the acoustic sensor, configured to determine if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data;

a sensor mechanism, coupled to the control mechanism, configured to provide sensor data when a biological life form is present in the external environment;

an antenna; and

an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna and the control mechanism, configured to communicate that the biological life form is present to an electronic device in response to an output signal from the control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine if the biological life form is present in the external environment based on the sensor data; and

wherein the control mechanism is configured to provide the output signal if the alarm device is activated and the biological life form is present.

2. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the alarm device includes a smoke detector;

and

wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine if the smoke detector is activated based on a temporal 3 acoustic pattern that is compatible with an American National Standards Institute standard S3.42 1990.

3. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the environmental monitoring device further comprises an acoustic output mechanism electrically coupled to the control mechanism;

wherein the control mechanism is configured to provide an output signal that indicates the alarm device is activated; and

wherein the acoustic output mechanism is configured to output audible sound in the external environment based on the output signal.

4. The environmental monitoring device of claim 3, wherein the environmental monitoring device further comprises a sensor mechanism, coupled to the control mechanism, configured to provide sensor data based on measurements of an environmental condition in the external environment;

wherein the control mechanism is configured to assess a degree of threat in the external environment based on the sensor data and to modify the output signal when the threat changes; and

wherein the acoustic output mechanism is configured to change the audible sound based on the modified output signal.

5. The environmental monitoring device of claim 4, wherein the change to the audible sound provides quantitative feedback about the degree of the threat.

6. The environmental monitoring device of claim 4, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a smoke detector and the alarm device includes a carbon-monoxide detector.

7. The environmental monitoring device of claim 4, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a carbon-monoxide detector and the alarm device includes a smoke detector.

8. The environmental monitoring device of claim 7, wherein the interface circuit is further configured to communicate a location of the environmental monitoring device to the electronic device in response to the output signal.

9. 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 determine if an alarm device is activated, the computer-program mechanism including:

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

instructions for determining if the alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data;

instructions for receiving sensor data from a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, wherein the sensor data indicates that a biological life form is present in the external environment;

instructions for determining if the biological life form is present in the external environment based on the sensor data; and

instructions for providing an output signal to an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device if the alarm device is activated and the biological life form is present, wherein the interface circuit communicates that the biological life form is present to an electronic device in response to the output signal.

10. The computer-program product of claim 9, wherein the alarm device includes a smoke detector;

and

wherein the determining is based on a temporal 3 acoustic pattern that is compatible with an American National Standards Institute standard S3.42 1990.

11. The computer-program product of claim 9, wherein the computer-program mechanism further includes instructions for providing an output signal that indicates the alarm device is activated to an acoustic output mechanism in the environmental monitoring device;

and

wherein the acoustic output mechanism outputs audible sound in the external environment based on the output signal.

12. The computer-program product of claim 11, wherein the computer-program mechanism further includes:

instructions for receiving sensor data from a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, wherein the sensor data is based on measurements of an environmental condition in the external environment; and

instructions for assessing a degree of threat in the external environment based on the sensor data; and

instructions for modifying the output signal when the threat changes, wherein the acoustic output mechanism changes the audible sound based on the modified output signal.

13. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein the change to the audible sound provides quantitative feedback about the degree of the threat.

14. The computer-program product of claim 12, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a carbon-monoxide detector and the alarm device includes a smoke detector.

15. A control-mechanism-implemented method for determining if an alarm device is activated, wherein the method comprises:

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

using the control mechanism, determining if the alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acoustic data;

receiving sensor data from a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, wherein the sensor data indicates that a biological life form is present in the external environment;

determining if the biological life form is present in the external environment based on the sensor data; and

providing an output signal to an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device if the alarm device is activated and the biological life form is present, wherein the interface circuit communicates that the biological life form is present to an electronic device in response to the output signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the alarm device includes a smoke detector;

and

wherein the determining is based on a temporal 3 acoustic pattern that is compatible with an American National Standards Institute standard S3.42 1990.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further includes providing an output signal that indicates the alarm device is activated to an acoustic output mechanism in the environmental monitoring device;

and

wherein the acoustic output mechanism outputs audible sound in the external environment based on the output signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further includes:

receiving sensor data from a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, wherein the sensor data is based on measurements of an environmental condition in the external environment,

assessing a degree of threat in the external environment based on the sensor data; and

modifying the output signal when the threat changes, wherein the acoustic output mechanism changes the audible sound based on the modified output signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the change to the audible sound provides quantitative feedback about the degree of the threat.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a carbon-monoxide detector and the alarm device includes a smoke detector.