Chemical alert system using a protable device with integrated chemical sensor

• US 9,401,983 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensirion AG (Sensirion Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Sensirion AG (Sensirion Holding AG)
• Inventors: Santschi, Rafael, Lechner, Moritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US14/161,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20140225738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 340/603, 340/539.11, 340/539.26, 340/628, 340/632, 436/147, 436/149, 436/120, 436/128, 436/132, 702/122, 702/30, 702/23, 422/83, 422/84
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/122 Circuits particularly adapted therefor, e.g. linearising circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• 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

A chemical alert system for generating an alarm is described including a portable electronic device, preferably with telecommunication capabilities to allow for data and/or voice communication via private or public networks, and at least one chemical sensor integrated with the housing of the portable device and controlled by a chemical sensor processing unit, further comprising an alert discriminator receiving input based on measurements of the chemical sensor, performing a test on the input and based on an outcome of the test initiating the transfer of measurements of the chemical sensor to a remote processing facility.

Claims

1. A chemical alert system for processing chemical sensor measurements, the system including

a portable electronic device,

a chemical sensor processing unit, and

at least one chemical sensor integrated within a housing of the portable device and controlled by the chemical sensor processing unit,

and wherein,

the chemical sensor processing unit further comprises an alert discriminator configured for:

receiving an input based on measurements of the chemical sensor;

performing a test on the input; and

based on an outcome of the test initiating a transfer of measurements of the chemical sensor to a remote processing facility for subsequent computerized processing of said measurements,

wherein,

said test comprises a first and a second test, the latter setting stricter conditions or thresholds than the first test, such that;

based on an outcome of the first test an alert mode in the portable device is activated; and

based on an outcome of the second test either a transfer of measurements is initiated or an alarm state of the portable device is activated, and wherein

the alert discriminator is further configured such that passing of the second test causes the activation of the alarm state, whereas passing of the first test without passing of the second test initiates the transfer of measurements.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the alert discriminator is configured for transferring measurements including:

measurements as used as input to the alert discriminator; and

additional measurements as gained from any prior stage in a processing of the measurements including raw data representing direct sensor measurements of the at least one chemical sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, further configured such that an activation of the alarm state includes an activation of built-in elements of the portable device to generate an alarm.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the remote processing facility, the latter configured to:

receive the measurements of the chemical sensor as transferred by the portable device; and

augment processing steps for the measurement of the chemical sensor as performed by the portable device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote processing facility is further configured such that augmented processing steps performed by the remote processing facility comprises an addition of further measurements or information from sources other than the portable device itself for use in the augmented processing steps.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the chemical sensor comprises a metal-oxide sensing material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the chemical sensor is integrated onto a common substrate including CMOS circuitry.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is selected from a group comprising:

a mobile phone,

a handheld computer,

an electronic reader,

a tablet computer,

a game controller,

a pointing device,

a photo or a video camera,

a digital music player,

an electronic wrist watch,

a personal health tracking device,

a headset, and

a computer peripheral.

9. A method for processing chemical sensor measurements in a system including a portable electronic device and at least one chemical sensor integrated within a housing of the portable device and controlled by a chemical sensor processing unit, the latter comprising an alert discriminator, the method comprising, at the alert discriminator:

receiving an input based on measurements of the chemical sensor;

performing a test on the input; and

based on an outcome of the test initiating a transfer of measurements of the chemical sensor to a remote processing facility for subsequent computerized processing of said measurement, wherein;

said test comprises a first and a second test, the latter setting stricter conditions or thresholds than the first test, such that;

based on an outcome of the first test an alert mode in the portable device is activated; and

based on an outcome of the second test either a transfer of measurements is initiated or an alarm state of the portable device is activated, and

passing of the second test causes the activation of the alarm state, whereas passing of the first test without passing of the second test initiates the transfer of measurements.

10. A chemical alert system for processing chemical sensor measurements, the system including

a portable electronic device,

a chemical sensor processing unit, and

at least one chemical sensor integrated within a housing of the portable device and controlled by the chemical sensor processing unit,

and wherein,

the chemical sensor processing unit further comprises an alert discriminator which is an electronic circuit or a processing unit programmed, designed, adapted or configured to execute the functions of

receiving an input based on measurements of the chemical sensor;

performing a test on the input; and

based on an outcome of the test initiating a transfer of measurements of the chemical sensor to a remote processing facility for subsequent computerized processing of said measurements,

wherein

said test comprises a first and a second test, the latter setting stricter conditions or thresholds than the first test, such that;

based on an outcome of the first test an alert mode in the portable device is activated; and

based on an outcome of the second test either a transfer of measurements is initiated or an alarm state of the portable device is activated, and wherein

the alert discriminator is further configured such that passing of the second test causes the activation of the alarm state, whereas passing of the first test without passing of the second test initiates the transfer of measurements.