GAS SENSING DEVICE DESIGNED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DECONTAMINATION WITH SIMULTANEOUS ALERT EMISSION

Abstract

A gas sensing device designed for environmental decontamination with simultaneous alert emission comprising a safety system for occupants of closed environments, including vehicles and aircraft, that simultaneously activates the ventilation/exhaust of the enclosure and emits visual and audible signals with alerts and notifications over a mobile network, and a mechanism for opening windows and unlocking doors once the presence of human beings or animals and concentrations primarily of CO2 posing a health risk are detected.

Claims

1.—Gas sensor device for discounting environmental action and simultaneous emission of alert defined to determine a concentration of CO2, comprising a sensor of carbon dioxide (CO2), a fan of the air in a certain closed environment, an optical assembly, and smart devices registered for the emission of electronic and call signals served by emergency via GPS, obtained by the sensor simultaneously activating the exhaust system ventilated, the device specific audible alarm and the mechanism for opening windows and unlocking doors.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The characterization of the improvements under discussion is given through a schematic drawing of the proposed solution, which expresses the preferred ways of achieving the object, supporting this description through numerical and consecutive references.

[0031] Therefore:

[0032] FIG. 1 in the block diagram describes the components and operations from the sensor (1). In the right column, the sequence of operations starting with the detection (2) of the presence of occupants in the environment and the concentration of CO.sub.2 at levels equal to or greater than the determined value, when the sensor (1) indicates on the display (11) the value of the gas concentration (ppm). If the concentration is greater than 1000 ppm, the device will emit a continuous beep on the display (11), becoming intermittent and then illuminate as the concentration increases until the user/occupant activates the fan/exhauster (6), when the vehicle is in operation.

[0033] If the vehicle is not in operation, the sensor (1) will monitor the environment by measuring any increase in the concentration of CO.sub.2 up to the pre-programmed limit, from when, upon detection of the presence of animals or humans and if the occupant/user does not act, it activates the fan/exhaust (6) and, if necessary, the other operations as explained below. The same figure also informs the presence of a battery (4).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of a safety device (1) for cabins of motor vehicles when occupied by humans or animals. The device includes a sensor (1) for carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) (2) configured to determine a concentration of CO.sub.2 (2) at pre-set levels. Appropriate CO.sub.2 sensors are available in the state of the art, and the device in question takes advantage of the reliability of this type of detection to provide additional safety in the use of motor vehicles, which can be installed even in more modern vehicles, equipped with embedded computers and in that the ignition is given by an electronic or physical device (9), with which the sensor (1) communicates, whether the vehicle is in operation or not.

[0035] Said device (1) measures the concentration of CO.sub.2 (2) and controls the decontamination of the air. As CO.sub.2 is a by-product of respiration, harmful concentrations can occur in a closed environment. The literature suggests that concentrations of more than one part per million (1000 ppm) can lead to drowsiness. Without sufficient air renewal, the concentration of gas will increase and will certainly reach intolerable levels, which have the potential to cause harm to health and even accidents.

[0036] Considering the molecular density of CO.sub.2 and the use of the device (1) in automotive vehicles, it is appropriate for the sensor (1) to be installed in the lower regions of the cabin. The device should preferably be installed in the center panel of the vehicle.

[0037] Once the presence of occupants in the environment and the concentration of CO.sub.2 (2) at levels equal to or greater than the determined value is detected, the sensor (1) will indicate (11) the gas concentration value (ppm) on the display. If the concentration is greater than 1000 ppm, the device will emit a continuous beep on the display (11) which will become intermittent and then illuminate as the gas concentration increases and until the user/occupant activates ventilation/exhaustion (6) or open windows (5) if the vehicle is in operation.

[0038] If the vehicle is not in operation, the sensor (1) will monitor the environment by measuring any increase in the concentration of CO.sub.2 up to the pre-programmed limit with an addition of 400 ppm so that, if the environment contains, for example, 800 ppm when the vehicle is turned off, the sensor (1) reads 1200 ppm, performing the subsequent functions of: a) triggering an audible signal (11) alert for 20 seconds and visual for another 20 seconds, until the vehicle occupant activates the ignition key, adding 400 ppm again and so on; b) activating the vehicle's fan/exhaust (6) to renewal the air. Once the increase in the concentration of gas in the cabin is identified, the device will emit an intermittent sound signal for 20 seconds. If the air is not renewed through manual action, the device (1) will activate the vehicle's mechanical ventilation (6) automatically and, subsequently, calls to registered cell phones and send messages with the geolocation to other registered contacts, activating the optical (7) and audible set of the vehicle itself.

[0039] If there is not human intervention to re-establish the CO.sub.2 concentration levels (2) 5 minutes after the alert system is activated, the device will trigger the mechanism for opening windows and unlocking the doors (5 and 8). Also, the device (1), unless the function is disabled, will call emergency services via GPS.

[0040] The device (1) will record the CO.sub.2 concentration level (2) in the cabin every 48 hours, generating a hazard verification report.

[0041] Although the improvements in discussion have been described in terms of their preferred embodiments, they are not intended to be limited, but only to the extent set forth in the claims below.

[0042] The literature reports that concentrations greater than one part per million (1000 ppm) have harmful potential. Without fresh air, occupants in the vehicle's cabin, for example, especially children, the elderly and animals, would be at a very serious risk.

[0043] In contrast, in environments without the presence of people or animals, the variation in CO.sub.2 levels is very low. Some time without occupants is enough for gas concentration levels to gradually drop to normal levels.

[0044] Thus, FIG. 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of a safety device (1) for occupants of motor vehicle cabins that includes a CO.sub.2 sensor (1) configured to determine the presence of people or animals.

[0045] The sensor itself (1) is configured to determine if the environment is occupied by people or animals. As used herein, the terms “occupant” and “user” designate people and animals, such as, but not limited to, humans, dogs and others that may occupy the cabins of motor vehicles.

[0046] The device (1) takes advantage of and integrates devices based on existing microcomputers in the vehicle (3, 6, 7, 9 and 11).

[0047] Thus, the sensor device (1) measures the concentration of CO.sub.2 (2) and provides an indication of the air quality in the environment via display (11) or embedded computer.

[0048] The example in FIG. 1 proposes that the device (1) is used in a closed environment, which can be the cabin of any vehicle, and may include a processor not shown, such as a microprocessor or other control circuit. Such circuits can be analog or digital, including application-specific in the cabin

[0049] The sensor device (1) may include non-volatile memory, such as electronically erasable reprogrammable read memory (EEPROM) to store one or more routines, limits and captured data, which can be performed by the processor in view of the steps to determine if there are any occupants in the cabin.

[0050] It is known that CO2 has a higher molecular density than the main components of the typical atmosphere, which are N2 and 02 and means it is advantageous for the sensor (1) to be located in the lower regions of the cabin of the motor vehicle. Preferably, the device should be installed on the dashboard.

[0051] In addition to activating the means of notification (3, 7, 10, 11), the sensor device (1) includes an actuating command to activate the ventilation/exhaustion system (6) operated by a controller in common use and not shown. This ventilation/exhaust system (6) includes window (5) and door (8) equipped with actuators capable of opening them.