MOBILE ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SYSTEM

Abstract

An environmental monitoring system having a monitoring device, a cloud-based server, mobile devices, remote sensors and hardwired sensors, such that each of the system devices is configured to communicate with the rest of the system and the mobile devices provide user access and control. This system provides a comprehensive hardware and software solution designed for complex environment monitoring applications. It collects and analyzes various environmental parameters, allowing for the results to be displayed on a smartphone and for the data to be transferred to a server for further processing and monitoring.

Claims

1. An environment monitoring device, comprising: a processor receiving data from at least two sensors; a transceiver connected to the processor and communicating with the sensors and at least two mobile devices; a fan that draws air from the environment through at least two cavities in an outside housing of the monitoring device and over the sensors; and a cloud-based server connected to the monitoring device and receiving measurement data from the monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device is configured to receive automatic software updates from the cloud-based server, and wherein the measurement data on the cloud-based server is accessible via the at least two mobile devices.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device provides alerts to emergency personnel, if an emergency is detected, wherein the emergency includes smoke, excess CO.sub.2, excess CO, or excess heat.

3. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device provides proximity-based information to occupants of an environment being monitored, wherein the proximity-based information are emergency messages, allergen warnings or ambient air statistics.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the measurement data is regularly transmitted from the cloud-based server to a government regulatory system for review.

5. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein upon connection of a new sensor to the monitoring device, the monitoring device downloads necessary software updates from the cloud-based server and automatically configures the new sensor for use.

6. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein each of the mobile devices is paired with at least one monitoring device, wherein each of the mobile devices is authorized to receive information from the at least one monitoring device, wherein authorization between each mobile device and each of the at least one monitoring device is established by imaging a unique QR code on each of the at least one monitoring devices.

7. The monitoring device of claim 1, the monitoring device further comprising: lighting indicators connected to the processor and controlled to indicate a safety or acceptability of the environment.

8. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the cloud-based server is connected with a control-authorized mobile device, and wherein the control-authorized device can change settings of the monitoring device and analyze the measurement data through the cloud-based server.

9. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is connected to building control systems, and wherein the building control systems include a power supply, a heating control system, an air conditioning control system, an alarm system, and a lighting system.

10. The monitoring device of claim 9, wherein the monitoring device controls the building control systems based on measured sensor values.

11. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the cloud-based server is connected to building control systems, wherein the building control systems include a power supply, a heating control system, an air conditioning control system, an alarm system, and a lighting system, and wherein the cloud-based server controls the building control systems based on the measurement data from the sensors.

12. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensors are selected from a group comprising: carbon dioxide sensors, carbon monoxide sensors, dust sensors, Ethyl alcohol sensors, combustible gas sensors, Ammonia sensors, formaldehyde sensors, benzene sensors, and hydrogen sensors, noise sensors, light sensors, humidity sensors, air temperature sensors, and atmospheric pressure sensors.

12. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensors are probe sensors inserted into water sources, water drains, or soil to detect pollution, microbes or chemical contamination.

13. An environment monitoring system, comprising: an environment monitoring device including a processor, a transceiver, a fan, a housing, at least two sensors, and a lighting indicator; the processor receiving data from the at least two sensors; the transceiver connected to the processor and communicating with the sensors; and the fan drawing air from the environment through at least two cavities in the housing of the monitoring device and over the sensors; and at least two mobile devices connected to the environment monitoring device via the transceiver; a cloud-based server connected to the monitoring device and receiving measurement data from the monitoring device, the measurement data being generated by the at least two sensors, wherein the measurement data on the cloud-based server is accessible via the at least two mobile devices, and wherein the cloud-based server is connected to environment control systems to actively adjust the environment variables based on the measurement data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the environment monitoring system;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic of the monitoring device of the system; and

[0021] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the detection module according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The overall system diagram is shown in FIG. 1 with a number of monitoring devices (10) communicating with a cloud-based server (11). The monitoring devices (10) also communicate directly with mobile devices (12) having a mobile application for interfacing with the monitoring devices (10) or the cloud-based server (11). Each of the monitoring devices includes an array of sensors (13) which test and measure local environmental parameters. The monitoring device (10) also includes at least two cavities or through-holes that allow air to circulate within the device and a fan (23) for increasing airflow into the device.

[0023] The air sensors (13) adapted to be connected to the monitoring devices (10) include sensors of CO.sub.2 levels (carbon dioxide), CO levels (carbon monoxide), dust levels, Ethyl alcohol content levels (C.sub.2H.sub.5OH), Combustible gases levels (LPG), Ammonia levels (NH.sub.3), formaldehyde, benzene, and Hydrogen levels (H.sub.2). In addition, the monitoring devices can include sensors (13) for basic habitability or comfort conditions such as noise levels (microphone), light levels, humidity, air temperature, and atmospheric pressure values.

[0024] Each monitoring device (10) is advantageously provided with several three-axis semiconductor sensors detecting magnetic fields and radiation levels in three dimensions. For outdoor applications, a monitoring device (10) can be connected to probe sensors in water sources or water drains to assess pollution levels or microbe contamination levels. Other applications may provide for soil condition monitoring, such as soil moisture, temperature and acidity. Yet another application may include sensor for detecting gravity measurements.

[0025] Each monitoring device (10) includes a communication module (21) having a transceiver which can communicate via WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G/4G/LTE cellular bandwidths, Dali and EnOcean, ZigBee, LoRa connections to sensors and to the cloud-based server (11). The sensors (13) may be wirelessly connected sensors such as those connectable in an Internet-of-Things or wired sensors connected through micro-USB, Firewire, or the like. The cloud-based server (11) advantageously being connected for a continuous data connection, for example, over Ethernet.

[0026] The monitoring devices (10) can be of two form factors, one for indoor applications and one for outdoor applications. The housing for either the indoor application or the outdoor application provides a frame for connecting additional sensors to the outside and nearby USB connection ports for easy connection of the sensor module. The outside housing of the monitoring device (10) advantageously includes colored lighting indicators (22) to alert tenants, workers or building managers of environmental parameters that are unacceptable or out of predetermined ranges.

[0027] The core of the monitoring device includes a central data processing module (20) as shown in FIG. 2 that includes a CPU, RAM, GPS, a communication bus for connection to the communication module and several USB inputs. The central data processing module can run an embedding LINUX or ANDROID operating system. The monitoring device (10) is configured to auto-detect and auto-configure wireless sensors that are in close proximity or which have been paired with the monitoring device (10). Additionally, all sensors hardwired to the monitoring device (10) are also configured for input.

[0028] The monitoring device (10) is designed as a hemisphere as in FIG. 3 with a fan (23) in the center in order to improve air intake such that a wider environmental area can be monitored. The fan (23) turns on automatically based on predetermined values in the program. This allows the device to achieve energy savings while in use. The monitoring device also can be battery powered or connected to the building power supply as in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the device may be recharged wirelessly through a specially-adapted wireless charger.

[0029] If the sensors are provided by a third-party or require a third-party API, then the monitoring device can either download the required software from the cloud-based server (11) or downloaded from the newly connected module itself. The cloud-based server (11) can also push out updates to the monitoring devices (10) to add new capabilities, new processing or utilize latent capabilities in already connected sensors. For example, the noise level sensors can be specially adapted to detect specific sounds such as gunfire, machine malfunctions or high pressure gas leaks.

[0030] Each monitoring device (10) uploads sensor data to the cloud-based server (11) for collection, analysis and pattern detection. This enables the system to identify anomalies and malfunctioning systems. The monitoring device (10) itself may also connect to emergency services directly to notify them when smoke, carbon monoxide or excessive heat are detected. Other emergency conditions can also be set for alerts to building personnel and particularly sensitive building users.

[0031] Certain gases or particles detected by the system can be allergens to some people. If detected, the analysis system of the cloud-based server (11) will notify an inhabitant of the environment (via the mobile application) that there are certain types of allergens present in the environment. User notification of the presence of potentially harmful allergens in the air can be determined according to geolocation or localized pairing. This opens the potential user base of the mobile application to include anyone regularly using the building.

[0032] Authorization to receive alerts from particular environments may be established through the mobile application. The alerts can then be received directly from the monitoring device (10) or the cloud-based server (11). If the mobile application user is remote from the environment, the alerts may still be received or can be selectively turned off. Alternatively, only local mobile devices are alerted, and particularly only authorized local mobile devices. The mobile device may be a cellular phone, a tablet, a smart watch, a laptop, or an engineering control panel. Other devices can also be connected, so that the data and alerts can be sent to any other electronic device.

[0033] The mobile application can be run on iOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS Embedded, and other mobile operating systems. The mobile application receives regular updates of environmental measurements, and can allow management of measurement history through communication with the server (11). The application can also allow authorized users to directly manage and configure the central data processing module (20) and the sensors (13) of the monitoring device (10). Finally, the application displays analytical information and recommendations for environmental condition improvements.

[0034] Initialization of communication with the monitoring device begins by imaging a special QR code found on the actual device. The QR code contains a unique number of the device's Bluetooth adapter (or other unique number). This number is used to ensure that the device is only paired with this specific monitoring device. Also at this stage, the user profile for the mobile application can be created on a system website that interfaces with the cloud-based server (11). Furthermore, authorized devices with full control credentials may also interface with building control systems to actively adjust environment variables. This connection to building control systems can either be through the cloud-based server (11) or the relayed through the monitoring device (10).

[0035] The user account includes device registration, purchase history, personal health profile, measurement history, an analytical information expert system, and account settings. For additional data access, a full access API key can provide statistical information on all measured parameters, with the possibility of mapping this sensor data with the demographics of users. The data will be supplied without the users' personal information to those organizations that need to know the status of the users' environmental conditions. For example, regulatory agencies could be given access to this resource.

[0036] An example of monitoring device (10) can be seen in FIG. 3. This monitoring device can be used in trucks, trains, cargo containers, shipping vessels, houses, barns, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, commercial properties, farms, offices, smart city systems and space vehicles. In each case, a core number of sensors are provided and the additional desired sensors are added by the user for each specific use case.

[0037] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.