Non-specific sensor array detectors

A wearable sensor device comprising:

• a compact housing structure;
• an attachment mechanism coupled to the housing structure;
• one or more sensors;
• an alarm module;
• a digital signal processor configured to monitor signals from the one or more sensors and provide an alarm activation signal to the alarm module in response to the detection of a threshold condition;
• and
• a power management system configured to operate the sensor device in one of a low power sleep mode and a high power operative mode, wherein the low power sleep mode is enabled for at least 70% of the time that the sensor device is operating,
• wherein, during the low power operative mode, the digital signal processor is woken up periodically by a wakeup signal output by the power management system to thereby cause the sensor device to enter the high power operative mode, wherein during the high power operative mode the digital signal processor scans the one or more sensors and determines whether or not an event has occurred or is occurring, and wherein the digital signal processor goes back to an inoperative sleep state and thereby causes the sensor device to reenter the low power operative mode when the digital signal processor determines that an event has not occurred or is not occurring.

An integrated sensor apparatus, comprising:

• an array of two or more sensors;
• a processing module coupled to each of the sensors and configured to process signals received from each of the two or more sensors to determine an environmental state;
• and
• a communication module that communicates information about the environmental state to a user;
• and
• a power management system configured to operate the sensor apparatus in one of a low power sleep mode and a high power operative mode, wherein the low power sleep mode is enabled for at least 70% of the time that the sensor apparatus is operating,
• wherein, during the low power operative mode, the processing module is woken up periodically by a wakeup signal output by the power management system to thereby cause the sensor apparatus to enter the high power operative mode, wherein during the high power operative mode the processing module scans the two or more sensors and determines whether or not an event has occurred or is occurring, and wherein the processing module goes back to an inoperative sleep state and thereby causes the sensor apparatus to reenter the low power operative mode when the processing module determines that an event has not occurred or is not occurring.

A portable sensor apparatus, comprising:

• two or more sensor devices;
• a processing module coupled to each of the sensor devices and configured to process signals received from each of the two or more sensor devices to determine an environmental state;
• a communication module that communicates information about the environmental state to a user;
• and
• a power supply module configured to supply power for the sensor apparatus, and
• a pneumatic pump system that provides vapor to the two or more sensor devices to cause the two or more sensor devices to continuously be in an operative state,
• wherein the processing module comprises:
• a digital signal processing unit that receives and processes signals output from the two or more sensor devices;
• and
• a memory that stores the signals processed by the digital signal processing unit, and
• wherein the lifetime of the power supply during continuous operation of the apparatus exceeds two weeks.

A method of using a wearable badge detector, the badge detector having two or more sensors, a processing module coupled to each of the sensors and configured to process signals received from each of the two or more sensors to determine an environmental state, a communication module that communicates information about the environmental state to a user, and a power supply module for supplying power for the detector, the method comprising:

• providing the wearable badge detector to the user
• attaching the detector to the user;
• activating the detector, wherein once activated, the detector operates passively and continuously in excess of one week without requiring recharging or replacement of the power supply module;
• and
• once activated, operating the detector in one of a low power sleep mode and a high power operative mode, wherein the low power sleep mode is enabled for at least 70% of the time that the sensor apparatus is operating,
• the method further comprising:
• during the low power operative mode, waking up the processing module periodically by a wakeup signal output by the power supply module to thereby cause the detector to enter the high power operative mode;
• and
• scanning the two or more sensors by the processing module and determining whether or not an event has occurred or is occurring,
• wherein the processing module goes back to an inoperative sleep state and thereby causes the detector to reenter the low power operative mode when the processing module determines that an event has not occurred or is not occurring.

A portable sensor apparatus, comprising:

• two or more sensor devices;
• a processing module coupled to each of the sensor devices and configured to process signals received from the two or more sensor devices to determine an environmental state;
• and
• a communication module that communicates information about the environmental state to a user;
• and
• a pneumatic pump system that provides vapor to the two or more sensor devices to cause the two or more sensor devices to continuously be in an operative state,
• wherein the processing module comprises:
• a digital signal processing unit that receives and processes signals output from the two or more sensor devices;
• and
• a memory that stores the signals processed by the digital signal processing unit, and
• wherein the apparatus operates in a passive and continuous manner without user intervention.