US 8,275,413 B1 · Wireless communication device with integrated electromagnetic radiation sensors

Abstract

A hand-held mobile communication device, such as smart telephone, incorporating sensors and signal conditioning modules for measuring signals from external sources of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the low, radio, ultraviolet, and infrared spectral ranges. These include the detector for receiving and monitoring electromagnetic fields originating from various external sources of radiation that pose potential health hazards or may interfere with various electronic devices. The mobile phone equipped with such sensors could alternate between communication and monitoring functions. Other integrated EMR sensors are a photodiode for the ultraviolet detection to monitor the user's sun exposure and a thermopile for non-contact measurement of temperature of humans or inanimate objects. This infrared sensor in combination with a photographic digital camera and a pattern recognition signal processing allows measuring temperatures at specific locations and from optimal distances to the surface of the object to enhance accuracy of non-contact temperature measurements.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A mobile communication device comprising a computational means and output means, further comprising a module incorporating a non-contact temperature sensor for receiving from an external surface electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectral range, such non-contact temperature sensor generates a signal.

A method of measuring the magnitude of electromagnetic radiation in a selected location by a mobile communication device, consisting of the steps of:

providing a mobile communication device that comprises a housing, a digital imaging sensor having a first field of view, such sensor is for generating a digital image of the selected location, a computational means, and an output means for conveying information to an operator;
incorporating into the housing a module that is responsive to intensity of the electromagnetic radiation in a selected spectral range;
positioning the housing in a vicinity of the selected location;
generating by the module a signal representative of the electromagnetic radiation;
processing said signal to extract information related to intensity of the electromagnetic radiation in the selected location, and
sending said information to the output means for conveying the information to the operator.

3 more elements

A method of computing temperature from electromagnetic radiation being naturally emanated from a selected portion of an object by a mobile communication device, comprising the steps of

providing a mobile communication device comprising a housing, a digital imaging sensor, a computational means, and an output means for conveying information to an operator;
positioning in the housing an electromagnetic radiation detector operating in an infrared thermal spectral range and having a field of view;
positioning in the housing the digital imaging sensor and electromagnetic radiation detector in a mutual proximity and alignment;
aiming by an operator the digital imaging sensor and electromagnetic radiation detector at the object;
generating by the digital imaging sensor a first signal representative of an image of the object;
generating by the electromagnetic radiation detector a second signal representative of surface temperature of the object within the field of view;
computing the surface temperature of the object from the said second signal, and
sending the computed temperature to said output means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wireless communication device with integrated electromagnetic radiation sensors

Life of this patent

Wireless communication device with integrated electromagnetic radiation sensors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17