Sensing and reporting devices, systems and methods
AssigneeKWJ Engineering, Inc.
InventorWilliam C. Blanchard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Environmental sensing devices, systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an environmental sensing device includes an environmental sensor and an internal signal generator. The environmental sensing device may be configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more interior surfaces of an enclosure. The environmental sensor may be operable to detect one or more substances within the enclosure and provide a status signal to the internal signal generator corresponding to the presence of the one or more substances. The internal signal generator may be operable to generate a mechanical report sequence corresponding to the status signal. The mechanical report sequence may be a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure.
Claims20
An environmental sensing device comprising an environmental sensor and an internal signal generator, wherein:
- the environmental sensing device is configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more interior surfaces of an enclosure;
- the environmental sensor is operable to detect one or more substances within the enclosure and provide a status signal to the internal signal generator corresponding to the presence of the one or more substances;
- and
- the internal signal generator is operable to generate a mechanical report sequence corresponding to the status signal and comprising a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure.
An environmental sensing system comprising an internal sensor device and an external device, wherein:
- the internal sensor device comprises an environmental sensor, an internal signal generator, and an internal signal receiver;
- the external device comprises an external signal receiver;
- the internal sensor device is configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more interior surfaces of an enclosure;
- the environmental sensor is operable to detect one or more substances within the enclosure and provide a status signal corresponding to a presence of the one or more substances;
- the internal signal generator is operable to receive the status signal from the environmental sensor and upon receipt of a mechanical external signal generate a mechanical report sequence corresponding to the status signal and comprising a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure;
- and
- the external signal receiver is operable to receive and decode the mechanical report sequence to generate a decoded status signal.
A method of reporting a status of an enclosure comprising:
- providing a mechanical external signal comprising a series of mechanical pulses applied to an exterior surface of an enclosure;
- receiving the mechanical external signal by an internal sensor device positioned within the enclosure;
- determining a status of the enclosure and providing a status signal corresponding to the status of the enclosure;
- generating with the internal sensor device a mechanical report sequence in response to the receipt of the mechanical external signal, wherein the mechanical report sequence comprises a series of mechanical pulses applied to an interior surface of the enclosure and corresponds with the status signal;
- receiving the mechanical report sequence;
- and
- decoding the mechanical report sequence to generate a decoded status signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.