Environmental monitoring sensor system

Abstract

An environmental sensor system for measuring indoor air quality provides one or more modular base units (100) selectively coupled with one or more main units (400), and preferably also having a removable cover (900) that can be used to change the mode of a user interface such that the user interface can be used to measure indoor air quality. Therefore, participation and learning results are promoted to promote better indoor air quality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an environmental monitoring sensor system, and more particularly to an indoor air quality monitoring system; and associated methods of monitoring environmental parameters and indoor air quality. Background Art

[0002] Adults spend up to 90% of their time indoors, and children are spending even more time indoors. Children now spend half as much time outdoors as their parents did in the past, averaging just 68 minutes a day.

[0003] Children are also particularly vulnerable to poor indoor air quality because their lungs are still developing. Their airways are smaller, so pollution-induced inflammation can narrow them more easily than in adults. Currently, 1 in 11 children and 1 in 12 adults in the UK are being treated for asthma. This, combined with the fact that people are spending more time indoors due to the coronavirus pandemic, means that indoor air quality has never been a greater concern in homes and other indoor environments such as workplaces.

[0004] There are a variety of air quality monitors available, but they tend to focus on sensing a single pollutant and provide users with numerical information that can be difficult to interpret and draw conclusions from. The information provided by the sensors is unclear and unengaging, so there is a risk that people will not understand when they need to take action, nor be motivated to take action to improve the air quality in their homes or other indoor environments.

[0005] Additionally, existing solutions are not tailored for different scenarios or different households, so there is a risk that they may generate false positives, which often discourages users over time.

[0006] While various large-scale aggregate monitoring programmes have been implemented to monitor outdoor air quality, similar intelligence does not exist for indoor air quality, so policymakers or other organisations (such as governments, local councils or large property owners) lack the information to understand data and trends and inform policy and infrastructure investments.

[0007] Therefore, improved environmental monitoring systems are needed to promote and advance good health and practices in homes and other indoor environments. Summary of the invention

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an environmental sensor system comprising a plurality of sensor assemblies including one or more base units and one or more main units, wherein the main units are selectively engageable with the base units by hand.

[0009] Preferably, the base unit comprises a first set of environmental sensors and the main unit comprises a second set of environmental sensors.

[0010] Preferably, the main unit comprises a display screen and a user interface.

[0011] Preferably, the system comprises an actuation member for altering a user interface of the primary unit between the first mode and the second mode.

[0012] Each mode preferably provides a different set of menu display options and a different graphical look and feel for presentation to the user.

[0013] Preferably, the first mode includes detailed displayed information intended for adult or mature users of the system, and the second mode displays a subset of the information shown in the first mode.

[0014] The second mode may include different graphical elements and different presentations designed for different users who may have different needs or preferences, or different levels of data access. One specific use case is to provide a simpler or more engaging way of presenting information to children, and may include cartoon elements and modified language explaining the meaning of key terms. The second display mode may also provide a gamified interface.

[0015] Preferably, the actuation means comprises means for wirelessly receiving a signal from an associated computing device or network service.

[0016] Alternatively, the actuation member comprises a physical or capacitive switch provided on the body of the primary unit.

[0017] Alternatively, the actuation member comprises a selectively attachable physical actuator member.

[0018] Preferably, the selectively attachable physical actuator member comprises a cap member selectively attachable to an upper portion of the main unit.

[0019] Preferably, the main unit and the selectively attachable physical actuator member are each provided with co-operating magnetic members for urging the members together and ensuring correct alignment when the members are placed together.

[0020] Preferably, the main unit and the selectively attachable physical actuator means are provided with close range air gap radio communication means, most preferably with cooperating near field communication (NFC) tags and readers.

[0021] Preferably, the selectively attachable physical actuator member comprises a tag provided with a unique ID, and the user interface mode is selected based on said ID.

[0022] Preferably, the main unit and base unit are each provided with co-operating magnetic members for urging the members together and ensuring correct alignment when the members are placed together.

[0023] Preferably, the main unit and base unit are each provided with co-operating electric actuators which enable transfer of power and data therebetween.

[0024] Preferably, the base unit and / or main unit are configured to communicate with a remote data platform.

[0025] Preferably, the base unit is provided with a location identifier, and the base unit and the main unit are configured to share the location identifier when they are connected.

[0026] Preferably, the location ID is stored at the remote platform.

[0027] Preferably, the base unit and main unit are configured to exchange network credentials upon connection, such that the main unit can automatically join the network when coupled with the base unit.

[0028] Preferably, the system is coupled to other devices that can affect air quality, and can generate control signals for these devices based on the air quality readings and / or suggested actions.

[0029] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of sensing an environmental parameter, comprising providing a plurality of sensor assemblies comprising one or more base units and one or more main units, wherein the main units are selectively engageable with the base units by hand.

[0030] The method of the present disclosure may also include providing or using the system of the first aspect, or performing various other steps and processes as described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] Figure 1 A base unit of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0033] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A further view of the base unit;

[0034] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 An exploded view of the base unit;

[0035] Figure 4shows a main display and sensor unit of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] Figure 5 Shows Figure 4 The main unit and Figure 1 A view of a base unit coupling;

[0037] Figure 6 Shows Figure 5 further views of the combination of the main unit and the base unit;

[0038] Figure 7 Shows Figure 4 An exploded view of the main unit;

[0039] Figure 8 Shows Figure 1 The base unit and Figure 4 An exploded view of selected components of the main unit showing various aspects of how the units cooperate to couple together;

[0040] Fig. 9 shows that it can be selectively attached to Figure 4 an actuator mechanism of a main unit;

[0041] Fig.10 Shows Figure 4 The main unit and Fig. 9 A view of the actuator mechanism coupling, and Figure 2 Base unit, Figure 4 The main unit and Fig. 9 A view of the actuator mechanism all coupled together;

[0042] Fig.11 Shows Fig.10 further views of the combination of base unit, main unit and actuator mechanism shown;

[0043] Fig.12 Shows Fig. 9 An exploded view of an actuator mechanism;

[0044] Fig.13 Shows Figure 4 Various exemplary display modes of the main unit;

[0045] Fig.14 Shows Figure 1 More details of the base unit;

[0046] Fig.15 Shows Figure 4 More details of the main unit;

[0047] Fig.16 An overview of the system architecture according to the present disclosure is shown;

[0048] Fig.17 shows how the main unit can be debugged;

[0049] Fig.18 shows how the master unit can be tracked between different base units; and

[0050] Fig.19 Data sharing between the base unit and the main unit 400 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] According to the present disclosure, an environmental sensor system includes one or more base units including a set of environmental sensors.

[0052] Figure 1 An embodiment of a base unit 100 according to the present disclosure is shown, showing an isometric view 100d as well as a left view 100a, a front view 100b and a further perspective view 100c.

[0053] The base unit 100 includes a set of basic sensors. In one embodiment, the set of basic sensors may include one or more of the following: a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor, a sensor for detecting one or more types of nitrogen oxides (NOx) (such as NO or NO2), a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, and an ambient light sensor. It should be understood that the specific set of sensors selected to be incorporated into the base unit 100 may vary depending on the specific implementation. The base unit 100 may also include basic display functionality - see display 102. The base 100 can act as a stand-alone entry-level sensor, and in one embodiment, an environmental monitoring system can be implemented by simply providing one or more such basic sensors. The display 102 may include a simple screen that displays basic information. As Figure 2 As shown, this may provide some simple numerical information as well as a general status report on the air quality.

[0054] The base unit 100 may be equipped with wireless communication capabilities (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other wireless standards) to connect with mobile devices or other network components through a central hub or through a mesh network.

[0055] The base unit is designed to be a relatively low cost unit that provides an entry level for new users and allows for future expansion capabilities. Users can benefit from some simple air quality monitoring simply by using the base unit if they choose to do so.

[0056] The base can preferably be composed of Figure 2The mains power supply is shown as 104. In alternative embodiments it could be battery powered, but the mains power supply is preferred so that the base can be reliably powered for long periods of time.

[0057] As will be discussed in more detail below, the base unit is provided with a series of vents to allow air to flow around the components.

[0058] Figure 3 An exploded view of the base 100 is shown, with the various component parts illustrated.

[0059] The screen member 102 is received in a cover member 104 which is mounted on a sensor / LED printed circuit board (PCB) 105. A connector PCB 106 includes contacts for an electrical connector, which in this embodiment is a spring pin connector; a set of targets are provided here for interfacing with the body 400 (see Figure 7 ) engage with corresponding pin elements of connector 413 of the base unit 100. These components are nested in the base housing 107 and a plurality of magnetic members 108 are provided for cooperating or cooperating with a corresponding set of magnetic members on the body as described elsewhere. A weight 110 is provided to provide mechanical stability, suitably made of steel or similar material, and a rubber or similar high friction foot member 112 provides high friction contact with the surface on which the base unit 100 rests. The various components are held together by fasteners 114, here in the form of threaded screws.

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment, the system can also provide Figure 4 The main unit 400 is shown. The figure shows an isometric view of the main unit 400 as well as a front view 400a, a left view 400b and a further perspective view 400c.

[0061] The main body 400 includes a second set of sensors that can provide additional functionality compared to the sensor set in the base unit 100. The second set of sensors can also include sensors that perform the same functions as one or more sensors in the base unit 100, so that certain key parameters can always be monitored regardless of whether the main unit is provided as part of the entire system, and can always be monitored at all locations where the sensor assembly is located. As a non-limiting example embodiment, the second set of sensors can include one or more of the following: a specific substance sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a motion sensor (such as an accelerometer), and an orientation sensor. The particle sensor can include one or more of the following: a PM 1.0 sensor, a PM 2.5 sensor, a PM 4.0 sensor, and a PM 10 sensor, or a sensor designed for other particle concentrations. The main unit 400 also includes a screen member 402, which can optionally be a touch screen.

[0062] Figure 5 shows an example information display on the touch screen 402, Figure 5 Shown with Figure 1 and Figure 2 A base unit 100 of the type shown is coupled to a main body 400 .

[0063] The main body 400 is designed to fit tightly with the base 100 and can be easily moved from one base to another. It can be selectively attached and detached by hand without any tools.

[0064] A typical system implementation in a home environment may include multiple base units 100 and a single main body 400. However, it should be understood that in alternative embodiments, multiple main units 400 may be provided, including providing a main body 400 for each base unit 100. However, having a single main unit 400 that can be flexibly moved between different base units 100 provides a cost-effective way for consumers to benefit from the system.

[0065] Based on where people will be in a residence or interior environment, the main unit 400 can be moved to different locations throughout the day; for example, from a living room during the day to a bedroom at night, so that more data can be collected.

[0066] Figure 6 A further illustration of the base 100 and the body 400 coupled together is shown, with an isometric view (d) accompanying the front view (a), a left side view (b) and a further perspective view (c).

[0067] The main body 400 can be selectively coupled to the base unit 100. The modules need to be connected in a mechanically secure and visually inconspicuous manner. In addition, the main body 400 and the base 100 also need to transmit data between each other.

[0068] Thus, the body 400 and the base unit 100 may be selectively coupled using a connection member, which may include an electrical connection member and one or more of a magnetic connection member and a physical connection member. The electrical connection member may include an electrical connector, which may preferably include a spring-mounted pogo pin mechanism, whereby one of the two components to be connected is provided with a set of target connection surfaces and the other is provided with a set of pin members - generally, herein, if a pogo pin arrangement is shown as a target and pin configuration, the target and pin may be reversed as desired.

[0069] The magnetic connection means may comprise one or more pairs of co-operating magnetic members, the members of the or each pair being arranged at specific matching positions in each device to be connected.

[0070] The magnetic member may preferably be disposed within the housing of each device, directly beneath its respective surface, to provide a strong magnetic coupling, yet be invisible to the everyday user.

[0071] Cooperating magnetic members are used to connect the device in a self-locating orientation, guiding the user into correct placement.

[0072] Figure 7 An expanded view of the body 400 is shown. The main housing 401 receives the screen member 402 and is connected to the lower cover member 404.

[0073] The housing 401 encloses a main sensor printed circuit board (PCB) 406 and a particulate matter (PM) sensor 407, which is preferably isolated from the main PCB 406 for airflow reasons. A further NFC connector printed circuit board 410 is also provided, which is used to make electrical communication with the cover member 900 if a cover member 900 is provided. A first set of magnetic members 408 is provided for ensuring mechanical connection with the base 100 (as described elsewhere), and an electrical connector PCB 412 is provided for making electrical connection with the base 100.

[0074] Figure 8The cooperation between the base portion 304 of the main body 300 and the cover member 104 of the base unit 100 is shown. From here it can be seen that the plurality of magnets 308 in the main unit 300 are positioned to be positioned with corresponding magnets 108 provided in the main body of the base unit 100, and the electrical connector includes a spring pin mechanism including a set of pin members 306 provided in the main body 300, which cooperate with a set of target members 106 provided in the base cover. Screw members 310 are also used as part of the main body to hold it together.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, the system may further include: Fig. 9 Physical actuator component 900 is shown. Here, an exemplary physical actuator component is provided in the form of a cover, as shown in an isometric view 900, which is shown together with a front view 900a, a left side view 900b and a further perspective view 900c.

[0076] The cover member 900 is designed to selectively engage with the main unit 300 and is designed to transform the appearance of the device into a more attractive appearance, thereby attracting children, or generally providing a more aesthetic effect. In the example, the cover member 900 has a main body 902, and the main body 902 is provided with a pair of ears 904.

[0077] The selective attachment of the cover member 900 to the base 400 is used as a trigger to change the operating mode of the user interface provided by the display 402 of the main body 400, which may include changing the user interface to a special children's mode, and as shown in FIG. Fig.10 As shown, the special pattern may include graphic elements that complete the appearance of a special character that matches the physical design of the cover member 900.

[0078] The system may be provided with a range of different cover members 900 which may have different personalities or designs to cater to different tastes or different franchise opportunities, thereby appealing to different audiences. The cover member 900 is magnetically connected to the body 400, as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

[0079] The children's mode can engage children at a level they can understand and can educate and entertain them. The body 400 can also be removed from the base to allow for more play / exploration opportunities.

[0080] When the cover 900 is attached, it should indicate its presence to both the body 400 and the base unit 100. Subsurface magnets are provided in a cooperative manner at the body 400 and the cover 900 to ensure that the cover naturally registers in the correct orientation.

[0081] The cover may use an RFID tag or NFC connection to alert the body 400 that it has been attached.

[0082] Fig.11 Showing further detail of how the base unit 100, main unit 400 and cover member 900 may be connected together, an isometric view (d) is shown as well as a front view (a), a left side view (b) and an additional perspective view (c).

[0083] Fig.12 An exploded view of the closure member 900 is shown. Here, the closure housing 902 is coupled to the lower cover member 906 of the closure and includes a plurality of magnet members 908 designed to align with corresponding magnet members 414 of the body 400. An NFC connector PCB 910 is also provided for communicating with the body 400.

[0084] Fig.13 Examples of how different operational user interface modes may be presented depending on the selective attachment of the capping member 900 are shown.

[0085] exist Fig.13 In (a), the cover member is not attached and the user interface is in a fully functional mode suitable for use by adults or other mature users. It provides data, but still provides data in a clear way and proposes actionable improvements. But when the cover 900 is attached, the user interface can become a child character that can interact with children for education and entertainment. Figures (b) and (c) show the options of different characters that can be provided. Different characters can be provided based on the age or preferences of the user.

[0086] In alternative embodiments, different user interface modes may be triggered without a physical actuator. For example, the modes may be switched by sending a command from a remote control or a companion mobile application on a smartphone or PC. In addition, the physical actuator may include a physical actuator, such as a button, a rocker switch, or a touch-sensitive element, disposed on the surface of either the base unit or the main unit. Where a selectively attachable physical actuator member is provided, it may be selectively attached to other parts of the main unit, such as its sides, or to the base unit, that is, the selectively attachable physical actuator member does not necessarily have to be attachable to the upper surface of the main unit, or it does not necessarily have to be in the form of a cover member.

[0087] In such a system, a lot of heat is generated by the various components. This heat can interfere with the temperature and humidity sensors in the module. Therefore, various features are provided to ensure the flow of heat to minimize or eliminate this problem.

[0088] Fig.14A solution that may be provided as part of the base is shown. Here, a small pocket is formed between the base housing and the printed circuit board using ribs that protrude through the printed circuit board. This isolates the components within the pocket from the air in the rest of the base 100, while also creating a break in the PCB to prevent conduction through the circuit board. All components within the pocket are primarily exposed only to ambient air. These components may include an ambient light sensor.

[0089] Additional vents are placed in the circuit board to isolate other sensor components from the main heat generating components, and a rib member 1400 may be provided to divide the base housing into two sections. The vents may also act as flues, drawing warm air from under the circuit board past less sensitive components to help detect air quality.

[0090] Fig.15 It shows how a chimney effect can be created within the body 400 to draw air past the components on the printed circuit board. The inlet and outlet vents on the particulate matter sensor can also be separated by rib members to help avoid cross contamination.

[0091] As mentioned above, the base unit may include a set of basic sensors. The main unit may include a comprehensive sensor suite for measuring a range of different pollutants and environmental factors. These may include sensors for measuring temperature, humidity, volatile organic compounds, equivalent carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter, including, for example, PM 1, PM 2.5, and PM 10 sensors.

[0092] When sensors in the base unit and main unit are provided together, they can work together to provide increased intelligence.

[0093] The system can also provide smaller, low-cost peripheral sensors to build a more complete map of air quality throughout the home.

[0094] The modular nature of the system provides an affordable means to purchase an ecosystem of products and can be added and upgraded in a cost-effective manner as new features and sensor technologies become available.

[0095] The system including the sensors may also communicate wirelessly or otherwise to transmit sensor data for a user to view and monitor information. The system may include an application running on a mobile device or as a web application that may provide insights and serve as a companion to the system module.

[0096] At a basic level, the system can provide alerts when certain thresholds of measured parameters are reached, passed, or exceeded. However, in preferred embodiments, the system can learn the individual needs of each home where the system is set up, and can tailor feedback and suggestions appropriately. These recommendations may include immediate quick solutions, as well as more insightful, longer-term occupant actions driven by data trend analysis.

[0097] This can be achieved during setup when a range of occupant home and environmental data is collected, allowing the system to adjust the nature and intensity of the actionable recommendations given. The data collected may include information about furniture, windows, heating and ventilation systems within the building, and information about health conditions such as asthma or other respiratory conditions of household members. This data can be used to tailor recommendations to specific requirements and tailor the triggering of alerts.

[0098] The data collected in this setting survey allows understanding of the specific air quality needs of a user or group of users (such as a family). From this, the system's alerts and recommendations can be automatically adjusted to provide a tailored solution for each person. For example, asthmatics may be more sensitive to particulate matter (PM), so if there is a user with this disease in the home, PM readings can be given more weight and encouraged to correct any problems that occur at lower thresholds; or if there are children in the home, the system can ensure that their bedrooms do not reach conditions that may cause potential harm to their respiratory development. This is an improvement over existing systems, which provide a comprehensive, unified approach to air quality feedback. This is generally not suitable for everyone, especially when it comes to allergies or other respiratory diseases. The system allows tailored monitoring, taking into account that everyone is different and has their own unique combination of problems and sensitivities.

[0099] The system can use artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to understand trends and spot when events that deviate from trends occur. This means that as the system begins to recognize relationships between air quality changes, pollution events, and user behavior, it can become smarter over time and reduce false alarms.

[0100] In addition, the system can also be linked to other devices that may affect air quality, and can generate control signals for these devices to automatically intervene and take actions to improve indoor air quality. For example, the system can automatically start a purifier, dehumidifier, HVAC system, or open or close windows based on air quality readings, or actually implement recommended actions suggested by the system. These actions can be performed automatically, or can be pre-approved by the user, such as by sending them a notification on a smartphone application or the like.

[0101] Data from the system can be collated and aggregated and made available to other users, such as government agencies, local councils and academic institutions. This data can be collected with explicit consent from users and is anonymous. This means that policymakers can gain access to data on indoor air quality, which will inform policy decisions, such as introducing or maintaining regulations on home ventilation or traffic control. This could also potentially be paired with occupant demographic and health data from device setup surveys, so it would create valuable datasets at a scale not achievable through existing methods.

[0102] The system can also be used from Fig.16 The figure shows a base unit 100, a main unit 400 (also referred to as a "module device"), and a physical actuator member 900 (herein referred to as a hat) from the perspective of the underlying system architecture shown.

[0103] As can be seen here, the base unit 100 includes a microcontroller arranged to communicate with the interface via a serial communication channel and to communicate with the wireless communication modules (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), a display unit and a set of indicator elements (such as red, green and blue light emitting diodes) for providing feedback / status information to the user. The base unit also includes a power input (USB-C in this case) and a power regulator. The microcontroller is also coupled to the first set of sensors (core sensor suite) described elsewhere herein.

[0104] The main unit 400 can be selectively coupled or separated from the base unit 100, and includes an electrical interface for coupling with a corresponding interface of the base unit 100. The main unit 400 is provided with an internal power supply, such as a rechargeable battery and a power regulator. The functions of the main unit 400 are controlled by a core microprocessor and a memory, which is composed of a non-volatile memory (suitably flash memory) and a volatile random access memory (RAM). The microprocessor is communicatively coupled to the interface (suitably a serial interface) via a communication bus, and is also communicatively coupled to other components (including wireless communication modules (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), a large display unit and touch panel, a speaker, an RFID transceiver / NFC reader, and an extended sensor suite), as described elsewhere herein.

[0105] The physical actuator member 900 may be provided with a tag, suitably an RFID tag or transceiver, which may preferably be provided with a unique ID. The behavior of the system may depend on the unique ID, for example by changing the display mode or user interface appearance.

[0106] When the main unit 400 is to be set up for a new system, it must be debugged so that it can operate with other devices in the system. For users, debugging new Internet of Things (IoT) devices is usually a complicated manual process. Fig.17 It is shown how the main unit 400 may be commissioned, preferably in an automated manner.

[0107] Here, just place the newly purchased main unit 400 on the existing base unit 100 and it will automatically self-commission. Using the two-way communication interface with the base 100, the main unit 400 can request the current valid Wi-Fi or other network credentials, as well as other relevant information (user / system ID), allowing it to self-commission for immediate use.

[0108] Fig.17 Part (a) of shows that the base 100 has been connected to the network and commissioned at the user's home. Then in part (b), the main unit 400 is installed on the base 100. The base unit 100 then transmits the active network connection credentials and user ID to the main unit 400, which then (in part (c)) connects to the network using the new credentials and commissions using the provided user ID.

[0109] The main unit 400 can also be moved around to fit into different base units 100. The system can keep track of this, e.g. Fig.18 As shown. It is desirable for the base unit 100 to know its location so that accurate position information can be provided when the main unit is moved from one base to another. To address this problem, a two-way communication interface between the base unit 100 and the main unit 400 is provided. When the main unit 400 is placed on top of a new base unit 100, the base unit 100 transmits its unique ID. The ID is linked to a static location known to the system and recorded on a data platform (accessed via an application or web interface), which means that the module can use this new ID to transmit sensor readings and link the sensor readings to its current location.

[0110] Fig.18 In part (a) the base unit 100 is shown transmitting location specific sensor data, preferably to a cloud platform provided as part of the system or for communicating with the system, wherein the main unit 400 is not installed. In part (b), the main unit 400 is then installed on the base unit 100, and the base unit 100 transmits its location ID to the main unit 400, which then adopts the location ID (in part (c)) and begins transmitting location specific data.

[0111] The system of the present disclosure also enables real-time sharing of data between the base unit 100 and the main unit 400, such as Fig.19shown.

[0112] It is desirable to quickly update the real-time data to be displayed by the module, but the real-time data is usually saved to the cloud platform at shorter intervals than required.

[0113] User air quality indicators (such as lights, here provided by LEDs) may be different to show the overall air quality (AQ). However, the sensors that control the LED and display brightness are only located in the base. To solve this problem, the communication interface provides a means for the base 100 and the main unit 400 to share real-time information at a higher frequency than sending to the cloud. Air quality sensor data from the base 100 is sent to the main unit 400 to update its display. Air quality sensor data from the main unit 400 is sent to the base unit 100 to update the overall air quality index, such as converted into different base LED color indications. The presence of a character "hat" or other physical actuator member 900 can also be converted from the main unit 400 to the base 100 to change the base LED output. The base unit 100 can also send ambient light details to the main unit 400 to adjust its display brightness or change to "dark mode" in the absence of light.

[0114] As described above, the physical actuator member 900 can be provided with a unique user ID. This can enable the saving of progress of a "character journey" that can be customized for different people (such as different members of a family). Each unique ID can be recorded to track progress and save this progress to a remote platform. In this way, disconnecting and later reattaching the cap will allow the user to continue any game or "journey" that the character leads them on. Multiple users in a family can each have their own cap and be able to have their own independent progress. This can work not only within one family, but also on systems in other people's families.

[0115] Various improvements and modifications may be made to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An environmental sensor system, comprising a plurality of sensor assemblies, the plurality of sensor assemblies comprising one or more base units and one or more main units, wherein the main units are selectively engageable with the base units by hand.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit includes a first set of environmental sensors and the main unit includes a second set of environmental sensors.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the main unit includes a display screen and a user interface.

4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an actuation member for causing the user interface of the primary unit to change between a first mode and a second mode.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first mode includes detailed display information for adult or mature users of the system and the second mode displays a subset of the information shown in the first mode.

6. A system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the actuation means comprises means for wirelessly receiving a signal from an associated computing device or network service.

7. A system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the actuation member comprises a physical or capacitive switch provided at the body of the primary unit.

8. A system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the actuation member comprises a selectively attachable physical actuator member.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the selectively attachable physical actuator member comprises a cover member selectively attachable to an upper portion of the main unit.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the main unit and the selectively attachable physical actuator member are each provided with cooperating magnetic members for urging the members together and ensuring correct alignment when the members are placed together.

11. A system as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the main unit and the selectively attachable physical actuator means are provided with close range air gap radio communication means, most preferably with cooperating Near Field Communication (NFC) tags and readers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the selectively attachable physical actuator member comprises a tag provided with a unique ID, and the user interface mode is selected based on the ID.

13. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main unit and base unit are each provided with cooperating magnetic members for urging the members together and ensuring correct alignment when the members are placed together.

14. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main unit and base unit are each provided with co-operating electric actuators enabling transfer of power and data therebetween.

15. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base unit and / or the main unit is configured to communicate with a remote data platform.

16. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base unit is provided with a location identifier and the base unit and main unit are arranged to share the location identifier when they are connected.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the location ID is stored at a remote platform.

18. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base unit and main unit are configured to exchange network credentials upon connection, such that the main unit can automatically join a network when coupled to the base unit.

19. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, coupled to other devices capable of affecting air quality and capable of generating control signals for these devices based on air quality readings and / or suggested actions.

20. A method of sensing an environmental parameter, the method comprising providing a plurality of sensor assemblies, the plurality of sensor assemblies comprising one or more base units and one or more main units, wherein the main units are selectively engageable with the base units by hand.

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