Multi-function sensors and methods for using multi-function sensors to monitor facilities and multiple processes

Abstract

Provides multi-functional monitoring using sensors. The present invention relates to a monitoring device (2) comprising an infrared sensor (3) and at least one of the following sensors: a barometric pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a sound intensity sensor, a relative humidity sensor, an ambient light sensor, an ultraviolet index sensor, an air quality sensor, and a particulate matter sensor. The present invention also relates to a system comprising the device and remote processing means. The present invention also relates to a method of using the device, in particular to monitor people, detect the onset of a fire, or issue a warning about a machine malfunction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of actively or fixedly monitoring a facility or an external space, and more particularly to home automation (automatic monitoring of a dwelling).

Background Art

[0002] Current sensors do not provide sufficient information to infer the state of a location, person, or object. Nor are they suitable for predicting such states in order to infer possible, useful, or necessary actions.

[0003] An object of the present invention is to propose a device capable of collecting sufficient information about a location, person, or object in order to know the state of the location, person, or object and, if necessary, infer a future state.

[0004] According to a first main subject of the present invention, a monitoring device preferably operating on battery power comprises an infrared sensor and further comprises at least one of the following sensors. - A barometric pressure sensor, - A temperature sensor, - A motion sensor, preferably a three-axis accelerometer, - A sound sensor (microphone), - A relative humidity sensor, - An ambient light sensor, - A sensor for measuring the UV index, - A sensor for determining air quality, preferably a sensor for measuring the concentration of at least one of a substance and an equivalent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, - A particle sensor, preferably for particles sized between 0.3 μm and 10 μm In addition to or alternatively to these - A geographical position sensor, preferably by satellite, and preferably - A current sensor for analyzing and predicting battery life.

[0005] It is also possible to use multiple sensors of the same type. For example, multiple infrared sensors may be used. Alternatively, multiple temperature or humidity sensors with different operating ranges may be used.

[0006] The air quality sensor may include means for measuring the concentration of one of several substances, such as ethanol and dihydrogen, or means for measuring the total concentration of volatile organic compounds.

[0007] This device is preferably battery-powered. This is advantageous compared to existing devices on the market that require the installation of a mains power cable, thus simplifying installation and facilitating installation in locations where wired power is unavailable.

[0008] Advantageously, this device includes means for wirelessly transmitting transmitted data, such as cellular-type transmission means, at least one of Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi, which allows for flexible installation. This device can transmit data in real time, store it, and then transmit it periodically or on request. Preferably, the device is also provided to receive incoming information by the same means. These data can be updated using specific configuration data or software embedded in the device.

[0009] This device may be equipped with a display unit for the temperature measured using an infrared sensor.

[0010] The infrared sensor may include means for independently measuring the temperature in multiple sectors (areas) of a single, identical observation cone.

[0011] The second subject of this invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of a person, and the present invention comprises an apparatus using a system according to the present invention, which has means for measuring temperature in several sectors. Here, the presence of a person is estimated from the temperature measured in each sector.

[0012] According to the third subject, the present invention relates to a method for measuring human temperature, and the present invention comprises an apparatus having means for measuring temperature in several sectors, where one of the measuring means measures the human temperature in a first sector and simultaneously measures the ambient temperature in a second sector with an infrared sensor. The human temperature is then calculated by correcting the measured human temperature according to the measured ambient temperature, and preferably also based on data from at least one of the following sensors (temperature sensor, relative humidity sensor, ambient light sensor, ultraviolet index sensor).

[0013] According to the fourth subject, the present invention relates to a fire alarm method using a device according to the present invention, the method comprising monitoring the presence of a person and monitoring at least one of the following measures. Temperature rise exceeding a given threshold A level (concentration level) of carbon dioxide that exceeds a given threshold. Brightness exceeding a given threshold Humidity below a given threshold When any of the aforementioned threshold conditions are met, the fire alarm is activated. If the aforementioned device is equipped with a geolocation sensor, it will transmit the coordinates of its geographic location to emergency services.

[0014] According to the fifth subject, the present invention relates to a method for evaluating the quality of a person's sleep using the apparatus of the present invention. The method comprises detecting the presence of a person and simultaneously collecting at least one of the following types of data. - Loudness - temperature - Humidity measurement - atmospheric pressure - Brightness - Air quality The method described above then creates a correlation between these data.

[0015] According to the sixth subject, the present invention relates to a method for preventing the risk of hypothermia in humans using the apparatus of the present invention described above, the method comprising the following steps. - Detect the presence of a person. - Monitor the body temperature of that person. - Monitor the sound volume. And when the body temperature of the person and the sound volume each fall below their respective threshold values, activate an audible alarm to wake the person up.

[0016] According to a seventh aspect, the present invention relates to a method of warning of the risk of mechanical failure using the above-described device of the present invention. This method comprises performing the following steps. - Measuring the temperature of operating parts using an infrared sensor, - Measuring the ambient temperature, - Measuring the sound volume and preferably, - Measuring the humidity, Further or alternatively - Measuring acceleration, deceleration and vibration.

[0017] Multiple embodiments of the present invention will be described below by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a room in which a monitoring device according to the present invention is installed, particularly where an infrared sensor is equipped on the monitoring device, and illustrates the observation cone of this infrared sensor. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 alone. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation view of what is observed by the infrared sensor and the division of the observation range into 49 sectors. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the interpretation by the device of the range under observation for each of the 49 sectors of FIG. 3.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Figure 1 shows a volume (three-dimensional range), in this case room 1, being monitored by the apparatus 2 according to the present invention. In Figure 2, the apparatus 2 is equipped with a visible infrared sensor 3 on the front of the apparatus. As shown in Figure 1, the infrared sensor 3 scans an observation cone 4 which is divided into sectors 6 of a substantially rectangular cross-section 6S. The apparatus 2 is equipped with means for a display unit 5, which is advantageously provided to display the temperature measured by the infrared sensor.

[0020] Figure 3 shows some of what the infrared sensor 3 observes in the 49 sectors 6 of the cone 4. The 49 sectors 6 are divided into 7 vertical columns and 7 horizontal rows.

[0021] Figure 4 shows how the infrared sensor 3 reads what is visible and illustrated in Figure 3. Room 1 contains a person 7 and a light bulb 8. The person is standing, and the light bulb is hanging from the ceiling of the room. Sensor 3 measures the infrared radiation emitted within each sector 6. Figure 4 shows a digitized representation of what is being seen for each sector 6. In this way, the device measures the average temperature for each sector 6, represented in the figure by pixels 6P that are darker or lighter in color.

[0022] In that way, for example, - The very bright (white) pixel 643P corresponds to sector 643 and measures the ambient temperature of room 1. - The very dark (black) pixel 626P corresponds to sector 626, encompassing most of the illumination bulb 8, and is measuring high temperature. - Slightly darker or slightly lighter, pixel 665P and 674P correspond to relatively large or relatively small parts of a person's body, respectively.

[0023] Device 2 further comprises the following within the housing 12: - Barometric pressure sensor - Motion sensor (3-axis accelerometer) - Sound sensor (microphone) - Relative humidity sensor - Ambient light sensor - Sensor for measuring the UV index - Air quality sensor capable of detecting and measuring the concentration of volatile organic compounds or carbon dioxide equivalents. (Volatile compounds include, in particular, ethanol and hydrogen (H2).) - Satellite-based geographical positioning sensors

[0024] In the illustrated example, device 2 is battery-powered or cell-powered, allowing for easy and convenient installation anywhere without the need for connections. It is equipped with a current sensor to aid in battery life analysis and prediction.

[0025] Next, several methods that can be implemented using a system comprising the apparatus 2 according to the present invention will be described. These methods generally include pre-training using artificial intelligence. This system may include one or more remote computer means for remotely processing data supplied by the apparatus 2.

[0026] This method, primarily with the assistance of an infrared sensor, enables the detection or estimation of human presence by analyzing 6P pixels, recorded temperature, pixel number and distribution, and their changes. This detection method is ideal for learning by artificial intelligence.

[0027] This method enables the measurement of human body temperature. Preferably, it is associated with the aforementioned method for detecting the presence of a person. The main sensor used for measuring human body temperature is the infrared sensor 3. Human body temperature varies depending on several external variables, such as ambient temperature, ambient humidity, ambient light level, and UV (ultraviolet) index. Relying solely on infrared sensor measurement to determine human body temperature may lead to incorrect values. To correct infrared measurements of human body temperature and obtain more accurate and precise values, direct measurements of the infrared sensor may be made, particularly based on values ​​measured in sector 665. The correction of the measured values ​​is made according to data provided by other sensors, particularly ambient temperature sensors, relative humidity sensors, ambient light sensors, and UV index sensors. Correction is also made, for example, by ambient temperature measurements taken in sector 643. The combined measurements and information provided simultaneously by various sensors at the same location enable more reliable measurement of human body temperature. Such results are made possible by using a combination of various sensors.

[0028] Device 2 operates autonomously and automatically. However, the infrared sensor has known and specific usage limitations. These limitations are functions of ambient temperature, ambient humidity, atmospheric pressure, incident light, and ultraviolet intensity. To ensure the correct operation of the product, measurements from various sensors, such as an ambient temperature sensor, relative humidity sensor, ambient light sensor, and ultraviolet index sensor, are used to verify that the infrared sensor operates within a predefined operating range and within its limitations. This ensures and guarantees optimal rendering of measurements by the infrared sensor. Therefore, the method for self-testing the operation of the infrared sensor 3 is guaranteed in real time by device 2, thanks to the effect of using multiple sensors simultaneously in this device.

[0029] Human body temperature depends on ambient temperature and humidity. By taking these variables into account, the device can provide a more accurate measurement of human body temperature.

[0030] A method for providing an alarm can also be implemented using the device according to the present invention.

[0031] Infrared sensors can detect the presence of people within their field of view. In the event of a fire, if the device detects at least one of the following: a temperature rise exceeding a certain threshold, an increase in the rate of carbon dioxide or nitric oxide exceeding a certain threshold, an increase in light intensity related to the detection of people within the monitoring spatial range, or a decrease in humidity, it can trigger an intelligent alarm. In fact, if the presence of people is detected, emergency services can intervene more quickly. Furthermore, the GPS coordinates transmitted with the alarm allow for the quick location of the fire. Therefore, the device according to the present invention is more efficient than a carbon dioxide sensor alone or a temperature sensor alone. Moreover, the infrared sensor, which detects the heat source, can detect the start of a fire even before the fire or carbon dioxide is present. The carbon dioxide sensor then allows for confirmation of the actual presence of ignition. All the information provided by the sensors of this device provides firefighters with complete information that gives them early warnings and enables more efficient and rapid intervention.

[0032] The quality of a person's sleep can also be evaluated using device 2 by combining information from multiple sensors.

[0033] Infrared sensors identify a person's presence by measuring body temperature, sound sensors measure the loudness of snoring, and temperature, humidity, pressure, light intensity, and air quality sensors determine the environmental conditions. Combined measurements from these systems provide comprehensive information about a person's sleep quality and any potential correlations between sleep quality and environmental conditions.

[0034] A method for issuing a warning in the event of hypothermia can also be implemented using device 2 by combining information from multiple sensors.

[0035] Diabetic patients are at risk of hypothermia during sleep. A patient's body temperature may drop without them noticing. An infrared sensor allows for periodic monitoring of body temperature, activating an audible warning to wake the patient if the temperature falls below a predetermined level.

[0036] The device 2 can also be used to monitor a person's health status.

[0037] Thus, this device can measure both a person's body temperature and the level of noise in a room. Measuring hyperthermia in conjunction with audible coughing can provide important indicators of a person's health status and its progression over time.

[0038] The device 2 can also be used to monitor human pregnancy.

[0039] A woman's body temperature changes throughout her menstrual cycle. During a normal cycle, particularly during the follicular phase, the temperature remains below 37°C and hardly changes. Just before ovulation, the temperature drops, reaching its lowest point in the cycle. After that, it rises above 37°C. The temperature remains at this level during the luteal phase, for 12 or 14 days at the end of the menstrual cycle. In the case of pregnancy, the high-temperature phase lasts for more than 28 days. On the other hand, if fertilization does not occur, the temperature returns to its initial level just before the start of menstruation. Thus, this device can continuously measure a woman's body temperature and thus provide an indicator of pregnancy.

[0040] Device 2 can also be used to implement security measures specifically for people living alone, and even more so for the elderly.

[0041] This device measures a person's body temperature and determines not only their presence but also their mobility. Therefore, the device can determine whether a person has stopped moving. If the person remains motionless for an extended period, or if the volume of sound decreases significantly, the device can, for example, assume that the person has fallen or is unwell, and activate an alarm or contact a pre-designated person. This device can also be programmed, particularly with the effect of its sound sensor, to recognize "emergency words" intentionally uttered by the person when they need immediate help, such as in the case of a fall.

[0042] Device 2 can be made movable. In particular, it can be installed on transport vehicles such as buses and trains.

[0043] When installed in public transport vehicles, this device can be integrated into transport management systems and methods. This allows for the measurement of body temperature of people boarding the vehicle. This enables the screening of individuals with body temperatures exceeding a certain threshold, counting the number of people entering the vehicle, and linking this number to the vehicle's geographical location. In this way, the device enables the implementation of transport management methods that provide real-time occupancy rates in transport vehicles and at least one of these values ​​based on body temperature and at least one of geographical inclusion ranges for exclusion.

[0044] Multiple devices according to the present invention can be networked. In particular, these devices can be connected to the "cloud," that is, a cloud network.

[0045] If multiple sensors are connected to the cloud, the measurements provided by each device can be correlated to provide information about a specific geographical area.

[0046] Several devices that provide data on increases in carbon dioxide concentration enable the provision of information on pollution within a given geographical area and the direction of movement of this pollution.

[0047] Multiple devices that provide vibration measurements offer information about earthquakes and help determine the epicenter and amplitude at specific locations.

[0048] Therefore, the following can be determined in a given area: - Diagram of sound intensity - Diagram showing the progression of pressure, temperature, and humidity values. or - Diagram of light or sunlight values

[0049] The sensor according to the present invention may also be used in industry, particularly in implementing methods for predicting machine failures.

[0050] This device, or a combination of these devices, can be installed inside or near a machine in operation. After installation, at least one of the following can be transmitted: - Temperature measurement of moving parts using infrared sensors. - Ambient temperature measurement - Measuring sound intensity - Humidity measurement - Measurement of vibration, acceleration, and deceleration - Other data (not mentioned above) provided by the multiple sensors of this device

[0051] By recording data in the cloud and applying learning algorithms (machine learning), it is possible to link faults with sensor data. The system according to this invention, applied in this way, enables the prediction of mechanical failures. For example, increases in temperature, vibration intensity, and noise level can lead to failures in the near future. The type of vibration can also be used to identify faulty components.

[0052] In the illustrated example, an electronic component of type D6T-44L-06 provided by Omron Corporation can be used to measure temperature using infrared radiation.

[0053] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Rather, the present invention is defined by the claims.

[0054] Those skilled in the art will see that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above in light of the previously disclosed teachings.

[0055] In particular, multiple methods can be implemented in parallel using the same device. These methods may be those described earlier or not. For example, the same sensor can be used for fire detection to prevent the risk of hypothermia and the risk of falling.

[0056] The apparatus according to the present invention can have many applications, particularly the following:

[0057] a. In the case of smart housing i. Measuring the comfort level of housing, which is particularly important for the elderly. ii. Heating regulations. iii. Detection of indoor air pollution. iv. Measurement of sunlight and brightness. This enables automatic opening and closing of blinds. v. Detection of the presence or absence of people vi. Provide warnings. vii. To control the movement of people, especially the elderly, and to issue a fall warning when a person stops moving. viii. Permanent and real-time measurement of a person's body temperature and detection when it exceeds a threshold. This is particularly beneficial for the elderly and children. ix. Measurement and control of sound intensity. x. Safety in the event of excessive heat or cold. xi. Measurement of vibrations undetectable to humans. This allows for early detection of earthquakes, enabling, for example, the automatic closure of gas valves or the automatic activation of circuit breakers. xii. Early detection of heat sources that cause fires.

[0058] b. In the case of a school, restaurant, or facility open to the public. i. Everything mentioned above regarding housing. ii. Automatic control of the body temperature of each person entering a closed space and detection if it exceeds a threshold, particularly for limiting viral transmission in enclosed environments.

[0059] c. Public transport, especially buses and trains i. Automatic control of the body temperature of each person entering the room. ii. Monitoring of indoor air pollution. iii. Real-time monitoring of transportation occupancy rates (with the ability to create links to the geographical location of vehicles). iv. Vehicle vibration measurement. v. Measuring temperature and humidity to adjust heating or air conditioning. vi. Evaluation of driver behavior through measurement of acceleration and deceleration. vii. Real-time vehicle location tracking. viii. Cargo transport management and optimization.

[0060] d. For hospitals and medical facilities i. Everything mentioned above regarding the school. ii. Improving the safety of caregivers by identifying those with fevers.

[0061] e. For airport use i. Automatic monitoring of individual body temperature.

[0062] f. Stores and supermarkets i. Everything mentioned above regarding the school. ii. Real-time confirmation of product availability on shelves.

[0063] At the workplace i. The above-mentioned points regarding the school. ii. Continuous temperature monitoring for people in "open space" type workplaces.

[0064] h. For building access systems i. Automatic monitoring of the individual temperatures of people entering the building.

[0065] The apparatus according to the present invention also has many advantages compared to existing products. a. Conventional products use power cables, making installation cumbersome and complicated, and limiting their use to locations where cables can be used. Therefore, battery-powered devices offer far greater flexibility in terms of installation. b. The dimensions and weight of the device are much smaller than those of conventional products and can be easily installed as needed. The device weighs less than 300g and measures less than 100 x 100 x 100 millimeters. c. This device can be manufactured at a cost of 1 / 25 to 1 / 30 of that of conventional products. d. Fewer personnel are required to operate the apparatus and system according to the present invention. Conventional apparatuses generally require at least two people to operate: one person next to the apparatus and another in front of a screen, monitoring a video displaying the temperature. The apparatus according to the present invention does not require multiple people. Neither an external screen nor anyone to monitor such a screen is required. e. The device according to the present invention does not take any images or videos and therefore respects privacy. It also does not offer the possibility of facial recognition. Conventional products take videos that display temperature and record videos to enable facial recognition of people. f. The apparatus according to the present invention is equipped with multiple sensors that perform physical measurements simultaneously, thereby enabling highly detailed analysis of correlations between various phenomena, such as the relationship between pollution and temperature. This allows for the use of artificial intelligence algorithms to discover complex correlations between different physical data for specific applications. g. The system according to the present invention may be equipped with a network connection to the Internet or the cloud to facilitate the analysis of collected data. Thus, in addition to body temperature, which is provided and displayed immediately, all other measurements can be sent to the cloud to enable remote analysis of the data. Depending on the application, different data analysis programs can be used with the same device according to the present invention. Similarly, the services provided by the data analysis may vary considerably from application to application.

Claims

1. A monitoring device (2), preferably a battery-powered monitoring device (2), comprising: A monitoring device (2) characterized in that it comprises at least one of an infrared sensor (3), a temperature sensor, preferably a geographical location sensor, preferably a satellite-based geographical location sensor, and a current sensor for analyzing and predicting battery life in the case of battery operation.

2. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring device (2) comprises a barometric pressure sensor.

3. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the monitoring device (2) comprises a motion sensor, preferably a three-axis accelerometer.

4. 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the monitoring device (2) comprises a sound sensor.

5. 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the monitoring device (2) comprises a relative humidity sensor.

6. 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the monitoring device (2) comprises an ambient light sensor.

7. 7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the monitoring device (2) comprises an ultraviolet index sensor.

8. 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the monitoring device (2) comprises a particle sensor, preferably a particle sensor for particles with a size between 0.3 and 10 micrometers.

9. the monitoring device (2) comprises a sensor for determining air quality, preferably measuring the concentration of a substance and / or carbon dioxide equivalent; Preferably, the means for measuring the concentration of one of the multiple substances, ethanol or hydrogen, or the total amount of volatile organic compounds.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

10. 10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the monitoring device (2) comprises several sensors of the same type, preferably sensors of the same type operating in different measurement ranges.

11. 11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the infrared sensor comprises means for measuring independently the temperature of several sectors (6) of one and the same measuring cone (4).

12. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, 10. A monitoring system, characterized in that the device further comprises wireless communication means for communicating with the remote processing means and preferably the machine learning means.

13. 13. A method for detecting the presence of a person, comprising an apparatus according to claim 11 and using a system according to claim 12, wherein the presence is inferred from temperatures measured in each sector.

14. A method for measuring the temperature of a person, comprising a device according to claim 11 and using a system according to claim 12, The method for measuring a human temperature comprises using an infrared sensor, The temperature of the person is measured in a first sector (665P) and the temperature of the environment is measured in a second sector (643P) at the same time; The method for measuring a human temperature, and calculating the person's temperature by correcting the measured person's temperature based on the measured ambient temperature and preferably based on data from at least one of a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and an ultraviolet index sensor. A method for measuring a human temperature, comprising:

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