Sensor apparatus and method for informing a user of a sensor apparatus about a risk of a viral infection in their environment

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor apparatus (10) and a method for informing the user of the sensor apparatus about a risk of a viral infection in their environment by determining detection and / or measurement information (14a) for at least one predefined gas and / or at least one predefined group of gases using a gas sensor device (12a) of the sensor apparatus (10), determining humidity information (14b) by means of a humidity sensor device (12b) of the sensor apparatus (10), establishing risk of infection information (22) relating to a risk of a viral infection in the environment, taking into account at least the detection and / or measurement information (14a) and the humidity information (14b), by means of evaluation electronics (18) inherent in the sensor apparatus and / or outside the sensor apparatus, and controlling, taking into account the risk of infection information (22) and / or at least one piece of advice (26) derived therefrom by means of the evaluation electronics (18), a lighting device (28) of the sensor apparatus (10), or of a device (20) interacting with the sensor apparatus (10), to display a corresponding light signal, an image display device of the sensor apparatus (10) or of the device (20) to display a corresponding image signal and / or a sound output device of the sensor apparatus (10) or of the device (20) to emit a corresponding sound signal.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Sensor device, and method for informing a user of a sensor device about a risk of a virus infection in his environment

[0004] The present invention relates to a sensor device and a device. The present invention also relates to a method for informing a user of a sensor device about a risk of viral infection in their environment.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] It is well known that viral infections have a significant impact on public health and the social life of all societies.

[0007] Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The present invention provides a sensor device having the features of claim 1, a device having the features of claim 8 and a method for informing a user of a sensor device about a risk of a viral infection in his environment having the features of claim 10.

[0009] Advantages of the invention

[0010] The present invention provides effective ways of determining a local risk of viral infection using a corresponding sensor device and of informing a user of the sensor device about the local risk. The present invention can be used advantageously, particularly in enclosed spaces, such as meeting rooms and / or classrooms, where the local risk of viral infection for the people gathered therein is relatively high. The early detection of the local risk of viral infection for the people gathered, achieved by the present invention, allows timely measures to prevent a possible viral infection. Above all, chains of infection can be broken through adapted behavior of the people gathered, which can contribute to containing viral diseases.

[0011] As will become clear from the following description, the present invention enables a reliable determination of a local risk of viral infection for its user using (exclusively) standard and cost-effective sensor types. In particular, a prior art device equipped with at least one gas sensor device and one humidity sensor device can be further developed by means of easily executable programming steps such that it can implement the present invention. Use of the present invention is therefore feasible in a cost-effective manner.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the sensor device additionally comprises a particle sensor device, by means of which particle information can be output for at least one predetermined particle size range regarding the possible presence of such large particles in at least one respectively predetermined minimum concentration and / or minimum quantity in the environment and / or regarding their concentration and / or quantity in the environment, wherein the particle information can be provided to the evaluation electronics by means of the control device in such a way that at least the infection risk information can be determined by means of the evaluation electronics with additional consideration of the particle information. The particle information is meaningful information regarding the current air quality in the environment of the sensor device. The particle information is therefore also suitable for reliably determining the risk of a viral infection in the environment.

[0013] Alternatively or additionally, the sensor device can also comprise at least one microphone device, by means of which, for at least one predetermined audio frequency interval, volume information can be output regarding the possible presence of sound waves encompassed thereby at at least a predetermined minimum volume in the environment and / or regarding their volume in the environment. The volume information can be provided to the evaluation electronics by means of the control device in such a way that at least the infection risk information can be determined by means of the evaluation electronics with additional consideration of the volume information. The volume information can, for example, reliably indicate how many people are currently present in the vicinity of the sensor device and how the risk of a viral infection in the environment is increased accordingly.

[0014] Likewise, the sensor device can additionally comprise a temperature measuring device, by means of which temperature information relating to a temperature prevailing in the environment can be output. The temperature information can be provided to the evaluation electronics by means of the control device in such a way that at least the infection risk information can be determined by the evaluation electronics, additionally taking the temperature information into account. The temperature in the environment often also influences the risk of infection with a viral disease in the respective environment. It is therefore advantageous that, in this embodiment, the temperature information is also taken into account when determining the infection risk information.

[0015] Preferably, the sensor device additionally comprises an air pressure measuring device, by means of which air pressure information relating to the ambient air pressure can be output. The air pressure information can be provided to the evaluation electronics by means of the control device in such a way that at least the infection risk information can be determined by the evaluation electronics, additionally taking the air pressure information into account. This allows for the use of another cost-effective sensor type for reliably determining the infection risk information.

[0016] For example, the evaluation electronics, by means of which at least the infection risk information can be determined, at least taking into account the detection and / or measurement information and the humidity information, can be integrated as the sensor device's own evaluation electronics within a housing of the sensor device or within a housing of a device equipped with the sensor device. Alternatively, however, the sensor device can be dispensed with by outputting at least the detection and / or measurement information and the humidity information to a sensor device-external / "central" evaluation electronics via the control device. Reliable operation of the sensor device is guaranteed in both cases.As an advantageous development, at least one warning, at least one recommendation for action, and / or at least one recommendation for refraining from action can be defined by the evaluation electronics as the at least one indication derived from the infection risk information. By announcing the at least one warning, the at least one recommendation for action, and / or the at least one recommendation for refraining from action to at least the user of the sensor device using the lighting device, the image display device, and / or the sound output device, at least the user's behavior can be changed in such a way that at least the user is better protected against a viral infection, thus limiting or interrupting a chain of infection.

[0017] A device with such a sensor device also realizes the advantages described above. The device can be, for example, a mobile device, a cell phone, and / or an iPhone.

[0018] Furthermore, implementing a corresponding method for informing a user of a sensor device about a risk of viral infection in their environment also provides the advantages explained above. It is expressly noted that the method can be further developed according to the above-described embodiments of the sensor device.

[0019] Short description of the drawings

[0020] Further features and advantages of the present invention are explained below with reference to the figures. They show:

[0021] Fig. 1a and 1b show a flowchart and a coordinate system for explaining an embodiment of the method for informing a user of a sensor device about a risk of a viral infection in his environment;

[0022] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the

[0023] sensor device; and

[0024] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the

[0025] Sensor device. Embodiments of the invention

[0026] Fig. 1a and 1b show a flowchart and a coordinate system for explaining an embodiment of the method for informing a user of a sensor device about a risk of a viral infection in his environment.

[0027] As will become clear from the following description, the method described below can be implemented using a variety of different sensor device types, each equipped with at least one gas sensor device and one humidity sensor device. The sensor device used to implement the method can therefore also be used for a variety of other purposes. Thus, the usability of the sensor device is by no means limited exclusively to determining the risk of a viral infection in its environment and informing its user accordingly.

[0028] The user of the sensor device is understood to be a person present in the environment of the sensor device. The environment is therefore the environment of the sensor device and its user. The environment can be understood, for example, as a room in which the sensor device and the user are both present.

[0029] The method described here comprises a method step S1, which can also be described as a measurement and / or detection step. Method step S1 comprises at least the substeps S1a and S1b, but may also comprise further substeps, such as the (optional) substeps Sic to If.

[0030] In sub-step S1a, detection and / or measurement information is determined for at least one predetermined gas and / or at least one predetermined group / class of gases. The detection and / or measurement information indicates, for the at least one predetermined gas and / or the at least one predetermined group of gases, its possible presence in at least one respectively predetermined minimum concentration and / or minimum quantity in the environment and / or its concentration and / or quantity in the environment. Preferably, in sub-step S1a, (at least) for the group of volatile organic compounds (VOC, Volatile Organic Compounds), its possible presence in at least the respectively predetermined minimum concentration and / or minimum quantity in the environment and / or its concentration and / or quantity in the environment is determined.The presence of certain gases, particularly those from the group of volatile organic compounds, provides valuable information about the air quality in the environment.

[0031] To execute sub-step S1a, the gas sensor device of the sensor apparatus is used. It is expressly noted here that the executability of sub-step S1a is not limited to any specific sensor type of the gas sensor device. Instead, a variety of different gas sensor types can be (co-)used to execute sub-step S1a.

[0032] In sub-step S1b, humidity information regarding the ambient air humidity is determined. Sub-step S1b is carried out using the humidity sensor device of the sensor device. Ambient air humidity often has a significant influence on the transmission of a viral infection between people present there.

[0033] In the (optional) sub-step Sic, particle information can be determined for at least one predefined particle size range, which expresses the possible presence of such large particles in at least one predefined minimum concentration and / or minimum quantity in the environment and / or their concentration and / or quantity in the environment. The particle information also allows conclusions to be drawn about the air quality in the environment. A particle sensor device of the sensor device can be used to measure the particle information.

[0034] If the sensor device additionally has a microphone device, volume information can be determined for at least one predefined audio frequency interval in the (optional) substep Sld. The volume information indicates, for the at least one predefined audio frequency interval, the possible presence of sound waves encompassed thereby at at least one predefined minimum volume / minimum intensity in the environment and / or their volume / intensity in the environment. Based on the volume information, for example, the presence of people or animals can be detected.

[0035] Optionally, in sub-step S1, temperature information regarding a temperature prevailing in the environment can also be determined using a temperature measuring device of the sensor device. Optionally, in sub-step S1, air pressure information regarding an air pressure prevailing in the environment can also be determined using an air pressure measuring device of the sensor device. The temperature and / or the air pressure in the environment can have a significant influence on the transmission of viral infections between the people present there.

[0036] In addition to the sub-steps S1a to S1f described here, however, further measurements and / or examinations can be carried out during method step S1. For example, a motion sensor, a light sensor / brightness sensor, a motion detector, a sensor for detecting radio frequencies (for detecting nearby mobile devices), and / or at least one door and / or window opening sensor can be used to determine further sensor data relating to the surroundings of the sensor device during method step S1 in order to determine further sensor data. Likewise, in method step S1, a location specification for the surroundings, specifically a specification of the room in which the sensor device is located, can also be determined by means of a localization device of the sensor device or a device interacting with the sensor device.

[0037] As an advantageous development, the method described here can also have an (optional) method step S2 in which additional data is queried. For example, in an (optional) sub-step S2a of method step S2, the user of the sensor device can be prompted to provide certain data by actuating an input device of the sensor device or of the device interacting with the sensor device. Such data can be, for example, a location indication of the environment, specifically an indication of the room in which the sensor device is located, and / or data specific to this room, such as in particular its room size, a number of its windows, an (approximate) size of the windows, a number of its doors, an (approximate) size of the doors and / or the presence or absence of a ventilation system in the respective room.Alternatively or additionally, in an (optional) sub-step S2b of method step S2, (further) data can also be retrieved from an information output point external to the sensor device, for example, via the Internet. The information output point can be understood, in particular, as an information output point located outside the environment of the sensor device. Data that can be retrieved from the information output point can include, for example, an outside air temperature, an outside air pressure, a wind speed, an outside air quality value, and / or a local infection incidence.If the location of the environment, especially the room in which the sensor device is located, is known through the localization device or the actuation of the input device by the user of the sensor device, data specific to this room, such as in particular its room size, the number of its windows, the size of the windows, the number of its doors, the size of the doors and / or the presence or absence of a ventilation system in the respective room, can also be queried by the information output point in the (optional) sub-step S2b.

[0038] After executing process step S1 and possibly also process step S2, infection risk information regarding a risk of a viral infection in the environment is determined in process step S3. The infection risk information is determined at least taking into account the detection and / or measurement information and the air humidity information. However, advantageously, particle information, noise information, temperature information, air pressure information, other sensor data determined during the execution of process step S1, and / or data retrieved by executing process step S2 can also be taken into account when determining the infection information.In particular, the detection and / or measurement information and the humidity information, but also the other information listed here, sensor data, and queried data, provide essential information about the current air quality in the vicinity of the sensor device. By using / exploiting simple causal relationships, calculation tools, at least one mathematical-physical model, and / or machine learning approaches, infection risk information can be determined in a current and reliable manner. In particular, a dynamic pathogen concentration in the environment can be simulated, and in this way, a dynamic and precise infection risk for the environment can be calculated / derived. This can also be described as an individual calculation of the risk of a viral infection in the vicinity of the sensor device in real time.This makes it possible to reliably quantify the risk of infection with a viral disease, such as Covid-19 in particular.

[0039] The determination of the infection risk information, carried out as method step S3, is carried out using evaluation electronics. As will become clear from the following description, the evaluation electronics can be / comprise at least one unit inherent in the sensor device and / or at least one unit external to the sensor device. In both cases, the information / sensor data determined in method step S1 and / or the data queried in method step S2 can be stored / recorded at periodic intervals. To determine the (local) risk of a viral infection in real time, dynamic modeling can therefore be carried out, the parameters of which are based on live data using previous values, i.e., including consideration of changes to the data in the environment of the sensor device.Based on machine learning, continuous improvement through “self-learning” with regard to individual conditions is also possible.

[0040] By continuously executing process step S3 (with corresponding repetition of at least process step S1 and possibly also process step S2), a continuous re-determination of the risk of viral infection is possible over the entire duration of a stay in the vicinity of the sensor device. In this way, an increase in risk can be reliably detected, especially in an enclosed space. The enclosed space can be, in particular, an office, a kindergarten, a classroom, a sports hall, a fitness room, a hotel room, or a dining room in a restaurant. A mathematical model that calculates an infection risk index in the respective space can easily be created for the respective space.During the respective calculation, it is then also possible to react dynamically to other parameters, such as room occupancy, the presence of people and / or animals, a breathing rate, a concentration of pathogens in the exhaled air, a filter effect of a mask, a room volume, the lifespan of a detected / suspected virus, a ventilation inflow rate, a ventilation outflow rate, an imported concentration of pathogens, a filter rate and / or a filter efficiency. An example of carrying out method step S3 is shown using the coordinate system in Fig. 1b, whose abscissa is the time axis t. A graph of the coordinate system in Fig. 1b represents a VOC concentration cvoc measured in sub-step S1a. Another graph of the coordinate system in Fig.Figure 1b shows a risk value R determined at least taking into account the VOC concentration cvoc and the (not sketched) air humidity as at least part of the infection risk information. As can be seen from the graphs cvoc and R, a relatively high risk of viral infection in the environment can be assumed, especially when the VOC concentration cvoc decreases and / or becomes comparatively low.

[0041] As a possible further development of the method described here, an (optional) method step S4 can be executed after method step S3, in which at least one indication that would be useful to the user of the sensor device due to the potentially detected relatively high risk of viral infection in their environment is derived from the defined infection risk information using the evaluation electronics. For example, at least one warning, at least one recommended action, and / or at least one recommendation to refrain from taking action can be defined by the evaluation electronics as the at least one indication derived from the infection risk information.In particular, an infection warning, a ventilation recommendation, a request to leave the current environment, a request to wear a mask and / or a recommendation to refrain from touching one's own face with one's own hand can be specified as the at least one indication in procedural step S4.

[0042] In a method step S5 executed after method step S3 and possibly also after method step S4, taking into account the specified infection risk information and / or the at least one indication derived therefrom, a lighting device for displaying a corresponding light signal, an image display device for displaying a corresponding image signal, and / or a sound output device for emitting a corresponding sound signal are controlled. The lighting device, the image display device, and / or the sound output device can each be understood as a device of the sensor device and / or the device interacting with the sensor device. All of this enables individual and rapid notification for the user of the sensor device.For example, in this way, a color tone corresponding to the specified risk value R can be displayed to the user of the sensor device by means of the lighting device. As a further development, at least one stationary device in the environment, such as an automatic ventilation system, an automatic window opening system, and / or an automatic door opening system, can be controlled based on the specified infection risk information, specifically to ensure (better) ventilation of the environment.

[0043] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the sensor device.

[0044] The sensor device 10 illustrated in Fig. 2 comprises at least one gas sensor device 12a and one air humidity sensor device 12b. The gas sensor device 12a is understood to be a device by means of which, for at least one predetermined gas and / or at least one predetermined group / class of gases, detection and / or measurement information 14a can be outputted regarding its possible presence in at least one predetermined minimum concentration and / or minimum quantity in an environment of the sensor device 10 and / or regarding its concentration and / or quantity in the environment. For example, a VOC gas sensor (Volatile Organic Compound Sensor, specifically a BME688) can be at least part of the gas sensor device 12a. Accordingly, air humidity information 14b regarding air humidity in the environment can be outputted.

[0045] Optionally, the sensor device 10 can also have a particle sensor device 12c for determining the above-mentioned particle information 14c, a microphone device 12d for determining the above-described volume information 14d, a temperature measuring device 12e for determining temperature information 14e regarding an ambient temperature, and / or an air pressure measuring device 12f for determining air pressure information 14f regarding an ambient air pressure. The sensor devices 12a to 12f of the sensor device 10 are preferably MEMS-based sensors. Although this is not shown in Fig.2 is not depicted, the sensor device 10 can alternatively or additionally also comprise at least one further sensor, such as a motion sensor, a light sensor / brightness sensor, a motion detector, a sensor for detecting radio frequencies, and / or a localization device, by means of which further sensor data can be / are determined. The localization device can be understood, for example, as a GPS system.

[0046] The sensor device 10 also has a control device 16, by means of which at least the detection and / or measurement information 14a and the air humidity information 14b, and possibly also further information / sensor data 14c to 14f, can be output to an evaluation electronics unit 18. As a possible further development, the control device 16 can also be designed / programmed to request additional data from the user of the sensor device 10 or from an information output point (not shown) external to the sensor device. For example, the user of the sensor device 10 can be prompted by the control device 16 to provide certain data by actuating an input device (not shown) of the sensor device 10 or a device 20 interacting with the sensor device 10. Examples of the data that can be communicated / communicated by the user via the input device have already been mentioned above.Examples of the data that can be queried / requested by the sensor device-external information output point, for example via the Internet, have already been listed above.

[0047] At least the detection and / or measurement information 14a and the air humidity information 14b, and possibly also further information / sensor data 14c to 14f and / or queried data can be provided to the evaluation electronics 18 in such a way that infection risk information 22 regarding a risk of a viral infection in the environment can be determined by means of the evaluation electronics 18, taking into account the provided information 14a to 14f, sensor data and / or queried data.The evaluation electronics 18 is therefore understood to mean electronics designed and / or programmed in such a way that (at least) the infection risk information 22 can be determined by means of the evaluation electronics 18, taking into account at least the detection and / or measurement information 14a and the humidity information 14b, and possibly also further information / sensor data 14c to 14f and / or queried data. As illustrated in Figure 2, the evaluation electronics 18 can be integrated as the sensor device's own evaluation electronics 18 within a housing 24a of the sensor device 10 or within a housing 24b of the device 20 equipped with the sensor device 10.In addition, a lighting device 28 for displaying a corresponding light signal, an image display device for displaying a corresponding image signal, and / or a sound output device for emitting a corresponding sound signal can be controlled by the control device 16 using at least one control signal 30, taking into account the infection risk information 22 and / or at least one indication 26 derived therefrom by the evaluation electronics 18. The lighting device 28, the image display device, and / or the sound output device can each be understood as a device of the sensor device 10 and / or the device 20 interacting with the sensor device 10. By way of example, in the embodiment of Fig. 2, a device 20 is equipped with the sensor device 10 and the lighting device 28 arranged separately. The device 20 can, in particular, be a mobile device, such as a mobile phone or an iPhone.

[0048] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the sensor device.

[0049] As illustrated in Fig. 3, the evaluation electronics 18 can also be evaluation electronics 18 external to the sensor device. In particular, the evaluation electronics 18 can also be located outside the environment of the sensor device 10, so that the control device 16 communicates with the evaluation electronics 18 external to the sensor device, for example, via the Internet 32. Likewise, the evaluation electronics 18 can be / comprise at least one unit inherent to the sensor device and / or at least one unit external to the sensor device.

[0050] The device 20 interacting with the sensor device 10 can also be understood as a device type that is located in the vicinity of the sensor device 10, but is separated / spaced apart from the sensor device 10. The device 20 can also be understood as a stationary / room-fixed device 20, such as, in particular, a "traffic light for indicating the room climate" of the respective room.

Claims

Claims 1. Sensor device (10) comprising: a gas sensor device (12a), by means of which, for at least one predetermined gas and / or at least one predetermined group of gases, detection and / or measurement information (cvoc, 14a) can be output regarding its possible presence in at least one predetermined minimum concentration and / or minimum quantity in an environment of the sensor device (10) and / or regarding its concentration (cvoc) and / or quantity in the environment; a humidity sensor device (12b), by means of which humidity information (14b) regarding an air humidity in the environment can be output;and a control device (16), by means of which at least the detection and / or measurement information (cvoc, 14a) and the air humidity information (14b) can be provided to evaluation electronics (18) internal to the sensor device and / or external to the sensor device in such a way that infection risk information (R, 22) regarding a risk of a viral infection in the environment can be determined by means of the evaluation electronics (18), taking into account at least the detection and / or measurement information (cvoc, 14a) and the air humidity information (14b); wherein by means of the control device (16), taking into account the infection risk information (R, 22) and / or at least; an indication (26) derived therefrom by means of the evaluation electronics (18) can be used to control a lighting device (28) of the sensor device (10) or of a device (20) interacting with the sensor device (10) for displaying a corresponding light signal, an image display device of the sensor device (10) or of the device (20) interacting with the sensor device (10) for displaying a corresponding image signal and / or a sound output device of the sensor device (10) or of the device (20) interacting with the sensor device (10) for emitting a corresponding sound signal.

2. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device (10) additionally comprises a particle sensor device (12c), by means of which particle information (14c) can be output for at least one predetermined particle size range with regard to a possible presence of such large particles in at least one respectively predetermined minimum concentration and / or minimum quantity in the environment and / or with regard to their concentration and / or quantity in the environment, and wherein the particle information (14c) can be provided to the evaluation electronics (18) by means of the control device (16) in such a way that at least the infection risk information (R, 22) can be determined by means of the evaluation electronics (18) with additional consideration of the particle information (14c).

3. Sensor device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor device (10) additionally comprises a microphone device (12d), by means of which, for at least one predetermined audio frequency interval, volume information (14d) is generated with respect to a possible presence of sound waves comprised thereby at at least one respectively predetermined minimum volume in the environment and / or with respect to their Volume in the environment can be output, and wherein the volume information (14d) can be provided to the evaluation electronics (18) by means of the control device (16) in such a way that at least the infection risk information (R, 22) can be determined by means of the evaluation electronics (18) with additional consideration of the volume information (14d).

4. Sensor device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor device (10) additionally comprises a temperature measuring device (12e), by means of which temperature information (14e) relating to a temperature present in the environment can be output, and wherein the temperature information (14e) can be provided to the evaluation electronics (18) by means of the control device (16) in such a way that at least the infection risk information (R, 22) can be determined by means of the evaluation electronics (18) with additional consideration of the temperature information (14e).

5. Sensor device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor device (10) additionally comprises an air pressure measuring device (12f), by means of which air pressure information (14f) relating to an air pressure present in the environment can be output, and wherein the air pressure information (14f) can be provided to the evaluation electronics (18) by means of the control device (16) in such a way that at least the infection risk information (R, 22) can be determined by means of the evaluation electronics (18) with additional consideration of the air pressure information (14f).

6. Sensor device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation electronics (18), by means of which at least the infection risk information (R, 22) is evaluated, at least taking into account the detection and / or measurement information (14a) and the air humidity information (14b) can be defined as sensor device-specific Evaluation electronics (18) is integrated within a housing (24a) of the sensor device (10) or within a housing (24b) of a device (20) equipped with the sensor device (10).

7. Sensor device (10) according to claim 6, wherein at least one warning, at least one recommendation for action and / or at least one recommendation to refrain from action can be defined by means of the evaluation electronics (18) as the at least one indication (26) derived from the infection risk information (R, 22).

8. Device (20) with a sensor device (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Device (20) according to claim 8, wherein the device (20) is a mobile device, a mobile phone and / or an iPhone.

10. A method for informing a user of a sensor device (10) about a risk of viral infection in his environment: Determining detection and / or measurement information (cvoc, 14a) for at least one predetermined gas and / or at least one predetermined group of gases with regard to its / their possible presence in at least one respectively predetermined minimum concentration and / or minimum quantity in the environment and / or with regard to its / their concentration (cvoc) and / or quantity in the environment by means of a gas sensor device (12a) of the sensor apparatus (10)(S1 a); Determining humidity information (14b) relating to humidity in the environment by means of a humidity sensor device (12b) of the sensor device (10)(S1 b); Determining infection risk information (R, 22) regarding a risk of a viral infection in the environment, taking into account at least the detection and / or measurement information (cvoc, 14a) and the humidity information (14b) by means of evaluation electronics (18)(S3) internal to the sensor device and / or external to the sensor device; and Controlling, taking into account the infection risk information (R, 22) and / or at least one indication (26) derived therefrom by means of the evaluation electronics (18), a lighting device (28) of the sensor device (10) or of a device (20) interacting with the sensor device (10) for displaying a corresponding light signal, an image display device of the sensor device (10) or of the device (20) interacting with the sensor device (10) for displaying a corresponding image signal and / or a sound output device of the sensor device (10) or of the device (20) interacting with the sensor device (10) for emitting a corresponding sound signal (S5).

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