Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150020614 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - An environmental monitoring device that includes a sensor mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, heat generated by a processor in the environmental monitoring device may result in a convective fluid flow over the sensor mechanism that facilitates measurements of sensor data associated with an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Alternatively, a fluid driver (such as a fan) associated with the processor may produce the fluid flow over the sensor mechanism. Note that the fluid flow may include an airflow and/or a liquid flow. Moreover, the environmental monitoring device may include baffles that direct the fluid flow over a selected sensor in a set of sensors in the sensor mechanism. | 01-22-2015 |
20150021465 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - An electronic device that includes a sensor mechanism is described. During operation of the electronic device, the sensor mechanism provides sensor data based on measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the electronic device. Based on the sensor data, a control mechanism selects an illumination pattern from a set of illumination patterns, which are associated with illumination of the external environment. For example, at least two of the illumination patterns have: different spatial patterns in the external environment, different wavelengths of light and/or different light intensities. Moreover, an illumination mechanism illuminates at least a portion of the external environment based on the selected illumination pattern. | 01-22-2015 |
20150022340 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - An environmental monitoring device that includes a sensor mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the sensor mechanism provides sensor data based on measurements of environmental conditions in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, a control mechanism assesses if the environmental conditions indicate at least one of a set of threats. If yes, the control mechanism provides a corresponding alert. Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device includes a power source with a primary power source and a secondary power source. The secondary power source has at least a 10-year life and may power at least a subset of the functionality of the environmental monitoring device in the event the primary power source fails. For example, the sensor mechanism may include a smoke detector that is powered by the secondary power source in the event the primary power source fails. | 01-22-2015 |
20150022356 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - A mounting system for an electronic device is described. This mounting system includes a base that can be rigidly mounted on or underneath a wall. Moreover, the base can be remateably coupled to the electronic device. The remateable coupling may involve pins that are inserted into corresponding holes and rotated into a lock position. Alternatively, the remateable coupling may involve magnets that mechanically couple to each other so long as the electronic device and the base are within a predefined distance. The electronic device may receive power via the remateable coupling or via inductive charging. In addition, the electronic device may monitor a spatial parameter, such as: a location of the electronic device, a velocity of the electronic device and/or an acceleration of the electronic device. If this spatial parameter changes without the electronic device first receiving a security code, the electronic device provides an alert. | 01-22-2015 |
20150022357 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - A mounting system for an electronic device is described. This mounting system includes a base that can be rigidly mounted on or underneath a wall. Moreover, the base can be remateably coupled to the electronic device. The remateable coupling may involve pins that are inserted into corresponding holes and rotated into a lock position. Alternatively, the remateable coupling may involve magnets that mechanically couple to each other so long as the electronic device and the base are within a predefined distance. The electronic device may receive power via the remateable coupling or via inductive charging. In addition, the electronic device may monitor a spatial parameter, such as: a location of the electronic device, a velocity of the electronic device and/or an acceleration of the electronic device. If this spatial parameter changes without the electronic device first receiving a security code, the electronic device provides an alert. | 01-22-2015 |
20150268205 | SELECTIVE ELECTRICAL COUPLING BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS - An environmental monitoring device that includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as a switch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using the switching mechanism, an electronic device having a power source may be selectively electrically coupled to a second electronic device having a rechargeable battery. The selective electrical coupling may be based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device by a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition may be associated with charging of the rechargeable battery. In addition, a control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device selects a charging mode of the rechargeable battery based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition. | 09-24-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140266682 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE - An environmental monitoring device that monitors the operation of a legacy electronic device is described. In particular, a sensor in the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition is associated with the operation of the legacy electronic device in the external environment. The environmental monitoring device analyzes the sensor data and provides feedback about the operation of the legacy electronic device based on the analyzed sensor data. Moreover, the sensor provides the sensor data without or excluding communication and/or electrical coupling between the environmental monitoring device and the legacy electronic device. In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring, analysis and feedback of the sensor data without directly interacting with the legacy electronic device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266777 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE - An environmental monitoring device that monitors the operation of a legacy electronic device is described. In particular, a sensor in the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition is associated with the operation of the legacy electronic device in the external environment. The environmental monitoring device analyzes the sensor data and provides feedback about the operation of the legacy electronic device based on the analyzed sensor data. Moreover, the sensor provides the sensor data without or excluding communication and/or electrical coupling between the environmental monitoring device and the legacy electronic device. In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring, analysis and feedback of the sensor data without directly interacting with the legacy electronic device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270176 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE - An environmental monitoring device that monitors the operation of a legacy electronic device is described. In particular, a sensor in the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition is associated with the operation of the legacy electronic device in the external environment. The environmental monitoring device analyzes the sensor data and provides feedback about the operation of the legacy electronic device based on the analyzed sensor data. Moreover, the sensor provides the sensor data without or excluding communication and/or electrical coupling between the environmental monitoring device and the legacy electronic device. In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring, analysis and feedback of the sensor data without directly interacting with the legacy electronic device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277625 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE - An environmental monitoring device that monitors the operation of a legacy electronic device is described. In particular, a sensor in the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition is associated with the operation of the legacy electronic device in the external environment. The environmental monitoring device analyzes the sensor data and provides feedback about the operation of the legacy electronic device based on the analyzed sensor data. Moreover, the sensor provides the sensor data without or excluding communication and/or electrical coupling between the environmental monitoring device and the legacy electronic device. In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring, analysis and feedback of the sensor data without directly interacting with the legacy electronic device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140278735 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE - An environmental monitoring device that monitors the operation of a legacy electronic device is described. In particular, a sensor in the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition is associated with the operation of the legacy electronic device in the external environment. The environmental monitoring device analyzes the sensor data and provides feedback about the operation of the legacy electronic device based on the analyzed sensor data. Moreover, the sensor provides the sensor data without or excluding communication and/or electrical coupling between the environmental monitoring device and the legacy electronic device. In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring, analysis and feedback of the sensor data without directly interacting with the legacy electronic device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140283144 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE - An environmental monitoring device that monitors the operation of a legacy electronic device is described. In particular, a sensor in the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition is associated with the operation of the legacy electronic device in the external environment. The environmental monitoring device analyzes the sensor data and provides feedback about the operation of the legacy electronic device based on the analyzed sensor data. Moreover, the sensor provides the sensor data without or excluding communication and/or electrical coupling between the environmental monitoring device and the legacy electronic device. In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring, analysis and feedback of the sensor data without directly interacting with the legacy electronic device. | 09-18-2014 |
20150020615 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - An environmental monitoring device that includes an imaging device is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the imaging device provides imaging data for an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, the imaging device has different spatial sensitivity in different regions of the external environment, which defines a field of view of the imaging device. For example, the imaging device may include a lens with a predefined distortion that provides the different spatial sensitivity, such as Fresnel lens. Alternatively, a mechanical stop may provide the different spatial sensitivity. Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device may include an angular adjustment mechanism that, in response to an external force or a control signal from a control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, selectively rotates about an axis to change an orientation of the field of view. | 01-22-2015 |
20150022337 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - An environmental monitoring device that includes a sensor mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the sensor mechanism provides sensor data based on measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. If the environmental condition indicates a threat, a control mechanism provides an alert based on an alert setting. This alert can be remotely disabled by providing a modified alert setting. In order to prevent accidental disabling of the alert, a separate control command may also be required. When the providing of the alert is disabled, the control mechanism may continue to assess the threat and, if the threat is increasing, may reactivate the providing of the alert. Alternatively, after a time interval, the modified alert setting may automatically revert to the alert setting. | 01-22-2015 |
20150022351 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - An environmental monitoring device that includes an acoustic sensor is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the acoustic sensor provides acoustic data based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Based on the acoustic data, a control mechanism determines if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated. For example, the environmental monitoring device may determine if a smoke detector is activated based on measurements of sound, such as a temporal 3 acoustic pattern. In addition, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on measurements of an environmental condition in the external environment. The control mechanism may use the sensor data to assess a degree of threat in the external environment, and the environmental monitoring device may output different audible sounds as the degree of threat changes. | 01-22-2015 |
20150022352 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - An environmental monitoring device that includes an acoustic sensor is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the acoustic sensor provides acoustic data based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Based on the acoustic data and predefined characterization of the external environment, a control mechanism determines if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated. For example, the predefined characterization may include a location of the alarm device. This location may be specified by: an image of the external environment, a positioning system, a communication network, and/or an acoustic latency in the external environment. Alternatively, the predefined characterization may include an acoustic transfer function of the external environment proximate to the alarm device and the environmental monitoring device. Furthermore, if the alarm device is activated, the environmental monitoring device may provide an alert. | 01-22-2015 |
20150067888 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE - An environmental monitoring device that monitors the operation of a legacy electronic device is described. In particular, a sensor in the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition is associated with the operation of the legacy electronic device in the external environment. The environmental monitoring device analyzes the sensor data and provides feedback about the operation of the legacy electronic device based on the analyzed sensor data. Moreover, the sensor provides the sensor data without or excluding communication and/or electrical coupling between the environmental monitoring device and the legacy electronic device. In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring, analysis and feedback of the sensor data without directly interacting with the legacy electronic device. | 03-05-2015 |
20150185161 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - An environmental monitoring device that includes an imaging device is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the imaging device provides imaging data for an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, the imaging device has different spatial resolution in different regions of the external environment, which defines a field of view of the imaging device. For example, the imaging device may include a lens with a predefined distortion that provides the different spatial resolution, such as Fresnel lens. Alternatively, a mechanical stop may provide the different spatial resolution. Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device may include an angular adjustment mechanism that, in response to an external force or a control signal from a control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, selectively rotates about an axis to change an orientation of the field of view. | 07-02-2015 |
20150302728 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - An environmental monitoring device that includes a sensor mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the sensor mechanism provides sensor data based on measurements of environmental conditions in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, a control mechanism assesses if the environmental conditions indicate at least one of a set of threats. If yes, the control mechanism provides a corresponding alert. Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device includes a power source with a primary power source and a secondary power source. The secondary power source has at least a 10-year operating life and may power only or at least a subset of the functionality of the environmental monitoring device in the event the primary power source fails. | 10-22-2015 |
20150310720 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE - An electronic device that determines a risk metric for a physical object associated with an environment is described. This electronic device receives sensor data from a set of electronic devices (which may or may not include the electronic device) that are located in separate, neighboring or proximate environments. The sensor data represents environmental conditions in these environments. By analyzing and comparing the sensor data the electronic device assesses the environmental condition and determines the risk metric for at least one of the environments (such as a risk metric for a power failure). Furthermore, the risk metric may be used to calculate a financial value, such as a commercial value or an insurance premium of the physical object associated with at least the one environment. Note that the physical object may be included in at least the one environment or at least the one environment may include the physical object. | 10-29-2015 |