US20070152076A1

US20070152076A1 - Monitoring system with a wireless transmitting/receiving module

Info

Publication number: US20070152076A1
Application number: US11/724,262
Authority: US
Inventors: Kuo Chiang; Yi Cheng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-13
Filing date: 2007-03-15
Publication date: 2007-07-05
Also published as: US10313630B2; US20150201157A1; US20170208156A1; US20130010208A1; US20170310925A1

Abstract

A monitoring system includes a chamber; an image capturing device set in the chamber used to capture an image in the chamber, a first transceiver coupled to the image capturing device to transmit the captured image; a remote terminal having a second transceiver to receive the captured image.

Description

The application is a CIP application of United States Patent Application 20060174641, Ser. No. 11/011,465, and filed on Dec. 13, 2004. Applicant claim the priority date of the parent patent.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a monitoring system and more particularly to a monitoring system with Wireless Transmitting/Receiving module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Security matter is more important than ever. Most of the people hired security guard to secure their household. However, most of the security only checks the surrounding status of house or building. He or she is not allowed to enter into the house to monitor. Thus, he or she can report nothing within the house while the house host is absent. The present invention can be also used to monitor the item in the chamber such as a refrigerator. In order to keep temperature-sensitive foodstuffs, especially beverages, an electrically refrigerated cabinet has been used. In refrigeration systems, a refrigerant gas is compressed in a compressor unit. Heat generated by the compression is then removed generally by passing the compressed gas through a water or air cooled condenser coil.
A problem which has arisen with such refrigeration is that when the front door is opened too often, the extremely cold air within the chamber tends to spill out through the front opening of the refrigeration. This not only undesirably increases the temperature of the refrigeration chamber, but places increased loads on the refrigeration unit as it must operate on a more continuous basis to account for all of the lost cold air from within the chamber.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an advanced system with remote monitoring which allowed monitoring the item contain therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention also provides many additional advantages which shall become apparent as described below.
The object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system with a display module.
The object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system with a Wireless Transmitting/Receiving module such as WLAN module. The Wireless Transmitting/Receiving module is compatible with blue tooth standard, WiFi, WiMAX, 802.11x standard, x refers to a, b, g, n.
A monitoring system comprising: a chamber or room; an image capturing device set in the chamber used to capture an image in the chamber, a first transceiver coupled to the image capturing device to transmit the captured image; a remote terminal having a second transceiver to receive the captured image. The system further comprises an illumination device set in the chamber to provide the illumination for the image capturing device. The illumination device includes LED, IR-light or lamp. The image capturing device is selected from the group consisting of digital still camera, digital video camera, CCD, CMOS sensor and pinhole camera. The display is selected from the group consisting of LCD panel, plasma display panel, LED display panel, CRT, FED display panel, EL panel, OEL and OLED panel. The present invention provides a system of accessing data via wireless transmission comprising a wireless storage device having a first wireless transmitting/receiving module coupled to a storage medium in the wireless storage device and a control terminal having a second wireless transmitting/receiving module. The control terminal accesses data stored in the storage medium by transmitting and receiving signal between the first and second wireless transmitting/receiving module. A storage device includes a control unit; a first type memory and a second type memory coupled to the control unit; an interface coupled to the control unit for I/O and an embedded system coupled to the control unit to determine or assign the duty of the first type memory and the second type memory.
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C (a), (b) show a function diagram of a monitoring system according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows a function diagram of a refrigerator and FIG. 2 shows a refrigerator according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a flow chart according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a display panel according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an overall method and devices for a food storage tracking system. FIGS. 1A and 1B show an illustration and a block diagram of the present invention. Almost of the elements and description of FIGS. 1A and 1B are disclosed in the co-pending patent United States Patent Application 20060174641, and filed on Dec. 13, 2004. A chamber 10 is provided with a wired or wireless transmitting/receiving module 30 a and a control circuits 110 a is embedded and coupled to the wired or wireless transmitting/receiving module 30 a in the chamber 10 to process the command, signal and instruction from the user. One aspect of the present invention is that a display panel 18 a is equipped for the wired or wireless transmitting/receiving module 30 a and coupled to the control circuits 110 a. The device 18 including memory (and/or hard disc) 22 a, control circuits 110 a and wireless transmitting/receiving module 30 a may refer to wireless storage device. One or more image capturing device 20 a is set in the chamber 10. The image capturing device and illumination device can be incorporated in a housing or case 16 as know in the art. The image capturing device 20 a is electrically (or optically) coupled to the display panel 18 a, control circuits 110 a. The image capturing device 20 a is set in the chamber 10. An illumination device 26 a is set in the chamber 10 also to provide the illumination for the image capturing device 20 a when the environment is not bright enough for the image capturing device 20 takes an image or shooting. The image capturing device 20 a and the illumination device 26 a could be built-in on or in the wall of the chamber 10. The image capturing device 20 a could capture the image in the chamber 10 a, therefore, the image of the items stored in the chamber 10 could be taken or shot by the image capturing device 20. The image capturing device 20 could be, for example, digital still camera, digital video camera, CCD, CMOS sensor or pinhole camera. The illumination device 26 could be LED, IR light source, lamp or the like. The frequency range of the illumination source may range from substantially 10E13-10E16 Hz. If the image capturing device is capable of operating in the infrared ray spectrum range, the illumination device 26 a could be omitted. When the image capturing device 20 is on, the image in the chamber 10 a can be captured and send it to the display panel 18 a, thereby displaying captured image in the form of video or picture on the display 18 a, allowing the user to watch image on the display panel. The image capturing device 20 could be set in any place of the chamber or room 10 a depending on the necessary. This will provide relative ease to monitor the status in the chamber of the house. In one embodiment, a LCD screen is provided for the display panel to display item in the chamber 10. Other type display could also be used such as plasma display panel, LED display panel, CRT, FED display panel, EL panel, OEL and OLED panel. A low-power CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) microprocessor with integral FLASH maybe employed. A molded plastic case for the screen encloses the circuit board. Power is provided by wired power source or batteries. The image capturing device 20 a includes a charged coupled device (referred to as “CCD”). Further, the image capturing device 20 a has the zoom-in and zoom-out functions controlled by the user. Memory 22 a refers to nonvolatile memory or magnetic storage device, for example hard disk. The memory 22 a is coupled to the image capturing device 20 a for storing a captured data such as single frame image or video data, wires are used to connect the control circuits 110 a, power source and the display 18 a. The memory could be FLASH or MRAM. Corresponding driving circuits may be incorporated into or separated from the control circuits 110 a. The flash memory could be replaced by other NVM (non-volatile memory) such as NROM (nitride-ROM), SONOS or MRAM, FRAM. A USB interface 24 a coupled to the control circuits 110 a may be provided to the wireless storage device 18 for transferring data. The wireless transmission/receiving module 30 a can perform such function as well. Under the architecture, the wireless storage device 18 may refer to a wireless Flash drive. The wireless storage device 18 can act as the separated data storage for other device such as computer, notebook, mobile phone, PDA, medium player. Please be noted that the wireless storage device 18 may be embedded into the computer, notebook, mobile phone, PDA, medium player. A conical convex lens is accommodated to have an apical angle and the apex is fixed so as to face the object. The image capturing device 20 a is available to catch image of an object. Another embodiment of the present invention further includes a wireless or wired transmission/receiving module 30 a coupled to the image capturing device 20 a and the control circuit 110 a. The wireless or wired transmission/receiving module 30 a could be set adjacent to the display panel 18 a. It should be noted, it is not the only way to set the wireless or wired transmission/receiving module. The transmission/receiving module could be wired (such as ADSL cable or Ethernet device) or wireless transmission/receiving module that is compatible with blue-tooth, 802.11×, WiFi, WiMAX standard. The transmission domain (the air) by nature is not secured and therefore encryption maybe essential in the wireless transport networks. In one embodiment, pair-wise encryption/decryption between every neighboring wireless network device of a wireless transport network is well-known in the art. A data frame that leaves from one wireless device from one end of a wireless transport network to the other end of the same network might need several encryptions and decryptions before it reaches its final destination. Furthermore, a group key for a broadcast or a multicast data frame maybe needed in addition to pair-wise encryption keys. An AP may be needed for WiFi device to couple to the internet network. In a preferred embodiment, take the RF module as an example, as know in the art, the RF (wireless transmission/receiving) module includes an antenna connected to a transceiver which is used to receive and transmit signal. As know, the RF module may further include, base band processing unit, DSP and A/D converter. The received signal will turn on the vibration mode or speaker of the cellular phone in the mobile phone application. In the present invention, the received signal will be used to power on the image capturing device 20 (and the illumination device 26). Due to the RF module is not the feature of the present invention, therefore, the detailed description is omitted. The captured image can be transmitted through the RF module 30 by operation frequency while the image capturing device is in function. The RF module could be compatible with 3G or 4G standard. The captured result can be send to a remote terminal 32 with a transceiver 32 a and a display screen 32 b, thereby allowing the user to monitor and check the status in the chamber of a house or building. The remote terminal 32 could be, such as remote computer system, portable device (cellular), PDA, notebook, smart phone or TV set. The signal could be transmitted or received through wired network or wireless transmission. In another case, the transmission is achieved through WiMAX network or WiFi. The instruction is sent via the wired network or wireless network through WLAN. If the WiFi is used, the data maybe transferred through wireless or wired cable, if WiMAX is used, the data can be transferred by wireless through several kilometers.
If the remote terminal 32 includes a cellular, the wireless module could be a RF module or a further RF module 32 g maybe incorporated into the terminal 32 for transmitting and receiving communication data. As mentioned in FIG. 3, in step 330, a signal is transmitted from a remote terminal 32 to the image capturing device through the mobile phone network by RF module (transmission/receiving module) 30 a. It could be transmitted by a 3G or higher level protocol or standard. Alternatively, it could be transmitted by wireless transmitting and receiving module with WiFi, WiMAX, 902.11 or Bluetooth specification. The control circuit 110 a will sent the captured image to the remote terminal 32 through the wireless transmitting and receiving module 30 a and receiving by the wireless transmitting and receiving module 32 a, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the present invention may access the data or captured data stored in the memory or hard disk drive 22 a within the chamber 10 from the remote terminal. The remote terminal 32 such as mobile phone, may sent a signal to the device through wireless transmitting and receiving module 32 a and received by the wireless transmitting and receiving module 30 a, followed by sending the signal to the control circuits 110 a. The control circuits 110 a may fetch the required data stored in the memory or hard disk drive 22 a and send the required data to the remote terminal 32 wirelessly.
If there are pluralities of device under control, the user may remote control each device as shown in FIG. 1B. The device 32 includes virtual COM ports 321. and port driver 322 installed in the device 32. Each virtual COM ports 321 is designated to a device under control, for example, wireless storage, image capturing device or other device. The remote device 32 will uses the port drive 322 for transferring data from/to the local device in the chamber. Each of the VCOM ports has an associated driver for opening the virtual COM port. The connection manager coordinates communication between WiMAX or WiFi wireless communication protocol and the VCOM port in order to facilitate communication over the wireless communication network. An application is able to coordinate the opening of a VCOM port and establish a communication path over WiMAX wireless network for purposes of transferring data. In order to access the data from a remote distance, it prefers that the storage device can be accessed wireless or the data stored therein can be transferred wireless from a remote terminal. Thus, the present invention provides a wireless storage device such as hard disk or flash drive as shown in FIG. 1C (a), the wireless storage scheme can be referred to FIG. 1, FIG. 1A as well. The wireless storage device is disclosed in the co-pending patent United States Patent Application 20060174641, and filed on Dec. 13, 2004. The wireless hard disk drive or flash drive can be accessed by wireless control from separated device. The wireless transmitting/receiving module 460 maybe coupled to the control unit for wireless data transfer. Preferably, application 450 coupled to the control unit 400 is required to achieve the purpose. The application 450 maybe software, hardware or firmware used to share the information through air. In one case, it may be a sharing module or program. The cross-platform file and print sharing made easy, it is a sharing module. The application is a solution for sharing between the different devices or platforms, with bi-directional, allowing device to browse file in the wireless storage device through air, as well as share your folders or drives for others to access. Optionally, the present invention also provides a hard disk drive having a Flash memory, as shown in FIG. 1C (b) to have the benefits of both. The hard disk drive includes a control unit 400 coupled to an interface 410 and a magnetic disk module having spindle driver 420, reading/writing head mechanism and so on. This is well-known in the art, the description is omitted. A flash controller 440 is coupled to the control unit 400 and a nonvolatile memory 430 is coupled to the flash controller 440. An application 450 is coupled to the control unit to execute the instruction. A wireless transmitting/receiving module 460 maybe coupled to the control unit for wireless data transfer. The wireless hard drive incorporates the flash memory into the device to yield the benefit of high-speed access and low power consumption. The hard disk drive maybe incorporated into portable media player, cellular, notebook or PDA. A controller 440 is connected to the flash memory 430 to operate the mode under instruction or command. The operation mode includes read mode, write mode, erase mode, and programming mode. The controller 430 is capable to process the USB protocol if the interface includes USB interface. Further, the controller 440 maybe integrated into the control unit 400 under the knowledge and technology of integrated circuits. An embedded system 470 is optionally stored in the erasable/programmable storage medium (flash, ROM or hard disk). It could be OS, simplified OS, an application, software or a list of computer-executable instructions. The embedded system 470 is preferably in a ROM (read only memory) 480 and is another individual memory array separated form the Flash array and coupled to the control unit 400. Alternatively, the ROM 480 may be embedded in the control unit. The data coded in the ROM will not be erased by the user. The embedded system 470 could be provided for a computer or device to execute predetermined function such as operating some application, booting the device, auto backup or auto-run file. In general, after a device is power on, basic input/output system will perform a boot sequence before invoking the OS. Basic input/output system is set in the ROM. During the procedure, the BIOS will detect the priority of the boot up application. The user may set the BISO so as to let the device is boot up by an application stored in a floppy, CD-ROM, DVD drive or other I/O port coupled with a periphery device. In one application of the present invention, we may set the system to be booted by the USB port coupled with the USB drive cording to the present invention. The module could act as “key” for the device. The programmer or instruction can be set in the embedded system to determine what type of data will be stored into what type of storage (flash or hard disk). It could be used for different type of volatile memory having NOR type and NAND type. In one embodiment, the embedded system 470 is OS or simplified OS. The embedded system is coupled to the control unit to determine or assign the duty of the magnetic disk module 420 and the nonvolatile memory 430. The flash benefits high speed performance, low power consumption while hard disk drive yields lower cost. The storage architecture refers to Complementary Storage Device (CSD). The CSD has the benefits of the both type of memory. The manufacture may reduce the cost and increase the performance by incorporating the two kind of memory with an optimized memory ratio between the flash memory and the magnetic memory. The composition of the CDS may follow the following rules to achieve the purpose and the memory ratio maybe fall within the range list below. The calculated method is not the concern of the present invention, the present invention try to predict the ratio range.
(A) Assume the total memory capacity (hard disk and flash) is A bits, assume again that magnetic memory (hard disk for instance) occupies X bits and the cost of the magnetic memory is M/bit while the flash memory is Y bits and the cost of the flash memory is N/bit.
The cost of the memory=(MxX)+(NxY)=Z (total cost of both memory)
According to Cauchy inequality equation:
(M ² +N ²)(X ² +Y ²)≧(MX+NY)² =Z ²
(X ² +Y ²)≧Z ²/(M ² +N ²);
When X/M=Y/N, the maximum cost of the memory capacity is obtained;
Zmax=[(M ² +N ²) (X ² +Y ²)]^1/2
the minimum cost of the memory capacity is illustrated as follows:
If M>N, one of the higher cost memory is approaching null, thus, the Zmin≈NY.
If M<N, similarly, one of the higher cost memory is approaching null as well, therefore, the Zmin≈MX.
If M>N, one of the lower cost memory is approaching null, thus, the Zmax=AM.
If M<N, similarly, one of the lower cost memory is approaching null as well, Zmax=AN
The cost Z is: 0<Max(MX, NY)≦Zmin≦Z≦Zmax=[(M²+N²) (X²+Y²)]^1/2
The result of the present invention may provide the formula to estimate the combination cost of the memory.
X+Y=A; MX+NY=Z; (B)
X=(Z−NA)/M−N; Y=(AM−Z)/M−N;
The memory ratio (R1) of magnetic memory (hard disk) to flash memory is equal to X/Y=(Z−NA)/(AM−Z)
Alternatively, the memory ratio (R2) of magnetic memory (hard disk) to flash memory is equal to Y/X=(AM−Z)/(Z−NA)
Please refer to FIG. 1C(c), the present invention may apply to semiconductor non-volatile memories comprising an array of non-volatile memory cells arranged in a plurality of rows and columns can be characterized as operating either in a NAND mode of operation or a NOR mode of operation. Typically, NAND memory cells are programmed or read to operate in a page mode manner in which a page of data (typically 512 bytes) is stored in a plurality of page buffers that are integrated with the memory circuit device. During programming, a page of data is externally supplied to the NAND device and is stored in the page buffer. From the page buffer, the data is then stored in the NAND cells. In contrast, in a NOR mode of operation, different bytes within the NOR array can be randomly accessed, read or programmed. The difference between the two types is that NOR operation is for random access read or program of a small amount of data faster compared to a NAND program or read operation. NAND operation of program or read is faster than compared to a NOR mode of operation. Conventional flash EEPROM semiconductor memory devices are implemented as either a NOR array or a NAND array. However, a NAND array can advantageously use the tunneling mechanism for both erasing and programming. This provides a much faster erasure than NOR arrays. Thus, while access times are faster in a NOR array, NOR arrays are typically dedicated to applications which require minimal erasure and programming. NAND arrays are suited for storing non-boot code used for data/file manipulation. A storage device comprises a substrate 530; control circuits 520 formed on the substrate 530 to control the reading, writing and erasing of memory cells of the storage device; and a nonvolatile memory array formed on the substrate 530 including NAND type memory array 500 and a NOR type memory array 510 coupled to the control circuits; wherein cost Z of the nonvolatile memory including a NAND type and a NOR type is: 0<Z≦[(M²+N²)(X²+Y²)]^1/2; wherein the NAND type is X bits and a first cost of the NAND type is M/bit, while the NOR type is Y bits and a second cost of the NOR type is N/bit; wherein Z=MX+NY The control circuits 520 can be formed adjacent to the memory arrays or between the memory arrays. If M=N, then, cost Z of the nonvolatile memory is: 0<Z≦[(2M²)(X2+Y2)]^1/2. Turning to FIG. 1C(d), the storage device comprises a first column decoder C1 and second column decoder C2 formed between a NAND type memory and a NOR type memory arrays; a first row decoder R1 and a second row decoder R2 formed adjacent to the NAND type memory and the NOR type memory arrays. The C1 and R1 are coupled to the page controller and the C2, R2 are coupled to the address decoder. The page control is connected to the address decoder as well. The scheme made the device more compact then tradition scheme, thereby achieving the purpose of minimizing the device.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show an illustration and a block diagram of the present invention. The refrigerator 100 has one or more chamber 10 to store food or beverage as know in the art. A power source 24 is provided in the refrigerator 100 to provide the power needed. A compressor 12 is equipped in the refrigerator 100 and couple to power source 24 to compress gas to generate refrigerant gas in the chamber 10. Heat generated by the compression is then removed generally by passing the compressed gas through a water or air cooled condenser coil. One or more front door 16 is attached on the refrigerator 100 and could be pivotally opened. A control circuits 110 is embedded in the refrigerator 100 to process the command, signal and instruction from the user.
One aspect of the present invention is that a display panel 18 is equipped on the refrigerator, preferably, on the front door 16 and coupled to the power source 24 and the control circuits 110. One or more image capturing device 20 is set in the chamber 10. The image capturing device 20 is electrically (or optically) coupled to the display panel 18, control circuits 110. The image capturing device 20 is set in the chamber 10. A switch 22 is provided on the display panel 18 used to turn-on the image capturing device 20. An illumination device 26 is set in the chamber 10 also to provide the illumination for the image capturing device 20 when the image capturing device 20 is power on. The image capturing device 20 and the illumination device 26 could be built-in on or in the wall of the chamber 10. The image capturing device 20 could capture the image in the chamber 10, therefore, the image of the items stored in the chamber 10 could be taken or shot by the image capturing device 20. The image capturing device 20 could be, for example, digital still camera, digital video camera, CCD, CMOS sensor or pinhole camera. The illumination device 26 could be LED, UV light source, lamp or the like. The frequency range of the illumination source may range from substantially 10E13-10E16 Hz. If the image capturing device is capable of operating in the infrared ray spectrum range, the illumination device 26 could be omitted. If the illumination device may illuminate UV-ray spectrum, the bacteria will be eliminated or killed by the UV ray. When the image capturing device 20 is on, the image in the chamber 10 can be captured and send it to the display panel 18, thereby displaying captured image in the form of video or picture on the display panel 18, allowing the user to watch image on the display panel and take a look at what items are stored in the chamber and their location. The image capturing device 20 could be set in each layer of the chamber 10 depending on the necessary. This will provide relative ease to monitor the stored food item without opening the door of the refrigerator. In one embodiment, a LCD screen is provided for the display panel to display item in the chamber 10. Other type display could also be used such as plasma display panel, LED display panel, CRT, FED display panel, EL panel, OEL and OLED panel. The panel further includes On/Off button, a Mode button. A low-power CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) microprocessor with integral FLASH maybe employed. A molded plastic case for the screen encloses the circuit board. Power is provided by batteries or, alternately, by the refrigerator itself. The image capturing device 20 includes a charged coupled device (referred to as “CCD”). Further, the image capturing device 20 has the zoom-in and zoom-out functions controlled by the mode button described in FIG. 4. Memory means 22 is coupled to the image capturing device 20 for storing a single frame image that is generated by image signal from the CCD, wires are used to connect the control circuits 110, power source 24 and the display 18. A conical convex lens is accommodated to have an apical angle and the apex is fixed so as to face the object. The image capturing device 20 is available to catch image of an object.
The details of the base unit now having been explained, one can readily understand the functioning of the entire method. For example, one would discover what item stored in the chamber and their location from the display panel. Another embodiment of the present invention further includes a wireless or wired transmission/receiving module 30 coupled to the image capturing device 20 and the control circuit 110. The wireless or wired transmission/receiving module 30 could be set adjacent to the display panel 18. It should be noted, it is not the only way to set the wireless or wired transmission/receiving module module. The transmission/receiving module could be wired (such as ADSL cable or Ethernet device) or wireless transmission (RF, blue-tooth or 802.11x available device). Take the RF module as an example, as know in the art, the RF (wireless transmission/receiving) module includes an antenna connected to a transceiver which is used to receive and transmit signal. As know, the RF module may further include, base band processing unit, DSP and A/D converter. The received signal will turn on the vibration mode or speaker of the cellular phone in the mobile phone application. In the present invention, the received signal will be used to power on the image capturing device 20 (and the illumination device 26). Due to the RF module is not the feature of the present invention, therefore, the detailed description is omitted. The captured image can be transmitted through the RF module 30 by operation frequency while the image capturing device is in function. The captured result can be send to a remote terminal 32 with a transceiver 32 a and a display screen 32 b, thereby allowing the user to check what item left in the refrigerator. The user may determine what should be supplied. The remote terminal-32 could be, such as remote computer system, portable device (cellular) or TV set. The signal could be transmitted or received through wired network or wireless transmission.
The present invention discloses and provides a method of monitoring food or beverage in a refrigerator. In step 300, an image capturing device is provided and set in one or more chamber of the refrigerator. Then, next step 310 is to switch on the image capturing device (and the illumination device) to capture the image of the food or beverage stored in the one or more chamber by pushing a button on the refrigerator or remote control through a RF module. Then, the captured image is send 320 to a display panel, wherein the display panel is coupled to the image capturing device for displaying the captured image. As aforementioned, the display panel is set on the refrigerator or remote terminal. If the display panel is set on the remote terminal, a RF module is necessary for the refrigerator. Thus, the method further comprises the steps before capturing the image of the food or beverage: 330 transmitting a signal from a remote terminal to switch on the image capturing device; 340 receiving the signal by the RF module (transmission/receiving module). The method further comprises the step before transmitting the captured image: 350 sending the captured image to the RF module and transmitting the captured image by the RF module to the remote terminal.
FIG. 4 shows the more advanced version of the current invention. An LCD screen 42 is provided for the display panel to display items captured by the image capturing device. Below the LCD 42 are an On/Off button 44, a layer selection button 46, and a mode button 48 which provide the function of zoom-in and zoom out. At the bottom of the unit are a microphone 50 and a speaker 52 when the instruction input unit includes voice activated technology. A molded plastic case for the screen and other function keys encloses the circuit board. Power on the LCD screen, the cursor is displayed at the beginning. To enter a selected layer, the user moves the cursor on the display. Next the user simply presses the selected layer and the corresponding image capturing device is power on.
As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting the present invention. Having described the invention in connection with a preferred embodiment, modification will now suggest itself to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention is not to be limited to this embodiment, but rather the invention is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising:

a chamber;

an image capturing device set in said chamber used to capture an image in said chamber;

a first transceiver coupled to said image capturing device to transmit said captured image; and

a remote terminal having a second transceiver to receive said captured image.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an illumination device coupled to said image capturing device to provide the illumination for said image capturing device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said illumination device includes LED, IR-light or lamp.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said image capturing device is selected from the group consisting of digital still camera, digital video camera, CCD, CMOS sensor and pinhole camera.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote terminal comprises a display allowing a user to monitor the status in said chamber.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second transceiver are compatible with blue tooth standard, WiFi, WiMAX, 802.11, 3G or 4G.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said image is transmitted by wired or wireless communication.

8. A method of monitoring comprising:

providing an image capturing device in a chamber and a first transceiver coupled to said image capturing device;

capturing an image in said chamber by said image capturing device;

transmitting said captured image by said first transceiver to a second transceiver of a remote terminal for displaying said captured image.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising following steps before capturing said image: transmitting a signal from said remote terminal to capture said image by said image capturing device; and receiving said signal by a transceiver coupled to said image capturing device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising following step before transmitting said captured image: sending said captured image to said transceiver; transmitting said captured image by said transceiver to said remote terminal.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said image capturing device is selected from the group consisting of digital still camera, digital video camera, CCD, CMOS sensor and pinhole camera.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said remote terminal comprises a display allowing a user to check what item is in said chamber.

13. The method of claim 8, further including a first and a second transceiver set in said chamber and compatible with blue tooth standard, WiFi, WiMAX, 802.11, 3G or 4G.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said image is transmitted by wired or wireless communication.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said remote terminal includes mobile phone, PDA, notebook, smart phone or computer.

16. A system of accessing data via wireless transmission comprising:

a wireless storage device having a first wireless transmitting/receiving module coupled to a storage medium in said wireless storage device;

a control terminal having a second wireless transmitting/receiving module, wherein said control terminal accesses data stored in said storage medium by transmitting and receiving signal between said first and second wireless transmitting/receiving module.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said first and second wireless transmitting/receiving module are compatible with blue tooth standard, WiFi, WiMAX, 802.11, 3G or 4G.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said storage medium includes hard disk or memory.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said control terminal further includes a port driver coupled to a VCOM port.

20. A storage device comprising:

a control unit;

a wireless transmitting/receiving module coupled to said control unit;

a storage medium coupled to said control unit for data-storage; and

wherein said wireless transmitting/receiving module is utilized to transfer data to/from said storage medium with an external device.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said wireless transmitting/receiving module are compatible with the standard of blue tooth standard, WiFi, WiMAX, 802.1-1, 3G or 4G.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein said wireless storage device acts as a separated or build-in data storage for said external device including computer, notebook, mobile phone, PDA or medium player.

23. A storage device comprising:

a control unit;

a first type memory and a second type memory coupled to said control unit;

an interface coupled to said control unit for I/O;

an embedded system coupled to said control unit to determine or assign the duty of said first type memory and said second type memory.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said first and second type memory are a magnetic memory and an nonvolatile memory or NAND type and NOR type memory.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said storage device acts as a separated data storage or build-in data storage for computer, notebook, mobile phone, PDA or medium player.

26. A storage device comprising:

a magnetic disk module used to store first data;

a nonvolatile memory used to store second data;

wherein cost Z of memory including a magnetic disk and said nonvolatile memory is: 0<Z≦[(M²+N²)(X²+Y²)]^1/2;

wherein said magnetic disk is X bits and a first cost of said magnetic disk is M/bit, while said nonvolatile memory is Y bits and a second cost of said nonvolatile memory is N/bit; wherein Z=MX+NY.

27. A storage device comprising:

a substrate;

control circuits formed on said substrate to control the reading, writing and erasing of memory cells of said storage device; and

a nonvolatile memory array formed on said substrate including NAND type memory array and a NOR type memory array coupled to said control circuits;

wherein cost Z of said nonvolatile memory including a NAND type and a NOR type is: 0<Z≦[(M²+N²)(X²+Y²)]^1/2;

wherein said NAND type is X bits and a first cost of said NAND type is Mibit, while said NOR type is Y bits and a second cost of said NOR type is N/bit; wherein Z=MX+NY.

28. A storage device comprising:

a first column decoder and second column decoder formed between a NAND type memory and a NOR type memory; a first row decoder and a second row decoder formed adjacent to said NAND type memory and said NOR type memory.