WO2007031932A1

WO2007031932A1 - Apparatus for monitoring outdoor air quality

Info

Publication number: WO2007031932A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/053207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicoline Haisma; David La Hei; Gerrit-Jan Bloem; Cathrine Movold; Yasmina Haryono; Bart J. Massee
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2005-09-15
Filing date: 2006-09-11
Publication date: 2007-03-22

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring outdoor air quality. The apparatus comprises an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, provided with first communication means for exchange of data between said units, preferably wireless. The outdoor unit furthermore comprises at least one sensor for measuring outdoor air quality data, such as smog levels or particle concentrations and the indoor unit furthermore comprising second communication means for exchanging data with a user. The units may be provided with cooperating fixation means, for instance magnets, to mount the units on opposed sides of an outdoor/indoor partition, such as a window.

Description

Apparatus for monitoring outdoor air quality

The invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring air quality, such as concentrations of particulates, such as for instance pollen, spores, dust, smoke and/or other pollutants.

With the air becoming more and more polluted and the number of illnesses related to poor air quality increasing, there is a growing need for accurate, reliable information regarding the current quality of the outdoor air, so as to enable the public to timely close their windows, cancel their outdoor activities or otherwise take appropriate measures to prevent or minimize exposure to (excessively) polluted air.

At present, to fill this need, air quality information from meteorological institutes is made available to the public via the media, newspapers, teletext, internet or the like. A disadvantage of this known providing of information is that it is released only once or several times a day and therefore generally not up-to-date. Moreover, the provided values usually cover a relatively large area and are therefore not necessarily accurate for the immediate environment of a specific user. A further disadvantage is that the information is relatively hard to retrieve, as it requires an interested party to buy a newspaper, surf on the internet or tune in on the correct radio channel at the correct time.

US 6,466,133 discloses an air quality monitoring system, intended to advise asthma patients. The system comprises an indoor unit for measuring the quality of the indoor ambient air of the patient, and a remote server to which the measured data are transmitted. The server is provided with patient-specific information, such as his medical file, and is furthermore arranged to collect air quality information from outdoor sources, such as aforementioned meteorological institutes. Based on all this information, the server generates a patient-specific advice and communicates this advice to the patient via standard communication means such as for instance a computer, fax, pager, mobile phone or the like. A disadvantage of this known system is that the outdoor air quality data may suffer from the same drawbacks as mentioned above, i.e. lack of accuracy and/or timeliness, now that they are collected from the same institutes. In addition, the system is relatively complex due to the remote server, the software for translating the various input signals into one advice and the various communication means needed to transmit the information back and forth between the patient and the server.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for monitoring air quality, in which at least a number of the disadvantages related to the known apparatuses, is at least partly avoided.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus that can provide a user with accurate and up-to-date information regarding the air quality in his immediate outdoor environment.

It is further an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of simple design, which can be readily mounted.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus that can continuously provide a user with relevant, up-to-date air quality information, without the user having to put in any effort.

These and other objects are at least partly attained with an apparatus according to the invention, characterized by the features of claim 1.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises two units, one for outdoors and one for indoors. The outdoor unit contains at least one air quality sensor for measuring at least one outdoor parameter representative for the air quality. The term 'air quality' in this description is used for a 'contaminant concentration level' in the air, as expressed for instance in concentrations of chemical or gasses and/or concentrations of particulates, such as (but not limited to) dust, smoke, spores, pollen, mold, mites, viruses, bacteria or other pollutants. The indoor unit is provided with first communication means for exchanging information with the outdoor unit, and second communication means for exchanging information with the user, notably measurement information received from the outdoor unit. Thanks to such apparatus, without having to make any serious effort, a user has access, 24-hours a day, to air quality data which are measured real-time, in his immediate environment and which are therefore accurate and up-to-date. The apparatus can for instance be used in a home, an office, a car or any other enclosed space, where knowledge of the outdoor air quality is relevant to the indoor user. Preferably, the first communication means are of a wireless type. This may help to facilitate installation of the apparatus, as the units can be readily mounted without the necessity of routing any wires, drilling any holes and/or otherwise modifying the building or vehicle structure. According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the indoor and outdoor unit may be provided with cooperating fixation means. Thanks to such fixation means, the units can be readily mounted on opposite sides of a partition (separating outdoors from indoors). Such opposite positioning of the units furthermore allows the first communication means to operate with relatively weak signals, which require little energy and are unlikely to interfere with other signals.

If mounted on opposite sides of a partition, the cooperating fixation means may advantageously comprise magnets. This will facilitate mounting of the units even further and moreover requires no (irreversible) modification to the partition. According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the apparatus may be provided with one or more sensors for sensing a weather condition, such as outdoor temperature, humidity, rain, wind speed and/or wind direction. Such weather conditions are not directly representative of the air quality, but are often of indirect influence thereon and may therefore enable a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of the measured air quality data.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the second communication means may comprise input means for allowing a user to input specific commands to the indoor and/or outdoor unit regarding for instance a preferred measurement mode and/or a preferred display mode, or to input user-specific information, regarding for instance acceptable threshold values, so that a warning signal may be generated when the measured data exceed said threshold value. Thus, the apparatus can be customized according to a user's needs and/or likes. Of course, such personal settings can be stored in the apparatus, for one or several users.

The indoor unit may furthermore comprise detecting means for detecting the presence of a user, for instance a touch sensor or an optical sensor, detecting presence or motion. The operation of the apparatus can then be adapted to the presence or absence of a user. For instance, the measurement means and/or communication means may be activated only upon detection of user presence, thereby allowing energy to be saved. Alternatively, the observability (e.g. the visibility and/or audibility) of the measurement display means may be enhanced when absence or remoteness of a user is detected, thereby allowing such user to observe the measured data from a distance. Also, a timer may be provided to deactivate, after a predetermined amount of time, any such presence or absence triggered activation.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is provided with analyzing or conversion means, so as to 'translate' the measured data into displayable data, such as numeric values or a graphic representation. Preferably, the analyzing means are arranged to take general and/or user-specific information into account, thereby allowing the measured data to be interpreted and converted into some judgmental or advisory value, customized for the specific user. The analyzing means may for instance comprise a simple look-up table, a static algorithm or a dynamic model, completed with general and/or user-specific knowledge.

Further advantageous embodiments of an apparatus according to the present invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

To explain the invention, exemplary embodiments thereof will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figures IA₅B show, in front and side view respectively, an apparatus according to the invention, in mounted condition;

Figure 2 shows the apparatus according to Figure. IA, with a cover part removed, so as to show the second communication means;

Figures 3A-D show four different ways of presenting measured air quality data to a user with the apparatus according to Figure 2.

Referring now to Figures IA₅B, the apparatus 1 according to the invention comprises an outdoor unit 3 and an indoor unit 5. Each unit 3, 5 comprises a substantially disc shaped housing 23, 25, attached to opposed sides of a partition 2 via suitable fixation means 6. The partition 2 separates indoors from outdoors and may for instance be a window- pane or a wall of a building, a vehicle or other enclosed 'living' area. In the case where the partition 2 is a window-pane, suitable fixation means 6 can for instance include magnets, suction cups, vacuum cups and/or adhesive. Of course, other fixation means 6 are possible. Furthermore, the housings 23, 25 may be shaped differently.

Each housing 23, 25 includes first communication means 8 for exchange of measured data from the outdoor unit 3 to the indoor unit 5 and, preferably but not necessarily, for exchange of user input information from the indoor unit 5 to the outdoor unit 3. The first communication means 8 are preferably wireless, allowing for easy installation of the apparatus 1. Since the units 3,5 are mounted at a short distance from each other, the communication signals can be weak, which may help to minimize power consumption and interference with other appliances. Suitable first communication means 8 may for instance make use of RF communication techniques, such as Blue Tooth technology or any other suitable Near Field Communication technique.

The outdoor unit 3 furthermore comprises at least one sensor 10 for detecting at least one air quality parameter, such as a concentration of pollen, spores, smog or other particles, chemicals and/or gasses. The outdoor unit 3 may furthermore comprise one or more sensors for measuring additional parameters that may influence the air quality parameters and as such be of indirect relevance thereto, such as for instance the weather conditions. In the embodiment shown, the outdoor unit 3 is therefore provided with a temperature sensor 11 and a humidity sensor 12. Furthermore, a solar panel 14 may be provided - covering at least part of the housing 23 - to provide the apparatus 1 with energy. Of course, alternative and/or additional energy sources may be provided (not shown), such as batteries or a connection to the power grid.

The indoor unit 5 comprises second communication means 15 for information exchange with a user. These second communication means 15 comprise input means 16, as best seen in Figures IA₅B and display means 20, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3A-D.

The input means 16 allow a user to select between various measurement modes, for instance five modes, each represented by an appropriate icon A-E as illustrated in Figures IA and 3 A. Possible measurement modes can for instance include the measurement of smog level (A), humidity (B), pollen count (C), temperature (D) or a fifth mode (E) in which the previous four modes are combined. In the illustrated embodiment the modes can be selected by manually rotating a lens-shaped cover part 30 of the indoor unit housing 25 until a marked spot, such as a window 32 in said cover part 30 is aligned with the particular icon. Of course many other input means are possible, such as push buttons, switches, slides, a scroll wheel or the like. In the embodiment shown the display means 20 comprise a series of LEDs 21, placed in a matrix. With such LEDs 21, measured data can be presented in various ways, as illustrated in Figures 3 A-3D. As such the measured information can be presented to the user in a way that is clearest or most understandable. Figure 3 A shows a first example in which the measured data are simply represented as numeric values 22. Such presentation can for instance be used when the user will have no difficulty interpreting the meaning of said numeric values 22, such as for instance in the case of measured temperatures. Figures 3B and 3C show an alternative presentation, wherein the LEDs 21 together form a bar-type indicator 24, 24' wherein the number of illuminated bars Ic₁ , ki increases as the measured value is higher. In addition, the color of said bars Ic₁ , ki may differ per bar or group of bars, which color code allows additional information to be passed on to a user, for instance whether the measured value is acceptable, on the edge or too high. Such judgmental information can for instance be indicated with the respective colors green, orange and red. Alternatively, such information (including some judgmental value) may be presented with an icon, such as a smiley face 26 (as shown in Figure 3D), a neutral face or a sad face (not shown). The latter three ways of presentation therefore may help a user to interpret the measurement results. It will be understood that the apparatus 1 may comprise suitable conversion or analyzing means (not shown) in the form of for instance an algorithm, table or mathematical model (e.g. making use of fuzzy logic) to convert the measured values into such judgmental values. Also, in a highly advantageous embodiment, these conversion means or analyzing means may take into account user-specific information, input by the user, so as to come to a subjective (user- specific) judgmental value. Such user-specific information may for instance include threshold values for the various measured data, indicating which measured values are acceptable for the user in question and which are not. For instance, a pollen concentration, which may be acceptable to one user may be too high for another user. An alarm signal may be generated when a measured value exceeds the threshold value. Of course, alternative or additional display means can be provided, such as for instance a liquid crystal display and/or audible (sound generating) means.

The apparatus 1 according to the invention may furthermore comprise a timer (not shown), which may deactivate the apparatus 1 or parts thereof, such as the measurement sensors 10, 11, 12 and/or the display means 20, or put them into some sort of stand-by mode when no user interaction has been detected for a predetermined amount of time (indicating that the user is no longer using the apparatus 1). As such, energy can be saved. Alternatively, the lack of interaction may for instance trigger the display means 20 to be illuminated, so as to allow displayed data to be seen even from a remote user position.

The above-described apparatus can be operated as follows. A user can select a desired measurement mode by rotating the cover part 30 so as to position window 32 above one of the icons A-E associated with a particular measurement mode. This rotation is translated into information regarding the selected icon by for instance an encoder, and transmitted to the outdoor unit 3 via de first communication means 8. LEDs 21' arranged near the circumference of the indoor unit 5 (only shown in Fig. 3C) may light up, showing the path over which the cover part 30 has been rotated, thereby providing the user with visual feedback. The outdoor unit 3 will communicate the requested measurement data back to the indoor unit 5 and these data will subsequently be converted into displayable data by the analyzing means, thereby possibly taking into account personal information of the user, such as a threshold value or a preference for a specific display mode. This results in the display means 20 presenting the measured data in one of the formats illustrated in Figures 3A-D. The user can then select a new measurement mode by repeating above-mentioned operations. If all available measurement modes are desired, the user can simply select icon E, which will cause all available measurement data to be presented to the user in succession, wherein the appropriate icon can be lit up when the associated measurement data are presented.

It is to be understood that the above-described air quality monitor represents only one possible embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. Within this embodiment, many variations are feasible. The invention is therefore not in any way limited to the exemplary embodiment presented in the description and drawing. All combinations (of parts) of the embodiment shown and described are explicitly understood to be incorporated within this description and are explicitly understood to fall within the scope of the invention. Moreover, many variations are possible within the scope of the invention, as outlined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for monitoring air quality, comprising an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, said units being provided with first communication means for exchange of data between the units, the outdoor unit furthermore comprising at least one sensor for measuring outdoor air quality data, such as a smog level or a particle concentration, and the indoor unit furthermore comprising second communication means for exchanging data with a user.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communication means allow wireless communication.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outdoor and indoor unit are provided with cooperating fixation means for mounting the units on opposed sides of a partition, separating outdoors from indoors.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outdoor and indoor unit are provided with fixation means, suitable for fixation to a window-pane.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the fixation means comprise one or more magnets.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outdoor unit is provided with at least one sensor for sensing a weather condition

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second communication means comprise input means allowing a user to select from a series of measurement modes.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second communication means comprise display means, arranged to display measured data and/or data input by a user.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the indoor unit furthermore comprises means for detecting the presence of a user.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein operation of the second communication means, in particular information to a user, is controlled depending on detected user presence.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising analyzing means for translating the measured air quality data into visual and/or audible information for presentation to a user.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a memory for storing user-specific information, which can be taken into account by the analyzing means when translating the measured air quality data.