Sound detection and alert system for a workspace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10115293-B2
Application number	US-201715720461-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Jun 6, 2013
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

An alert system for generating a signal indicating at least one aspect of sound within a workspace environment, the system comprising at least a first sensor positioned one of within and proximate a workspace, the at least a first sensor sensing at least one aspect of sound generated within the workspace and generating a signal indicating the at least one aspect, a communication device located within the workspace, the communication device configured to generate a signal perceivable within the workspace and a processor receiving signals from the at least a first sensor and linked to the communication device, the processor programmed to perform the steps of identifying when the at least one aspect exceeds a threshold value and driving the communication device to indicate that the at least one aspect exceeds the threshold value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A personal space for telepresence activities using a portable device comprising:
at least one wall structure supporting a worksurface;
an interior sound sensor and a communication device coupled to an interior of the at least one wall structure;
an exterior sound sensor coupled to an exterior of the at least one wall structure; and
a processor in communication with the interior sound sensor, the exterior sound sensor, and the communication device, the processor adapted to compare a sound level inside the wall structure to a threshold level, and to provide a signal at the communication device when a sound level inside the personal space exceeds the threshold level, and to adjust the threshold level when a sound level exterior to the wall structure exceeds a second threshold level.

2. The personal space of claim 1 , wherein the worksurface is substantially horizontal.

3. The personal space of claim 1 , wherein the worksurface is sized and dimensioned so support a portable device.

4. The personal space of claim 1 , wherein the personal space comprises a display screen mounted to the wall.

5. The personal space of claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to link to a portable device in the personal space.

6. The personal space of claim 1 , further comprising a camera coupled to the wall.

7. The personal space of claim 6 , wherein the camera is configured to link to a portable device in the personal space.

8. The personal space of claim 1 , further comprising a speaker coupled to the wall.

9. The personal space of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is adapted to provide at least one of an audio and a visual alert.

10. A personal space for telepresence activities using a portable device comprising:
at least one wall structure supporting a horizontal worksurface;
an interior sound sensor and a communication device coupled to an interior of the at least one wall structure;
an exterior sound sensor coupled to an exterior of the at least one wall structure; and
a processor in communication with the interior sound sensor, the exterior sound sensor, and the communication device, the processor adapted to compare a sound level inside the wall structure to a threshold level, and to provide a signal at the communication device when a sound level inside the personal space exceeds the threshold level, and to adjust the threshold level when a sound level exterior to the wall structure exceeds a second threshold level.

11. The personal space of claim 10 , further comprising a display screen coupled to the wall above the horizontal worksurface.

12. The personal space of claim 10 , wherein the interior sound sensor detects frequency in the range of a human voice.

13. The personal space of claim 10 , wherein the interior sound sensor detects frequency in a range between 20 and 20,000 Hz.

14. The personal space of claim 10 , wherein the interior sound sensor detects frequency in a range between 250 Hz and 40000 Hz.

15. The personal space of claim 10 , further comprising a ceiling coupled to the wall.

16. The personal space of claim 10 , wherein the interior sound sensor is built into the wall.

17. The personal space of claim 10 , further comprising a door, and wherein at least one of the interior and exterior sound sensors is mounted adjacent the door.

18. The personal space of claim 10 , wherein the communications device includes a light emitting diode.

19. The personal space of claim 10 , further comprising a support device adapted to support a portable device in an orientation to facilitate telepresence activity.

20. The personal space of claim 10 , wherein the communication device comprises a light panel.

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc
• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Scheper Robert
• Warner Matthew
• Mead Karl J
• Kincaid Brett
• Heidmann Kurt

Classifications

• G08B23/00 Primary

  Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions · CPC title

• G08B21/182

  Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold · CPC title

• H04S7/40

  Visual indication of stereophonic sound image · CPC title

• H04R29/008

  Visual indication of individual signal levels (visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40) · CPC title

• G01H3/10

  Amplitude; Power · CPC title