Integrated air quality control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10982873-B1
Application number	US-202016782637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2020
Priority date	Feb 8, 2019
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for monitoring air quality with multiple sensing devices. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of: obtaining first sensor data from a sensor that is not an air quality sensor, determining that the first sensor data satisfy a first air quality criterion, in response to determining that the first sensor data satisfy the first air quality criterion, obtaining second sensor data from an air quality sensor, determining that the second sensor data satisfy a second air quality criterion, and based on a determination that the second sensor data satisfy the second air quality criterion, activating an air quality device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
obtaining first sensor data from a sensor that is not an air quality sensor;
determining that the first sensor data satisfy a first air quality criterion;
in response to determining that the first sensor data satisfy the first air quality criterion, obtaining second sensor data from an air quality sensor;
determining that the second sensor data satisfy a second air quality criterion; and
based on a determination that the second sensor data satisfy the second air quality criterion, activating an air quality device,
wherein obtaining the first sensor data comprises obtaining sound data from a sound sensor that is configured to detect a sound in an area of a property.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining third sensor data from the air quality sensor after the second sensor data are obtained;
determining that the third sensor data does not satisfy the second air quality criterion; and
based on a determination that the third sensor data do not satisfy the second air quality criterion, turning off the air quality device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sound data represent at least one of a flushing sound from a toilet, a urinating sound from the toilet, a sound from a door of the property, a sound from a car in the property, or a sound from a garage of the property, and
wherein the second sensor data comprise air quality data comprising at least one of an airborne particle count in air in the area of the property or relative levels of chemical components in the air in the area of the property.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining that the first sensor data satisfy the first air quality criterion comprises:
determining the sound data matches the flushing sound or the urinating sound.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first sensor data satisfy the first air quality criterion comprises:
determining a decibel level corresponding to the sound data;
comparing the decibel level to a threshold level that is preset to correspond to a potential degradation of air quality in the area of the property; and
based on the decibel level being greater than the threshold level, determining that the sound satisfy the first air quality criterion.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein obtaining second sensor data from the air quality sensor comprises:
in response to determining that the decibel level is greater than the threshold level, detecting at least one of an airborne particle count in air in the area of the property or relative levels of chemical components in the air in the area of the property.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein activating the air quality device comprises:
based on both (i) the determination that the decibel level is greater than the threshold level and (ii) a detection that at least one of the airborne particle count or one of the relative levels of chemical components exceeds a reference level, operating a ventilation fan that is configured to circulate air in the area of the property or a dispenser that is configured to discharge an air freshening substance.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first sensor data comprises:
obtaining an image or a video of an area of a property from a camera that is configured to monitor the area of the property,
wherein determining that the first sensor data satisfy the first air quality criterion comprises detecting, in the image or the video of the area of the property, a car that enters or leaves a garage of the property, and
wherein obtaining the second sensor data from the air quality sensor comprises, in response to a detection of the car that enters or leaves the garage of the property, detecting at least one of an airborne particle count in air in the area of the property or relative levels of chemical components in the air in the area of the property.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein activating the air quality device comprises:
based on both (i) the detection of the car that enters or leaves the garage of the property and (ii) a determination that at least one of the airborne particle count or one of the relative levels of chemical components exceeds a reference level, operating a ventilation fan that is configured to circulate air in the area of the property.

10. An integrated air quality control system, comprising:
an air quality sensor that is configured to monitor air quality in an area of a property;
a sensor that is not an air quality sensor;
an air quality device that is configured to be operated based on data from the sensor and the air quality sensor; and
at least one controller configured to perform operations comprising:
obtaining first sensor data from the sensor that is not the air quality sensor,
determining that the first sensor data satisfy a first air quality criterion,
in response to determining that the first sensor data satisfy the first air quality criterion, obtaining second sensor data from the air quality sensor,
determining that the second sensor data satisfy a second air quality criterion, and
based on a determination that the second sensor data satisfy the second air quality criterion, activating the air quality device,

wherein the sensor comprises a sound sensor that is configured to detect a sound in the area of the property, and
wherein obtaining the first sensor data comprises obtaining sound data from the sound sensor.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations comprise:
obtaining third sensor data from the air quality sensor after the second sensor data are obtained;
determining that the third sensor data does not satisfy the second air quality criterion; and
based on a determination that the third sensor data do not satisfy the second air quality criterion, turning off the air quality device.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining that the first sensor data satisfy the first air quality criterion comprises:
determining an intensity level corresponding to the sound data; and
comparing the intensity level to a threshold level that is preset to correspond to a potential degradation of air quality in the area of the property, and
wherein obtaining the second sensor data from the air quality sensor comprises:
in response to determining that the intensity level of the sound sensor is greater than the threshold level, detecting at least one of an airborne particle count in air in the area of the property or relative levels of chemical components in the air in the area of the property.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein activating the air quality device comprises:
based on both (i) the determination that the intensity level is greater than the threshold level and (ii) a detection that at least one of the airborne particle count or one of the relative levels of chemical components exceeds a reference level, operating a ventilation fan that is configured to circulate air in the area of the property or a dispenser that is configured to discharge an air freshening substance.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a camera that is configured to monitor the area of the property,
wherein obtaining the first sensor data comprises obtaining an image or a video of the area of the property from the camera,
wherein determining that the first sensor data satisfy the first air quality criterion comprises detecting, in the image or the video of the area of the property, a car that enters or leaves a garage of the property, and
wherein obtaining the second sensor data from the air quality sensor comprises, in response to a detection of the car tha

Assignees

• Alarm Com Inc

Inventors

• Clark Colby Kevin

Classifications

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title

• F24F2140/40

  Damper positions, e.g. open or closed · CPC title

• F24F2130/40

  Noise · CPC title

• F24F2120/10

  Occupancy · CPC title

• F24F2110/60

  Odour · CPC title