Device, system, method, and computer product for detecting and evaluating environmental quantities and events with modular approach and variable complexity

A system for detecting and evaluating environmental quantities and events is formed by a detection and evaluation device and a mobile phone, connected through a wireless connection. The device is enclosed in a containment casing housing a support carrying a plurality of inertial sensors and environmental sensors. A processing unit is coupled to the inertial sensors and to the environmental sensors. A wireless connection unit, is coupled to the processing unit and a wired connection port, is coupled to the processing unit. A programming connector is coupled to the processing unit and is configured to couple to an external programming unit to receive programming instructions of the processing unit. A storage structure is coupled to the processing unit and a power-supply unit supplied power in the detection and evaluation device. The mobile phone stores an application, which enables a basicuse mode, an expert use mode, and an advanced use mode.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a device, a system, a method, and a computer product for detecting and evaluating environmental quantities and events with modular approach and variable complexity.

Description of the Related Art

As is known, various devices for consumer applications are present on the market, based upon environmental sensors, for example of a MEMS type, which enable detection of a plurality of quantities, such as temperature, speed, acceleration, pressure, etc., for performing one or a few simple preset functions, such as step counting, heart rate measurement, time-of-activity counting, atmospheric pressure measurement, etc. These apparatuses and devices are experiencing a major commercial success, since they allow information useful and/or attractive for users to be acquired, without requiring particular technical knowledge and/or long learning times. These apparatuses and devices are, however, dedicated and do not enable use of already available quantities and information to develop functions that are more complex or just different from the envisaged ones.

Moreover, advanced development platforms are available on the market, comprising a plurality of sensors of different types and provided with external-connection structures. These platforms allow detection of a variety of environmental data and their transfer to a processing system, such as a personal computer or a complex processing apparatus, able to further process the received data in a programmable way to carry out complex functions, such as monitoring good movement paths to detect anomalies and faults and/or particular events. In this case, processing of the acquired data for performing complex functions and storing them require the development of suitable programs, using specific programming languages and operations. These systems are thus dedicated to a more restricted circle of users who are acquainted with the specific programming languages and are able to carry out the required operations, in addition to availing the time necessary for development of the programs and being motivated thereto.

Instead, no systems are commercially available that combine the simplicity of use of simpler devices, aimed at the consumer sector, with the more complex platforms, aimed at professional application.

The availability of these systems is, on the other hand, desirable to simplify the development activities for more complex functions and increase the number of persons able to process the environmental data for performing relatively simple but programmable functions, for example exploiting the possibilities provided by IoT (Internet on Things) applications and/or simplifying the operations required of more advanced users.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One aim of embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a system that fills the gap between devices dedicated to consumer use and complex systems requiring a high knowledge and programming commitment by providing the possibility of creating functions of a complexity correlated to the needs in a flexible way.

According to the present disclosure, embodiments are directed to a device, a system, a method, and a computer product for detecting and evaluating environmental quantities and events are provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a system for detecting and evaluating environmental quantities and events with modular approach and variable complexity, referred to hereinafter as a detection system1.

The system1includes a multisensor device2and a mobile device, in particular a mobile phone3, connected together through a wireless connection4(represented schematically and which may be, for example, a Bluetooth connection), intended to provide a desired connectivity, without having an excessive impact upon consumption of the multisensor device2.

The multisensor2includes a casing10having a generally parallelepipedal shape with rounded edges. The casing10is formed by a first and a second half-shells11,12, fixed together, for example screwed, as illustrated more clearly inFIG.2. One of the two half-shells (here the first half-shell11) may be provided with connection flanges13(see alsoFIG.2) for enabling fixing on walls or apparatuses.

In detail,FIG.2, each half-shell11,12of the casing10defines a respective first and a second half-chambers13A,13B; first projections15extending inside the first half-chamber13A towards the second half-shell12, and second projections16extending inside the second half-chamber13B towards the first half-shell11; the first and the second projections15,16facing each other. The first projections15are provided with respective through openings17, and the second projections16are provided with blind holes18, preferably threaded and aligned to the through openings17.

The casing10houses a support20, for example, a printed circuit board, blocked between the first and the second half-shells11,12of the casing10and precisely between the projections15,16of the latter. To this end, the support20is provided with a pair of through holes21, aligned to the through openings17and to the blind holes18. During assembly, screws22are inserted into the through openings17and are screwed into the blind holes18, through the through holes21, thus blocking the two half-shells11,12, as well as the support20, together. However, other ways of fixing the two half-shells11,12and the support20are possible, for example via snap-action retention elements, provided that these allow closing and re-opening of the casing10.

Moreover, one of the two half-shells, here the first half-shell11, is provided with a connection opening23, which connects the external environment with the half-chamber13A of the casing10. The half-chamber13A is thus at the same pressure as the external environment, and a purposely provided pressure sensor (described below) may detect ambient pressure.

One of the two half-shells, here the second half-shell12, has an opening25(FIG.1) near a wired connector26(described below), such as a USB connector.

FIGS.3A and3Bshow the support20, in view from above and from below respectively, which carries electronic components, connectors, and the electrical connection circuit.

In detail, the support20has a first and a second faces20A,20B, each configured to carry a plurality of components, of a known and commercially available type.

For instance, the first face20A of the support20carries:connectors30, designed to connect to an external programming unit or apparatus (not illustrated) for programming a microcontroller39, carried by or on the second face20B, for advanced use of the system1, as discussed below;pushbuttons31, comprising a reset pushbutton and two on/off pushbuttons, which may be used for advanced use of the system1for deactivation/activation of parts of the multisensor device2, in particular connected to the microcontroller39, for example, for debugging purposes; anda support32for a memory33, for example an SD memory card, for storing data, measurements, and results acquired by the multisensor device2.

Moreover, the second face20B of the support20carries:the USB connector26, for example of the micro-USB type;a plurality of inertial sensors35, typically MEMS components and including, for example, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, and a microphone;a plurality of environmental sensors36, for example including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a magnetometer;a support37and a wireless (e.g., Bluetooth) communication circuit or module38, which may also be referred to as a wireless connection unit herein;the microcontroller39; andconnectors40for one or more supply batteries41, for example lithium-polymer batteries; the connectors40are connected, through conductive paths and lines (not illustrated) to all the electronic components carried by or on the support20, as well as to the USB connector26for enabling charging of the supply batteries41; andelectronic components42.

The support20, preferably a printed circuit board, as already mentioned, further includes the electrical-connection lines between the various components, for example conductive paths formed on the faces20A,20B or within the support20, in a per se known manner and not illustrated. The support20is moreover provided with an acoustic opening43, for fluidically connecting the two half-chambers13A and13B, keeping them at the same pressure and enabling passage of air and sound waves (for proper operation of the inertial sensors and environmental sensors35,36, in particular of the pressure sensor, the microphone, and the humidity sensor).

The microcontroller39typically includes, in a known way, a processing unit or circuit (not illustrated), and an integrated memory (also not illustrated), for storing data, information, and predefined libraries, aimed at implementation of the desired functions.

With reference again toFIG.1, the mobile phone3is a mobile phone of a smartphone type, enabling loading of applications or “apps” and has Bluetooth connectivity.

The system1further includes an application5, which, once downloaded into the mobile phone3, guides the user in use of the multisensor device2.

In detail, the system1enables use of the device2according to three modes, two of which are guided by the application5. These modes of use refer to a basic or simple level of use of the device2(referred to hereinafter as “basic mode”), an expert level of use (“expert mode”), and an advanced level of use (“pro mode”), as described hereinafter with reference toFIGS.4-8.

In detail (FIG.4), the application5is active in basic mode and initially presents a menu with some simple functions that have already been pre-loaded, such as baby-crying function, barometer, compass, data logger, event counter, level-meter, noise measurement, vibration monitoring, environmental monitoring, pedometer, and vibration monitoring. Other possible functions that may be envisaged by the application5include, for example, vehicle/object tracking.

The pre-loaded functions do not require particular knowledge by the user and generally are started directly with selection of the specific function. To this end, the app5sends, via the Bluetooth connection4, the request for the function selected by the user. This request is supplied to the microcontroller39and is a call to a specific predefined library from among the set of compiled libraries contained in the multisensor device2. Therefore, the microcontroller39, on the basis of the specific request, activates the sensors35-36requested by the function at issue, to collect and, if envisaged, process the corresponding data, in a per se known manner. The collected and possibly processed data may then be transmitted, via the Bluetooth connection4, to the mobile phone3for display.

To increase the user awareness and stimulate his curiosity towards a more personal use, the application5may provide, once the desired function has been selected, the possibility of displaying on the screen the sensors35-36involved in the requested function, as well as the type of performed action. For instance,FIG.5shows the screenshots when selecting the compass function, which uses the data supplied by the gyroscope, the accelerometer, and the compensation magnetometer and performs combination and sending of the detected data via Bluetooth.

The last item in the initial menu enables passage to the expert mode. Selection of this mode allows already stored functions to be called, existing functions to be modified, or create new functions to be created using a simple graphic tool. To this end, when creation of a new function is selected, the application5asks the user to select the sensors to be used and presents a screenshot representing the various sensors that may be selected (see, for example,FIG.6). Once the sensors have been selected and the selection has been confirmed, the application asks the user to select a function to be executed and shows a screenshot representing a series of possible functions that may be performed with the selected sensors (see, for example,FIG.7, in the case of choice of the temperature sensor, the humidity sensor, and the accelerometer). After the function has been selected, the system enables addition of other functions and then asks the user to select the output, presenting the possibilities (saving to a memory card, sending to the USB port, sending via Bluetooth, and saving as input, i.e., as subprogram that may be subsequently used for creating more complex programs,FIG.8). The application allows saving of the new generated function with any desired name and sending it to the device5. In this case, the request sent by the mobile phone3is received by the microcontroller39, which activates the sensors selected by the user to collect and possibly process the corresponding data for carrying out the required function.

As indicated, the system1moreover enables a use level according to the advanced mode, which is activated by opening the casing10of the multisensor device2and connecting the latter (through the connectors30) to an external programming apparatus (not illustrated). This mode assumes the user to be so expert and interested to be able to install the development tools on a personal computer and program the device in a standard programming language, for example C+++. In particular, upon detecting the connection of the connectors30, the microcontroller29goes into a reset condition and deactivates control through the mobile phone3. Consequently, in this step, even if the application5attempts to supply commands to the device2, these are ignored. In particular, in this step, the multisensor device2behaves like a normal evaluation board, which requires programming of the instructions of the desired advanced functions and communicates with the external programming apparatus through the connectors30. Thereby, at the end of programming, the application5may maintain the communication between the multisensor device2and the mobile phone3and enable the mobile phone3to receive the new advanced functions for display and storage. In this case, at subsequent start-up of the system, the application5may enable display of the new advanced functions from the pre-loaded basic or expert functions. Moreover, during the advanced-programming process, the application5may enable information and data display by the multisensor device2.

The system described herein has many advantages. In particular, in the basic mode, it does not require the user to invest time and attention in understanding operation of the system but also provides more advanced use modes, leading the user and enabling him to interact according to his own skills, time, and desires. The present system is extremely flexible and enables acquisition of a plurality of data and execution of a plurality of functions in an extremely simple way, for the less expert user, guiding him towards the discovery of new possibilities and creation of his own functions, without requiring writing of programming instructions. However, the system is not limited to a simple use mode, but enables the more enterprising and inquisitive user to generate, right from the start, particular functions which may be executed by the sensors, affording possibilities and stimulating the user's imagination to obtain more complex results, with acquisition of historic data and information, still without requiring the knowledge of programming techniques. Finally, the present system allows a professional use, enabling the advanced user both to exploit already present functions, saving time thereon, and to program more complex functions, according to his own needs, using the same system.

The system finds application in a wide range of situations and may be used in different environments. For instance, the multisensor device2may be arranged in the open air, for enabling weather forecasting or monitoring of environmental parameters; may be applied to structures to be monitored, for example for enabling earthquakes detection, measurement of vibrations of objects such as motors or engines, and monitoring of time evolution of various physical quantities or events correlated thereto. Moreover, the device, in expert mode, may be programmed so as to create a mesh with other devices, using Bluetooth communication, and using the mobile phone3as interface.

Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the device, the system, the method, and the computer product for detection and evaluation, described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as defined in the attached claims.

For instance, the shape of the casing may be any, and the support20may be fixed in position in a different way from what has been illustrated and described.

Furthermore, the mobile device may be of a different type; for example, in addition to a mobile phone, it may be a tablet, a minitablet, a smartwatch, a smart multimedia reader, a smart e-reader, etc.