Patent Publication Number: US-2013249686-A1

Title: Monitoring system, flow rate monitor and flow rate monitoring method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a monitoring system, a flow rate monitor and a flow rate monitoring method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Monitoring systems, such as gas alarm systems and air monitoring alarm systems are usually designed as one unit, including an alarm. However, in use, it is more efficient for the detector to be put near a monitored object, and for the alarm to be put where it can be heard clearly by users. If the alarm and the detector are designed as one unit, and the object that needs to be monitored is in an area away from the users there could be a problem hearing the alarm, it may result in inconvenience for the users. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a monitoring system, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram block of a flow rate monitor of the monitoring system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the flow rate monitor of the monitoring system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram block of an alarm of the monitoring system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram block of an alarm of the monitoring system of  FIG. 1 , according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a flow rate monitoring method, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is an embodiment of a monitoring system  100 . The monitoring system  100  includes an alarm  10  and a flow rate monitor  20 . The alarm  10  communicates with the flow rate monitor  20  via a wireless network. 
     Referring  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the flow rate monitor  20  includes a pendulum  21 , a first storage  22 , a monitoring unit  23 , a first control unit  24 , and a wireless transmitting unit  25 . The pendulum  21  is suspended in a moving medium filling in the flow rate monitor  20 . The first storage unit  22  stores an angle threshold value. The monitoring unit  23  detects angular movement of the pendulum  21  by movement of the moving medium, senses an angle  26  of the angular movement of the pendulum  21 , and generates a signal associated therewith. In the embodiment, the monitoring unit  23  is a gravity sensor. 
     The first control unit  24  obtains the angle threshold value from the first storage unit  22  in response to the signal generated by the monitoring unit  23 , and determines whether the angle  26  detected by the monitoring unit  23  is equal to or larger than the angle threshold value. If the angle detected by the monitoring unit  23  is equal to or larger than the angle threshold value, the first control unit  24  generates a warning signal, and controls the wireless transmitting unit  25  to transmit the warning signal to the alarm  10 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the alarm  10  includes a sound output unit  11 , a wireless receiving unit  12 , a second control unit  13 , and a second storage unit  14 . The second storage unit  14  stores a plurality of audio warning files. The wireless receiving unit  12  receives the warning signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting unit  25 . The second control unit  13  obtains one of the plurality of warning audio files in response to the warning signal, and controls the sound output unit  11  to play the obtained audio warning file. 
       FIG. 5  shows that in an alternative embodiment, the alarm  10  further includes a warning light emitter  15 , If the alarm  10  receives the warning signal, the second control unit  13  controls the warning light emitter  15  to emit the warning light in response to the received the warning signal. 
     In the embodiment, the alarm  10  further includes a button, which can be operated by a user to stop the warning signal. In detail, the button is operated by the user to generate a trigger signal, the second control unit  13  controls the sound output unit  13  to stop playing the audio warning files and/or the warning light emitter  15  to go out. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a flow rate monitoring method employed by the monitoring system. 
     In step S 501 , the pendulum  21  is suspended in a moving medium filling in the flow rate monitor  20 . 
     In step S 502 , the monitoring unit  23  detects angular movement of the pendulum  21  by movement of the moving medium, senses the angle  26  of the angular movement of the pendulum  21 , and generates a signal associated therewith. 
     In step S 503 , the first control unit  24  obtains the angle threshold value from the first storage unit  22  in response to the signal generated by the monitoring unit  23 , and determines whether the angle  26  detected by the monitoring unit  23  is equal to or larger than the angel threshold value. If yes, the procedure goes to step S 504 , otherwise, the procedure ends. 
     In step S 504 , the first control unit  24  generates the warning signal and controls the wireless transmitting unit  25  to transmit the warning signal to the alarm  10 . 
     In step S 505 , the wireless receiving unit  12  of the alarm  10  receives the warning signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting unit  25 . The second control unit  13  obtains one of the plurality of warning audio files in response to the warning signal, and controls the sound output unit  10  to play the obtained warning audio file. 
     In the embodiment, the second control unit  13  controls the warning light emitter  15  to emit the warning light in response to the received the warning signal. Then, the button is operated by the user to generate a trigger signal, the second control unit  13  controls the sound output unit  13  to stop playing the warning audio files and/or the warning light emitter  15  to go out. 
     It is understood that the present disclosure may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. The present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the disclosure is not to be limited to the details given herein.