TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a multimodal sensor and a housing therefor.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Multimodal sensors are devices capable of detecting information from various sensory
modalities, that is, capable of gathering data from multiple sources simultaneously,
which may result in a more precise and comprehensive recognition of the environment.
Multimodal sensors have a broad spectrum of applications.
[0003] Multimodal sensors are particularly useful for monitoring various types of spaces.
A specific area of application is the surveillance of rental spaces such as real estate
(specifically, apartments, hotel rooms, suites, or office spaces) or rental vehicles.
[0004] In the realm of rental apartment monitoring, multimodal sensors may be employed to
detect and analyze tenant-critical factors such as noise, smoke, lighting conditions,
movement and approximate number of occupants, air quality (particulates, organic gases),
temperature, and air pressure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This type of multimodal sensor shall be as compact as possible, so that it can be
positioned as freely as possible in the room and does not disrupt the room's aesthetics
or interfere with other room elements.
[0006] Therefore, there is a need to design a housing for a multimodal sensor that can accommodate
as many different component sensors as possible therein.
[0007] In one aspect, the invention relates to a housing for a multimodal sensor, comprising
sequentially arranged elements: a disc-shaped base with mounting holes, a peripheral
flange with fasteners, and a central opening; a disc-shaped bottom cover with a peripheral
shell affixed to the fasteners of the peripheral flange of the base and with a central
opening; a sleeve-shaped bottom ring; a sleeve-shaped top ring comprising perforation
openings on its lateral surface; a disc-shaped top cover having a top opening and
fasteners; a disc-shaped top cover with a peripheral shell affixed to the fasteners
of the top cover.
[0008] The top cover may further comprise additional top openings.
[0009] The peripheral shell may comprise an inner peripheral groove.
[0010] In another aspect, the invention relates to a multimodal sensor comprising a measuring
module with a battery and component sensors mounted on boards, wherein the measuring
module is installed in a housing as described herein.
[0011] The multimodal sensor may comprise an air composition sensor and/or a smoke sensor
mounted at the top ring.
[0012] The multimodal sensor may comprise a motion sensor positioned below the top opening
of the top cover.
[0013] The multimodal sensor may comprise a light intensity sensor positioned below the
first additional opening of the top cover.
[0014] The multimodal sensor may comprise a signaling LED positioned below the second additional
opening of the top cover.
[0015] In general, the multimodal sensor may comprise at least two sensors selected from
the group consisting of: a temperature sensor, a light intensity sensor, a Passive
Infra Red (PIR) matrix motion sensor, a Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) microphone
array, a laser dust sensor, a Time of Flight (ToF) laser distance sensor, an air quality
sensor, an air pressure sensor, a position sensor, a shock and vibration sensor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] The object of the invention is shown in the drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a split view of a multimodal sensor with a housing and components of
a measuring module in a split view;
Fig. 2 shows a split view of the measuring module that can be accommodated within
the housing;
Fig. 3 shows the multimodal sensor in an assembled form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The housing for a multimodal sensor is designed to accommodate therein a measurement
module that comprises multiple component sensors.
[0018] The measuring module 100 comprises a first board 101, in particular a PCB, on which
there are mounted: a first set of electronic components, a battery 102, and a battery
housing 103. A second PCB 104 comprising a second set of electronic components and
component sensors is mounted on top of the battery housing 103. The component sensors
include at least some or all of the following: a temperature sensor, a light intensity
sensor, a PIR (Passive Infra Red) matrix motion sensor, a MEMS (Micromechanical System)
microphone array, a laser dust sensor, a ToF (Time of Flight) laser distance sensor,
an air quality sensor, an air pressure sensor, a position sensor, a shock and vibration
sensor. Some sensors must be mounted in specific locations of the measurement module
100, corresponding to by specific openings in the housing, as will be described below,
and other sensors may be mounted in any location of the measurement module. The first
board 101 includes mounting holes 111 for attaching this board 101 to the housing
200 by screws.
[0019] The housing 200 comprises a plurality of elements which are assembled together into
the integrated form as shown in Fig. 3 to protect and enable the measurement module
to be fixed in the room.
[0020] A housing base 201 has a form of a disc with mounting holes 211 for mounting screws
to secure the base 201 to a surface, such as a wall, as well as a peripheral flange
212 with fasteners 213 to press-fit the bottom cover 202 thereto and a central opening
214 to allow access to the environment from the bottom side of the sensor (in particular,
to allow air to flow through the sensor).
[0021] The bottom cover 202 has a form of a disc with a circumferential shell 221 configured
to be fitted on the fasteners 213 of the circumferential base flange and for covering
the mounting holes 211. Further, it comprises circumferentially spaced threaded holes
222 for connecting screws, as well as a central opening 223.
[0022] The bottom ring 203 has a form of a sleeve having a height substantially equal to
the height of the measuring module 100 to the extent that it covers its first board
101 and the battery 102 with the housing 103, so as to cover these components. Openings
231 for connecting screws are arranged circumferentially at the inner walls of the
forming the bottom ring 203.
[0023] The top ring 204 has a form of a sleeve having a height substantially equal to the
height of the measuring module 100 to the extent of covering its second board 104
and the component sensors mounted thereon, so as to shield these components. The top
ring 204 has perforation openings 241 in its side surface for facilitating access
of the component sensors (in particular, such as an air composition sensor or a smoke
sensor) mounted on the second board 104 to the ambient surrounding.
[0024] The top cover 205 has a form of a plate that shields the measurement module from
the top, comprising circumferentially arranged openings 251 for connecting screws
and a top opening 252 that provides clearance for sensors mounted on top of the second
board 104 (specifically, the PIR array sensor 141). It may further comprise additional
top openings, such as a first additional opening 253 that allows access for an additional
sensor, for instance a light intensity sensor 142, and a second additional opening
254 that provides visibility of a signaling LED (Light Emitting Diode) 143 mounted
on the top surface of the second board 104. Furthermore, the top cover 205 comprises
fasteners 255 for securing a top shield 206 thereto.
[0025] The top shield 206 has a form of a disc with a peripheral shell 261 configured to
be attached to the fasteners 255 of the top cover 205 and for covering the openings
251 for the connecting screws. The shell 261 may comprise an internal groove 262 for
press-fitting therein a circular shield (not shown), which can be made of transparent
film such as to cover the openings 252, 253, 254 of the top cover 205, and may further
contain informative or decorative printing in areas outside these openings.
[0026] The housing 200 is assembled by first connecting the elements 202-205 together, for
example by means of connecting screws fitted in the respective openings 222, 231,
251 or by other means (therefore, said openings are not an essential part of the housing
design), such as by adhesive or welding. The structure thus formed is connected by
abutment elements to the other elements: 201 and 206.
[0027] This design of the housing allows the measurement module 100 with multiple component
sensors, to be conveniently installed therein. This ensures a compact size of the
entire device, while enabling various types of sensors to function effectively.
1. A housing for a multimodal sensor, comprising sequentially arranged elements:
- a disc-shaped base (201) with mounting holes (211), a peripheral flange (212) with
fasteners (213), and a central opening (214);
- a disc-shaped bottom cover (202) with a peripheral shell (221) affixed to the fasteners
(213) of the peripheral flange (212) of the base (201) and with a central opening
(223);
- a sleeve-shaped bottom ring (203);
- a sleeve-shaped top ring (204) comprising perforation openings (241) on its lateral
surface;
- a disc-shaped top cover (205) having a top opening (252) and fasteners (255); and
- a disc-shaped top cover (206) with a peripheral shell (261) affixed to the fasteners
(255) of the top cover (205).
2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the top cover (205) further comprises additional
top openings (253, 254).
3. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral shell (261) comprises an
inner peripheral groove (262).
4. A multimodal sensor comprising a measuring module (100) with a battery (102) and
component sensors mounted on boards (101, 103), wherein the measuring module (100)
is installed in a housing according to any of claims 1 to 3.
5. The multimodal sensor according to claim 4 and comprising an air composition sensor
and/or a smoke sensor mounted at the top ring (204).
6. The multimodal sensor according to any of claims 4 to 5 and comprising a motion sensor
(141) positioned below the top opening (252) of the top cover (205).
7. The multimodal sensor according to any of claims 4 to 6 and comprising a light intensity
sensor (142) positioned below the first additional opening (253) of the top cover
(205).
9. The multimodal sensor according to any of claims 4 to 7 and comprising a signaling
LED (143) positioned below the second additional opening (254) of the top cover (205).
10. The multimodal sensor according to any of claims 4 to 8 and comprising at least two
sensors selected from the group consisting of: a temperature sensor, a light intensity
sensor, a Passive Infra Red (PIR) matrix motion sensor, a Microelectromechanical System
(MEMS) microphone array, a laser dust sensor, a Time of Flight (ToF) laser distance
sensor, an air quality sensor, an air pressure sensor, a position sensor, a shock
and vibration sensor.