IP Library Patent Application 18133831
Patent Application
App. No. 18/133,831

BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH WATER AND AIR-BASED BIOLOGICAL SENSING

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
18/133,831
Abstract

A pathogen detection system for a building includes a plurality of pathogen detectors positioned in the building at a plurality of locations, the plurality of pathogen detectors configured to output pathogen data indicating whether presence of a pathogen has been detected. The pathogen detection system further includes processing circuitry configured to obtain first detection data from a first pathogen detector of the plurality of pathogen detectors positioned at a first location in the building, in response to obtaining the first detection data, analyze second detection data from a second pathogen detector of the plurality of pathogen detectors, determine a responsive action associated with an area or zone of the building based on the first detection data and the second detection data, and perform the responsive action or initiate the responsive action within the area or zone.

Claims (42)

1 . A pathogen detection system for a building, comprising:

a plurality of pathogen detectors positioned in the building at a plurality of locations, the plurality of pathogen detectors configured to output pathogen data indicating whether presence of a pathogen has been detected; and

processing circuitry configured to:

obtain first detection data from a first pathogen detector of the plurality of pathogen detectors positioned at a first location in the building;

in response to obtaining the first detection data, analyze second detection data from a second pathogen detector of the plurality of pathogen detectors;

determine a responsive action associated with an area or zone of the building based on the first detection data and the second detection data; and

perform the responsive action or initiate the responsive action within the area or zone.

2 . The pathogen detection system of claim 1 , wherein the first pathogen detector is configured to sense the presence of the pathogen within sewage, and the second pathogen detector is configured to sense the presence of the pathogen within air.

3 . The pathogen detection system of claim 2 , wherein the first pathogen detector is positioned within a sewage line or sewage output of the building, and wherein the second pathogen detector is positioned on a surface of the building.

4 . The pathogen detection system of claim 2 , wherein a third pathogen detector is a mobile sensor configured to sense the presence of the pathogen on a surface or within air, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

request additional detection data from the first pathogen detector, the second pathogen detector, or the third pathogen detector based on receiving a positive detection from at least one of the plurality of pathogen detectors.

5 . The pathogen detection system of claim 3 , further comprising:

request additional detection data from the mobile sensor based on receiving the second detection data from the second pathogen detector; and

determine a pattern or trend in both the additional detection data and the second detection data, wherein the pattern or trend is associated with at least one of sensing the presence of the pathogen, a concentration of the pathogen, or a spread of the pathogen within the building.

6 . The pathogen detection system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pathogen detectors comprises a first sensor located in a common area or multiple areas of the building configured to detect information impacted by overall air quality or overall sewage conditions within the building, and wherein a second sensor located in the area or zone of the building configured to detect information impacted by localized air quality or localized sewage conditions within the area or zone.

7 . The pathogen detection system of claim 6 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to prioritize the responsive action based on the difference in pathogen detection between the detected information impacted by the overall air quality or the overall sewage conditions within the building and the detected information impacted by the localized air quality or the localized sewage conditions within the area or zone.

8 . The pathogen detection system of claim 1 , the processing circuitry is further configured to:

monitor additional detection data from the first pathogen detector and the second pathogen detector, wherein monitoring the additional detection data comprises adjusting a frequency of sampling and analysis based on at least one of previous analyses, previously collected detection data, building occupancy, or pathogen community data; and

wherein the pathogen detection system is configured to determine a severity or magnitude of the pathogen in the building and/or a locality of areas of the pathogen in the building using the pathogen data.

9 . The pathogen detection system of claim 1 , wherein the responsive action comprises a control action and the processing circuitry comprises a control system configured to initiate one or more infection control sequences through operation of an infection control system of the building to perform the control action.

10 . The pathogen detection system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more infection control sequences comprising at least one of an adjustment to a fresh air intake of an air handling unit (AHU) of a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system of the building, activation of one or more ultraviolet (UV) lights to disinfect return air from a zone of the building, or initiating one or more filtration techniques to filter air in the building.

11 . A pathogen detection system for a building, comprising:

a first pathogen detector configured to obtain a first sample, the first pathogen detector positioned at a first location in the building;

a second pathogen detector configured to obtain a second sample, wherein the first pathogen detector and the second pathogen detector output pathogen data indicating whether presence of a pathogen has been detected; and

a detection controller configured to assess the pathogen data and determine a responsive action associated with an area or zone of the building based on the first sample and the second sample.

12 . The pathogen detection system of claim 11 , wherein the first pathogen detector is a sewage sampling system configured to take a sample of sewage from a sewage line or a sewage outlet of the building and sense the presence of the pathogen within the sample of sewage.

13 . The pathogen detection system of claim 12 , wherein the second pathogen detector is an air sensor configured to take a sample of air from one or more areas or zones of the building and sense and sense the presence of the pathogen within the sample of air.

14 . The pathogen detection system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a mobile sensor configured to sense the presence of the pathogen on a surface or within air; and

wherein the detection controller is further configured to request additional detection data from the first pathogen detector, the second pathogen detector, or the mobile sensor based on receiving a positive detection from at least one of the first pathogen detector, the second pathogen detector, or the mobile sensor.

15 . The pathogen detection system of claim 11 , wherein the first pathogen detector is located in a common area or multiple areas of the building and configured to detect information impacted by overall air quality or overall sewage conditions within the building, and the second pathogen detector is located in the area or zone of the building and configured to detect information impacted by localized air quality or localized sewage conditions within the area or zone.

16 . The pathogen detection system of claim 15 , wherein the detection controller is further configured to prioritize the responsive action based on the difference in pathogen detection between the detected information impacted by the overall air quality or the overall sewage conditions within the building and the detected information impacted by the localized air quality or the localized sewage conditions within the area or zone.

17 . The pathogen detection system of claim 11 , further comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit a message to an external system; and

the external system configured to take one or more additional actions to detect or limit a spread of the pathogen in the building responsive to receiving the message from the transceiver.

18 . The pathogen detection system of claim 11 , wherein the detection controller is further configured to generate a message indicating at least one of a presence or absence of the pathogen in the first sample or the second sample, and update a plurality of locations of the first pathogen detector or the second pathogen detector within the building based on the presence of the pathogen in the first sample or the second sample.

19 . The pathogen detection system of claim 11 , wherein the detection controller is further configured to perform the responsive action or initiate the responsive action within the area or zone.

20 . A method comprising:

obtaining, by a pathogen detection system, first detection data from a first pathogen detector of a plurality of pathogen detectors positioned at a first location in a building;

in response to obtaining the first detection data, analyzing, by the pathogen detection system, second detection data from a second pathogen detector of the plurality of pathogen detectors;

determining, by the pathogen detection system, a responsive action associated with an area or zone of the building based on the first detection data and the second detection data; and

performing, by the pathogen detection system, the responsive action or initiate the responsive action within the area or zone.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2024
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
To: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
Reel/Frame 067056/0552 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2023
From: DOUGLAS, JONATHAN D.
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 063304/0849 →