Ultrasonic sensing system
First Claim
1. A load control system for controlling power delivered from a power source to an electrical load, the system comprising:
- a load control device configured to be coupled in series between the power source and the electrical load for controlling the power to the electrical load, the load control device comprising a communication circuit;
a remote ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit ultrasonic waves characterized by an ultrasonic frequency and an amplitude, wherein the remote ultrasonic transmitter does not include a receiver for receiving ultrasonic waves transmitted by the remote ultrasonic transmitter; and
a sensor comprising;
a communication circuit;
a local ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit ultrasonic waves at the ultrasonic frequency;
an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive attenuated ultrasonic waves from the remote ultrasonic transmitter and configured to receive reflections of the ultrasonic waves transmitted by the local ultrasonic transmitter;
a control circuit coupled to the communication circuit and to the ultrasonic receiver, the control circuit configured to;
receive, via the ultrasonic receiver, signals representing the attenuated ultrasonic waves and the reflected ultrasonic waves;
determine occupancy from the received signals based on at least one of (i) a change in amplitude between the attenuated ultrasonic waves and the characterized amplitude and (ii) a change in frequency between the reflected ultrasonic waves and the characterized ultrasonic frequency; and
transmit a command via the communication circuit to the load control device based on the determination of occupancy;
wherein the load control device, the remote ultrasonic transmitter device, and the sensor are each separate devices; and
further wherein the load control device is configured to receive the command via the communication circuit of the load control device and to control the power delivered to the electrical load in response to the command.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low-cost, simple ultrasonic sensing system has an increased detection range. The ultrasonic sensing system may be implemented as part of a load control system for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load. The load control system may comprise a load control device for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load, an ultrasonic receiver for receiving ultrasonic waves characterized by an ultrasonic frequency, and an ultrasonic transmitter located remotely from the ultrasonic receiver. The load control device controls the power delivered to the electrical load in response to the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiver. The load control device may include the ultrasonic receiver and may be a wall-mounted load control device. The ultrasonic receiver may be a wireless ultrasonic receiver for transmitting wireless signals to the load control device in response to the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiver.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A load control system for controlling power delivered from a power source to an electrical load, the system comprising:
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a load control device configured to be coupled in series between the power source and the electrical load for controlling the power to the electrical load, the load control device comprising a communication circuit; a remote ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit ultrasonic waves characterized by an ultrasonic frequency and an amplitude, wherein the remote ultrasonic transmitter does not include a receiver for receiving ultrasonic waves transmitted by the remote ultrasonic transmitter; and a sensor comprising; a communication circuit; a local ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit ultrasonic waves at the ultrasonic frequency; an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive attenuated ultrasonic waves from the remote ultrasonic transmitter and configured to receive reflections of the ultrasonic waves transmitted by the local ultrasonic transmitter; a control circuit coupled to the communication circuit and to the ultrasonic receiver, the control circuit configured to; receive, via the ultrasonic receiver, signals representing the attenuated ultrasonic waves and the reflected ultrasonic waves; determine occupancy from the received signals based on at least one of (i) a change in amplitude between the attenuated ultrasonic waves and the characterized amplitude and (ii) a change in frequency between the reflected ultrasonic waves and the characterized ultrasonic frequency; and transmit a command via the communication circuit to the load control device based on the determination of occupancy; wherein the load control device, the remote ultrasonic transmitter device, and the sensor are each separate devices; and further wherein the load control device is configured to receive the command via the communication circuit of the load control device and to control the power delivered to the electrical load in response to the command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A load control system for controlling the power delivered from a power source to an electrical load, the system comprising:
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a remote ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit ultrasonic waves characterized by an ultrasonic frequency, wherein the remote ultrasonic transmitter does not include a receiver for receiving ultrasonic waves transmitted by the remote ultrasonic transmitter, and wherein the remote ultrasonic transmitter is configured to be plugged into an electrical outlet; and a load control device that is a separate device from the remote ultrasonic transmitter and that is adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the power source and the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load, the load control device comprising a communication circuit; a sensor comprising; a communication circuit; a local ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit ultrasonic waves at the ultrasonic frequency; an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive ultrasonic waves from the remote ultrasonic transmitter and to receive ultrasonic waves from the local ultrasonic transmitter; a control circuit operatively coupled to the ultrasonic receiver, the control circuit configured to; (i) detect occupancy based on the received ultrasonic waves by at least one of; (a) detecting a period of amplitude modulation from the ultrasonic waves received from the remote ultrasonic transmitter, and (b) detecting a Doppler shift of the ultrasonic frequency from the ultrasonic waves received from the local ultrasonic transmitter; and (ii) transmit a command via the communication circuit to the load control device based on the determination of occupancy; wherein the sensor is separate from the load control device and the remote ultrasonic transmitter device; further wherein the load control device is configured to receive the command via the communication circuit of the load control device and to control the power delivered to the electrical load in response to the command. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification