In-field sensor programming

• US 10,115,296 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc. (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc. (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petrucci, Carlo Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl
• Application Number:
  US15/864,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20180130340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 34053911, 340506, 340 31, 340514
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/14 checking the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/18 Prevention or correction of operating errors G08B29/02, G08B29/12 take precedence

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for programming a sensor at a customer location is disclosed. A defective sensor at a customer location is replaced by a new sensor that is programmed at the customer location using a programming device or a transducer coupled to a computing device. The new sensor is programming using the sensor'"'"'s detector normally used to sense a change in a magnetic field, an RF signal, infra-red light, or some other emission or property.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

a magnetic field detector;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions and sensor data;

a transmitter for transmitting alarm signals to a remote receiver; and

a processor, coupled to the magnetic field detector, the memory and the transmitter, for executing the processor-executable instructions that causes the sensor to;

determine, by the processor, that a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field detector is being modulated;

in response to determining that a magnetic field is being modulated, enter a programming mode of operation;

detect, by the processor, further modulation of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field detector;

convert, by the processor, the further modulation of the magnetic field into programming information; and

replace, by the processor, at least some of the sensor data stored in the memory with the programming information.

2. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising an indicator for providing an indication, and the instructions comprise further instructions that causes the sensor to:

determine, by the processor, that the programming information was successfully stored in the memory; and

in response to determining that the programming information was successfully stored in the memory, provide a signal to the indicator that causes the indicator to generate the indication.

3. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising an indicator for providing an indication, and the instructions comprise further instructions that causes the sensor to:

determine, by the processor, that the sensor successfully entered the programming mode of operation; and

in response to determining that the sensor successfully entered the programming mode of operation, provide a signal to the indicator that causes the indicator to generate the indication.

4. The sensor of claim 2, wherein the instructions comprise further instructions that causes the sensor to:

determine, by the processor, that the sensor successfully entered the programming mode of operation; and

in response to determining that the sensor successfully entered the programming mode of operation, provide a second signal to the indicator that causes the indicator to generate a second indication.

5. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the instructions comprise further instructions that causes the sensor to:

determine, by the processor, that the programming information was successfully stored in the memory; and

in response to determining that the programming information was successfully stored in the memory, provide a second signal to the indicator that causes the indicator to generate a second indication.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor data comprises a serial number.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the instructions that cause the sensor to determine that a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensor is being modulated comprises instructions that cause the sensor to:

determine a number of times that the magnetic field detector has been toggled;

compare the number of times that the magnetic field detector has been toggled to a predetermined number stored in the memory; and

enter the programming mode of operation when the number of times that the magnetic field detector has been toggled matches the predetermined number stored in the memory.

8. A method, performed by a sensor, comprising:

determining, by a processor, that a magnetic field sensed by a magnetic field detector is being modulated;

in response to determining that a magnetic field is being modulated, entering a programming mode of operation;

detecting, by the processor, further modulation of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensor;

converting, by the processor, the further modulation of the magnetic field into programming information; and

replacing, by the processor, at least some of the sensor data stored in the memory with the programming information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, that the programming information was successfully stored in the memory; and

in response to determining that the programming information was successfully stored in the memory, providing a signal to an indicator that causes the indicator to generate an indication.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, that the sensor successfully entered the programming mode of operation; and

in response to determining that the sensor successfully entered the programming mode of operation, providing a signal to an indicator that causes the indicator to generate an indication.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, that the sensor successfully entered the programming mode of operation; and

in response to determining that the sensor successfully entered the programming mode of operation, providing a second signal to the indicator that causes the indicator to generate a second indication.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, that the programming information was successfully stored in the memory; and

in response to determining that the programming information was successfully stored in the memory, providing a second signal to the indicator that causes the indicator to generate a second indication.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor data comprises a serial number.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensor is being modulated comprises:

determining a number of times that the magnetic field detector has been toggled;

comparing the number of times that the magnetic field detector has been toggled to a predetermined number stored in the memory; and

entering the programming mode of operation when the number of times that the magnetic field detector has been toggled matches the predetermined number stored in the memory.