Entry point opening sensor

• US 10,127,785 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Kevin Charles, Le Guen, Sophie, Modi, Yash, Deiuliis, Julia
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thang D
• Application Number:
  US14/585,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20160189508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 340547, 3405451, 340551, 3406861, 3403456, 3403457, 3403459, 340506, 34053931, 340549, 340 571, 340669
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/06 Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• 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 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A sensor package is disclosed that includes a compass and/or an accelerometer. The compass may be activated by a microcontroller in response to an indication of movement detected by an accelerometer. The compass'"'"'s data may be utilized to determine an orientation for the object such as a door on which the sensor package is situated. The orientation data may indicate that the door is ajar and/or that a second magnetic field is present, suggesting tampering. A notice may be dispatched to a controller for the home security system, a client device, a remote system, etc.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

maintaining a compass in a sleep mode to conserve energy;

changing the sleep mode to an awake mode for the compass upon an occurrence of one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of;

a detection of a movement of an object by an accelerometer;

a detection of a change in a position of the object by a magnetic sensor; and

a time of awakening based on a predetermined schedule,

wherein the compass consumes more energy in the awake mode than in the sleep mode;

when the compass is in the awake mode, receiving an orientation signal from the compass; and

determining a change in the orientation of the object based at least upon the orientation signal from the compass.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of:

a door, a garage door, a refrigerator door, a cabinet door.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object has a first surface and a second surface and wherein the accelerometer is situated on the first surface and the compass is situated on the second surface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first surface is the same as the second surface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the accelerometer and compass are integrated into a single sensor package.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a notice in response to the change in the orientation of the object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the notice is selected form the group consisting of:

a door open alert, a door close alert, an alarm, and a reset alert.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving, from a client device associated with an authorized occupant, a reset signal in response to the notice.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

authenticating a user; and

receiving from the authenticating user a reset signal in response to the notice.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a security breach message; and

sending the security breach message to a third party, wherein the notice indicates a security breach.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the security breach message includes at least one from the group of:

an address, a security status, an authorized occupancy status, a telephone number, an image, and a video.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the sensor package, power from a common power source.

13. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

maintaining a compass in a sleep mode to conserve energy;

changing the sleep mode to an awake mode for the compass upon an occurrence of one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of;

a detection of a movement of an object by an accelerometer;

a detection of a change in a position of the object by a magnetic sensor; and

a time of awakening based on a predetermined schedule,

wherein the compass consumes more energy in the awake mode than in the sleep mode;

receiving input from an accelerometer;

when the compass is in the awake mode, receiving input from the compass;

wherein the accelerometer and the compass are associated with a given object;

comparing the accelerometer input and the compass input to a motion profile for the given object;

based on the comparison, determining that at least one of the accelerometer input and the compass input are inconsistent with the motion profile; and

generating a notice in response to the determined inconsistency.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the given object is a door attached to a wall with at least one hinge mechanism, wherein the inconsistency comprises accelerometer input that indicates a displacement greater than a maximum displacement of the door about the at least one hinge mechanism.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the given object comprises a door, further comprising:

determining a first orientation change based on the accelerometer input; and

determining a second orientation change based on the compass input, wherein the second orientation differs from the first orientation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first orientation change is less than the second orientation change.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the notice is selected from the group consisting of:

a tamper alert, a door open alert, a door close alert, an alarm, and a reset alert.

18. A system, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, configured to store data generated by a sensor package comprising at least one of an accelerometer and a compass, the sensor package associated with an object having an orientation;

a processor communicatively coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the processor configured to;

maintain the compass in a sleep mode to conserve energy;

change the sleep mode to an awake mode for the compass upon an occurrence of one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of;

a detection of a movement of an object by an accelerometer;

a detection of a change in a position of the object by a magnetic sensor; and

a time of awakening based on a predetermined schedule,

wherein the compass consumes more energy in the awake mode than in the sleep mode;

when the compass is in the awake mode, receive an orientation signal from the compass;

determine a change in the orientation of the object based at least upon the orientation signal from the compass.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of:

a door, a garage door, a refrigerator door, a cabinet door.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the object has a first surface and a second surface and wherein the accelerometer is situated on the first surface and the compass is situated on the second surface.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first surface is the same as the second surface.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the accelerometer and compass are integrated into a single sensor package.

23. The system of claim 18, the processor further configured to generate a notice in response to the change in the orientation of the object.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the notice is selected form the group consisting of:

a door open alert, a door close alert, an alarm, and a reset alert.

25. The system of claim 23, the processor further configured to receive, from a client device associated with an authorized occupant, a reset signal in response to the notice.

26. The system of claim 23, the processor further configured to:

authenticate a user; and

receive from the authenticating user a reset signal in response to the notice.

27. The system of claim 18, the processor further configured to:

generate a security breach message; and

send the security breach message to a third party, wherein the notice indicates a security breach.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the security breach message includes at least one from the group of:

an address, a security status, an authorized occupancy status, a telephone number, an image, and a video.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the sensor package is configured to receive power from a common power source.