Security apparatus and method for monitoring a door or window

• US 10,223,880 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc. (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc. (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lamb, Michael, Stone, Jay, Bailey, Michael, Seelman, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US15/683,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20170372569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 3405451
• 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 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring a door or a window is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is described, comprising receiving, by a processor, an electronic signal from a motion sensor in response to movement of the door or window, determining a direction of movement of the door or window from the electronic signal by the processor, comparing the direction of movement to a predetermined direction by the processor, detecting, by the processor, an alarm condition of the door or window if the electronic signal indicates that the door or window is being opened, and transmitting, by a transmitter coupled to the processor, an alarm signal when the alarm condition has been detected.

Claims

1. A magnet-less security sensor, having a user interface, for monitoring a door or a window, comprising:

a magnet-less motion sensor;

a memory; and

a processor for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to;

enter into a calibration mode;

evaluate signals received from the magnet-less motion sensor while in the calibration mode;

determine that a user has shut the door or window based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor; and

in response to determining that the user has shut the door or window, reset the magnet-less security sensor;

wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to;

provide an indication, via the user interface, that the magnet-less sensor is in need of calibration.

2. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 1, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to reset the magnet-less security sensor comprises instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to reset a calculated position of the door or window to a base value.

3. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 2, wherein the base value comprises a closed position of the door or window.

4. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 1, wherein resetting the magnet-less security sensor comprises setting a position of the door or window to zero.

5. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to:

provide an indication, via the user interface, that the magnet-less sensor has been reset.

6. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to:

enter into a normal mode of operation;

during the normal mode of operation, evaluate signals from the magnet-less motion sensor;

determine that the door or window has been opened based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor; and

determine how far the door or window has been opened based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor.

7. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 6, wherein the magnet-less motion sensor comprises an accelerometer and the signals comprise indications of acceleration of the door or the window.

8. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 1, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to determine that a user has shut the door or window comprises instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to:

detect a sudden deceleration of the door or window greater than a predetermined threshold.

9. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to determine that a user has shut the door or window comprises instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to:

detect an acceleration of the door or window prior to detection of the sudden deceleration of the door or window.

10. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to detect a sudden deceleration of the door or window greater than a predetermined threshold comprises instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to:

determine a direction of movement of the door or window based on the sudden deceleration of the door or window; and

determine that the door or window has been shut when the sudden deceleration is greater than the predetermined threshold and the direction of movement of the door or window is in a direction that closes the door or the window.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a user has shut the door or window comprises:

detecting a sudden deceleration of the door or window greater than a predetermined threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining that a user has shut the door or window comprises:

detecting an acceleration of the door or window prior to detection of the sudden deceleration of the door or window.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein determining that the door or window has been shut further comprises:

determining a direction of movement of the door or window based on the sudden deceleration of the door or window; and

determining that the door or window has been shut when the sudden deceleration is greater than the predetermined threshold and the direction of movement of the door or window is in a direction that closes the door or the window.

11. A method performed by a magnet-less security sensor, comprising:

entering into a calibration mode;

evaluating signals received from a magnet-less motion sensor that is part of the magnet-less security sensor while in the calibration mode;

determining that a user has shut the door or window based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor;

in response to determining that the user has shut the door or window, resetting the magnet-less security sensor; and

providing an indication, via a user interface, that the magnet-less sensor is in need of calibration.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein resetting the magnet-less security sensor comprises resetting a calculated position of the door or window to a base value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the base value comprises a closed position of the door or window.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein resetting the magnet-less security sensor comprises setting a position of the door or window to zero.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing an indication, via a user interface, that the magnet-less sensor has been reset.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

entering into a normal mode of operation;

evaluating signals from the magnet-less motion sensor while in the normal mode of operation;

determining that the door or window has been opened based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor; and

determining how far the door or window has been opened based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnet-less motion sensor comprises an accelerometer and the signals comprise indications of acceleration of the door or the window.

21. A magnet-less security sensor for monitoring a door or a window, comprising:

a magnet-less motion sensor;

a memory; and

a processor for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to;

enter into a calibration mode;

evaluate signals received from the magnet-less motion sensor while in the calibration mode;

determine that a user has shut the door or window based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor; and

in response to determining that the user has shut the door or window, reset the magnet-less security sensor;

wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the magnet-less security sensor to;

enter into a normal mode of operation;

during the normal mode of operation, evaluate signals from the magnet-less motion sensor;

determine that the door or window has been opened based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor; and

determine how far the door or window has been opened based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor.

22. The magnet-less security sensor of claim 21, wherein the magnet-less motion sensor comprises an accelerometer and the signals comprise indications of acceleration of the door or the window.

23. A method performed by a magnet-less security sensor, comprising:

entering into a calibration mode;

evaluating signals received from a magnet-less motion sensor that is part of the magnet-less security sensor while in the calibration mode;

determining that a user has shut the door or window based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor;

in response to determining that the user has shut the door or window, resetting the magnet-less security sensor;

entering into a normal mode of operation;

evaluating signals from the magnet-less motion sensor while in the normal mode of operation;

determining that the door or window has been opened based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor; and

determining how far the door or window has been opened based on the signals from the magnet-less motion sensor.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the magnet-less motion sensor comprises an accelerometer and the signals comprise indications of acceleration of the door or the window.