Hinge sensor for barrier

• US 10,229,567 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ricks, Sean, Warren, Jeremy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US15/595,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20170316662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 3405451, 3405452, 340547, 3405456, 3405457, 3405458, 3405459, 340565, 340541, 340567, 33194
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/00 Additional features or accessories of hinges edge protecting devices E06B3/88
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/00 Suspension arrangements for wings arrangements of wings not characterised by the construction of the supporting means E06B3/32
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/00 Hinges or pivots of special construction used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/66 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for determining operation of an openable barrier into a building. A method for determining an open state of a barrier includes confirming a first position for the barrier, the barrier having at least one hinge and a hinge sensor mounted to the at least one hinge, determining with the hinge sensor when the barrier changes position from the first position to a second position, and wirelessly transmitting data concerning the change in barrier position.

Claims

1. A method for determining a state of a barrier, comprising:

determining a first position of the barrier, the barrier having at least one hinge and a sensor assembly that includes a hinge sensor having a fixed portion and a rotatable portion;

detecting movement of the barrier;

determining movement of an object through an opening related to the barrier;

determining a second position of the barrier, wherein the second position is different than the first; and

wirelessly communicating with a monitoring system based at least in part on a change in barrier position from the first position to the second position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a position of the fixed portion relative to the at least one hinge; and

determining a position of the rotatable portion relative to the fixed portion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the movement of the barrier is based at least in part on data from a motion sensor, the motion sensor being in contact with the hinge sensor.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying data from the motion sensor;

identifying data from the hinge sensor;

correlating the data from the motion sensor and the data from the hinge sensor;

determining a notification corresponding to the second position of the barrier based at least in part on the correlating; and

notifying a controller based at least in part on the determining.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the object moving through the opening;

authenticating the identified object; and

communicating information about the authenticating.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a movement pattern of the object over time;

predicting an activity associated with a premises based at least in part on determining the movement pattern; and

performing a system override according to the authentication, wherein the system override comprises at least an override to an automated control of the barrier; and

updating the prediction based at least in part on the system override.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a position of the rotatable portion using a measured value of the hinge sensor;

converting the measured value into information related to the second position of the barrier; and

indicating to a controller the information related to the second position of the barrier.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the measured value of the hinge sensor comprises a change in angular position, a distance of separation between the rotatable portion and the fixed portion, a change in separation distance between the rotatable portion and the fixed portion, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first position is a closed position, and the second position is an open position.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first position is a first open position, and the second position is a second open position.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge comprises a first hinge plate connected to a second hinge plate by a hinge pin passing through the first hinge plate, or the second hinge plate, or both.

12. A sensor assembly for use with a barrier, comprising:

a hinge sensor;

a fixed portion;

a rotatable portion; and

a motion sensor in contact with the fixed portion, the sensor assembly being operable to;

determine a first position of the barrier, the first position based on at least one of a relative position between the fixed and rotatable portions, or a change in position of the rotatable portion, or both;

detect movement of the barrier;

determine movement of an object through an opening related to the barrier;

determine a second position of the barrier based on at least one of a relative position between the fixed and rotatable portion, a change in angular position of the rotatable portion, a change in separation distance between the fixed and rotatable portion, or a combination thereof; and

wirelessly communicate, with a monitoring system via a transceiver of the sensor assembly, based at least in part on a change in barrier position from the first position to the second position.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein the fixed portion is configured to maintain a position relative to at least one hinge of the barrier and the rotatable portion is connected to the fixed portion and arranged in contact with and movable by the barrier.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one hinge comprises a first hinge plate connected to a second hinge plate by a hinge pin passing through the first hinge plate, or the second hinge plate, or both.

15. The sensor assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

a battery power source.

16. The sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein the sensor assembly is operable to determine an amount the barrier is open relative to a close position.

17. A barrier position detecting apparatus, comprising:

a mounting portion to mount a fixed portion, a rotatable portion, a sensor, and a transceiver to at least one hinge of a barrier;

the fixed portion to maintain a fixed position relative to the at least one hinge and the mounting portion;

the rotatable portion connected to the fixed portion and moveable, by the barrier, relative to the mounting portion;

the sensor in contact with the fixed portion, the sensor to determine movement of the barrier by detecting a relative movement between the rotatable portion and the fixed portion, or determine movement of an object through an opening related to the barrier, or both; and

the transceiver to wirelessly communicate data associated with the barrier.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data associated with the barrier comprises data associated with a movement of the barrier, data of the sensor, authentication information, or a position of the barrier based on at least a relative position between the fixed portion and the rotatable portion, or a combination thereof.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the rotatable portion is biased to contact with the barrier.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a passive infrared sensor, a potentiometer configured to determine a position of the rotatable portion relative to the fixed portion, or a piezoelectric sensor configured to measure an electrical change generated from a force applied to the rotatable portion by the barrier.