System and method for occupancy sensing using adjustable detection and load control profile

• US 10,534,336 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Hick, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria, Satish
• Application Number:
  US15/854,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 700275-306
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An occupancy sensor is disclosed including a passive infrared (PIR) sensing element, a temperature sensing element, and a processor. The processor receives temperature signals from the temperature sensing element and configures the occupancy sensor into a selected operating mode based the received temperature signal. The operating mode may be associated with a predetermined sensing threshold of the PIR sensing element. The processor controls an associated load based on the selected operating mode and the received occupancy signals. The occupancy sensor can alternatively include an occupancy sensing element and a photodetector. Based on the amount of light detected by the photodetector over time, the occupancy sensor can calculate a rough estimate of time of day, and can automatically adjust one or more sensing and/or operational characteristics based on that time of day determination. A photosensor may implement daylight harvesting based on different light levels associated with different times of day.

Claims

1. An occupancy sensor, comprising:

an occupancy sensing element;

a photodetector; and

a processor coupled to the occupancy sensing element and the photodetector, the processor programmed to;

(i) receive light signals from the photodetector;

(ii) receive occupancy signals from the occupancy sensing element;

(iii) place the occupancy sensor into at least one of a plurality of operating modes; and

(iv) control an associated load based on the selected operating mode and the received occupancy signals;

wherein the plurality of operating modes includes at least a first operating mode, a second operating mode, and a third operating mode,

wherein in the first operating mode, the associated load is not energized regardless of whether the processor receives occupancy signals from the occupancy sensing element;

wherein the second operating mode is associated with a first predetermined time period that is different than the first operating mode, the processor energizes the associated load for a first amount of time during the first predetermined time period when an occupancy signal from the occupancy sensing element is received; and

wherein the third operating mode is associated with a second predetermined time period that is different than the first and second operating modes, the processor energizes the associated load for a second amount of time during the second predetermined time period when a received occupancy signal from the occupancy sensing element is received.

2. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the second operating mode includes a first target light level and the third operating mode has a second target light level, the second target light level being different than the first target light level.

3. The occupancy sensor of claim 2, wherein the processor energizes the associated load to ensure that a total light level during the first predetermined time period meets the first target light level, and energizes the associated load to ensure that the total light level during the second predetermined time period meets the second target light level.

4. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the processor energizes the associated load for a first amount of time during the first predetermined time period, and energizes the associated load for a second amount of time during the second predetermined time period.

5. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined time periods are first and second times of a day, respectively.

6. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined time periods are first and second days of a week, respectively.

7. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, further comprising a housing, the occupancy sensing element, the photodetector, and the processor being located within the housing.

8. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, further comprising memory associated with the processor, wherein the first and second predetermined time periods are stored in the memory.

9. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined time periods are entered into the occupancy sensor via a user input device.

10. An occupancy sensor, comprising:

an occupancy sensing element;

a photodetector; and

a processor coupled to the occupancy sensing element and the photodetector, the processor programmed to;

(i) receive light signals from the photodetector;

(ii) receive occupancy signals from the occupancy sensing element;

(iii) place the occupancy sensor into at least one of a plurality of operating modes; and

(iv) control an associated load based on the selected operating mode and the received occupancy signals;

wherein the plurality of operating modes includes at least a first operating mode, a second operating mode, and a third operating mode,

wherein the first operating mode is associated with a first predetermined time period;

wherein the second operating mode is associated with a second predetermined time period that is different than the first predetermined time period, the processor energizes the associated load for a first amount of time during the second predetermined time period when an occupancy signal from the occupancy sensing element is received; and

wherein the third operating mode is associated with a third predetermined time period that is different than the first and second predetermined time periods, the processor energizes the associated load for a second amount of time during the third predetermined time period when a received occupancy signal from the occupancy sensing element is received.

11. The occupancy sensor of claim 10, wherein the processor does not energize the associated load during the first predetermined time period regardless of whether the processor receives occupancy signals from the occupancy sensing element.

12. The occupancy sensor of claim 10, wherein the first operating mode includes a first target light level, the second operating mode includes a second target light level, and the third operating mode includes a third target light level, the first, second and third target light level being different from one another.

13. The occupancy sensor of claim 12, wherein the processor energizes the associated load to ensure that a total light level during the first predetermined time period is equal to or greater than the first target light level, energizes the associated load to ensure that the total light level during the second predetermined time period is equal to or greater than the second target light level, and energizes the associated load to ensure that the total light level during the third predetermined time period is equal to or greater than the third target light level.

14. The occupancy sensor of claim 10, wherein the processor energizes the associated load for a first amount of time during the first predetermined time period, energizes the associated load for a second amount of time during the second predetermined time period, and energizes the associated load for a third amount of time during the third predetermined time period.

15. The occupancy sensor of claim 10, wherein the first, second, and third predetermined time periods are first, second, and third times of a day, respectively.

16. The occupancy sensor of claim 10, wherein the first, second, and third predetermined time periods are first, second, and third days of a week, respectively.

17. The occupancy sensor of claim 10, further comprising a housing, the occupancy sensing element, the photodetector, and the processor being located within the housing, the housing being configured to be mounted to a pole in an outdoor parking lot.

18. The occupancy sensor of claim 10, further comprising memory associated with the processor, wherein the first, second and third predetermined time periods are stored in the memory.

19. The occupancy sensor of claim 10, wherein the first, second, and third predetermined time periods are entered into the occupancy sensor via a user input device.