Wireless radio control for sensors

• US 10,542,607 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2018
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Bailey, Christopher Lane, Willis, Tim, Yadav, Pritam
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US16/161,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20190124751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 340541, 340540, 3405453, 340565, 340566, 340567
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/22 for interlocking between casing, cover, or protective shutter and mechanism for operating contacts explosion-proof cases H01H9/045; built-in fuses and interlocking mechanisms H01H9/104; by automatic release of circuit breakers H01H71/126
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An occupancy sensor includes a housing and one or more sensing elements. The occupancy sensor also includes one or more wireless radios. In addition, the occupancy sensor can include an interface element configured to control activation or deactivation of the one or more wireless radios upon interaction with the interface element.

Claims

1. An occupancy sensor, comprising:

a housing;

one or more sensing elements;

one or more wireless radios; and

an interface element configured to control activation or deactivation of the one or more wireless radios upon interaction with the interface element,

wherein when the one or more wireless radios are activated, the one or more wireless radios receive data indicative of one or more configuration settings for the one or more sensing elements.

2. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the interface element comprises a near field communications reader.

3. The occupancy sensor of claim 2, wherein when the near field communication reader detects a first signal from a device within a predetermined proximity of the occupancy sensor, a control device is configured to activate the one or more wireless radios to provide communication between the device and the occupancy sensor.

4. The occupancy sensor of claim 3, wherein the control device is configured to deactivate the one or more wireless radios after a predetermined amount of time has lapsed since the near field communication reader detected the first signal.

5. The occupancy sensor of claim 3, wherein when the near field communication reader detects a second signal from the device, the control device is configured to deactivate the one or more wireless radios.

6. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the interface element comprises a contact movable between a first position and a second position based on a magnetic field.

7. The occupancy sensor of claim 6, wherein:

when the contact is in the first position, a control device is configured to activate the one or more wireless radios; and

when the contact is in the second position, the control device is configured to deactivate the one or more wireless radios.

8. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the one or more configuration settings comprise a sensitivity of the one or more sensing elements.

9. An occupancy sensor, comprising:

a housing;

one or more sensing elements disposed within the housing, the one or more sensing elements comprising a passive infrared (PIR) sensing element;

a PIR lens associated with the passive infrared sensing element;

one or more wireless radios communicatively coupled to the one or more sensing elements; and

an interface element associated with the PIR lens, the interface element configured to control activation or deactivation of the one or more wireless radios upon interaction with the interface element,

wherein when the one or more wireless radios are activated, the one or more wireless radios receive data indicative of one or more configuration settings for the one or more sensing elements.

10. The occupancy of sensor of claim 9, wherein the interface element comprises the PIR lens, and wherein the PIR sensor is movable between a first position and a second position.

11. The occupancy sensor of any claim 10, wherein when the PIR lens is in the first position, the one or more wireless radios are activated;

and wherein when the PIR lens is in the second position, the one or more wireless radios are deactivated.

12. The occupancy sensor of claim 9, wherein the interface element comprises a shroud movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the shroud is in the first position, the shroud covers the PIR lens, and wherein when the shroud is in the second position, the shroud is spaced apart from the PIR lens.

13. The occupancy sensor of claim 12, wherein when the shroud is in the first position, a control device is configured to activate the one or more wireless radios.

14. The occupancy sensor of claim 12, wherein when the shroud is moved from the first position to the second position and then returned to the first position, a control device is configured to deactivate the one or more wireless radios.

15. An occupancy sensor defining a transverse direction and a vertical direction, the occupancy sensor comprising:

a housing;

one or more sensing elements disposed within the housing;

one or more wireless radios communicatively coupled to the one or more sensing elements;

a faceplate positioned at a front portion of the housing; and

an interface element associated with the faceplate, the interface element configured to control activation or deactivation of the one or more wireless radios upon interaction with the interface element,

wherein when the one or more wireless radios are activated, the one or more wireless radios receive data indicative of one or more configuration settings for the one or more sensing elements.

16. The occupancy sensor of claim 15, wherein the interface element comprises a tab movable along the transverse direction between at least a first position and a second position.

17. The occupancy sensor of claim 16, wherein when the tab is in the first position, the one or more wireless radio are activated;

and wherein when the tab is in the second position, the one or more wireless radios are deactivated.

18. The occupancy sensor of claim 16, wherein the interface element comprises the faceplate, and wherein the faceplate is movable along the transverse direction or the vertical direction between a first position and a second position.

19. The occupancy sensor of claim 18, wherein:

when the faceplate is in the first position, the tab is in the first position and a control device is configured to activate the one or more wireless radios; and

when the faceplate is in the second position, the tab is in the second position and the control device is configured to deactivate the one or more wireless radios.