Sound and motion activated light controller

• US 20020135476A1
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Charles E., Lau, Shek Fai, McKinney, Edward C. Jr., Thalheimer, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US09/816,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135476A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• 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

The present invention relates to a sound and motion activated controller adapted for turning on or off lights as either functional levers or an appliance controlled by the controller. The controller contains at least one motion sensor capable of detecting movement within a defined range and at least one sound sensor capable of detecting sound above a minimum threshold. The controller may also control the sensitivity of the motion sensor and the sound sensor. Further, the controller can adjust the intensity of the lighting within the room by use of a toggle control device located on the controller. Additionally, a mode control button allows a user to select whether the controller will operate in an automatic mode or a manual mode.

Claims

1. A sound and motion activated controller adapted for operating a functional device, the controller comprising:

at least one motion sensor element capable of detecting movement;

at least one sound sensor element capable of detecting sound;

a controller circuit connected with the motion sensor element for providing an output adapted for operating a functional device in response to movement detected, and further connected with the sound sensor element for providing an output adapted for operating a functional device in response to a sound detected;

a mode control device for selecting a function of the light controller;

a toggle control device, whereby the user may adjust the sensitivity of the sound sensor element and the motion sensor element, and further for adjusting the intensity of the functional device; and

whereby the functional device can be activated by either the motion sensor element or the sound sensor element of the controller, and when the functional device is activated, the controller is adapted to ensure that the functional device remains activated for a period beyond the last sound or motion detected by the motion sensor element or the sound sensor element.

2. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 1, whereby the motion sensor element is a passive infrared sensor.

3. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 2, whereby the motion sensor element can be adjusted to determine what distance from the controller the motion sensor element will detect movement.

4. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 3, whereby the motion sensor element may detect movement up to twenty feet from the controller.

5. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 1, whereby the intensity of the functional device may be adjusted.

6. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 1, whereby the sound sensor element may be adjusted to determine the threshold at which the sound sensor element will detect a sound and activate the functional device.

7. A sound and motion activated controller adapted to control a functional device, the controller comprising:

a mode control button allowing a user to select a mode of the controller;

a display for displaying the function the controller is performing;

a toggle switch for adjusting the selected mode of the controller, and further adapted for adjusting the intensity of a functional device;

an on/off button adapted for manually controlling the functional device;

a timer adapted to ensure that the functional device selectively remains activated for a period of time; and

a signal receiving device for receiving signals capable of being detected by a motion sensor and a sound sensor.

8. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 7, whereby the mode control button allows a user to select an automatic mode, a manual mode, a sound mode and a motion mode.

9. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 8, whereby when the automatic mode is selected and displayed on the display, a sound or movement detected by the signal receiving device activates the functional device.

10. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 9, whereby the functional device may also be activated and deactivated by pressing the on/off button.

11. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 8, whereby when the manual mode is selected and displayed on the display, the functional device can only be activated and deactivated by pressing the on/off button.

12. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 8, whereby when the sound mode is selected and displayed on the display, the sensitivity of the signal receiving device to detect a sound can be adjusted by the toggle switch.

13. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 8, whereby when the motion mode is selected and displayed on the display, the sensitivity of the signal receiving device to detect movement can be adjusted by the toggle switch.

14. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 12, whereby the level of sensitivity of the signal receiving device is displayed on the display by the number of indicia lighted.

15. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 14, whereby from one to seven indicia may be lit with one indicia signifying the least sensitive setting of the signal receiving device and seven indicia signifying the most sensitive setting of the signal receiving device.

16. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 13, whereby the level of sensitivity of the signal receiving device is displayed on the display by the number of indicia lighted.

17. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 16, whereby from one to seven indicia may be lit with one indicia signifying the least sensitive setting of the signal receiving device and seven indicia signifying the most sensitive setting of the signal receiving device.

18. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 7, whereby when the automatic mode or manual mode is selected and the functional device is activated, the intensity of the functional device may be adjusted by using the toggle switch.

19. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 18, whereby the intensity of the functional device is displayed on the display by the number of indicia lighted.

20. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 19, whereby from one to seven indicia may be lit with one indicia signifying the lowest intensity setting of the functional device and seven indicia signifying the highest intensity setting of the functional device.

21. A sound and motion activated controller adapted to control a functional device, the controller comprising:

a display located near the top of a faceplate of the controller, displaying indicia and a plurality of modes which a user may select;

a signal receiving device located near the bottom of the faceplate of the controller;

an on/off button located below the display and adapted to allow a user to manually activate and deactivate a functional device connected with the controller;

a toggle switch located below the on/off switch with a first end and a second end, whereby the first end allows a user to increase the sensitivity of the signal receiving device and the second end allows a user to decrease the sensitivity of the signal receiving device; and

further adapted for adjusting the intensity of the functional device; and

a mode control button located between the on/off button and the toggle switch, whereby a user may select which mode is displayed on the display.

22. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 21, whereby the mode control button allows the user to select an automatic mode, a manual mode, a sound mode and a motion mode.

23. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 22, whereby when the automatic mode is selected and displayed on the display, a sound or movement detected by the signal receiving device activates the functional device.

24. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 23, whereby the functional device may be activated and deactivated by pressing the on/off button.

25. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 22, whereby when the manual mode is selected and displayed on the display, the functional device can only be activated and de activated by pressing the on/off button.

26. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 22, whereby when the sound mode is selected and displayed on the display, the sensitivity of the signal receiving device to detect a sound can be adjusted by the toggle switch.

27. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 22, whereby when the motion mode is selected and displayed on the display, the sensitivity of the signal receiving device to detect movement can be adjusted by the toggle switch.

28. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 26, whereby the level of sensitivity of the signal receiving device is displayed across the top of the display by the number of indicia lighted.

29. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 28, whereby from one to seven indicia may be lit with one indicia signifying the least sensitive setting of the signal receiving device and seven indicia signifying the most sensitive setting of the signal receiving device.

30. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 27, whereby the level of sensitivity of the signal receiving device is displayed across the top of the display by the number of indicia lighted.

31. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 30, whereby from one to seven indicia may be lit with one indicia signifying the least sensitive setting of the signal receiving device and seven indicia signifying the most sensitive setting of the signal receiving device.

32. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 21, whereby when the automatic mode or manual mode is selected and the functional device is activated, the intensity of the functional device may be adjusted by using the toggle switch.

33. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 32, whereby the intensity of the functional device is displayed across the top of the display by the number of indicia lighted.

34. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 33, whereby from one to seven indicia may be lit with one indicia signifying the lowest intensity setting of the functional device and seven indicia signifying the highest intensity setting of the functional device.

35. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 21, whereby the size and location of the on/off button is such that a casual user does not mistake the signal receiving device for the on/off button, thus preventing a user from touching and damaging the signal receiving device.

36. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 21, whereby the size of the mode control button is such that the mode control button may be located between the first end and the second end of the toggle switch.

38. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 37, whereby the mode control button allows the user to select an automatic mode, a manual mode, a sound mode and a motion mode.

39. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 38, whereby when the automatic mode is selected and displayed on the display, a sound or movement detected by the signal receiving device activates the functional device.

40. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 39, whereby the functional device may be activated and deactivated by pressing the on/off button.

41. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 38, whereby when the manual mode is selected and displayed on the display, the functional device can only be activated and deactivated by pressing the on/off button.

42. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 38, whereby when the sound mode is selected and displayed on the display, the sensitivity of the signal receiving device to detect a sound can be adjusted by the toggle switch.

43. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 38, whereby when the motion mode is selected and displayed on the display, the sensitivity of the signal receiving device to detect movement can be adjusted by the toggle switch.

44. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 42, whereby the level of sensitivity of the signal receiving device is displayed on the display by the number of indicia lighted.

45. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 44, whereby from one to seven indicia may be lit with one indicia signifying the least sensitive setting of the signal receiving device and seven indicia signifying the most sensitive setting of the signal receiving device.

46. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 43, whereby the level of sensitivity of the signal receiving device is displayed on the display by the number of indicia lighted.

47. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 46, whereby from one to seven indicia may be lit with one indicia signifying the least sensitive setting of the signal receiving device and seven indicia signifying the most sensitive setting of the signal receiving device.

48. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 37, whereby when the automatic mode or manual mode is selected and the functional device is activated, the intensity of the functional device may be adjusted by using the toggle switch.

49. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 48, whereby the intensity setting of the functional device is displayed on the display by the number of indicia lighted.

50. The sound and motion activated controller according to claim 49, whereby from one to seven indicia may be lit with one indicia signifying the lowest intensity setting of the functional device and seven indicia signifying the highest intensity setting of the functional device.

37. A sound and motion activated controller adapted to control a functional device, the controller comprising:

a display for displaying the mode the controller is performing;

a signal receiving device for receiving signals capable of being detected by a motion sensor and a sound sensor;

a toggle switch with a first end and a second end, whereby the first end allows a user to increase the sensitivity of the signal receiving device and the second end allows a user to decrease the sensitivity of the signal receiving device, and further adapted for adjusting the intensity of the functional device;

an on/off button, whereby the size and location of the on/off button is such that a casual user does not mistake the signal receiving device for the on/off button, thus preventing a user from touching and damaging the signal receiving device; and

a mode control button allowing a user to select a mode of the controller, whereby the size of the mode control button is such that the mode control button may be located between the first end and the second end of the toggle switch.