Infrared occupancy sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An occupancy sensor, comprising:
- an infrared sensor;
a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infrared sensor; and
a controller operably coupled to the infrared sensor and the variable bandpass filter;
wherein the controller is adapted to;
filter the signals generated by the infrared sensor using the variable bandpass filter, andprocess the filtered signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared occupancy sensor.
30 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An occupancy sensor, comprising:
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an infrared sensor; a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infrared sensor; and a controller operably coupled to the infrared sensor and the variable bandpass filter; wherein the controller is adapted to; filter the signals generated by the infrared sensor using the variable bandpass filter, and process the filtered signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.
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2. An occupancy sensor, comprising:
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an infrared sensor; a variable bandpass filter operably coupled to the infrared sensor comprising; a digital potentiometer adapted to control a gain of the bandpass filter; a digital potentiometer adapted to control a tuning of the bandpass filter; and a digital potentiometer adapted to control a ratio of a center frequency of the bandpass filter to a bandwidth of the bandpass filter; and a controller operably coupled to the infrared sensor and the variable bandpass filter comprising; a bandpass filter engine adapted to control the variable bandpass filter; a doppler shift engine adapted to characterize the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter; and an occupancy sensing engine adapted to characterizations of the Doppler shift engine to determine the presence of absence of the occupant within the defined region; wherein the controller is adapted to; filter the signals generated by the infrared sensor using the variable bandpass filter, and process the filtered signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating an occupancy sensor, comprising:
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monitoring thermal energy within a defined region to generate signals representative of the thermal energy within the defined region; filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter; and processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.
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9. A method of operating an occupancy sensor, comprising:
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monitoring thermal energy within a defined region and generating signals representative of the thermal energy; filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter; controlling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter; sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies; then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies; time averaging an amplitude of the filtered signals; comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals; determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermal noise within the defined region; and determining if a filtered signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for operating an occupancy sensor, comprising:
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means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined region and generating signals representative of the thermal energy; means for filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter; and means for processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.
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17. A system for operating an occupancy sensor, comprising:
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means for monitoring thermal energy within a defined region and generating signals representative of the thermal energy; means for filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter; means for controlling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter; means for sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies; means for then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies; means for time averaging an amplitude of the filtered signals; means for comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals; means for determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermal noise within the defined region; and means for determining if a filtered signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor, comprising program instructions for:
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monitoring thermal energy within a defined region to generate signals representative of the thermal energy within the defined region; filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter; and processing the filtered signals to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.
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25. A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor, comprising program instructions for:
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monitoring thermal energy within a defined region to generate signals representative of the thermal energy within the defined region; filtering the signals using a variable bandpass filter; controlling a ratio of a center frequency to a bandwidth of the variable bandpass filter; sweeping the variable bandpass filter upwardly along a range of frequencies; then sweeping the variable bandpass filter downwardly along a range of frequencies; time averaging an amplitude of the filtered signals; comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the filtered signals; determining if a filtered signal indicates a source of thermal noise within the defined region; and determining if a filtered signal indicates a presence of an occupant within the defined region. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification