Motion Detecting Device, Method of Providing the Same, and Method of Detecting Movement

• US 20100288468A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Patel, Shwetak N., Abowd, Gregory D., Reynolds, Matthew S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,886,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/59
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 13/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring differences of two or more fluid pressure values
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/20 Actuation by change of fluid pressure

Abstract

In some embodiments, a motion detecting device is configured to detect whether one or more movement events have occurred. The motion detecting device can include: (a) a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and (b) a sensing device having: (1) one or more pressure sensors configured to provide two or more pressure measurements; and (2) a transmitter electrically coupled to the one or more pressure sensors and configured to transmit the two or more pressure measurements to the computational unit. The processing module is configured to use the two or more pressure measurements to determine whether the one or more movement events have occurred. The sensing device can be configured to be placed in at least one of ductwork of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or an air handler of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A motion detecting device configured to detect whether one or more movement events have occurred, the motion detecting device comprises:

a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and

a sensing device comprising;

one or more pressure sensors configured to provide two or more pressure measurements; and

a transmitter electrically coupled to the one or more pressure sensors and configured to transmit the two or more pressure measurements to the computational unit,

wherein;

the processing module is configured to use the two or more pressure measurements to determine whether the one or more movement events have occurred; and

the sensing device is configured to be placed in at least one of ductwork of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or an air handler of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

2. The motion detecting device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wire,

wherein;

the computational unit comprises a receiver;

the receiver of the computational unit is electrically coupled to the transmitter of the sensing device using the wire and is configured to receive the two or more pressure measurements over the wire.

3. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter; and

the computational unit comprises;

a wireless receiver configured to receive the two or more pressure measurements from the wireless transmitter.

4. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

one or more pressure sensors are configured to provide a first pressure measurement at a first time, a second pressure measurement at a second time, and a third pressure measurement at a third time;

the first time is before the second time and the third time;

the second time is before the third time; and

the two or more pressure measurements comprise the first pressure measurement, the second pressure measurement, and the third pressure measurement.

5. The motion detecting device of claim 4, wherein:

the processing module is configured to determine an occurrence of the one or more movement events at least in part by comparing the first pressure measurement, the second pressure measurement, and the third pressure measurement.

6. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensing device is configured to be disposed proximate to an air filter.

7. The motion detecting device of claim 6, wherein:

the air filter comprises;

a first side through which an air flow enters the air filter; and

a second side opposite the first side and through which the air flow exits the air filter; and

the one or more pressure sensors comprise;

a first pressure sensor disposed proximate to the first side of the air filter; and

a second pressure sensor disposed proximate to the second side of the air filter.

8. The motion detecting device of claim 7, wherein:

the first pressure sensor of the one or more pressure sensors is configured to provide a first pressure measurement at substantially a first time; and

the second pressure sensor of the one or more pressure sensors is configured to provide a second pressure measurement at substantially the first time.

9. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

the processing module comprises;

a training module; and

an event detection module;

the training module is configured to correlate a first event of the one or more movement events with a first change in pressure and a second event of the one or more movement events with a second change in pressure; and

the event detection module is configured to use the two or more pressure measurements to identify a third event of the one or more movement events.

10. The motion detecting device of claim 9, wherein:

the processing module further comprises;

a communications module configured to communicate to a user.

11. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensing device further comprises;

one or more temperature sensors; and

the sensing device is configured such that the one or more temperature sensors measure at least one temperature at the one or more pressure sensors; and

the transmitter is electrically coupled to the one or more temperature sensors and is configured to transmit the at least one temperature at the one or more pressure sensors to the computational unit.

12. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensing device further comprises;

a controller; and

one or more temperature sensors;

the sensing device is configured such that the one or more temperature sensors measure at least one temperature at the one or more pressure sensors; and

the controller is configured to calculate a temperature-compensated pressure value for each of the two or more pressure measurements using the at least one temperature at the one or more pressure sensors.

13. A method of detecting movement, the method comprising:

performing two or more first measurements of air pressure in a duct of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system;

transmitting the two or more first measurements of the air pressure;

determining one or more first changes of the air pressure based on the two or more first measurements of the air pressure; and

associating at least one of the one or more first changes of the air pressure with a first movement event.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

performing two or more second measurements of the air pressure in the duct of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system;

determining one or more second changes of the air pressure based on the two or more second measurements of the air pressure; and

correlating one or more second movement events with the one or more second changes of the air pressure.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

placing one or more pressure sensors in the ductwork of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

placing one or more pressure sensors at an air filter.

17. A method of providing a motion sensor, the method comprising:

providing one or more pressure sensors configured to provide two or more pressure measurements;

providing a transmitter;

electrically coupling the transmitter to the one or more pressure sensors;

providing a body;

mechanically coupling the one or more pressure sensors and the transmitter to the body; and

providing a processing module configured to run on a computational unit, the processing module comprising;

an event detection module configured to use the two or more pressure measurements to determine whether one or more movement events have occurred.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

providing the processing module to further comprise;

a training module configured to determine a relationship between the two or more pressure measurements and the one or more movement events.

19. An air filter unit comprising:

an air filter comprising;

a filter material;

an outer frame located around the filter material;

at least one pressure sensor disposed proximate to at least one of the filter material or the outer frame and configured to provide two or more pressure measurements; and

a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one pressure sensor; and

a processing module configured to run on a computational unit, the processing module configured to determine an occurrence of one or more movement events based on the two or more pressure measurements of the at least one pressure sensor.

20. The air filter unit of claim 19 further comprising:

a receiver coupled to the processing module and configured to receive electrical data from the transmitter,

wherein;

the air filter is separate from the processing module.

21. The air filter unit of claim 19, wherein:

the at least one pressure sensor is integral with the air filter.

22. The air filter unit of claim 19, wherein:

the at least one pressure sensor is removable from the air filter.

23. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system comprising:

an air handler;

at least one pressure sensor located at the air handler; and

a processing module configured to run on a computational unit, the processing module electrically coupled to the at least one pressure sensor via the computational unit and configured to determine the occurrence of one or more movement events based on two or more pressure measurements from the at least one pressure sensor.