SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SENSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES USING LIGHT SOURCES AS SENSORS
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- illuminating a space with a light source, wherein the light source includes an internal oscillator used during the illuminating; and
sensing an environmental change with the light source based, at least in part, on a change in operation of the internal oscillator.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for sensing environmental changes using electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals are disclosed herein. An EMI monitoring system may be used to monitor an EMI signal of one or more light sources provided over a power line, e.g., in a home or building. The received EMI energy at the power line may be analyzed to detect variations in the EMI signature indicative of environmental changes occurring in the proximity of the light sources. Environmental changes that may be sensed include, but are not limited to, proximity, touch, motion, and temperature change.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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illuminating a space with a light source, wherein the light source includes an internal oscillator used during the illuminating; and sensing an environmental change with the light source based, at least in part, on a change in operation of the internal oscillator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electromagnetic interference monitoring system comprising:
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a power network interface configured to receive an electromagnetic interference signal over a power network from a light source operating in accordance with an oscillator signal; and at least one processing unit and at least one computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processing unit to; process the electromagnetic interference signal; and sense an environmental change based on a variation in the processed electromagnetic interference signal according to one or more criteria, wherein the environmental change caused the variation in the electromagnetic interference signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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monitoring a plurality of frequency ranges on a power network; receiving an electromagnetic interference signal having a fundamental frequency within one of the plurality of frequency ranges; processing the electromagnetic interference signal; and after processing the electromagnetic interference signal, sensing environmental changes based, at least in part, on one or more variations of the electromagnetic interference signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification