Motion Sensor Adjustment

• US 20160300479A1
• Filed: 04/09/2015
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Modi, Yash, Purohit, Aveek Ravishekhar, Herman, Kenneth Louis
• Granted Patent: US 9,666,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/183 Single detectors using dual technologies G08B13/1672, G08B13/2448, G08B13/2494 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds

Abstract

Systems and techniques are provided for motion sensor adjustment. A signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by a passive infrared sensor may be received. A signal including a current temperature may be received. It may be determined based on the current temperature and at least one previous temperature that an area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has experienced a temperature change. In response to the determination that the area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has experienced a temperature change, the signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by the passive infrared sensor may be disregarded as a false alert and no indication of motion detected may be sent.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a data processing apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by a passive infrared sensor;

receiving a signal comprising a current temperature;

determining, based on the current temperature and at least one previous temperature that an area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has experienced a temperature change; and

in response to the determination that the area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has experienced a temperature change, disregarding the signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by the passive infrared sensor as a false alert and not sending an indication of motion detected.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an adjustment for the passive infrared sensor based on the disregarding the signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by a passive infrared sensor as a false alert; and

applying the adjustment to the passive infrared sensor.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment comprises a reduction in the sensitivity of the passive infrared heat source to moving heat sources.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by passive infrared sensor;

receiving a second signal comprising a current temperature;

determining, based on the current temperature and at least one previous temperature that an area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has not experienced a temperature change; and

in response to the determination that the area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has not experienced a temperature change, sending an indication of motion detected.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the indication of motion detected is sent to a computing device of a smart home environment.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the current temperature and at least one previous temperature that an area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has experienced a temperature change comprises determining that the temperature in the area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has fluctuated beyond a threshold amount.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the time period begins before receiving the signal indicating a moving heat source was detected by the passive infrared sensor and ends after receiving the signal indicating a moving heat source was detected by the passive infrared sensor.

8. A computer-implemented method performed by a data processing apparatus comprising:

receiving a signal indicating that motion was detected by a motion sensor;

receiving a status of an HVAC system;

determining, using the HVAC status, that a vent of the HVAC system located in an area visible to the motion sensor was operating during the time period in which the motion sensor detected motion; and

ignoring the signal indicating that motion was detected as a false alert and not generating an alert.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining an adjustment to the motion sensor based on the ignoring of the signal indicating that motion was detected; and

sending the adjustment to the motion sensor.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the adjustment comprises reducing the sensitivity of a passive infrared sensor of the motion sensor to moving heat sources.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining that the vent is in proximity to a window curtain.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining that the motion detected by the motion sensor occurred in proximity to the vent and a window curtain.

13. A computer-implemented method performed by a data processing apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a signal comprising a current temperature near a motion sensor;

receiving at least one signal comprising a current temperature near a temperature sensor in the same room as the motion sensor;

determining an adjustment for the motion sensor based on the current temperature near the motion sensor, past temperatures near the motion sensor, at least one current temperature near a temperature sensor in the same room as the motion sensor, and at least one past temperature near a temperature sensor in the same room as the motion sensor; and

sending the adjustment to the motion sensor.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein determining the adjustment further comprises:

determining that the temperature near the motion sensor varies from the temperature near at least one temperature sensor over a time period.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an HVAC status;

determining from the HVAC status that the ambient temperature near the motion sensor is higher than the ambient temperature near at least one temperature sensor over a time period coinciding with a time period when a vent in the room with the motion sensor is operating to convey hot air.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising determining that the vent is located near the motion sensor.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising determining that the temperature near the motion sensor is higher than the temperature near at least one temperature sensor over a time period coinciding with at least a part of daylight hours.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising determining that the motion sensor is located near a window.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting an alert that the motion sensor is located near a heat source.

20. A computer-implemented system for motion sensor adjustment comprising:

a temperature sensor adapted to detect a temperature;

a passive infrared sensor adapted to detect motion of a heat source; and

a signal processor adapted to receive a signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by the passive infrared sensor, receive a signal comprising a current temperature detected by the temperature sensor;

determine, based on the current temperature and at least one previous ambient temperature that an area monitored by the passive infrared sensor has experienced an environmental temperature change, and in response to a determination that the area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has experienced an environmental temperature change, and determine that the signal from the passive infrared sensor indicates a change in environmental temperature and not a motion of an object.

21. The computer-implemented system of claim 20, wherein the temperature sensor is located in or near a heating duct.

22. The computer-implemented system of claim 20, wherein the temperature sensor is located at or near a radiator for heating a room.

23. The computer-implemented system of claim 20, wherein the temperature sensor is located at or near an environmental heater for raising the ambient temperature of a room.

24. The computer-implemented system of claim 20, wherein the signal processor is further adapted to determine an adjustment for the passive infrared sensor based on a discarding of the signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by a passive infrared sensor as a false alert, and apply the adjustment to the passive infrared sensor.

25. A computer-implemented system for motion sensor adjustment comprising:

a motion sensor comprising a passive infrared sensor, the motion sensor located in a room;

an HVAC system adapted to control at least one vent;

a hub computing device adapted to receive a signal indicating that motion was detected by the motion sensor, receive a status of the HVAC system, determine, using the HVAC status, that a vent of the HVAC system located in an area visible to the motion sensor was operating during the time period in which the motion sensor detected motion, and ignore the signal indicating that motion was detected as a false alert and not generate an alert.

26. The computer-implemented system of claim 25, wherein the hub computing device is further adapted to determine an adjustment to the motion sensor based on the ignoring of the signal indicating that motion was detected, and send the adjustment to the motion sensor.

27. A computer-implemented system for motion sensor adjustment comprising

a motion sensor comprising a passive infrared sensor;

a temperature sensor that is a component of or co-located with the motion sensor;

at least one additional temperature sensor located in the room; and

a hub computing device adapted to receive a signal comprising a current ambient temperature near the motion sensor, receive at least one signal comprising a current ambient temperature near the at least one additional temperature sensor, determine an adjustment for the motion sensor based on the current ambient temperature near the motion sensor, past ambient temperatures near the motion sensor, at least one current ambient temperature near the additional temperature sensor, and at least one past ambient temperature near the additional temperature sensor, and send the adjustment to the motion sensor.

28. The computer-implemented system of claim 27, wherein the hub computing device is further adapted to receive an HVAC status and determine from the HVAC status that the ambient temperature near the motion sensor is higher than the ambient temperature near the at least one additional temperature sensor over a time period coinciding with a time period when a vent in the room with the motion sensor is operating to pump hot air.

29. The computer-implemented system of claim 27, wherein the hub computing device is further adapted to determine that the ambient temperature near the motion sensor is higher than the ambient temperature near the least one additional temperature sensor over a time period coinciding with at least a part of daylight hours.

30. The computer-implemented system of claim 27, wherein the hub computing device is further adapted to transmit an alert that the motion sensor is located near a heat source.

31. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions which are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

receiving a signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by a passive infrared sensor;

receiving a signal comprising a current ambient temperature;

determining, based on the current ambient temperature and at least one previous ambient temperature that an area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has experienced a temperature change; and

in response to the determination that the area in proximity to the passive infrared sensor has experienced a temperature change, discarding the signal indicating that a moving heat source was detected by the passive infrared sensor as a false alert and not sending an indication of motion detected.

32. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions which are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

receiving a signal indicating that motion was detected by a motion sensor;

receiving a status of an HVAC system;

determining, using the HVAC status, that a vent of the HVAC system located in an area visible to the motion sensor was operating during the time period in which the motion sensor detected motion; and

ignoring the signal indicating that motion was detected as a false alert and not generating an alert.

33. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions which are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

receiving a signal comprising a current ambient temperature near a motion sensor;

receiving at least one signal comprising a current ambient temperature near a temperature sensor in the same room as the motion sensor;

determining an adjustment for the motion sensor based on the current ambient temperature near the motion sensor, past ambient temperatures near the motion sensor, at least one current ambient temperature near a temperature sensor in the same room as the motion sensor, and at least one past ambient temperature near a temperature sensor in the same room as the motion sensor; and

sending the adjustment to the motion sensor.