DOOR AND WINDOW CONTACT SYSTEMS AND METHODS THAT INCLUDE MEMS ACCELEROMETERS AND MEMS MAGNETOMETERS

• US 20170243456A1
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Published: 08/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Richard Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,953,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/02 Mechanical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2494 by interference with electro-magnetic field distribution combined with other electrical sensor means, e.g. microwave detectors combined with other sensor means

Abstract

Systems and methods that address the gap, security, and robustness limitations of known door and window contact systems and methods without increasing the overall cost thereof are provided. Some systems can include an accelerometer and a magnetometer for mounting in or on a first portion of a window or door unit, and a microcontroller unit in communication with each of the accelerometer and the magnetometer. The accelerometer can measure acceleration or vibration relative to a second portion of the window or door unit and transmit the measured acceleration or vibration to the microcontroller unit, the magnetometer can measure magnetic field relative to a sensor magnet mounted on or embedded in the second portion of the window or door unit and transmit the measured magnetic field to the microcontroller unit, and the microcontroller unit can use the measured acceleration or vibration and the measured magnetic field to make a security determination.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an accelerometer for mounting in or on a first portion of a window unit or a door unit;

a magnetometer for mounting in or on the first portion of the window unit or the door unit; and

a microcontroller unit in communication with each of the accelerometer and the magnetometer,

wherein the accelerometer measures acceleration or vibration relative to a second portion of the window unit or the door unit and transmits the measured acceleration or vibration to the microcontroller unit,

wherein the magnetometer measures magnetic field relative to a sensor magnet mounted on or embedded in the second portion of the window unit or the door unit and transmits the measured magnetic field to the microcontroller unit, and

wherein the microcontroller unit uses the measured acceleration or vibration and the measured magnetic field to make a security determination.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the window unit or the door unit includes a moving portion of the window unit or the door unit, and wherein the second portion of the window unit or the door until includes a non-moving portion of the window unit or the door unit.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the moving portion of the window unit or the door unit includes a window or a door, and wherein the non-moving portion of the window unit or the door unit includes a window frame or a door frame.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the window unit or the door unit includes a non-moving portion of the window unit or the door unit, and wherein the second portion of the window unit or the door unit includes a moving portion of the window unit or the door unit.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the moving portion of the window unit or the door unit includes a window or a door, and wherein the non-moving portion of the window unit or the door unit includes a window frame or a door frame.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the microcontroller unit using the measured acceleration or vibration and the measured magnetic field to make the security determination includes the microcontroller unit determining whether window unit movement or door unit movement is within a predetermined range of movement, the microcontroller unit determining whether the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially open or closed, or the microcontroller unit identifying an attempt to defeat event.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the microcontroller unit compares at least one of the measured acceleration or vibration and the measured magnetic field to a predetermined reference value to determine whether window unit movement or door unit movement is within the predetermined range of movement, whether the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially open or closed, or whether the attempt to defeat event is occurring.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the microcontroller unit uses the measured acceleration or vibration to initially determine whether the window unit movement or the door unit movement is within the predetermined range of movement, or whether the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially opened or closed, and wherein the microcontroller unit uses the measured magnetic field to confirm that the window unit movement or the door unit movement is within the predetermined range of movement, or that the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially opened or closed.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the microcontroller unit uses the measured magnetic to initially determine whether the window unit movement or the door unit movement is within the predetermined range of movement, whether the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially opened or closed, or whether the attempt to defeat event is occurring, and wherein the microcontroller unit uses the measured acceleration or vibration to confirm that the window unit movement or the door unit movement is within the predetermined range of movement, that the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially opened or closed, or that the attempt to defeat event is occurring.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user input mechanism in communication with the microcontroller unit,

wherein the user input mechanism receives user input,

wherein the user input mechanism transmits the user input to the microcontroller unit, and

wherein the microcontroller unit uses the user input to make the security determination.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the microcontroller until identifies a signal analysis algorithm to execute based on the user input.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the microcontroller unit using the measured acceleration or vibration, the measured magnetic field, and the user input to make the security determination includes the microcontroller determining whether window unit movement or door unit movement is within a predetermined range of movement identified by the user input, or the microcontroller unit determining a state of the window unit or the door unit to monitor identified by the user input.

13. A method comprising:

mounting an accelerometer in or on a first portion of a window unit or a door unit;

mounting a magnetometer in or on the first portion of the window unit or the door unit;

the accelerometer measuring acceleration or vibration relative to a second portion of the window unit or the door unit and transmitting the measured acceleration or vibration to a microcontroller unit;

the magnetometer measuring magnetic field relative to a sensor magnet mounted on or embedded in the second portion of the window unit or the door unit and transmitting the measured magnetic field to the microcontroller unit; and

the microcontroller unit using the measured acceleration or vibration and the measured magnetic field to make a security determination.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the microcontroller unit using the measured acceleration or vibration and the measured magnetic field to make the security determination includes the microcontroller unit determining whether window unit movement or door unit movement is within a predetermined range of movement, the microcontroller unit determining whether the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially open or closed, or the microcontroller unit identifying an attempt to defeat event.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the microcontroller unit comparing at least one of the measured acceleration or vibration and the measured magnetic field to a predetermined reference value to determine whether window unit movement or door unit movement is within the predetermined range of movement, whether the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially open or closed, or whether the attempt to defeat event is occurring.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

the microcontroller unit using the measured acceleration or vibration to initially determine whether the window unit movement or the door unit movement is within the predetermined range of movement, or whether the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially opened or closed; and

the microcontroller unit using the measured magnetic field to confirm that the window unit movement or the door unit movement is within the predetermined range or movement, or that the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially opened or closed.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

the microcontroller unit using the measured magnetic field to initially determine whether the window unit movement or the door unit movement is within the predetermined range of movement, whether the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially opened or closed, or whether the attempt to defeat event is occurring; and

the microcontroller unit using the measured acceleration or vibration to confirm that the window unit movement or the door unit movement is within the predetermined range of movement, that the window unit or the door unit is open, closed, or partially opened or closed, or that the attempt to defeat event is occurring.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

a user input mechanism receiving user input;

the user input mechanism transmitting the user input to a microcontroller unit; and

the microcontroller unit using the user input to make the security determination.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the microcontroller unit identifying a signal analysis algorithm to execute based on the user input.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the microcontroller determining whether window unit movement or door unit movement is within a predetermined range of movement identified by the user input, or the microcontroller unit determining a state of the window unit or the door unit to monitor identified by the user input.