Control device responsive to infrared radiation
First Claim
1. A device responsive to heat emanating from a human body for controlling an auxiliary current line, comprisingdetection means including an infrared detector for producing detection signals in response to infrared radiation in the frequency spectrum emitted by the human body;
- circuit means adapted to receive said detection signals for amplifying them and producing reset signals for those detection signals resulting from movement of a body emanating infrared radiation in said spectrum;
timing means adapted to receive said reset signals for producing a control signal after failing to receive a reset signal for a time period preselected to be longer than the time period expected between movements of a human body within the field of view of said detector; and
control means adapted to receive said control signal for controlling said current line in response thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device responsive to infrared radiation can control a current line to such items as interior lighting or room air conditioners in order to activate these items in response to the presence or absence of a person within their service area. The device includes an infrared detector comprised of a thermopile formed by thin-film techniques for producing detection signals amplified by a series of amplifier stages having filters passing only signals corresponding to motion of a human body. The amplified signals are led to the reset port of a timing circuit which will open the current line when no human motion is sensed within a predetermined time period. Further, the housing for the device includes a protruding neck portion carrying the infrared detector and adapted to be held by a retaining nut after insertion through a ceiling unit or the like.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A device responsive to heat emanating from a human body for controlling an auxiliary current line, comprising
detection means including an infrared detector for producing detection signals in response to infrared radiation in the frequency spectrum emitted by the human body; -
circuit means adapted to receive said detection signals for amplifying them and producing reset signals for those detection signals resulting from movement of a body emanating infrared radiation in said spectrum; timing means adapted to receive said reset signals for producing a control signal after failing to receive a reset signal for a time period preselected to be longer than the time period expected between movements of a human body within the field of view of said detector; and control means adapted to receive said control signal for controlling said current line in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A sensing system responsive to the presence of a human body for controlling the state of an auxiliary device adapted to be coupled to the sensing system, comprising
a detector responsive to infrared radiation in the frequency spectrum emitted by a human body for producing signals indicative of the presence and movement of a source of infrared radiation proximate to the detector, said signals having frequency components relative to a pre-selected threshold level indicative of whether the source of infrared radiation is stationary or moving; -
circuit means for distinguishing between those signals having frequency components below said threshold indicative of a stationary source of infrared radiation and those signals having frequency components above said threshold which are indicative of a moving source of infrared radiation and producing in response to said signals above said threshold level detection signals indicative of the movement of a human body proximate to the detector; and means responsive to said detection signals for producing a control signal after failing to receive a detection signal for a time period selected to be longer than the time period expected between movements of the human body within the field of view of the detector for use in controlling the state of the auxiliary device.
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37. A sensing system responsive to the presence of a human body for controlling the state of an auxiliary device adapted to be coupled to said sensing system, comprising
a detector responsive to infrared radiation in the frequency spectrum emitted by a human body for producing signals indicative of the presence and movement of a source of infrared radiation proximate to the detector, said signals have frequency components indicative of whether the source of infrared radiation is stationary or moving; -
circuit means for distinguishing between those signals indicative of a stationary source of infrared radiation, and producing detection signals indicative of the movement of a human body proximate to the detector; and means responsive to said detection signals and adapted to be coupled to the auxiliary device for producing a control signal after failing to receive a detection signal for a time period selected to be longer than the time period expected between movements of a human body proximate to said detector for use in controlling the state of the auxiliary device.
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- 38. A device responsive to heat emanating from a human body for controlling an auxiliary current line, comprising detection means sensing infrared radiation in the frequency spectrum emitted from the human body for producing a detection signal in response to a change in radiation in said spectrum, circuit means adapted to receive said detection signal for producing a control signal usable for controlling said current line, said circuit means including timing means for ending said control signal upon failing to receive another detection signal in a time period longer than that expected between movements of a human body within the field of view of said detection means.
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50. A device responsive to heat emanating from a human body for controlling an auxiliary current line;
- comprising detection means sensing infrared radiation in the frequency spectrum emitted from the human body for producing a detection signal in response to a change in radiation in said spectrum;
circuit means adapted to receive said detection signal for producing a control signal usable for controlling said current line;
said circuit means including timing means for ending said control signal upon failing to receive another detection signal in a time period longer than that expected between movements of a human body within the field of view of said detection means;
said timing means including clock means for producing a train of clock pulses, counter means for receiving said clock pulses and producing said control signal after counting a predetermined number of said clock pulses, said counter means including reset means for starting the counting of said clock signals over upon receiving a detection signal.
- comprising detection means sensing infrared radiation in the frequency spectrum emitted from the human body for producing a detection signal in response to a change in radiation in said spectrum;
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51. A device responsive to heat emanating from a human body for controlling an auxiliary current line;
- comprising detection means sensing infrared radiation in the frequency spectrum emitted from the human body for producing a detection signal in response to a change in radiation in said spectrum;
circuit means adapted to receive said detection signal for producing a control signal usable for controlling said current line;
said circuit means including digital timing means for ending said control signal upon failing to receive another detection signal in a time period longer than that expected between movements of a human body within the field of view of said detection means and encoding means for producing a digitalized signal for said timing means in response to a detection signal;
said encoding means including two slope detectors, the first of said slope detectors being adapted to produce a digitalized signal in response to a detection signal becoming more positive in response to a human movement toward said detection means, and the other of said slope detectors being adapted to produce a digitalized signal in response to a detection signal becoming more negative in response to human movement away from said detection means.
- comprising detection means sensing infrared radiation in the frequency spectrum emitted from the human body for producing a detection signal in response to a change in radiation in said spectrum;
- 52. A housing for a device responsive to heat emanating from a human body for controlling an auxiliary current line, said housing having a depending neck portion adapted to receive an infrared detector in its lower portion, and a retaining element adapted to be secured to the lower portion of said neck portion whereby said device can be installed to a ceiling or wall by inserting said neck portion through an opening therein and securing said retaining element to the lower portion of said neck portion.
Specification