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Occupancy detector

  • US 5,701,117 A
  • Filed: 01/18/1996
  • Issued: 12/23/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for regulating the on/off status of an electrical device comprising:

  • a first sensing means including a passive infrared sensor that is operable to generate an electronic signal indicating the presence of a person within a defined area;

    a second sensing means including a sound sensor that is operable to generate an electronic signal indicating the presence of sound phenomena within the defined area;

    a control means operatively associated with a timer wherein the control means is in electronic communication with the first and second sensing means and the electrical device, and wherein the control means is operable to maintain the electrical device in an on state when the control means receives from the first sensing means a signal indicating the presence of a person within the defined area, or when the control means receives from the second sensing means a signal above a threshold level indicating the presence of sound phenomena within the defined area, wherein;

    a) the control means is operable to initiate an off state of the electrical device when, throughout a first predetermined time interval, the first sensing means does not generate a signal indicating the presence of a person in the defined area and the second sensing means does not generate a signal above the threshold level indicating the presence of sound phenomena within the defined area;

    b) the control means is operable to reinitiate the on state of the electrical device if it receives from the second sensing means a signal above the threshold level indicating the presence of sound phenomena within the defined area during a second predetermined time interval following the initiation of the off state of the electrical device; and

    c) the control means is operable to reinitiate the on state of the electrical device only by receipt of a signal from the first sensing means indicating the presence of a person within the defined area if a signal from the second sensing means above the threshold level is not received by the control means during the second predetermined time interval following the initiation of the off state of the electrical device.

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