Occupancy sensor and method of operating same
First Claim
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1. An occupancy based load controller, comprising:
- a plurality of occupancy sensors for producing a respective plurality of occupancy estimator signals, each occupancy estimator signal existing at more than two signal levels that are related to a level of motion within a space detected by the respective occupancy sensor;
a programmable microprocessor connected to said plurality of occupancy sensors, for calculating a composite occupancy estimator from said plurality of occupancy estimator signals, and for comparing said composite occupancy estimator to a composite activation threshold; and
a controllable load energizing device responsive to said microprocessor, operable to automatically energize an electrical load when said microprocessor determines that said composite occupancy estimator is greater than said composite activation threshold.
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Abstract
A multiple sensing technology-based occupancy sensor. Ultrasonic and infrared sensors are used to produce first and second occupancy estimator signals that are combined using a fusion based detection algorithm to produce a combined estimator signal. The combined estimator is then used to switch electrical loads when the combined estimator signal is above a predetermined threshold. The result is an occupancy sensor that has a very high probability of occupancy detection and a low probability of false tripping.
178 Citations
83 Claims
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1. An occupancy based load controller, comprising:
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a plurality of occupancy sensors for producing a respective plurality of occupancy estimator signals, each occupancy estimator signal existing at more than two signal levels that are related to a level of motion within a space detected by the respective occupancy sensor; a programmable microprocessor connected to said plurality of occupancy sensors, for calculating a composite occupancy estimator from said plurality of occupancy estimator signals, and for comparing said composite occupancy estimator to a composite activation threshold; and a controllable load energizing device responsive to said microprocessor, operable to automatically energize an electrical load when said microprocessor determines that said composite occupancy estimator is greater than said composite activation threshold. - 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, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for controlling an electrical load as a function of occupancy of a space, comprising:
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generating a plurality of occupancy estimator signals, each occupancy estimator signal existing at more than two signal levels that are related to a level of motion within a space; calculating a composite occupancy estimator from said plurality of occupancy estimator signals; comparing said composite occupancy estimator to a composite activation threshold; and energizing the electrical load when said composite occupancy estimator is greater than said composite activation threshold. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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81. A method for controlling an electrical load as a function of occupancy of a space, comprising:
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transmitting continuous wave ultrasonic signals into said space; receiving a Doppler-shifted ultrasonic signal reflected from said space; sampling said Doppler shifted ultrasonic signal near a zero crossing point of said Doppler shifted ultrasonic signal to provide a sampled Doppler-shifted ultrasonic signal; detecting occupancy of said space as a function of said sampled Doppler-shifted ultrasonic signal; and energizing the electrical load when said sampled Doppler-shifted ultrasonic signal indicates that said space is occupied. - View Dependent Claims (82)
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83. A method of operating a occupancy based load controller, including:
- at least one occupancy sensor for producing at least one occupancy estimator signal indicative of motion within a space, a programmable microprocessor, connected to said at least one occupancy sensor, for comparing said occupancy estimator signal to a predetermined threshold; and
a controllable load energizing device responsive to said programmable microprocessor, operable to automatically energize an electrical load when said microprocessor determines that said occupancy estimator signal is greater than said predetermined threshold;
said method comprising;maintaining a status of said occupancy based load controller; detecting a predetermined status-reporting motion pattern, distinct from a normal motion pattern, within said space; and reporting said status upon detection of said predetermined status-reporting motion pattern.
- at least one occupancy sensor for producing at least one occupancy estimator signal indicative of motion within a space, a programmable microprocessor, connected to said at least one occupancy sensor, for comparing said occupancy estimator signal to a predetermined threshold; and
Specification