Local network based multiple sensor device with electrical load control means and with temperature sensor that is exposed to ambient air by diffusion
First Claim
1. A multiple sensor device for use on a local operating network, comprising:
- a housing;
a motion sensing unit located at least partially within said housing;
an ambient light sensing unit located at least partially within said housing;
a temperature sensing unit including a temperature sensor, said temperature sensor being positioned within an air chamber in said housing, said air chamber being configured to seal said temperature sensor to prevent air within said housing from contacting said temperature sensor;
a vent in said housing positioned relative to said air chamber such that air from outside said housing is permitted to diffuse through said vent and contact said temperature sensor;
load control means for controlling electrical power to be applied to a load bound to the multiple sensor device, said load control means being operable in a plurality of modes, wherein when operating in at least one of said plurality of modes said load control means is responsive to said motion sensing unit and said ambient light sensing unit; and
communication means for receiving information from one or more electrical devices connected to the local operating network and for transmitting information relative to said motion sensing unit, said ambient light sensing unit and said temperature sensing unit to one or more electrical devices over the local operating network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multifunction sensor device which provides various transducer functions including means for performing temperature sensing, ambient light sensing, motion detection, switching functions and a means to put the device in an on, off or auto mode. The device has utility in environments such as that found in offices, schools, homes, industrial plants or any other type of automated facility in which sensors are utilized for energy monitoring and control, end user convenience or HVAC control. Key elements of the invention include overcoming the difficulty of mounting diverse sensors or transducers within the same device or housing; permitting these various sensors to exist in a single package that can be mounted to a wall in a substantially flush manner; and eliminating the requirement of an air flow channel in the device, thus minimizing any adverse effects on the motion detecting element or sensor as well as providing built in partial hysteresis. The device may include additional transducers or sensors and is constructed such that the temperature sensor is neither exposed to the flow of air in a room or area nor in an airflow channel whereby a chimney effect may occur. The device has a passive alcove or cavity that acclimates to the ambient air temperature through the process of diffusion. The device can transmit and receive real time data, relative data and actual discrete data in addition to switching and controlling loads locally or remotely.
117 Citations
83 Claims
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1. A multiple sensor device for use on a local operating network, comprising:
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a housing; a motion sensing unit located at least partially within said housing; an ambient light sensing unit located at least partially within said housing; a temperature sensing unit including a temperature sensor, said temperature sensor being positioned within an air chamber in said housing, said air chamber being configured to seal said temperature sensor to prevent air within said housing from contacting said temperature sensor; a vent in said housing positioned relative to said air chamber such that air from outside said housing is permitted to diffuse through said vent and contact said temperature sensor; load control means for controlling electrical power to be applied to a load bound to the multiple sensor device, said load control means being operable in a plurality of modes, wherein when operating in at least one of said plurality of modes said load control means is responsive to said motion sensing unit and said ambient light sensing unit; and communication means for receiving information from one or more electrical devices connected to the local operating network and for transmitting information relative to said motion sensing unit, said ambient light sensing unit and said temperature sensing unit to one or more electrical devices over the local operating network. - 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)
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29. An electrical network incorporating multiple sensor devices comprising:
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at least one controllable load; a control unit connected to said at least one controllable load via a local operating network; and at least one multiple sensing device connected to said control unit via said local operating network, wherein said multiple sensing device includes; a housing; a motion sensing unit located at least partially within said housing; an ambient light sensing unit located at least partially within said housing; a temperature sensing unit including a temperature sensor, said temperature sensor being positioned within an air chamber in said housing, said air chamber being configured to seal said temperature sensor to prevent air within said housing from contacting said temperature sensor; a vent in said housing positioned relative to said air chamber such that air from outside said housing is permitted to diffuse through said vent and contact said temperature sensor; load control means for controlling electrical power to be applied to said at least one controllable load, said load control means being operable in a plurality of modes, wherein when operating in at least one of said plurality of modes said load control means is responsive to said motion sensing unit and said ambient light sensing unit; and communication means for receiving information from said control unit and for transmitting information relative to said motion sensing unit, said ambient light sensing unit and said temperature sensing unit to said control unit. - View Dependent Claims (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)
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63. A multiple sensor device for use on a local operating network, comprising:
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motion sensing means for sensing motion within a predefined area; ambient light sensing means for measuring light within the predefined area; temperature sensing means for sensing temperature within the predefined area; means for diffusing ambient air associated with the predefined area toward said temperature sensing means; load control means for controlling electrical power to be applied to a load bound to the multiple sensor device, said load control means being operable in a plurality of modes, wherein when operating in at least one of said plurality of modes said load control means is responsive to said motion sensing means and said ambient light sensing means; and communication means for receiving information from one or more electrical devices connected to the local operating network and for transmitting information relative to said motion sensing means, said ambient light sensing means and said temperature sensing means to one or more electrical devices over the local operating network. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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Specification