Occupancy sensors for long-range sensing within a narrow field of view

• US 6,215,398 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brian P. Platner
• Inventors: Platner, Brian P., Mudge, Philip H., Fassbender, William J., Platner, Keith K.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/212,738
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 340/555, 340/556, 340/557, 340/309.15, 340/693.5, 340/693.6, 340/693.9, 340/693.11, 340/567, 340/565, 250/221, 250/342, 250/DIG.1, 307/116, 307/117, 315/150, 315/155, 315/158, 315/159
• US Class Current: 340/556
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/193 using focusing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 250/01 Passive intrusion detectors

Abstract

Occupancy sensors are presented that include a flat lens for focusing detecting beams into narrower, longer range beams than those of conventional curved lenses. A sensing circuit generates a detecting beam that is substantially perpendicular to the flat lens. The flat lens has a plurality of lens segments that provide long, intermediate, and short range sensing beams. To facilitate positioning of an occupancy sensor, the sensor includes a plurality of indicators that indicate the sensor'"'"'s long and short range sensing limits. An override timer circuit is provided that upon activation sets the occupancy sensor in occupancy mode for a predetermined time period. A warm-up timer circuit is also provided that upon power-up automatically sets the occupancy sensor in occupancy mode for a predetermined warm-up period. These occupancy sensors are well-suited for environments with long aisles, high ceilings, and high intensity discharge lighting.

Claims

1. An occupancy sensor for long-range sensing within a narrow field of view, said occupancy sensor comprising:

sensor circuitry operable to sense occupancy and generate occupancy signals, said sensor circuitry comprising a passive infrared sensing circuit that defines a detection zone;

a voltage input terminal coupled to said sensor circuitry for receiving an input voltage;

an output terminal coupled to said sensor circuitry for outputting said occupancy signals;

a rigid housing disposed about said sensor circuitry, said rigid housing having an opening over said sensing circuit; and

a flat lens mounted on said rigid housing over said opening, said sensing circuit positioned such that said detection zone is substantially perpendicular in plan view to said flat lens.

2. The occupancy sensor of claim 1 wherein said occupancy sensor provides long-range sensing up to about 100 feet within a field of view ranging from about 15°

to about 25°

.

3. The occupancy sensor of claim 1 wherein said flat lens is a Fresnel lens.

4. The occupancy sensor of claim 1 wherein said output terminal comprises a relay contact.

5. The occupancy sensor of claim 1 wherein said flat lens has a plurality of lens segments that enable said flat lens to provide said occupancy sensor with long, intermediate, and short range occupancy sensing, said sensing circuit being positioned substantially perpendicular to a long-range lens segment.

6. The occupancy sensor of claim 5 wherein said sensor circuitry further comprises a plurality of indicators that indicate when occupancy is sensed to facilitate positioning of said occupancy sensor, one said indicator indicating when long-range occupancy is sensed and another said indicator indicating when short-range occupancy is sensed.

7. The occupancy sensor of claim 6 wherein said indicators comprise light emitting diodes that illuminate and are visible through said flat lens when occupancy is sensed, one said light emitting diode appearing to illuminate more brightly than other said light emitting diodes when viewed from within a long-range field of view, and another said light emitting diode appearing to illuminate more brightly than other said light emitting diodes when viewed from within a short-range field of view.

8. The occupancy sensor of claim 1 wherein said sensor circuitry further comprises an override timer circuit that when activated causes said sensor circuitry to output for a predetermined time period an occupancy signal indicating occupancy, said override timer circuit returning said occupancy sensor to normal operation substantially upon elapse of said predetermined time period, said override timer circuit comprising resistive and capacitive components that determine a duration of said predetermined time period.

9. The occupancy sensor of claim 8 wherein said resistive component comprises an adjustable potentiometer allowing said duration of said predetermined time period to be varied.

10. The occupancy sensor of claim 8 wherein said duration of said predetermined time period is at least about 100 hours.

11. The occupancy sensor of claim 1 wherein said sensor circuitry further comprises a warm-up timer circuit, said warm-up timer circuit causing said sensor circuitry to output an occupancy signal indicating occupancy for a predetermined warm-up period when power is initially applied to said occupancy sensor, said warm-up timer circuit returning said occupancy sensor to normal operation substantially upon elapse of said predetermined warm-up period, said warm-up timer circuit comprising resistive and capacitive components that determine a duration of said predetermined warm-up period.

12. The occupancy sensor of claim 11 wherein said resistive component comprises an adjustable potentiometer allowing said duration of said predetermined warm-up period to be varied.

13. The occupancy sensor of claim 1 wherein said rigid housing comprises an access door, said access door permitting access to occupancy sensor adjustment controls when open and protecting said adjustment controls and said sensor circuitry from airborne particles when closed, said access door remaining attached to said rigid housing to prevent loss of said access door.

14. The occupancy sensor of claim 1 further comprising mounting hardware attached to said occupancy sensor, said hardware permitting said occupancy sensor to be positioned after said hardware is mounted to a structure such that said long-range sensing and said field of view can be aligned in accordance with a designated area.

15. An occupancy sensor for long-range sensing within a narrow field of view, said occupancy sensor comprising:

sensor circuitry operable to sense occupancy and generate occupancy signals, said sensor circuitry comprising a sensing circuit that generates a detecting beam;

a voltage input terminal coupled to said sensor circuitry for receiving an input voltage;

an output terminal coupled to said sensor circuitry for outputting said occupancy signals;

a rigid housing disposed about said sensor circuitry, said rigid housing having an opening over said sensing circuit; and

a flat lens mounted on said rigid housing over said opening, said sensing circuit positioned such that said detecting beam is substantially perpendicular to said flat lens.

16. The occupancy sensor of claim 15 further comprising mounting hardware attached to said occupancy sensor, said hardware permitting said occupancy sensor to be positioned after said hardware is mounted to a structure such that said long-range sensing and said field of view can be aligned in accordance with a designated area.

17. A method of long-range occupancy sensing within a narrow field of view, said method comprising:

defining long, intermediate, and short range detection zones through a flat lens with a sensing circuit of an occupancy sensor, said flat lens comprising a plurality of lens segments that provide said occupancy sensor with long, intermediate, and short range occupancy sensing; and

positioning said sensing circuit such that said detection zones are substantially perpendicular in plan view to said flat lens.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

indicating when occupancy is sensed in said long range; and

indicating when occupancy is sensed in said short range.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising outputting an occupancy signal indicating occupancy for a predetermined time period.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising returning said occupancy sensor to normal operation substantially upon elapse of said predetermined time period.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising adjusting said predetermined time period.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising outputting an occupancy signal indicating occupancy for a predetermined warm-up period when power is initially applied to said occupancy sensor.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising returning said occupancy sensor to normal operation substantially upon elapse of said predetermined warm-up period.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising adjusting said predetermined warm-up period.