Occupancy sensor

• US 6,222,191 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1997
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MyTech Corp (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bender, R. Kurt, Myron, Douglas D., Konradi, Vadim A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISRAEL, ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US08/998,344
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 250/353, 250/340, 250/DIG.1, 367/93, 340/541
• US Class Current: 250/353
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/193 using focusing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 250/01 Passive intrusion detectors

Abstract

A multiple sensing technology-based occupancy sensor including a unique sensor case assembly and sensor mounting scheme. The result is an occupancy sensor that is adjustable to provide broader ultrasonic pattern coverage and an ability to focus infrared energy from a variety of directions. In addition, the unique mounting scheme permits simple and efficient installation of the occupancy sensor.

Claims

1. An occupancy based load controller, comprising:

at least one occupancy sensor, including at least one passive infrared sensor;

a passive infrared lens operable to focus infrared energy from a plurality of directions toward said passive infrared sensor;

a passive infrared mask operable to block infrared radiation from selected directions;

a sensor case assembly enclosing said occupancy sensors;

a passive infrared retaining ring removably engaging said passive infrared lens and passive infrared mask to said sensor case assembly; and

wherein said mask is operable to rotate within and relative to said sensor case assembly to adjust the spatial sensitivity of said sensor.

2. The load controller of claim 1, wherein said passive infrared lens is a multi-faceted Fresnel lens.

3. The load controller of claim 1, wherein said passive infrared mask is an oblong pattern mask operable to pass infrared radiation in a narrow pattern.

4. The load controller of claim 1, wherein said passive infrared mask is a 180 degree mask.

5. The load controller of claim 1, wherein said passive infrared mask is a 270 degree mask.

6. The load controller of claim 1, wherein said passive infrared mask is a 360 degree mask.

7. The load controller of claim 1, wherein said passive infrared mask is operable to rotate in increments of 30 degrees.

8. The load controller of claim 1, wherein said sensor case assembly further comprises one or more light pipes operable to conduct light from a LED motion indicator through said sensor case assembly.

9. An occupancy based load controller, comprising:

at least one occupancy sensor, including at least one ultrasonic transmitter and sensor;

a sensor case assembly enclosing said at least one occupancy sensor;

a light-emitting motion indicator within said sensor case assembly;

at least one light pipe within said sensor case assembly, said light pipe including a first surface coupled to said light-emitting motion indicator and a second surface coupled adjacent to an exterior of said sensor case assembly;

said at least one light pipe operable to conduct light from said light-emitting motion indicator within said sensor to said exterior of said sensor case assembly, said first surface acting as a light input and said second surface acting as a light output.

10. The load controller of claim 9, wherein said first and second surfaces are contiguous.

11. An occupancy based load controller mountable to a surface of a structure, comprising:

at least one occupancy sensor;

a sensor case assembly enclosing said at least one occupancy sensor; and

a sensor mounting plate adapted to be fastened to the surface of the structure, said sensor mounting plate being removably coupled to said sensor case assembly with one or more mounting tabs to permit removal of said sensor case assembly and said occupancy sensors from said sensor mounting plate without removing said sensor mounting plate from the surface of the structure.

12. The load controller of claim 11, further comprising:

a sensor mounting stud; and

fastening means adapted for securing said sensor mounting plate and said sensor mounting stud to the surface of the structure.

13. The load controller of claim 12, wherein the structure the load controller is mounted to is a ceiling.

14. The load controller of claim 12, wherein the structure the load controller is mounted to is a junction box.

15. The load controller of claim 12, wherein the structure the load controller is mounted to is a light ballast.

16. The load controller of claim 12, wherein the structure the load controller is mounted to is a wall.

17. The load controller of claim 11, wherein said sensor mounting plate permits rotation of said sensor case assembly without rotating said sensor mounting plate, said sensor mounting plate comprising:

a generally flat plate;

a shallow rim on a perimeter of said flat plate; and

a plurality of teeth on said shallow rim, said teeth being operable with a plurality of teeth on said sensor case assembly to provide tactile feedback during rotation of said sensor case assembly.

18. The load controller of claim 11, wherein said sensor mounting plate comprises four mounting tabs uniformly spaced 90 degrees apart.