Occupancy status indicator

• US 6,359,564 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ralph W. Thacker
• Inventors: Thacker, Ralph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/652,551
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/521, 340/522, 340/330, 340/331, 340/332
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/00 Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A system is disclosed for indicating the status of a person relative to a workspace. A motion detector senses the entry and exit of the person through a entryway of the space and distinguishes the difference between the person'"'"'s presence when moving and when stationary. An indicator automatically displays a constant green light to announce the person'"'"'s presence, a flashing green light when the telephone is being used, a flashing amber light for short duration absences, a constant amber light for long duration absences and an intermittent red light and beeper for emergencies. A controller houses a preprogrammed microprocessor, a communications link and three illuminated buttons corresponding in color to the lights of the indicator and functioning in tandem with them. The green button activates the “Do not disturb” display, the amber button the long duration absence display and the red button the emergency alarm. In a second embodiment, a computer is connected to the controller for entering whereabouts messages and for receiving status indications and whereabouts messages from other workspaces. Occupancy status indications may be expressed by the indicator lights and beeper and/or as graphics on the computer monitor. In a third embodiment, the program is loaded into the computer. All manual commands are entered by combinations of “hot keys” on its keyboard and selected indicator settings may be changed from remote locations. In all three embodiments, a silent alert may be sent to selected, remote locations by use of a concealed switch.

Claims

1. An occupancy status indicator comprising:

a motion detector adapted to send a signal when it detects motion in a space and when it detects the presence of a person in the space;

an indicator for displaying information about the occupancy of the space; and

a controller connected to the motion detector and the indicator wherein the controller will

activate the indicator to display a first condition when the motion detector signals motion in the space and the presence of a person in the space, said motion and presence being a first status;

activate the indicator to display a second condition when no motion is detected in the space and the motion detector signals the presence of a person in the space, said presence and lack of motion being a second status; and

activate the indicator to display a third condition when no motion is detected in the space and no person is detected in the space, said lack of motion and lack of presence being a third status.

2. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the motion detector is a passive infrared sensor.

3. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the controller is a computer.

4. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the indicator is a visual display.

5. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 4 wherein the visual display comprises three lights.

6. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 5 wherein the lights are red, amber, and green, and wherein the green light is displayed for the first condition, the red light is displayed for the second condition, and the amber light is displayed for the third condition.

7. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 4 wherein the visual display appears on a computer screen.

8. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the controller is further connected to a communications network.

9. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the indicator is remote from the space.

10. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the space is defined by a cubicle and the indicator is mounted on the cubicle.

11. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the space is partially enclosed and accessible by an entryway, and the motion detector is positioned to detect the direction of motion through the entryway.

12. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein one of the controller and the motion detector determine when no motion exists by sensing a predetermined period of elapsed time from the last motion signal.

13. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 4 wherein the indicator further comprises an audio display.

14. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 13 wherein the audio display is a beeper that is activated only for the second status.

15. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the controller has a component, manually operable, to activate the indicator.

16. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 further comprising a concealed switch to send an alarm to one or more remote locations.

17. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the first condition comprises two modes, one indicating that the space is occupied and the other indicating that the space is occupied with a restriction that the occupant not be disturbed.

18. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 wherein the third condition comprises two modes, one indicating a short duration absence and the other indicating a long duration absence.

19. An occupancy status indicator according to claim 1 further comprising a second indicator in the space wherein the second indicator replicates the display of the indicator.