Occupant status monitor

• US 6,587,049 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ralph W. Thacker
• Inventors: Thacker, Ralph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/683,173
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/521, 340/522, 340/330, 340/331
• 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 using passive infrared technology to analyze the thermal energy in a given space, to determine whether a person is present, and if so, whether he or she is experiencing an emergency or a normal physical state. A detector mounted on the wall or ceiling collects the thermal data. A microprocessor in a desk top control module or a personal computer determines occupant status from the data and instructs a wall-mounted indicator to activate occupant status signals. The preferred signals are: an intermittent red light and tone for emergencies, a green light for normal states, and an amber light for absences. Occupant status signals and silent alerts may be transmitted to and from other locations via a communications network. The invention also warns of possible fire danger. Additionally, it may be used to control lights and office machines and integrated with building security systems.

Claims

1. An occupant status monitor comprising:

a detector disposed to sense a plurality of parameters of thermal energy in and relative to a given space wherein the parameters are temperature, size, shape, motion, time, and position, and to transmit data representative of said parameters;

a processor disposed to receive data transmitted by the detector, to compare that data with a predetermined data set representative of attributes of one of a person and of the space, and to transmit a plurality of instructions, each of said instructions being dependent upon the results of at least one comparison; and

an indicator disposed to receive the instructions from the processor and to activate signals about the status of a person relative to the space based upon the instructions received from the processor,

whereby upon a comparison by the processor of the data transmitted by the detector with the predetermined data sets, the signals activated by the indicator will show whether the space is or has been occupied and the status of an occupant relative to the space.

2. An occupant status monitor according to claim 1 wherein the detector is at least one passive infrared receptor.

3. An occupant status monitor according to claim 1 wherein the processor is a microcomputer housed in a stand-alone control module.

4. An occupant status monitor according to claim 1 wherein the processor is a personal computer.

5. An occupant status monitor according to claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises an audiovisual display.

6. An occupant status monitor according to claim 5 wherein the display consists of at least three lights and a tone generator.

7. An occupant status monitor according to claim 5 wherein the display is activated by means of a personal computer.

8. An occupant status monitor according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is remote from the space.

9. An occupant status monitor according to claim 6 wherein a first of the at least three lights and the tone generator are activated in an intermittent mode to signal a first occupant status when a person is present in the space and is experiencing a physical emergency;

and

wherein a second of the at least three lights is activated in the constant mode to signal a second occupant status when a person is present in the space and is not experiencing a physical emergency; and

wherein a third of the at least three lights is activated in an intermittent mode to signal a third occupant status when a person has vacated the space briefly within a predetermined time period; and

wherein none of the at least three lights or the tone generator is activated when no person is present in the space outside of the predetermined time period.

10. An occupant status monitor according to claim 3 wherein the control module further comprises a switch actuatable by an occupant of the space wherein a first of the at least three lights and the tone generator can be activated by an occupant in an intermittent mode to signal a first occupant status wherein the occupant is experiencing an emergency.

11. An occupant status monitor according to claim 3 wherein the control module further comprises a switch actuatable by an occupant of the space wherein a second of the at least three lights can be activated by an occupant in an intermittent mode to signal a variation of the second occupant status wherein the occupant is unwilling to be disturbed.

12. An occupant status monitor according to claim 3 wherein the control module further comprises a switch actuatable by an occupant of the space wherein a third of the at least three lights can be activated by an occupant in the constant mode to signal a variation of the third occupant status wherein the vacation of the space is anticipated to be of a long duration.

13. An occupant status monitor according to claim 10 wherein the tone generator sounds a constant tone to announce that the signal for the first occupant status is about to be activated.

14. An occupant status monitor according to claim 11 wherein a timer commences measuring a predetermined period of time allocated for signaling the unwillingness to be disturbed and the tone generator sounds a modulated tone shortly before the predetermined time period expires.

15. An occupant status monitor according to claim 3 wherein the control module further comprises a connection to a sensor disposed to discern whether or not a telephone in the space is in use, the sensor being further disposed to transmit an indication of a change in usage of the telephone.

16. An occupant status monitor according to claim 15 wherein when the sensor indicates usage of the telephone in the space, a second of the at least three lights will be automatically activated in an intermittent mode to signal the variation of the second occupant status wherein the occupant is unwilling to be disturbed.

17. An occupant status monitor according to claim 15, wherein when the sensor further indicates discontinuance of usage of the telephone in the space, a second of the at least three lights will be automatically activated in a constant mode to signal the second occupant status wherein the occupant is willing to be disturbed.

18. An occupant status monitor according to claim 3, wherein the control module is further adapted to replicate the visual portion of the occupant status signals.

19. An occupant status monitor according to claim 3, wherein the control module is further connected to a communication network and the occupant status signals are remotely accessible.

20. An occupant status monitor according to claim 4 wherein the personal computer is disposed to activate the status signals manually.

21. An occupant status monitor according to claim 4 wherein the personal computer is further connected to a communications network and the occupant status signals are remotely accessible and remotely actuable.

22. An occupant status monitor according to claim 1 wherein the parameter detected by the detector is temperature and the predetermined data set includes a value representing a minimum temperature indicative of fire danger, whereby when the temperature parameter data transmitted by the detector exceeds the predetermined data set value, the instruction sent from the processor will cause the indicator to activate the first occupant status signal as an alarm about a possible fire in the space.

23. An occupant status monitor comprising:

a detector disposed to sense a plurality of parameters of thermal energy in and relative to given space wherein the parameters are temperature, size, shape, motion, time, and position, and to transmit data representative of said parameters;

a processor disposed to receive data transmitted by the detector, to compare that data with a predetermined data set representative of attributes of one of a person and of the space, and to transmit a plurality of instructions, each of said instructions being dependant upon the results of at least one comparison; and

an indicator disposed to receive the instructions from the processor and to activate signals about the status of a person relative to the space based upon the instructions received from the processor,

whereby upon a comparison by the processor of the data transmitted by the detector with a predetermined data set, the signals activated by the indicator will show whether the space is or has been occupied and the status of an occupant relative to the space.

24. An occupant status monitor comprising:

a detector disposed to sense a plurality of parameters of thermal energy in and relative to a given space wherein the parameters are temperature, size, shape, motion, time, and position, and to transmit data representative of said parameters;

a processor disposed to receive data transmitted by the detector, to compare that data with a predetermined data set representative of attributes of one of a person and of the space, and to transmit a plurality of instructions, each of said instructions being dependant upon the results of at least one comparison; and

an indicator comprising an audiovisual display of three lights and a tone generator, and disposed to receive the instructions from the processor and to display information about the status of a person relative to the space based upon the instructions received from the processor,

wherein a first of the at least three lights and the tone generator are activated in an intermittent mode to signal a first occupant status when a person is present in the space and is experiencing a physical emergency; and

wherein a second of the at least three lights is activated in the constant mode to signal a second occupant status when a person is present in the space and is not experiencing a physical emergency; and

wherein a third of the at least three lights is activated in an intermittent mode to signal a third occupant status when a person has vacated the space briefly within a predetermined time period; and

wherein none of the at least three lights or the tone generator is activated when no person is present in the space outside of the predetermined time period.

25. An occupant status monitor comprising:

a detector disposed to sense a plurality of parameters in and relative to a given space wherein the parameters are temperature, size, shape, motion, time, location, and position, and to transmit data representative of said parameters;

a processor disposed to receive data transmitted by the detector, to compare that data with a predetermined data set representative of attributes of one of a person and of the space, and to transmit a plurality of instructions, each of said instructions being dependent upon the results of at least one comparison; and

an indicator disposed to receive the instructions from the processor and to display information about the status of a person relative to the space based upon the instructions received from the processor,

wherein the indicator will display information representing a first occupant status when a person is present in the space and is experiencing a physical emergency;

a second occupant status when a person is present in the space and is not experiencing a physical emergency;

a third occupant status when a person has vacated the space within a predetermined time period; and

a fourth occupant status when no person is present in the space outside of the predetermined time period.

26. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein the detector is at least one passive infrared receptor.

27. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein the processor is a microcomputer housed in a stand-alone control module.

28. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein the processor is a personal computer.

29. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein the indicator comprises an audiovisual display.

30. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein the control module further comprises a switch actuatable by an occupant of the space causing the indicator to display information representing the first occupant status wherein the occupant is experiencing an emergency.

31. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein the control module further comprises a switch actuatable by an occupant of the space causing the indicator to display information representing the second occupant status wherein the occupant is unwilling to be disturbed.

32. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein the control module further comprises a switch actuatable by an occupant of the space to signal that vacation of the space is anticipated to be of a long duration.

33. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein a brief audio signal is generated before the indicator displays information representing the first occupant status.

34. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein the control module further comprises a switch actuatable by an occupant of the space causing the indicator to discontinue display information representing the first occupant status wherein the occupant is experiencing an emergency.

35. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein a timer commences measuring the predetermined period of time allocated for signaling the unwillingness to be disturbed and an audio signal is generated shortly before the predetermined time period expires.

36. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25 wherein the control module further comprises a connection to a sensor disposed to discern whether or not a telephone in the space is in use, the sensor being further disposed to transmit an indication of a change in usage of the telephone.

37. An occupant status monitor according to claim 34 wherein when the sensor indicates usage of the telephone in the space, the indicator will display a variation of the second occupant status wherein the occupant is unwilling to be disturbed.

38. An occupant status monitor according to claim 34, wherein when the sensor further indicates discontinuance of usage of the telephone in the space, indicator will display a variation of the second occupant status wherein the occupant is willing to be disturbed.

39. An occupant status monitor according to claim 25, wherein the control module is further connected to a communication network and the indicator display is remotely accessible.