Security and energy control system

• US 6,700,224 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: US Energy Technologies Incorporated (U.S. Energy Technologies)
• Original Assignee: US Energy Technologies Incorporated (U.S. Energy Technologies)
• Inventors: Martin, David V., Biskup, James H. Sr., Sambol, Rohn A. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Polk, Sharon A.
• Application Number:
  US10/275,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11, 307/30-40, 307/85, 307/116, 340/521, 340/522, 340/825.31, 340/825.71, 340/825.42, 236/47
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1909 whose output amplitude can only take two discrete values
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A presence detection and control system (2) outputs an identification code related to an individual, a motion signal in response to detecting motion in a field of view and/or a temperature signal related to an ambient temperature. A main control device (4) generates at least one wireless control signal based on the ID code, the motion signal and/or the temperature signal. A smart outlet (6) or a phone interrupter/dialer (8) can receive at least one wireless control signal. If the smart outlet (6) is responsive to the one wireless control signal, it connects an energy source to an energy consumption device (60, 62 or 64). If the phone interrupter/dialer (8) is responsive to the one wireless control signal, it conveys a message to a conductive communication line. This message is received by a central controller (90) which can log the message and/or a time the message was received.

Claims

1. A presence detection and control system comprising:

a card reader for generating an identification (ID) code in response to detecting an ID card;

a motion sensor for generating a motion signal in response to detecting motion in a field of view of the motion sensor;

a temperature sensor for generating a temperature signal based on a temperature detected thereby;

a transmitter for generating at least one wireless control signal based on the ID code, the motion signal and/or the temperature signal;

a first relay connected between an energy source and an energy consumption device;

a first receiver responsive to a first wireless control signal from the transmitter for causing the first relay to connect the energy source to the power consumption device;

means for conveying a message on a communication line; and

a second receiver responsive to a second wireless control signal from the transmitter for causing the conveying means to convey the message on the communication line, wherein the conveying means includes a first controller for producing the message based on the second wireless control signal, transmitting means responsive to the first controller for transmitting the message on the communication line and a second relay connected between the transmitting means and the communication line, the second relay responsive to the first controller for connecting the transmitting means to the communication line.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitting means includes a modem.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including a second controller responsive to the motion signal for causing the transmitter to output the second wireless control signal which causes the conveying means to convey the message including an indication that the motion signal was generated.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the second controller is responsive to the motion signal and/or the temperature signal for further causing the transmitter to generate the first wireless control signal.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including a second controller responsive to the motion signal and the ID code, wherein:

the second controller determines if a predetermined interval expires from a time when the motion signal is generated;

if the ID code is generated before the predetermined interval expires, the second controller causes the transmitter to generate the second wireless control signal which causes the conveying means to convey the message including the ID code; and

if the ID code is not generated before the predetermined interval expires, the second controller causes the transmitter to generate the second wireless control signal which causes the conveying means to convey the message including an indication that the ID code was not received before the predetermined interval expired.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a second controller responsive to the motion signal and the ID code for determining if the ID code is generated within a predetermined interval after the motion signal is generated and for causing the conveyed message to include an indication thereof; and

a third controller responsive to the conveyed message for setting an alarm condition when the conveyed message includes the indication that the ID code was not generated before the expiration of the predetermined interval.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a second controller responsive to the ID code for causing the conveyed message to include the ID code; and

a third controller responsive to the conveyed message for setting an alarm condition when the ID code does not match a reference ID code.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

means for receiving the conveyed message from the communication line; and

a second controller which records data related to each received message and/or a time each received message is received by the receiving means.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the ID code is magnetically recorded on the ID card; and

the card reader includes means for detecting the ID code when the ID card is positioned adjacent or moves adjacent the card reader.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including a second controller responsive to the temperature signal for causing the transmitter to generate the first wireless control signal which causes the first relay to selectively connect/disconnect the energy source to/from the power consumption device as a function of the temperature signal or a predetermined duty cycle.

11. A presence detection and control system comprising;

means for outputting an identification (ID) code related to an identity of an individual;

means for producing a motion signal in response to detecting motion in a field of view;

means for producing a temperature signal related to an ambient temperature;

means for generating at least one wireless control signal based on the ID code, the motion signal and/or the temperature signal;

means for receiving the at least one wireless control signal; and

at least one of (i) means for connecting an energy source to an energy consumption device in response to the receiving means receiving the at least one wireless control signal and (ii) means for conveying a message to a communication line in response to the receiving means receiving the at least one wireless control signal, wherein the receiving means includes at least one of;

a first receiver responsive to a first wireless control signal for causing the connecting means to connect the energy source to the energy consumption device; and

a second receiver responsive to a second wireless control signal for causing the conveying means to convey the message to the communication line.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11, further including means for determining when a predetermined interval expires from a time when the motion signal is generated, wherein:

in response to output of the ID code before expiration of the predetermined interval, the generating means generates the second wireless control signal which causes the conveying means to convey the message including the ID code; and

in response to expiration of the predetermined interval before output of the ID code, the generating means generates the second wireless control signal which causes the conveying means to convey the message excluding the ID code.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12, further including means for processing the message conveyed to the communication line including at least one of:

(i) recording a time of day the message is processed;

(ii) recording the ID code included in the message when the ID code matches a reference ID code;

(iii) setting an alarm condition when the ID code does not match a reference ID code; and

(iv) setting the alarm condition when the message does not include the ID code.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the conveying means includes:

a first controller for converting the second wireless control signal received by the second receiver into the message;

a first modem responsive to the first controller for transmitting the message to the communication line; and

a relay responsive to the first controller for selectively connecting the modem to the communication line.

15. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the processing means includes:

a second modem connected to the communication line for receiving the message transmitted by the first modem; and

a second controller for acting on the message.

16. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the connecting means includes:

a controller for converting the first wireless control signal received by the first receiver into data; and

a relay responsive to the controller for selectively connecting/disconnecting the energy source to/from the energy consumption device as a function of the data.

17. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the relay selectively connects/disconnects the energy source to/from the energy consumption device at one of a predetermined duty cycle and a temperature related to the temperature signal.

18. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the communication line includes at least one of a telephone line and a computer network cable.