Dual technology occupancy sensor and method for using the same

• US 6,791,458 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Baldwin, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van T.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20020175815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 340/522, 340/521, 340/552, 340/553, 340/554, 340/565, 340/567, 340/541, 340/555, 340/556, 307/116, 307/117, 307/139, 342/28, 342/53, 342/173, 342/22, 342/27
• US Class Current: 340/522
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1645 using ultrasonic detection means and other detection means, e.g. microwave or infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/183 Single detectors using dual technologies G08B13/1672, G08B13/2448, G08B13/2494 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

A dual technology motion or occupancy sensor, and a method for using the same, to control a lighting circuit to activate and deactivate lights in a monitored area. The sensor employs an infrared energy sensor, a microwave energy sensor, and a controller. The infrared energy sensor outputs an infrared energy detection signal indicative of detection or non-detection of infrared energy, and the microwave energy sensor outputs a microwave energy detection signal indicative of detection or non-detection of microwave energy. The controller outputs a control signal to control activation and deactivation of the lighting circuit in response to a condition of the infrared energy detection signal and a condition of the microwave energy detection signal. Specifically, the controller activates the lighting circuit to turn on the lights in the monitored area when the infrared energy detection signal and microwave energy detection signal indicate occupancy or motion in the monitored area, and maintains the lights in the active state as long as either the microwave energy sensor or the infrared energy sensor sense occupancy or motion in the monitored area.

Claims

1. A sensor, adapted to control a drive circuit for driving a lighting circuit configured to illuminate an area monitored by the sensor, comprising:

an infrared energy sensor, adapted to output an infrared energy detection signal indicative of detection or non-detection of infrared energy;

a microwave energy sensor, adapted to output a pulsed microwave energy detection signal indicative of detection or non-detection of microwave energy;

a test button, adapted to place the sensor in a test mode for a predetermined time period to allow a tester to define a boundary of the area to be monitored by the microwave energy sensor by walking along the perimeter of the area to be monitored; and

a controller, adapted to automatically adjust a sensitivity level for detecting the pulsed microwave energy detection signals during the test mode,

said controller, being further adapted to output a control signal to control said drive circuit to control activation and deactivation of said lighting circuit in response to a condition of said infrared energy detection signal and a condition of said pulsed microwave energy detection signal.

2. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said infrared energy sensor outputs said infrared energy detection signal having a first condition representative of detection of said infrared energy, and outputs said infrared energy detection signal having a second condition representative of non-detection of said infrared energy; and

said microwave energy sensor outputs said pulsed microwave energy detection signal having a first condition representative of detection of said microwave energy, and outputs said pulsed microwave energy detection signal having a second condition representative of non-detection of said microwave energy.

3. A sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

when said controller is outputting said control signal having an activation condition to maintain said lighting circuit in an active state, said controller is adapted to change said control signal to a deactivation condition to deactivate said lighting circuit in response to said infrared energy detection signal having said second condition, or said pulsed microwave energy detection signal having said second condition, for a predetermined duration of time.

5. A sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

when said controller is outputting said control signal having a deactivation condition to maintain said lighting circuit in an inactive state, said controller is adapted to change said control signal to an activation condition to activate said lighting circuit in response to said infrared energy detection signal having said first condition and said pulsed microwave energy detection signal having said first condition.

6. A sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

when said controller is outputting said control signal having an activation condition to maintain said lighting circuit in an active state, said controller is adapted to maintain said control signal in said activation condition to maintain activation of said lighting circuit in response to said infrared energy detection signal having said first condition and said pulsed microwave energy detection signal having said second condition, or vice versa.

7. A sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

when said controller is outputting said control signal having an activation condition to maintain said lighting circuit in an active state, said controller is adapted to change said control signal to a deactivation condition to deactivate said lighting circuit in response to said infrared energy detection signal having said second condition, and said pulsed microwave energy detection signal having said second condition, for a predetermined duration of time.

8. A sensor as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

when either said infrared energy detection signal or said pulsed microwave energy detection signal fails to maintain its respective said second condition for said predetermined duration of time, said controller is adapted to maintain said control signal in said activation condition to maintain said lighting circuit in said active state.

9. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said controller is adapted to compare a magnitude of said pulsed microwave energy detection signal to a microwave detection threshold to determine detection or non-detection of microwave energy, and is adapted to compare a magnitude of said infrared energy detection signal to an infrared detection threshold to determine detection or non-detection of infrared energy.

10. A sensor as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said controller is adapted to adjust at least one of a magnitude of said pulsed microwave detection threshold and a magnitude of said infrared detection threshold.

11. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said drive circuit includes a relay drive for driving a relay that activates and deactivates said lighting circuit; and

said controller is adapted to output said control signal to control said relay drive.

12. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said area includes a room; and

said controller is adapted to output said control signal to control said drive circuit to control activation and deactivation of said lighting circuit to selectively provide light to said room in response to a condition of said infrared energy detection signal and a condition of said pulsed microwave energy detection signal.

4. A sensor as claimed in 3, wherein:

when either said infrared energy detection signal or said pulsed microwave energy detection signal fails to maintain its respective said second condition for said predetermined duration of time, said controller is adapted to maintain said control signal in said activation condition to maintain said lighting circuit in said active state.

13. A method for controlling a drive circuit for driving a lighting circuit configured to illuminate an area monitored by a sensor, comprising:

placing the sensor in a test mode for a predetermined time period to allow a tester to define a boundary of the area to be monitored by a microwave energy sensor by walking along the perimeter of the area to be monitored;

selectively adjusting a sensitivity level for detecting microwave energy detection signals during the test mode;

detecting for infrared energy in said monitored area and providing an infrared energy detection signal indicative of detection or non-detection of said infrared energy;

detecting for pulsed microwave energy in said monitored area and providing a microwave energy detection signal indicative of detection or non-detection of said microwave energy; and

controlling activation and deactivation of said drive circuit to control activation and deactivation of said lighting circuit in response to a condition of said infrared energy detection signal and a condition of said pulsed microwave energy detection signal.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said infrared energy detecting step provides said infrared energy detection signal having a first condition representative of detection of said infrared energy, and outputs said infrared energy detection signal having a second condition representative of non-detection of said infrared energy; and

said microwave energy detecting step provides said pulsed microwave energy detection signal having a first condition representative of detection of said microwave energy, and outputs said pulsed microwave energy detection signal having a second condition representative of non-detection of said microwave energy.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

when said controlling step is maintaining said lighting circuit in an active state, deactivating said lighting circuit when said infrared energy detection signal has said second condition, or said pulsed microwave energy detection signal has said second condition, for a predetermined duration of time.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

when either said infrared energy detection signal or said pulsed microwave energy detection signal fails to maintain its respective said second condition for said predetermined duration of time, maintaining said lighting circuit in said active state.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

when said controlling step is maintaining said lighting circuit in an inactive state, activating said lighting circuit when said infrared energy detection signal has said first condition and said pulsed microwave energy detection signal has said first condition.

18. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

when said controlling step is maintaining said lighting circuit in an active state, maintaining activation of said lighting circuit when said infrared energy detection signal having said first condition and said pulsed microwave energy detection signal has said second condition, or vice versa.

19. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

when said controlling step is maintaining said lighting circuit in an active state, deactivating said lighting circuit when said infrared energy detection signal has said second condition, and said pulsed microwave energy detection signal has said second condition, for a predetermined duration of time.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

when either said infrared energy detection signal or said pulsed microwave energy detection signal fails to maintain its respective said second condition for said predetermined duration of time, maintaining said lighting circuit in said active state.

21. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said controlling step compares a magnitude of said pulsed microwave energy detection signal to a microwave detection threshold to determine detection or non-detection of microwave energy, and compares a magnitude of said infrared energy detection signal to an infrared detection threshold to determine detection or non-detection of infrared energy.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

adjusting at least one of a magnitude of said microwave detection threshold and a magnitude of said infrared detection threshold.

23. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said drive circuit includes a relay drive for driving a relay that activates and deactivates said lighting circuit; and

said controlling controls said relay drive.

24. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said area includes a room; and

said controlling controls said drive circuit to control activation and deactivation of said lighting circuit to selectively provide light to said room in response to a condition of said infrared energy detection signal and a condition of said pulsed microwave energy detection signal.