Compact wireless sensor
First Claim
1. A compact wireless sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising:
- a housing unit having an exterior top and side wall defining an interior space in which the side wall is no greater than 1 inch, said housing unit being of a size and shape that can be inserted within an existing conventional window or door frame without being generally visible from the front or rear;
a switch capable of detecting a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state;
a microprocessor being able to sample the state of the switch at select intervals and revert to an idle mode;
a PCB, a wireless transmitter that can receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of switch'"'"'s state and transmit the signal from the microprocessor via a wireless antenna;
a timer connected to said microprocessor for sampling the switch at the select time intervals; and
a power source connected to the PCB for providing electric power to the microprocessor, the switch, the timer, and the wireless transmitter;
the antenna extending externally of the housing;
wherein said power source is a compact sized battery; and
wherein said switch, said battery, said microprocessor, said wireless transmitter, and said timer are all positioned together to fit within said interior space of said housing unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A compact size wireless sensor for sensing a change of state that includes a sensor switch, a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter, a timer (e.g., a low power clock circuit), an antenna, and a coin cell battery power source. The coin cell battery, which is positioned in a stacking arrangement with the microprocessor, switch, and transmitter, allows the sensor to be of a significantly reduced size. Moreover, to provide long life despite a small battery, the microprocessor is run in a standby mode in which the microprocessor draws little power unless it actually samples the state of the sensor switch during select intervals. Various electronic components individually, or in combination, assist in the sampling (monitoring mode) in such a way as to reduce current consumption from the power source. The compact size makes the sensor ideally applicable for wireless intrusion systems embedded within hollow frames of windows and doors. Not only are such wireless sensors concealed and not readily seen by intruders, but the size allows the sensors to be installed within conventional sized window and door frames without piercing outer walls of the frames (thus avoiding nullification of window and door manufacturers'"'"' warranties).
56 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A compact wireless sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising:
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a housing unit having an exterior top and side wall defining an interior space in which the side wall is no greater than 1 inch, said housing unit being of a size and shape that can be inserted within an existing conventional window or door frame without being generally visible from the front or rear; a switch capable of detecting a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state;
a microprocessor being able to sample the state of the switch at select intervals and revert to an idle mode;
a PCB, a wireless transmitter that can receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of switch'"'"'s state and transmit the signal from the microprocessor via a wireless antenna;
a timer connected to said microprocessor for sampling the switch at the select time intervals; and
a power source connected to the PCB for providing electric power to the microprocessor, the switch, the timer, and the wireless transmitter;the antenna extending externally of the housing; wherein said power source is a compact sized battery; and wherein said switch, said battery, said microprocessor, said wireless transmitter, and said timer are all positioned together to fit within said interior space of said housing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A wireless sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising:
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a housing unit having an exterior top and side wall defining an interior space in which the side wall is no greater than 1 inch, said housing unit being of a size and shape that can be inserted within an existing conventional window or door frame without being generally without being generally visible from the front or rear; a switch capable of detecting a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state;
a microprocessor being able to sample the state of the switch at select intervals and revert to an idle mode;
a wireless transmitter that can receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of switch'"'"'s state and transmit the signal via an antenna;
a timer connected to said microprocessor for monitoring the switch at the select time intervals; and
a power source for providing electric power to the microprocessor, said timer, and said wireless transmitter;wherein the power source is a 3 volt lithium coin cell compact sized battery.
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27. A wireless sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising:
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a housing unit having an exterior top and side wall defining an interior space in which the side wall is no greater than 1 inch, said housing unit being of a size and shape that can be inserted within an existing conventional window or door frame without being generally visible from the front or rear; a switch capable of detecting a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state;
a microprocessor being able to sample the state of the switch at select intervals and revert to an idle mode;
a wireless transmitter that can receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of switch'"'"'s state and transmit the signal via an antenna;
a timer connected to said microprocessor for monitoring the switch at the select time intervals; and
a power source for providing electric power to the microprocessor, said timer, and said wireless transmitter; andwherein said power source is a compact battery and wherein the wireless transmitter is an RF transmitter.
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28. A wireless sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising:
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a housing unit having an exterior top and side wall defining an interior space in which the side wall is no greater than 1 inch, said housing unit being of a size and shape that can be inserted within an existing conventional window or door frame without being generally visible from the front or rear; a switch capable of detecting a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state;
a microprocessor being able to sample the state of the switch at select intervals and revert to an idle mode;
a wireless transmitter that can receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of switch'"'"'s state and transmit the signal via an antenna;
a timer connected to said microprocessor for monitoring the switch at the select time intervals; and
a power source for providing electric power to the microprocessor, said timer, and said wireless transmitter; andwherein said power source is a compact battery and wherein the antenna is a nearly ¼
wave wire antenna.
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29. A wireless sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising:
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a switch capable of detecting a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state;
a microprocessor being able to sample the state of the switch at select intervals and revert to an idle mode;
a wireless transmitter that can receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of switch'"'"'s state and transmit the signal via an antenna;
a timer connected to said microprocessor for monitoring the switch at the select time intervals; and
a power source for providing electric power to the microprocessor, said timer, and said wireless transmitter; andwherein said power source is a compact battery and wherein the microprocessor operates in a standby mode further including a battery low voltage detect circuit and a low power clock circuit having two outputs, where one output goes to an I/O port on the microprocessor and the other resets the microprocessor.
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30. A wireless sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising:
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a switch capable of detecting a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state;
a microprocessor being able to sample the state of the switch at select intervals and revert to an idle mode;
a wireless transmitter that can receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of switch'"'"'s state and transmit the signal via an antenna;
a timer connected to said microprocessor for monitoring the switch at the select time intervals; and
a power source for providing electric power to the microprocessor, said timer, and said wireless transmitter; andwherein said power source is a compact battery and wherein the switch is a magnetically activated reed switch, and further wherein the microprocessor operates in a standby mode further including a battery low voltage detect circuit and a low power clock circuit having two outputs, where one output goes to an I/O port on the microprocessor and the other resets the microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A wireless sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising:
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a switch capable of detecting a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state;
a microprocessor being able to sample the state of the switch at select intervals and revert to an idle mode;
a wireless transmitter that can receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of switch'"'"'s state and transmit the signal via an antenna;
a timer connected to said microprocessor for monitoring the switch at the select time intervals; and
a power source for providing electric power to the microprocessor, said timer, and said wireless transmitter; andwherein said power source is a compact battery and wherein the microprocessor operates in a standby mode further including a battery low voltage detect circuit and a real-time clock circuit, a tamper switch, and a brownout detector. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A wireless sensor assembly for detecting a change of state comprising:
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a switch capable of detecting a given state and a change of state between the given state and at least one other state;
a microprocessor being able to sample the state of the switch at select intervals and revert to an idle mode;
a wireless transmitter that can receive a signal from the microprocessor identifying a change of switch'"'"'s state and transmit the signal via an antenna;
a timer connected to said microprocessor for monitoring the switch at the select time intervals; and
a power source for providing electric power to the microprocessor, said timer, and said wireless transmitter; andwherein said power source is a compact battery and wherein the microprocessor operates in a standby mode further including a battery low voltage detect circuit, a supervisory timer, a watchdog timer and brown out detector that resets the microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A wireless security sensor system, comprising:
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a pair of members; the members comprising a frame having a first exterior surface and second interior surface with a hollow interior therebetween defining an opening and a closure having a peripheral exterior surface movable relative to the frame between open and closed positions, the closure closing the opening in the closed position; a sensor unit embedded in the hollow interior of the frame; the sensor unit including a housing and the housing having a sidewall and an outer end that defines a hollow interior of the sensor unit, and said sensor unit being of a size to fit within the hollow interior of the frame between the first exterior surface and second exterior surface; the sensor unit further including a magnetically activated sensor switch, a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter, a timer, and a coin cell battery that all fit within the sensor unit housing hollow interior; and a magnet assembly having a first end and a second end mounted in the closure for actuating the sensor switch. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification