Wireless light sensor input to a security system

• US 7,119,678 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Katz, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/854,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20050264415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 340/538, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/310.11, 340/506, 340/577, 340/600, 250/203.4, 250/208.02, 250/208.04
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/06 using power transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for the wireless light sensor input to a security system, wherein the light sensed by the light sensor is used to determine the activation and deactivation state of the security system. The system and method determine a light level threshold value and obtaining a light level value. Further, the obtained light level value is compared to a light level threshold value in order to determine if the present light level value is greater than or less than the light level threshold value, and finally, a signal is transmitted to a remote device in response to the comparison of the light level value.

Claims

1. A system for the wireless light sensor input to a security system, comprising:

a light detector, wherein the light detector comprises;

(i) a light detection means for detecting the change of states of light from light to dark and from dark to light;

(ii) a processor in electrical communication with the light detection means;

(iii) a wireless transmitter in electrical communication with the processor;

an alarm control panel in communication with the light detector, wherein the alarm control panel comprises;

(i) a processor;

(ii) a receiver in electrical communication with the processor;

(iii) a power line interface in electrical communication with the processor,

wherein the power line interface is coupled to a power distribution system;

at least one remote device controller that is coupled to the power distribution system, the remote device controller being in electrical communication with the alarm control panel via the power distribution system; and

at least one remote device that is coupled to the power distribution system, the remote device being in electrical communication with the at least one remote device controller via the power distribution system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein if the light level voltage detected by the light detection means is above a predetermined threshold value, indicative of a dark condition, then the light detection means transmits a restore signal to the alarm control panel.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein if the light detected by the light detection means is below a predetermined threshold value, indicative of a light condition, then the light detection means transmits a fault signal to the alarm control panel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein upon receiving a fault signal, the alarm control panel transmits a command signal via the power distribution system to the remote device controller to activate the remote device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein upon receiving the command signal to activate the remote device, the remote device controller transmits an activation signal to the remote device, thereby, activating the remote device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein upon receiving the restore signal, the alarm control panel transmits a command signal via the power distribution system to the remote device to deactivate the remote device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein upon receiving the command signal to deactivate the remote device, the remote device controller transmits a deactivation signal to the remote device, thereby, deactivating the remote device.

8. A method for wireless light sensor input to a security system, comprising the steps of:

determining a light level threshold value;

receiving a first light level value from a wireless light sensor;

comparing the first light level value to the light level threshold value plus hysteresis in order to determine if a present light level value is greater than or less than the light level threshold value; and

transmitting a signal to a remote device in response to the determination of the compared value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of comparing the first light level value to the light level threshold value in order to determine if the present light level value is greater than or less than the light level threshold value further comprises the step of transmitting a signal to a control panel in response to an outcome of the comparison between the light level threshold value and the first light level value.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of transmitting a command signal from the control panel to a remote device controller in response to the outcome of the comparison between the light level threshold value and the first light level value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the command signal is a restore signal.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the command signal is a fault signal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of transmitting a signal to a remote device further comprises the step of deactivating a remote device in response to a restore signal transmitted from the remote device controller.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting a signal to a remote device further comprises the step of activating a remote device in response to a fault signal transmitted from the remote device controller.