Sensor arrangements, systems and method in relation to automatic door openers

• US 8,099,902 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Secumanagement B.V.
• Original Assignee: Secumanagement B.V.
• Inventors: Christensson, Lennart, Holmqvist, Lars, Larne, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US10/561,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20060244403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,778 Days
• Field of Search: 49/25, 340/825.69, 340/825.37, 340/825.36, 340/542, 340/500, 348/140, 348/142, 348/143, 348/156, 725/9, 725 11- 20
• US Class Current: 49/25
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/767 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/502 of components
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/508 of detection
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A sensor arrangement controls opening and closing of a door device. The sensor arrangement is arranged to be mounted in the vicinity of the door device. The sensor arrangement comprises an image-acquiring means, which monitors and acquires images of a field of view that encompasses at least an approach area located adjacent said door device, and a movement detector, which is arranged to process the acquired images in order to detect a movement, which is to result in an opening of the door device. The sensor arrangement also comprises an event generator, which is arranged to process information regarding the door device and said field of view in order to identify at least one event according to predetermined criteria, wherein the event generator in response to an identification of an event creates a recording of the event.

Claims

1. A sensor arrangement for controlling opening and closing of a door device, said sensor arrangement being arranged to be mounted in a vicinity of the door device, said sensor arrangement comprising

an image-acquiring means, which is arranged to be mounted in a viewing position wherein said image-acquiring means monitors a field of view that encompasses at least an approach area located adjacent said door device, said image-acquiring means being adapted to acquire images of said field of view,

a movement detector, which is arranged to receive said acquired images and which is arranged to process the received images in order to detect a movement, which is to result in an opening of the door device, and

an event generator, which is arranged to receive information regarding said door device and said field of view, said information comprising said acquired images, said event generator being arranged to process said information in order to identify at least one event according to predetermined criteria, said at least one event pertaining to exceptional situations excluded from normal operation of said sensor arrangement, said exceptional situations being defined by said predetermined criteria, wherein the event generator creates a permanent recording of the event in response to an identification of the event, and wherein the event generator creates a temporarily buffered recording during normal operation of said sensor arrangement.

2. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement is a unitary structure.

3. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said event generator is arranged to receive information from a door position sensor regarding position and/or speed of said door device.

4. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said recording includes associated information regarding said event, wherein a predefined specification determines what associated information is to be included in a recording.

5. The sensor arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said recording includes at least one image of said field of view.

6. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one event to be identified by the event generator includes at least one event that permanently changes the settings of said field of view that is monitored by the image-acquiring means.

7. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said event generator is arranged to process the received images in order to identify a plurality of different events according to different predetermined criteria.

8. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit, which is arranged to transmit said recording of the event over a data network to which the sensor arrangement is connected.

9. A sensor arrangement for controlling opening and closing of a door device, said sensor arrangement being arranged to be mounted in a vicinity of the door device, said sensor arrangement comprising

an image-acquiring means, which is arranged to be mounted in a viewing position wherein said image-acquiring means monitors a field of view that encompasses at least an approach area located adjacent said door device, said image-acquiring means being adapted to acquire images of said field of view, and

an event generator, which is arranged to process information regarding said door device and said field of view in order to identify at least one event according to predetermined criteria, said at least one event pertaining to exceptional situations excluded from normal operation of said sensor arrangement, said exceptional situations being defined by said predetermined criteria, wherein the event generator creates a permanent recording of the event only in response to an identification of the event, said recording comprising at least one image of the field of view, and wherein the event generator creates a temporarily buffered recording during normal operation of said sensor arrangement.