Portable wireless sensor for building control

• US 8,155,664 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: McFarland, Norman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/136,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 455/456.3, 455/457, 455/521, 455/572, 340/539.26, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.27, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A network of wireless radios automatically conserves energy, directs the operation of equipment, and locates assets and personnel. The network may identify changes in the occupancy of a building area and automatically alter the building environment according to predetermined settings, personal preferences, or unexpected conditions. The wireless radios also may include sensors that monitor specific parameters, the parameters may relate to building environment conditions or operating equipment. The network may automatically alter the operating building equipment in response to the parameters received. The wireless radios also may be portable and mounted upon movable items, such as personal identification devices, office furniture, equipment, containers, or other assets. The network may locate the movable items within a building based upon signals received from the wireless radios. The network also may track the movement of the movable items within a building. The wireless radios may operable as a mesh network.

Claims

1. A building automation system of radios forming a network, the system comprising:

a mesh network of wireless radios, each wireless radio having a receiver and/or a transmitter;

a portable radio wirelessly interconnected with the mesh network, the portable radio having a receiver and a transmitter,

wherein the portable radio is affixed on a movable item;

wherein the mesh network is configured to (1) query the portable radio periodically, and (2) automatically determine the current location of the movable item within a building based upon signals and/or data automatically transmitted by the portable radio to the mesh network in response to the query from the mesh network;

wherein the portable radio includes a power supply and a motion detector, the motion detector being configured to turn the portable radio on after detecting movement of the movable item, and upon waking up from a sleep mode, the portable radio transmits a message to the mesh network; and

a handheld configured to generate and display a real-time location map of the wireless radios and the movable item in communication with the mesh network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mesh network is configured to automatically track the movement of the movable item throughout a building based upon the signals and/or data transmitted by the portable radio and received by the network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mesh network is configured to alter the building environment of an area of the building after the mesh network determines that the movable item has entered or exited the area.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the mesh network is configured to direct heating, cooling, and lighting equipment to alter the building environment of the area.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the mesh network is configured to identify the movable item.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the portable radio comprises a processor and a global positioning system (GPS) unit.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the movable item is an item of office furniture, equipment, or a container.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the movable item is a personal identification device.