Controlling intensity of a light through qualified motion sensing

• US 8,461,778 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2010
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Building Robotics, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Enlighted, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mohan, Tanuj, Ashar, Premal
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jianzi
• Application Number:
  US12/943,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20120112667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 315/185.R, 315/192, 315/193, 315/210, 315/291, 315/294, 315/297, 315/307, 315/308, 315/312, 315/313, 315/362
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for controlling light intensity of a light through motion sensing are disclosed. One method includes sensing a first instance of motion. The light is activated only if consecutive instances of motion are sensed, wherein each instance is sensed within a gap of time of a previously sensed instance of motion, and the consecutive instances of motion being sensed span an entire window of time after sensing the first instance of motion. One apparatus includes a motion sensor for sensing a first instance of motion. The apparatus further includes a controller interfaced to the motion sensor and the light, the controller operative to activate the light only if consecutive instances of motion are sensed, wherein each instance is sensed within a gap of time of a previously sensed instance of motion, and the consecutive instances of motion being sensed span an entire window of time after sensing the first instance of motion.

Claims

1. A method of controlling light intensity of a light through motion sensing, comprising:

sensing a first instance of motion;

activating the light only if consecutive instances of motion are subsequently sensed, wherein each instance is sensed within a gap of time of a previously sensed instance of motion, and the consecutive instances of motion being sensed span an entire window of time after sensing the first instance of motion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the light for a light activation time period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the light activation time period is re-started for subsequent determinations of activating the light due to sensed motion during the light activation time period.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising reducing the window of time if the light is within a light activation time period.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising ramping down intensity of the light before an end of the light activation time-period.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein if activating of the light due to sensed motion is determined during the ramping down of intensity of the light, then increasing the light activation time-period.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing an intensity of light near the light before sensing the first instance of motion, and if the intensity of light is below a threshold, then activating the light upon detecting the first instance of motion.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing an intensity of light near the light before sensing the first instance of motion, and if the intensity of light is above a threshold, then suppressing activating the light.

9. An apparatus for controlling light intensity of a light through motion sensing, comprising:

a motion sensor for sensing a first instance of motion;

a controller interfaced to the motion sensor and the light, the controller operative to activate the light only if consecutive instances of motion are sensed, wherein each instance is sensed within a gap of time of a previously sensed instance of motion, and the consecutive instances of motion being sensed span an entire window of time after sensing the first instance of motion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller activates the light for alight activation time period.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the light activation time period is re-started for subsequent determinations of activating the light due to sensed motion.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising reducing the window of time if the light is within the light activation time period.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising the controller operative to ramp down intensity of the light before an end of the light activation time-period.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein if activating of the light due to sensed motion is determined during the ramping down of intensity of the light, then controller operative to increase the light activation time-period.