Controlling a parameter of a device through qualified motion sensing

• US 8,680,789 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2013
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• 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:
  US13/862,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20130221860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 346 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 a parameter of a device through motion sensing are disclosed. 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 device, wherein the controller is 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 a parameter of a device through motion sensing, comprising:

sensing a first instance of motion;

activating the device 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 first instance of motion is followed by a sequence of the consecutive instances of motion;

wherein the device comprises a light, and further comprising sensing an intensity of 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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter includes a light intensity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the device for an activation time period.

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

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising reducing the window of time if the device is within the activation time period.

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

7. An apparatus for controlling parameter of a device through motion sensing, comprising:

a motion sensor for sensing a first instance of motion;

a controller interfaced to the motion sensor and the device, the controller operative to activate the device 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, wherein the controller activates the device for an activation time period;

wherein the device includes a light, and the controller is further operative to ramp down intensity of the light before an end of the activation time-period.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the parameter includes a light intensity.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the activation time period is re-started for subsequent determinations of activating the device due to sensed motion.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising reducing the window of time if the device is within the activation time period.