Wireless sensor

• US 8,854,208 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huizenga, Charles, Corr, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US12/940,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20110109424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/541, 340/13.24, 340/567, 340/531, 340/539.26, 340/691.3, 340/3.5, 370/438, 455/345, 455/457, 315/149, 239/63
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1793 Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• 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: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Systems and methods for wirelessly detecting area changes are provided. Predetermined thresholds may be stored in memory. Each predetermined threshold is associated with a time of day, calendar day, and/or activity. The sensor may detect a change in the in the targeted area. The detected change is evaluated to determine an applicable threshold. Then it may be determined whether the detected change meets a predetermined threshold. If so, information regarding the change is wirelessly transmitted to an associated controller that controls light in the targeted area. The operation of the light may be controlled based on the wirelessly transmitted information.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly detecting area changes, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of predetermined thresholds in a memory, the plurality of predetermined thresholds comprising time of day, calendar day, and activity, wherein the activity is related to an estimated number of occupants within an area targeted by a wireless sensor;

detecting a change in the area targeted by the wireless sensor;

executing instructions stored in the memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

masks a portion of the targeted area by modifying a sensitivity threshold associated with the portion of the targeted area, wherein the masked portion of the targeted area is associated with a different sensitivity level than an unmasked portion of the targeted area;

determines at least two applicable thresholds out of the plurality of predetermined thresholds stored in the memory, wherein one of the at least two applicable thresholds includes the activity; and

determines that the detected change meets the at least two applicable thresholds;

wirelessly transmitting information indicating that the detected change meets the at least two thresholds to an associated controller, wherein the associated controller controls power usage of a device associated with the unmasked portion of the area targeted by the wireless sensor, based on the transmitted information; and

detecting a change in levels of red-green-blue light in the targeted area, wherein the determination that the detected change meets the two applicable thresholds out of the plurality of predetermined thresholds include;

verifying that the detected change in the levels of red-green-blue light is associated with a change in illuminance; and

determining that the change in illuminance meets the two applicable thresholds.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected change further includes a change in occupancy of the unmasked portion of the targeted area as detected by passive infrared sensor cell.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the control of the power usage results in a reduced lighting level for a predetermined time period and further comprising:

determining whether the unmasked portion of the targeted area is occupied during the predetermined time period, wherein the duration of the predetermined time period is increased or decreased based on specified conditions; and

transmitting the determination whether the unmasked portion of the targeted area is occupied during the predetermined time period to the associated controller.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the wirelessly transmitted information further includes a probability of occupancy and wherein the probability of occupancy is evaluated to determine a priority for shedding in a demand response situation.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the detected change in occupancy further includes a change from no occupants to one or more occupants and wherein wirelessly transmitting the information results in one or more lights being switched on.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the detected change in occupancy further includes a change from one or more occupants to no occupants and wherein wirelessly transmitting the information results in one or more lights being switched off.

7. An apparatus for wirelessly detecting area changes, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store one or more predetermined thresholds stored in the memory, the predetermined thresholds comprising time of day, calendar day, and activity, wherein the activity is related to an estimated number of occupants within an area targeted by a wireless sensor;

a sensor cell configured to detect a change in a targeted area;

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

mask a portion of the targeted area by modifying a sensitivity threshold associated with the portion of the targeted area, wherein the masked portion of the targeted area is associated with a different sensitivity level than an unmasked portion of the targeted area;

determine at least two applicable thresholds out of the plurality of predetermined thresholds stored in the memory based on the detected change, wherein one of the at least two applicable thresholds includes the activity; and

determine that the detected change meets the at least two applicable thresholds; and

an interface configured to wirelessly transmit information indicating that the detected change meets the at least two applicable thresholds to an associated controller concerning the change in overall power usage of a light for the unmasked portion of the targeted area by the wireless sensor, wherein the associated controller controls power usage of the light, based on the transmitted information; and

detect a change in levels of red-green-blue light in the targeted area,

wherein the determination that the detected change meets a predetermined threshold includes;

verifying that the detected change in the levels of red-green-blue light is associated with a change in illuminance, and determining that the change in illuminance meets the at least two applicable thresholds.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sensor cell includes a passive infrared sensor for further detecting a change in occupancy of the targeted area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a timekeeper, wherein the control of the power usage results in a reduced lighting level for a predetermined time period indicated by the timekeeper and wherein the sensor cell is further configured to:

determine whether the targeted area is occupied during the predetermined time period; and

transmit the determination to the associated controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the duration of the predetermined time period is automatically increased or decreased based on preset conditions.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising one or more additional sensor cells, wherein each sensor cell is associated with a sensitivity threshold and a portion of the unmasked portion of the targeted area.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wirelessly transmitted information includes a probability of occupancy and wherein the probability of occupancy is evaluated to determine a priority for shedding in a demand response situation.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for wirelessly detecting area changes, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of predetermined thresholds, the predetermined thresholds comprising of time of day, calendar day, and activity, wherein the activity is related to an estimated number of occupants within an area targeted by a wireless sensor;

masking a portion of the targeted area by modifying a sensitivity threshold associated with the portion of the targeted area, wherein the masked portion of the targeted area is associated with a different sensitivity level than an unmasked portion of the targeted area;

detecting a change in the area targeted by the wireless sensor;

determining at least two applicable thresholds out of the plurality of predetermined thresholds based on the detected change, wherein one of the at least two applicable thresholds includes the activity;

determining that the detected change meets the at least two applicable thresholds;

wirelessly transmitting information indicating that the detected change meets the at least two thresholds to an associated controller concerning the change in an overall power usage of a light for the unmasked portion of the targeted area by the wireless sensor, wherein the associated controller controls the power usage based on the transmitted information; and

detecting a change in levels of red-green-blue light in the unmasked portion of the targeted area that meets the at least two applicable thresholds includes;

verifying that the detected change in the levels of red-green-blue light is associated with a change in illuminance; and

determining that the change in illuminance meets the at least two applicable thresholds.