Motion detecting device, method of providing the same, and method of detecting movement

• US 8,938,367 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Patel, Shwetak N., Reynolds, Matthew S., Abowd, Gregory D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US13/923,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20130289930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 702/45, 702/47, 702/50, 702/57, 702/138, 340/540, 165/59, 964/17, 964/21
• US Class Current: 702/138
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 13/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring differences of two or more fluid pressure values
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/20 Actuation by change of fluid pressure

Abstract

In some embodiments, a motion detecting device is configured to detect whether one or more movement events have occurred. The motion detecting device can include: (a) a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and (b) a sensing device having: (1) one or more pressure sensors configured to provide two or more pressure measurements; and (2) a transmitter electrically coupled to the one or more pressure sensors and configured to transmit the two or more pressure measurements to the computational unit. The processing module is configured to use the two or more pressure measurements to determine whether the one or more movement events have occurred. The sensing device can be configured to be placed in at least one of ductwork of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or an air handler of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A motion detecting device configured to detect movement by at least one person, animal, or one or more interior doors inside of a multi-room structure, the multi-room structure comprising a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system comprising an air handler configured to be located in a non-permanently sealed box in the multi-room structure, the motion detecting device comprises:

a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and

a sensing device configured to be located in the air handler of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the sensing device further configured to detect static air pressure inside the air handler at two or more times;

wherein;

the sensing device comprises a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor;

the processing module is configured to use the static air pressure at the two or more times to determine whether movement within an interior of the multi-room structure by the at least one person, animal, or one or more interior doors inside of the multi-room structure has occurred; and

the processing module is further configured to use the static air pressure detected at the two or more times to determine if the movement was through a specific one of the one or more interior doors inside of the multi-room structure.

2. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensing device is configured to detect a first static air pressure measurement at a first time, a second static air pressure measurement at a second time, and a third static air pressure measurement at a third time;

the first time is before the second time and the third time;

the second time is before the third time;

the processing module is configured determine whether movement by the at least one person, animal, or one or more interior doors inside of the multi-room structure has occurred by comparing the first static air pressure measurement, the second static air pressure measurement, and the third static air pressure measurement; and

the static air pressure at the two or more times comprises the first static air pressure measurement, the second static air pressure measurement, and the third static air pressure measurement.

3. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

at least a part of the sensing device is configured to be disposed proximate to an air filter located in the air handler.

4. The motion detecting device of claim 3, wherein:

the air filter comprises;

a first side through which an air flow enters the air filter; and

a second side opposite the first side and through which the air flow exits the air filter; and

the first pressure sensor of the sensing device is disposed proximate to the first side of the air filter; and

the second pressure sensor of the sensing device is disposed proximate to the second side of the air filter.

5. The motion detecting device of claim 4, wherein:

the first pressure sensor of the sensing device is configured to provide a first pressure measurement at substantially a first time;

the second pressure sensor of the sensing device is configured to provide a second pressure measurement at substantially the first time; and

the static air pressure at the two or more times comprises the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement.

6. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

the processing module comprises;

a training module;

the training module is configured to correlate a first movement with a first change in pressure and a second movement with a second change in pressure.

7. The motion detecting device of claim 6, wherein:

the processing module further comprises;

an event detection module;

the event detection module is configured to use the static air pressure at the two or more times to identify the movement by the at least one person, animal, or one or more interior doors inside of the multi-room structure has occurred.

8. The motion detecting device of claim 7, wherein:

the processing module further comprises;

a communications module configured to communicate to a user.

9. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensing device comprises;

one or more temperature sensors; and

the sensing device is configured such that the one or more temperature sensors measure at least one temperature at the sensing device.

10. The motion detecting device of claim 9, wherein:

the processing module is further configured to calculate a temperature-compensated pressure value for each of the static air pressure at the two or more times using the at least one temperature at the sensing device.

11. The motion detecting device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensing device further comprises;

a controller; and

one or more temperature sensors;

the sensing device is configured such that the one or more temperature sensors measure at least one temperature at the sensing device; and

the controller is configured to calculate a temperature-compensated pressure value for each of the static air pressure at the two or more times using the at least one temperature at the first and second pressure sensors.

12. A method of detecting movement by at least one person, animal, or interior door of a multi-room structure within an interior of the multi-room structure, the method comprising:

performing two or more first measurements of static air pressure in an air handler of an heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the air handler being located in a non-permanently sealed box in the multi-room structure;

determining one or more first changes of the static air pressure based on the two or more first measurements of the static air pressure; and

associating at least one of the one or more first changes of the static air pressure with movement by a specific one of the at least one person, animal, or interior door within the interior of the multi-room structure.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

performing two or more second measurements of the static air pressure from at least one of a duct of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or the air handler of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system;

determining one or more second changes of the static air pressure based on the two or more second measurements of the static air pressure; and

associating one or more second movement events by the at least one person, animal, or interior door with the one or more second changes of the static air pressure.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the two or more first measurements of the static air pressure are performed by a differential pressure sensor located in the air handler.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the two or more first measurements of the static air pressure are each performed by two pressure sensors located in the air handler.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the two pressure sensors comprise;

a first pressure sensor disposed at a first side of an air filter; and

a second pressure sensor disposed at a second side of the air filter opposite the first side of the air filter; and

the air filter is located within the air handler.

17. A motion sensor comprises:

a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and

a sensing device configured to be located in an air handler of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the air handler being located in a non-permanently sealed box in a multi-room structure, the sensing device further configured to detect static air pressure in the air handler at three or more times,

wherein;

the processing module is configured to correlate a first movement with a first change in the static air pressure and a second movement with a second change in the static air pressure;

the processing module is further configured to use the static air pressure at the three or more times to determine the first change in the static air pressure and the second change in the static air pressure;

the processing module is further configured to determine whether the first movement and the second movement were by a person or an animal; and

the processing module is further configured to determine a specific one of one or more interior doors inside of the muti-room structure that was involved in each of the first movement and the second movement.

18. The motion sensor of claim 17, wherein:

the sensing device is further configured to detect static air pressure at two or more second times; and

the processing module is configured to use the static air pressure at the two or more second times to determine that the person, the animal, or the one or more interior doors has moved inside of the multi-room structure.

19. The motion sensor of claim 17, wherein:

at least a part of the sensing device is configured to be disposed proximate to an air filter of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

20. The motion sensor of claim 17, wherein:

the sensing device is further configured to determine a temperature at the sensing device at the three or more times; and

the processing module is further configured to calculate a temperature-compensated pressure value for each of the static air pressure detected at the at three or more times using the temperature at the sensing device at the three or more times.

21. A method of providing a motion sensor for a multi-room structure, the multi-room structure has one or more interior doors and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system comprising an air handler located in a non-permanently sealed box in the multi-room structure, the method comprising:

providing one or more pressure sensors configured to provide two or more static air pressure measurements within the air handler;

providing a transmitter;

electrically coupling the transmitter to the one or more pressure sensors;

providing a body;

mechanically coupling the one or more pressure sensors and the transmitter to the body; and

providing a processing module configured to run on a computational unit, the processing module comprising;

an event detection module configured to use the two or more static air pressure measurements to correlate one or more movement events with movement within an interior of the multi-room structure by at least one of a person, an animal, or a specific one of the one or more interior doors of the multi-room structure.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein:

providing the processing module further comprising;

a training module configured to determine a relationship between the two or more static air pressure measurements and the one or more movement events.

23. An air filter unit configured to be located within an air handler of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the air handler being located in a non-permanently sealed box in a multi-room structure, the air filter unit comprising:

an air filter comprising;

a filter material;

an outer frame located around the filter material;

at least one pressure sensor disposed proximate to at least one of the filter material or the outer frame and configured to provide two or more static air pressure measurements within the air handler; and

a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one pressure sensor; and

a processing module configured to run on a computational unit, the processing module configured to determine an occurrence of one or more movement events in an interior of the multi-room structure by at least one person, animal, or interior door based on the two or more static air pressure measurements of the at least one pressure sensor.

24. The air filter unit of claim 23 further comprising:

a receiver coupled to the processing module and configured to receive electrical data from the transmitter,

wherein;

the air filter is separate from the processing module.

25. The air filter unit of claim 23, wherein:

the at least one pressure sensor is integral with the air filter.

26. The air filter unit of claim 23, wherein:

the at least one pressure sensor is removable from the air filter.

27. The air filter unit of claim 23, wherein:

the processing module is further configured to determine whether the occurrence of the one or more movement events was movement through a specific interior door of the at least one interior door of the multi-room structure.

28. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system comprising:

an air handler located in a non-permanently sealed box configured to be located in a multi-room structure;

at least one pressure sensor located in the air handler; and

a processing module configured to run on a computational unit, the processing module electrically coupled to the at least one pressure sensor via the computational unit and configured to determine an occurrence of one or more movement events in an interior of the multi-room structure by at least one person, animal, or interior door based on two or more static air pressure measurements inside the air handler from the at least one pressure sensor.

29. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system of claim 28, wherein:

the processing module is further configured to determine whether the occurrence of the one or more movement events was movement through a specific interior door of the at least one interior door of the multi-room structure.