Dual-technology occupancy detection

• US 9,148,935 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Building Robotics, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Enlighted, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mohan, Tanuj, Curasi, Joseph Basil, Gentry, Zachary, Ashar, Premal, Patel, Sanjeev
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US13/466,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 315149-159
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1895 using light change detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• 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 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods and systems for dual-technology occupancy detection are disclosed. One dual-technology occupancy detection apparatus includes a motion sensor sensing motion, an ambient light sensor sensing variation in ambient light, and a controller for detecting occupancy and controlling a building environmental parameter based on the sensed motion and the sensed variations in ambient light. One method of detecting occupancy for controlling lighting includes sensing motion with a motion sensor, sensing variations in ambient light with an ambient light sensor, and detecting occupancy and controlling activation of a light based on the sensed motion and the sensed variations in ambient light.

Claims

1. A dual-technology occupancy detection apparatus, comprising:

a motion sensor sensing motion, wherein the motion sensor is operative to generate N digital samples of the sensed motion;

an ambient light sensor sensing motion and presence of a person by sensing variation in ambient light;

a controller operative to;

detect occupancy and control a building environmental parameter based on the sensed motion of the motion sensor and the sensed motion and presence of the person as indicated by the sensed variations in ambient light;

match the N digital samples of the sensed motion with one of a plurality of stored patterns of events; and

identify an event associated with the sensed motion based on a match between a one of the plurality of patterns and the N digital samples of the sensed motion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the building environmental parameter includes activation and intensity of a light.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the building environmental parameter includes temperature.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the building environmental parameter includes security control.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing motion comprises a PIR (passive infrared) motion sensor sensing the motion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the controller operative to activate the light for a predetermined period of time upon the motion sensor sensing motion greater than a threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising the controller operative to extend the activation of the light beyond the predetermined period if the ambient light sensor senses variations in ambient light greater than a second threshold.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising the controller operative to over-ride the activation of the light within the predetermined period if the ambient light sensor senses variations in ambient light less than the threshold.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein N is a power of two.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises an IR sensor, and further comprising the controller operative to:

detect occupancy and control activation of the light based on the sensed motion and the sensed variations in ambient light.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the controller operative to identify a fire within a structure in which the motion sensor and the ambient light sensor are located, comprising, the controller identifying a following sequence of events:

determine a lack of occupancy by sensing motion of less than a threshold for a predetermined amount of time;

detect a sensed motion of greater than the threshold after the predetermined amount of time;

sense a variation in sensed ambient light of greater than a first detect threshold after the predetermined amount of time.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of motion sensors and a plurality of ambient light sensors, and wherein the fire is detected if at least N of M motion sensors and ambient light sensors detect the sequence of events.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the controller communicating a fire alert to an external controller if fire is identified.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the controller operative to identify smoke within a structure in which the motion sensor and the ambient sensor are located, comprising the controller operative to identify a following sequence of events:

determine a lack of occupancy by sensing motion of less than a threshold for a predetermined amount of time;

sense a variation in sense ambient light of greater than a first detect threshold after the predetermined amount of time.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of motion sensors and a plurality of ambient light sensors, and wherein the smoke is identified if at least N of M motion sensors and ambient light sensors detect the sequence of events.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising the controller communicating a smoke alert to an external controller if smoke is identified.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the controller operative to identify a water leak within a structure in which the motion sensor and the ambient sensor are located, comprising the controller operative to identify a sequence of events comprising:

determine a lack of occupancy by sensing motion of less than a threshold for a predetermined amount of time;

sense a cyclic variation in sensed ambient light during the predetermined amount of time.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising the controller operative to communicate water leak alert to an external controller if a water leak is detected.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of motion sensors and a plurality of ambient light sensors, and wherein the water leak is identified if at least N of M motion sensors and ambient lights sensor detect the sequence of events.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the controller detecting a lack of occupancy if the motion sensor senses a motion above a major motion threshold, followed by sensing motion of less than a minor motion threshold for a preselected period of time after sensing motion above the major motion threshold.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the controller operative to:

light harvesting upon sensing ambient light greater than a threshold, wherein light harvesting comprises reducing an intensity of a light when ambient light is sensed greater than the threshold;

over-riding the light harvesting if the sensed ambient light greater than the threshold occurs during a period in which motion is sensed greater than an occupancy threshold.

22. A method of a dual-technology fixture detecting occupancy, comprising:

sensing motion with a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is operative to generate N digital samples of the sensed motion;

sensing motion and presence of a person by sensing variations in ambient light with an ambient light sensor;

detecting occupancy and controlling activation of a building parameter based on the sensed motion of the motion sensor and the sensed motion and presence of the person as indicated by the sensed variations in ambient light;

matching the N digital samples of the sensed motion with one of a plurality of stored patterns of events; and

identifying an event associated with the sensed motion based on a match between a one of the plurality of patterns and the N digital samples of the sensed motion.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the building parameter comprises activation of a light, and further comprising activating the light for a predetermined period of time upon sensing motion greater than a threshold.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising extending the activation of the light beyond the predetermined period if the ambient light is sensed to have variations greater than a threshold.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising over-riding the activation of the light within the predetermined period if the ambient light is sensed to have variations less than the threshold.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sensing motion with an IR sensor;

detecting occupancy and controlling activation of the light based on the sensed motion and the sensed variations in ambient light.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising identifying a fire within a structure in which the motion sensor and the ambient sensor are located, comprising, identifying a following sequence of events:

determining a lack of occupancy by sensing motion of less than a threshold for a predetermined amount of time;

detecting a sensed motion of greater than the threshold after the predetermined amount of time;

sensing a variation in sense ambient light of greater than a first detect threshold after the predetermined amount of time.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising identifying smoke within a structure in which a plurality of motion sensors and a plurality of ambient sensors are located, comprising identifying a following sequence of events:

determining a lack of occupancy by sensing motion of less than a threshold for a predetermined amount of time;

sensing a variation in sense ambient light of greater than a first detect threshold after the predetermined amount of time.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising identifying a water leak within a structure in which a plurality of motion sensors and a plurality of ambient sensors are located, comprising identifying a following sequence of events:

determining a lack of occupancy by sensing motion of less than a threshold for a predetermined amount of time;

sensing a cyclic variation in sense ambient light during the predetermined amount of time.

30. A dual-technology occupancy detection apparatus, comprising:

a motion sensor sensing motion;

an ambient light sensor sensing motion and presence of a person by sensing variation in ambient light;

a controller operative to;

detect occupancy and control a building environmental parameter based on the sensed motion of the motion sensor and the sensed motion and presence of the person as indicated by the sensed variations in ambient light;

activate the light for a predetermined period of time upon the motion sensor sensing motion greater than a threshold; and

extend the activation of the light beyond the predetermined period if the ambient light sensor senses variations in ambient light greater than a second threshold.