System and method for occupancy sensing with enhanced functionality

• US 9,271,375 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Balasubramanian, Jaiganesh, Morton, Justin, Muthu, Subramanian
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US13/775,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 315/149, 315/152, 315/155, 315/291, 315/312, 340/910, 340/917
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/006 Solar simulators, e.g. for testing photovoltaic panels
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• 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 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for providing fail-safe operation of a lighting system. A lighting level detector is used to obtain a baseline lighting level for a low-intensity light. If the detector measures less than the baseline level when an occupancy sensor determines the space is unoccupied, a high-intensity light is energized and an indication is provided to a user that the low-intensity light has failed. A method is also disclosed for daylighting operation of a lighting system. An occupancy sensor can have Wi-Fi functionality to enable remote configuration of the sensor. A line voltage occupancy sensor can include an interface with low voltage devices. An occupancy sensor can include an integral interface to enable an external control system to override the sensor'"'"'s normal logic under emergency conditions. An occupancy sensor can include an active temperature compensation feature. An occupancy sensor can also incorporate an automatically adjustable coverage area.

Claims

1. An occupancy sensor, comprising:

an occupancy sensing element;

a wireless transceiver for receiving wireless signals from a remote device to configure the occupancy sensor from a remote location, the wireless transceiver capable of operating in a micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode; and

a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor for executing instructions to control at least one of a configuration and an operational characteristic of the occupancy sensor and for commanding and decoding communication signals sent between the occupancy sensor and the remote device;

wherein said wireless transceiver is further configured to transmit wireless signals to the remote device, said transmitted wireless signals including information representative of an operational characteristic of said wireless occupancy sensor during a previous time period.

2. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, further comprising non-volatile memory associated with the processor for storing information including the configuration or the operational information transmitted from the remote device.

3. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit information to the remote device to provide configuration information relating to the occupancy sensor.

4. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver is capable of serving web pages to connected clients when operating in said micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode, and wherein the remote device is configured to call one of the web pages served by the micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode, the web page including an interface for enabling a user to remotely configure the occupancy sensor.

5. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode enables router-less connection to the occupancy sensor by the remote device.

6. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the occupancy sensor is controllable via a custom application residing on the remote device.

7. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one of a sensor configuration and a sensor property is modifiable from a web page served by the Wi-Fi transceiver when operating in said micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode.

8. The occupancy sensor of claim 7, wherein the at least one of a sensor configuration and a sensor property is selected from the list consisting of setting a delay time for an unoccupied mode, adjusting a sensor field of view, enabling/disabling a test mode, enabling/disabling an auto adapting functionality, enabling/disabling a forced on/forced off mode, setting the sensor in different modes, setting up a daylighting functionality, calibrating an associated photocell using an auto or manual calibration, enabling/disabling a walk through mode, enabling/disabling dimming using pre-set light levels, and adjusting sensor sensitivity.

9. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver is capable of serving web pages to connected clients when operating in said micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode, and wherein the served web pages enable a user to upgrade at least one of sensor and wireless transceiver firmware.

10. A method for controlling a load with a wireless occupancy sensor, comprising:

receiving, at a wireless occupancy sensor, wireless signals from a remote device, said received wireless signals configuring the occupancy sensor; and

transmitting, from said wireless occupancy sensor, wireless signals to the remote device, said transmitted wireless signals including information representative of an operational characteristic of said wireless occupancy sensor during a previous time period;

using a processor in communication with a wireless transceiver to control at least one of a configuration and an operational characteristic of the occupancy sensor and commanding and decoding communication signals sent between the occupancy sensor and the remote device, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a Wi-Fi transceiver capable of operating in a micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode for serving web pages to connected clients.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing information including the at least one of the configuration and the operational characteristic information transmitted from the remote device in non-volatile memory associated with the processor.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting information to the remote device to provide the at least one of the operational and the configuration characteristic information relating to the sensor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote device is at least one of a mobile device, a tablet device, and a desktop device having an Internet browser for connecting to the occupancy sensor using an IP address of the occupancy sensor.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising calling one of the web pages, the one of the web pages including an interface for enabling a user to remotely configure the occupancy sensor.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode enables router-less connection to the occupancy sensor by the remote device.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising controlling the occupancy sensor via a custom application residing on the remote device.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising modifying at least one of a sensor configuration and a sensor property from the served web pages.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one of a sensor configuration and a sensor property is selected from the list consisting of setting a delay time for an unoccupied mode, adjusting a sensor field of view, enabling/disabling a test mode, enabling/disabling an auto adapting functionality, enabling/disabling a forced on/forced off mode, setting the sensor in different modes, setting up a daylighting functionality, calibrating an associated photocell using an auto or manual calibration, enabling/disabling a walk through mode, enabling/disabling dimming using pre-set light levels, and adjusting sensor sensitivity.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising upgrading at least one of sensor and Wi-Fi transceiver firmware via the served web pages.

20. An occupancy sensor, comprising:

a housing;

an occupancy sensing element for sensing and occupancy condition of a monitored area, the occupancy sensing element being located within the housing;

a wireless transceiver located within the housing, the wireless transceiver capable of operating in a micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode for serving web pages to connected clients; and

a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor for executing instructions to control at least one of a configuration and an operational characteristic of the occupancy sensor and for commanding and decoding communication signals sent between the occupancy sensor and the remote device;

wherein the occupancy sensor is configured as a wireless access point to enable router-less connection between the occupancy sensor and a remote device.

21. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein the occupancy sensor is controllable via a software program residing on the remote device.

22. The occupancy sensor of claim 21, wherein the software program is a custom application and the remote device is a mobile device.

23. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein the occupancy sensor is controllable by the remote device via one of the served web pages, the one of the served web pages providing an interface tool to provide a platform independent configuration.

24. The occupancy sensor of claim 23, wherein the web page based interface tool is associated with a plurality of occupancy sensors, the plurality of occupancy sensors including said occupancy sensor, the web page based interface tool including a listing of said plurality of occupancy sensors, the web page based interface tool enabling a user to select said occupancy sensor from said plurality of occupancy sensors to thereby connect to said occupancy sensor.

25. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein, in response to a wireless signal transmitted by the occupancy sensor, an identifier associated with the occupancy sensor is displayable on the remote device.

26. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein the identifier is selectable at the remote device to connect the remote device with the occupancy sensor.

27. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein the remote device is one of a laptop, personal computer, smartphone or tablet.

28. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein, once connected, the occupancy sensor is configured to output one of a visual or audible indication in response to a signal transmitted by the remote device to enable a user to locate the connected occupancy sensor.

29. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to communicate with a wireless router to provide a router-based connection between the occupancy sensor and the remote device.

30. The occupancy sensor of claim 29, wherein the occupancy sensor is configured to enable a user to select between the router-less connection and the router-based connection.

31. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein at least one of a sensor configuration and a sensor property is modifiable from the served web pages.

32. The occupancy sensor of claim 31, wherein the at least one of a sensor configuration and a sensor property is selected from the list consisting of setting a delay time for an unoccupied mode, adjusting a sensor field of view, enabling/disabling a test mode, enabling/disabling an auto adapting functionality, enabling/disabling a forced on/forced off mode, setting the sensor in different modes, setting up a daylighting functionality, calibrating an associated photocell using an auto or manual calibration, enabling/disabling a walk through mode, enabling/disabling dimming using pre-set light levels, and adjusting sensor sensitivity.

33. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein the served web pages enable a user to upgrade at least one of sensor and wireless transceiver firmware.

34. The occupancy sensor of claim 20, wherein the wireless access point comprises a Wi-Fi hotspot.

35. A lighting control device for controlling an electrical load, comprising:

an enclosure;

a wireless transceiver located within the enclosure, the wireless transceiver comprising a Wi-Fi transceiver capable of operating in a micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode; and

a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor for executing instructions to control at least one of a configuration and an operational characteristic of the occupancy sensor and for commanding and decoding communication signals sent between the occupancy sensor and the remote device;

wherein the device is configured as a wireless access point to enable router-less connection between the wireless transceiver and a remote device; and

wherein the lighting control device is selected from one of an occupancy sensor, a photocell, and a power pack.

36. The lighting control device of claim 35, wherein the wireless access point comprises a Wi-Fi hotspot.

37. The lighting control device of claim 35, wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver is capable of serving web pages to connected clients when operating in said micro-Access Point (μ

AP) mode.

38. The lighting control device of claim 37, wherein at least one of a sensor configuration and a sensor property is modifiable from the served web pages.

39. The lighting control device of claim 38, wherein the at least one of a sensor configuration and a sensor property is selected from the list consisting of setting a delay time for an unoccupied mode, adjusting a sensor field of view, enabling/disabling a test mode, enabling/disabling an auto adapting functionality, enabling/disabling a forced on/forced off mode, setting the sensor in different modes, setting up a daylighting functionality, calibrating an associated photocell using an auto or manual calibration, enabling/disabling a walk through mode, enabling/disabling dimming using pre-set light levels, and adjusting sensor sensitivity.

40. The lighting control system of claim 37, wherein the served web pages enable a user to upgrade at least one of sensor and Wi-Fi transceiver firmware.