Occupancy sensor with integral emergency interface

• US 9,565,741 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Carberry, Brian, Buerer, David, Balasubramanian, Jaiganesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US14/992,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20160128165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 315149-159, 315/291, 315/307, 315/312
• 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 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• 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 provide 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 provides 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:

a housing;

an occupancy sensing element located in the housing, the occupancy sensing element for sensing an occupancy condition of a monitored space; and

a load control device communicatively coupled to the occupancy sensing element, the load control device coupled to a load for selectively energizing and de-energizing the load in response to signals received from the occupancy sensing element;

an emergency interface located within the housing, the emergency interface for coupling an external control system to the occupancy sensor to enable the external control system to control the load via the occupancy sensor; and

a processor coupled to the emergency interface, the processor programmed to receive instructions from the external control system and, in response to said instructions, control the load independent of the occupancy condition of the monitored space.

2. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the emergency interface couples the external control system to the processor.

3. The occupancy sensor of claim 2, wherein the processor is programmed to allow the external control system to override a normal operation of the occupancy sensor.

4. The occupancy sensor of claim 3, wherein the normal operation of the occupancy sensor comprises maintaining the load in the de-energized condition when the occupancy sensor determines that the occupancy condition of the monitored space is a vacant condition.

5. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the emergency interface further enables the external control system to communicate directly with the load control device.

6. The occupancy sensor of claim 5, wherein the load control device is configured to be directly controlled by the external control system to selectively energize the load regardless of the occupancy condition of the monitored space.

7. The occupancy sensor of claim 6, wherein the processor is coupled to the occupancy sensing element, the processor further coupled to the load control device and programmed to control the load control device to energize the load based on a signal received from the occupancy sensing element.

8. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, wherein the load control device is located within the housing.

9. The occupancy sensor of claim 1, further comprising logic for receiving instructions from the external control system and, in response to said instructions, controlling the load control device to energize the load regardless of the occupancy condition of the monitored space, wherein the logic is embodied in hardwired circuitry associated with the occupancy sensing element.

10. An occupancy sensor, comprising:

a housing;

an occupancy sensor element located in the housing, the occupancy sensor element for sensing an occupancy condition of a monitored space;

a load control device communicatively coupled to the occupancy sensor element, the load control device located in the housing and further coupled to a load for selectively energizing the load based on the occupancy condition sensed by the occupancy sensor element;

an emergency interface located in the housing, the emergency interface communicatively coupled to an external control system for coupling the occupancy sensor to the external control system to enable the external control system to energize the load; and

a processor located in the housing, the processor communicatively coupled to the occupancy sensor element, the emergency interface and the load control device, wherein the processor is programmed to receive instructions and, in response to said instructions, control the load control device to energize the load independent of the occupancy condition of the monitored space.