Operation of a standalone sensor device

• US 9,900,966 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Building Robotics, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Enlighted, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mohan, Tanuj, Prabhu, Omkar, Srinivasan, Venkatesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Thanh
• Application Number:
  US15/186,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20160295671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 612 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0219 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0228 Control of working procedures; Failure detection; Spectral bandwidth calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4238 Pulsed light
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/00 Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/08 the radio signal being broadcast from a long-wave call sign, e.g. DCF77, JJY40, JJY60, MSF60 or WWVB
• 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: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, apparatuses and systems for standalone sensor unit are disclosed. For an embodiment, the standalone sensor unit includes a plurality of sensors and a controller. The controller is operative to detect a presence of a mobile unit, wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit comprises the controller being operative to sense motion with a motion sensor, and sense a strobe of light, wherein the sensed motion and the sensed strobe of light occur within a predetermined time of each other, and receive a configuration setting from the mobile unit within a window of time after presence of the mobile unit has been detected.

Claims

1. A standalone sensor unit, comprising:

a plurality of sensors, at least one of the plurality of sensors operative to sense light;

a controller operative to;

detect a presence of a mobile unit, wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit comprises the controller being operative to;

sense a strobe of light by the at least one of the plurality of sensors; and

receive a configuration setting from the mobile unit within a window of time after presence of the mobile unit has been detected;

wherein the standalone sensor unit further comprises;

a long-wave radio operative to receive an atomic clock signal;

an atomic clock receiver operative to set a time of the standalone sensor unit based on the received atomic clock signal;

wherein

the controller is further operative to select a profile of the standalone sensor unit based on the time; and

an ambient light sensor operative to sense ambient light; and

wherein

the controller is further operative to select a time zone based on timing of the sensed ambient light.

2. The standalone sensor unit of claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit further comprises the controller being operative to sense motion with a motion sensor, and sense the strobe of light, wherein the sensed motion and the sensed strobe of light occur within a predetermined time of each other.

3. The standalone sensor unit of claim 2, wherein sensing motion comprises sensing motion with a light detector, matching 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 sensed motion.

4. The standalone sensor unit of claim 1, wherein selecting the time zone comprises accessing a look up table based on the time and the timing of the sensed ambient light.

5. The standalone sensor unit of claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit binds the sensor unit to the mobile unit.

6. The standalone sensor unit of claim 5, wherein the bound mobile unit is operative as a remote switch or a wireless switch for controlling a light associated with the standalone sensor unit.

7. The standalone sensor unit of claim 1, wherein receiving the configuration setting comprises an operator of the mobile unit selecting the configuration setting from a plurality of predetermined configuration settings.

8. The sensor unit of claim 7, wherein at least one of the predetermined configuration settings enables the standalone sensor unit to connect to a network.

9. A method comprising:

detecting, by a standalone sensor unit, a presence of a mobile unit, comprising;

sensing strobe of light; and

receiving a configuration setting from the mobile unit within a window of time after presence of the mobile unit has been detected;

wherein the method further comprises;

receiving, by a long-wave radio of the standalone sensor unit, an atomic clock signal;

determining a time based on the received atomic clock signal;

selecting a profile of the standalone sensor unit based on the time;

sensing ambient light; and

selecting a time zone based on timing of the sensed ambient light.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit further comprises sensing motion and sensing the strobe of light, wherein the sensed motion and the sensed strobe of light occur within a predetermined time of each other.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein sensing motion comprises sensing motion with a light detector, matching 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 sensed motion.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the time zone comprises accessing a look up table based on the time and the timing of the sensed ambient light.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit binds the standalone sensor unit to the mobile unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the bound mobile unit is operative as a remote switch or a wireless switch for controlling a light associated with the standalone sensor unit.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the configuration comprises an operator of the mobile unit selecting the configuration setting from a plurality of predetermined configuration settings.

16. A standalone sensor unit, comprising:

a long-wave radio operative to receive an atomic clock signal;

an atomic clock receiver operative to set a time based on the received atomic clock signal;

a controller operative to select a profile of the standalone sensor unit based on the time;

an ambient light sensor operative to sense ambient light; and

wherein the controller is further operative to select a time zone based on timing of the sensed ambient light.

17. The sensor unit of claim 16, wherein selecting the time zone comprises accessing a look up table based on the time and the timing of the sensed ambient light.