Occupancy Sensing With Device Clock

• US 20100237711A1
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsons, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/406,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20100237711A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An occupancy sensing system includes a device clock included in an assembly with a device such as a switching device or an occupancy sensor. The device clock enables time tracking functionality to be combined with occupancy sensing to control lighting and other loads. A display and/or interface may be included to enable a user to a set the time-of-day, day-of-week and program and configure the device clock.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a device clock; and

a switching device disposed to control power to a load in response to an occupancy signal and the device clock;

where the switching device and device clock are included in an assembly.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interface to input information to the device clock.

4. The system of claim 3 where the interface comprises a keypad.

5. The system of claim 1 where the assembly comprises a power pack.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an occupancy sensor included in the assembly.

7. The system of claim 6 where the assembly comprises a wall switch.

8. A method comprising:

controlling a switching device in response to an occupancy signal and a device clock;

where the switching device and device clock are included in an assembly.

9. The method of claim 8 where the assembly includes an occupancy sensor disposed to generate the occupancy signal.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising disregarding the occupancy signal when the device clock indicates a first time period.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display coupled to the device clock.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising controlling the switching device in response to the occupancy signal when the device clock indicates a second time period.

12. The system of claim 10 where the assembly comprises a wall mount apparatus.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising a network interface coupled to the occupancy sensor.

22. The occupancy sensor of claim 10 where the occupancy sensor comprises a wireless occupancy sensor.

10-1. A system comprising:

a device clock; and

an occupancy sensor disposed to generate an occupancy signal in response to a signal from a detector and the device clock;

where the occupancy sensor and the device clock are included in an assembly.

11-2. The system of claim 10 where the assembly comprises a ceiling mount apparatus.

14. A method comprising:

generating an occupancy signal in response to a signal from the detector and a device clock;

where the detector and the device clock are included in an assembly.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising transmitting the occupancy signal to a switching device.

16. The method of claim 15 where the occupancy signal is generated in response to the signal from the detector when the device clock indicates a first time period.

17. The method of claim 16 where the occupancy signal is not generated in response to the signal from the detector when the device clock indicates a second time period.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising generating the occupancy signal in response to a light-level signal from a light sensing device.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising generating the occupancy signal in response to a manual control.

20. An occupancy sensor comprising:

a detector; and

circuitry disposed to generate an occupancy signal in response to a signal from the detector;

where the detector is disposed to operate as a communication interface for the occupancy sensor.

21. The occupancy sensor of claim 20 where the detector comprises an infrared detector.

23. A method comprising:

generating an occupancy signal in response to a signal from a detector; and

operating the detector as a communication interface.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising transmitting information to a device clock through the communication interface.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising transmitting information from a remote control through the communication interface.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising transmitting display information to through the communication interface.