WIRELESS SENSOR

• US 20110109424A1
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Corr, Michael, Huizenga, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1793 Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• 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: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Systems and methods for wirelessly detecting area changes are provided. Predetermined thresholds may be stored in memory. Each predetermined threshold is associated with a time of day, calendar day, and/or activity. The sensor may detect a change in the in the targeted area. The detected change is evaluated to determine an applicable threshold. Then it may be determined whether the detected change meets a predetermined threshold. If so, information regarding the change is wirelessly transmitted to an associated controller that controls light in the targeted area. The operation of the light may be controlled based on the wirelessly transmitted information.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly detecting area changes, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of predetermined thresholds in memory, each predetermined threshold is associated with at least one factor selected from the group consisting of time of day, calendar day, and activity;

detecting a change in an area targeted by the wireless sensor;

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

determines an applicable threshold out of the plurality of predetermined thresholds stored in memory based on the associated at least one factor, and

determines that the detected change meets the applicable predetermined threshold; and

wirelessly transmitting information indicating that the detected change meets the predetermined threshold to an associated controller concerning the change in overall light, wherein the associated controller controls operation of an electrical load based on the transmitted information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected change is a change in levels of red-green-blue light in the targeted area and wherein the determination that the detected change meets a predetermined threshold includes

verifying that the detected change in the levels of red-green-blue light is associated with a change in illuminance;

and

determining that the change in illuminance meets the predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected change is a change in occupancy of the targeted area as detected by passive infrared sensor cell.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the control of the operation of the electrical load results in a reduced lighting level for a predetermined time period and further comprising:

determining whether the targeted area is occupied during the predetermined time period, wherein the duration of the predetermined time period is increased or decreased based on specified conditions; and

transmitting the determination whether the targeted area is occupied during the predetermined time period to the associated controller, wherein light is reduced even further if the targeted area is determined not to be occupied and light is restored to an original level if the targeted area is determined to be occupied.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising masking a portion of the targeted area by modifying a sensitivity threshold associated with the portion of the targeted area.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the masked portion of the targeted area is associated with a different sensitivity level than an unmasked portion of the targeted area.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the sensitivity threshold is modified based on a factor selected from the group consisting of time of day, calendar day, and activity.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the wirelessly transmitted information includes a probability of occupancy and wherein the probability is evaluated to determine a priority for shedding in a demand response situation.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the detected change in occupancy includes a change from no occupants to one or more occupants and wherein wirelessly transmitting the information results in one or more lights being switched on.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the detected change in occupancy includes a change from one or more occupants to no occupants and wherein wirelessly transmitting the information results in one or more lights being switched off.

11. An apparatus for wirelessly detecting area changes, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store one or more predetermined thresholds stored in memory, each predetermined threshold associated with at least one factor selected from the group consisting of time of day, calendar day, and activity;

a sensor cell configured detect a change in a targeted area;

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in memory to

determine an applicable threshold out of the plurality of predetermined thresholds stored in memory based on the associated at least one factor, and

determine that the detected change in illuminance meets the applicable predetermined threshold; and

an interface configured to wirelessly transmit information indicating that the detected change meets the predetermined threshold to an associated controller concerning the change in overall light, wherein the associated controller controls operation of an electrical load based on the transmitted information.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor cell includes a light sensor for detecting a change in levels of red-green-blue light in the targeted area and wherein the determination that the detected change meets a predetermined threshold includes

verifying that the detected change in the levels of red-green-blue light is associated with a change in illuminance;

and

determining that the change in illuminance meets the predetermined threshold.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor cell includes a passive infrared sensor for detecting a change in occupancy of the targeted area.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a timekeeper, wherein the control of the operation of the electrical load results in a reduced lighting level for a predetermined time period indicated by the timekeeper and wherein the sensor cell is further configured to:

determine whether the targeted area is occupied during the predetermined time period; and

transmit the determination to the associated controller, wherein light is reduced even further if the targeted area is determined not to be occupied and light is restored to an original level if the targeted area is determined to be occupied.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the duration of the predetermined time period is automatically increased or decreased based on preset conditions.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising one or more additional sensor cells, wherein each sensor cell is associated with a sensitivity threshold and a portion of the targeted area.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sensitivity threshold of one of the sensor cells is modified to mask the associated portion of the targeted area and wherein the masked portion of the targeted area is associated with a different sensitivity level than an unmasked portion of the targeted area.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sensitivity threshold is modified based on a factor selected from the group consisting of time of day, calendar day, and activity.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wirelessly transmitted information includes a probability of occupancy and wherein the probability is evaluated to determine a priority for shedding in a demand response situation.

20. (canceled)

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for wirelessly detecting area changes, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of predetermined thresholds, each predetermined threshold is associated with at least one factor selected from the group consisting of time of day, calendar day, and activity;

detecting a change in an area targeted by the wireless sensor;

determining an applicable threshold out of the plurality of predetermined thresholds based on the associated at least one factor;

determining that the detected change meets the applicable predetermined threshold; and

wirelessly transmitting information indicating that the detected change meets the predetermined threshold to an associated controller concerning the change in overall light, wherein the associated controller controls operation of an electrical load based on the transmitted information.