Method and apparatus for detecting entry

• US 5,386,210 A
• Filed: 07/19/1993
• Issued: 01/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Desa International, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intelectron Products Company
• Inventors: Lee, Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/093,978
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 340/565-567, 340/539, 340/600, 340/309.15, 340/522, 341/176, 362/802, 250/214 AL, 250/342, 250/338.1, 315/149, 315/155, 361/173
• US Class Current: 340/567
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0271 structurally combining a switch and an electronic component for relays H01H50/021
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

A sensing apparatus and method for use in an illumination control monitoring of a particular area. The sensing apparatus includes selectable and independent triggering and retriggering modes for activating and deactivating a lamp. Three sensors, a PIR, a sound and a light sensor cooperatively interact to cause triggering upon detecting motion in a low ambient light room. Thereafter, retriggering results upon either motion or sound being periodically detected in the room. An absence of motion or sound within a predetermined duration results in deactivation of the light and a return to a pre-triggering configuration.

Claims

1. A sensing apparatus, comprising:

a first sensor for providing a first signal indicating a status of a first environmental condition;

a second sensor for providing a second signal indicating a status of a second environmental condition;

a third sensor for providing a third signal indicating a status of a third environmental condition;

a timer for asserting a timer signal upon a lapse of a predetermined interval after a reset of said timer by assertion of a reset signal;

an actuator for activating a load responsive to an assertion of a trigger signal and for deactivating said load responsive to a deassertion of said trigger signal; and

logic means, coupled to said first sensor, to said second sensor, to said third sensor and to said actuator, for;

asserting said trigger signal to said actuator to activate said load, and initiating said timer, upon detection of a first predetermined configuration of said first and second environmental conditions as respectively indicated by said first and second sensors when in a trigger mode;

retriggering said actuator by asserting said reset signal to said timer upon detection of a second predetermined configuration, different from said first predetermined configuration, of said first and third environmental conditions as respectively indicated by said first and third sensors prior to assertion of said timer signal when in a retrigger mode;

deasserting said trigger signal to said actuator, responsive to an assertion of said timer signal, to deactivate said load; and

returning to said trigger mode after deactivating said actuator.

2. A sensing method, comprising the steps of:

monitoring for a first predetermined configuration of a first and second environmental condition respectively indicated by a first sensor and a second sensor;

activating a load when said first and second sensors indicate said first predetermined configuration exists;

starting a timer measuring a lapse of a predetermined interval;

monitoring for a second predetermined configuration, different from said first predetermined configuration, of said first environmental condition and a third environmental condition indicated by a third sensor while said timer measures said predetermined interval;

resetting said timer if said first and third sensors indicate said second predetermined condition exists prior to lapse of said predetermined interval to retrigger said lapse of said predetermined interval;

deactivating said load when said timer lapses; and

retuming to a trigger mode to monitor for said first predetermined configuration of said first and second environmental conditions.

3. A sensing method, comprising the steps of:

triggering a load when a first and a second sensor detect a first predetermined configuration of a first and second respective environmental condition;

initiating a timer to measure a predetermined interval;

retriggering said load when said first sensor and a third sensor detect a second predetermined configuration, different from said first predetermined configuration, of said first environmental condition and a third environmental condition prior to a lapse of said predetermined interval;

resetting said timer after retriggering said load; and

deactivating said load when said timer measures said predetermined interval.

4. A sensing apparatus, comprising:

a first sensor for providing a first signal indicating a status of a first environmental condition;

a second sensor for providing a second signal indicating a status of a second environmental condition;

a third sensor for providing a third signal indicating a status of a third environmental condition;

a timer for asserting a timer signal upon a lapse of a predetermined interval after a reset of said timer by assertion of a reset signal;

an actuator for activating a load responsive to an assertion of a trigger signal and for deactivating said load responsive to a deassertion of said trigger signal; and

logic means, coupled to said first sensor, to said second sensor, to said third sensor and to said actuator, for;

asserting said trigger signal to said actuator to activate said load, and initiating said timer, upon detection of a first predetermined permutation of said first and second environmental conditions as respectively indicated by said first and second sensors when in a trigger mode;

retriggering said actuator by asserting said reset signal to said timer upon detection of a second predetermined permutation, different from said first predetermined permutation, of said first and third environmental conditions as respectively indicated by said first and third sensors prior to assertion of said timer signal when in a retrigger mode;

deasserting said trigger signal to said actuator, responsive to an assertion of said timer signal, to deactivate said load; and

returning to said trigger mode after deactivating said actuator.

5. A sensing method, comprising the steps of:

triggering a load when a first and a second sensor detect a first predetermined permutation of a first and second respective environmental condition;

initiating a timer to measure a predetermined interval;

retriggering said load when said first sensor and a third sensor detect a second predetermined permutation, different from said first predetermined permutation, of said first environmental condition and a third environmental condition prior to a lapse of said predetermined interval;

resetting said timer after retriggering said load; and

deactivating said load when said timer measures said predetermined interval.