Motion sensing system with adaptive timing for controlling lighting fixtures

• US 5,946,209 A
• Filed: 03/25/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Rose, William James, Zeichner, David Abraham, Donlon, Brian Patrick, Walter, Mark Richard, Batko, Thomas James, Eckel, David Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US08/823,154
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 364/143-146, 364/141, 364/140.05, 364/492, 364/493, 250/DIG. 1, 250/342, 250/214 AL, 250/221, 340/521, 340/522, 340/523, 340/528, 340/541, 340/565, 340/567, 340/600, 340/642, 315/360, 315/154, 315/156, 315/158, 315/159, 315/306, 315/307, 315/294, 307/116, 307/117, 362/802
• US Class Current: 700/14
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/007 with galvanic isolation between controlling and controlled circuit, e.g. transformer relay
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/16 in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system for selectively providing power from a power source to a load to operate in an area for at least one occupant comprising a processing device for controlling the opening and closing of a relay connected between the load and the power source for energizing the load, and a sensor for detecting the presence of an occupant in the area. The processing device is programmable to close the relay in response to an output signal from the sensor for a period of time that can be of fixed duration, or a duration that is dynamically and automatically determined using sensor data relating to measure time between successive, detected occupant movements. In addition to a daylight inhibit function, the system is provided with color indicators and a tone generator to indicate various operating conditions and to guide a user entering selected system parameters, among other features.

Claims

1. A system for selectively providing power from a power source to at least one load to operate in an area for at least one occupant, comprising:

a relay configured to provide a current conduction path between said power source and said load when in a closed position, and to interrupt said path when in an open position;

a processing device connected to said relay for controlling when said relay is in said open position and when said relay is in said closed position;

a memory device associated with said processing device for storing program code and at least one parameter, said processing device being programmable to control said relay switch in accordance with said stored program code and said parameter; and

a sensor connected to said processing device for detecting when an occupant has entered said area for providing at least one output signal to said processing device;

wherein said processing device is programmable to close said relay in response to said output signal for a period of time, the duration of said period of time being dynamically variable and determined automatically by said processing device in accordance with how often said sensor detects said at least one occupant in said area using at least one number, said number being stored in said memory device and determined by said processing device to be the duration of time elapsing between one of initialization of said system and a first occurrence of said sensor detecting said at least one occupant, and a subsequent occurrence of said sensor detecting said at least one occupant in said area.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a switch connected to said processing device to select one of a plurality of operational modes comprising a fixed timing mode and an adaptive timing mode, said fixed timing mode corresponding to a mode wherein said relay is held in said closed position for a second period of time that is not automatically adjustable by said processing device.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first switch connected to said processing device which, when activated, causes the processing device to close said relay, and a second switch connected to said processing device to select one of a plurality of operational modes comprising a manual mode and an automatic mode, said manual mode corresponding to a mode in which said processing device requires actuation of said first switch before said processing device causes said relay to close and energize said load, said automatic mode corresponding to a mode in which said processing device closes said relay in response to said output signal and without requiring actuation of said first switch.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a buzzer connected to said processing device, said processing device being programmable to cause said buzzer to generate a tone at a predetermined time before said relay switch is programmed to be changed from said closed position to said open position, and to automatically increase said period of time upon receipt of another output signal from said sensor.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a photocell sensor for measuring an ambient light level in said area, said processing device being programmable to inhibit closing said relay upon receiving said output signal when said measured ambient light level exceeds a predetermined level stored in said memory device.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said load is a lighting fixture.

7. A system for selectively providing power from a power source to at least one load to operate in an area for at least one occupant, comprising:

a relay configured to provide a current conduction path between said power source and said load when in a closed position, and to interrupt said path when in an open position;

a processing device connected to said relay for controlling when said relay is in said open position and when said relay is in said closed position;

a memory device associated with said processing device for storing program code and at least one parameter specified by a system user, said processing device being programmable to control said relay switch in accordance with said stored program code and said parameter; and

a sensor connected to said processing device for detecting when an occupant has entered said area and for providing at least one output signal to said processing device;

wherein said processing device is programmable to close said relay in response to said output signal for a period of time not less than a first period of time equivalent to said parameter and not more than a second period of time, the duration of said second period of time being dynamically variable and determined automatically by said processing device in accordance with how often said sensor detects said at least one occupant in said area using at least one number, said number being stored in said memory device and determined by said processing device to be the duration of time elapsing between the occurrence of said sensor detecting said at least one occupant in said area, and one of initialization of said system and a prior occurrence of said sensor detecting said at least one occupant in said area.

8. A system for selectively providing power from a power source to a load to operate in an area for at least one occupant, comprising:

a relay configured to provide a current conduction path between said power source and said load when in a closed position, and to interrupt said path when in an open position;

a processing device connected to said relay for controlling when said relay is in an open position and when said relay is in a closed position;

a sensor connected to said processing device for detecting when said occupant has entered said area and for providing at least one output signal to said processing device;

a memory device associated with said processing device for storing program code and at least one parameter specified by a system user, said processing device being programmable to control said relay in accordance with said stored program code, said at least one parameter and said at least one output signal to close in response to said at least one output signal for a dynamically variable period of time determined automatically by said processing device in accordance with how often said sensor detects said occupant in said area using at least one number, said number being stored in said memory device and determined by said processing device to be the duration of time elapsing between the occurrence of said sensor detecting said at least one occupant in said area, and one of initialization of said system and a prior occurrence of said sensor detecting said at least one occupant in said area;

a first switch connected to said processing device to select one of a plurality of operational modes comprising a manual mode and an automatic mode; and

a second switch connected to said processing means for controlling when said processing device closes said relay depending on which of said plurality of operational modes is selected said automatic mode corresponding to a mode in which said processing device closes said relay in response to said output signal, said manual mode corresponding to a mode in which said processing device controls said relay, when open, to remain open until said second switch is activated regardless of said output signal.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a tone generator connected to said processing device, said processing device being programmable to close said relay for a first period of time before opening said relay, to generate a tone via said tone generator a predetermined amount of time before said first period of time elapses, and to continue to maintain said relay in said closed position after said first period of time elapses upon detection of motion by said sensor, when operating in said automatic mode.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a tone generator connected to said processing device, said processing device being programmable to close said relay for a first period of time before opening said relay, to generate a tone via said tone generator a predetermined amount of time before said first period of time elapses, and to open said relay after said first period of time elapses, and to close said relay again upon detection of motion by said sensor, when operating in said manual mode.

11. A system for selectively providing power from a power source to a load to operate in an area for at least one occupant, comprising:

a relay configured to provide a current conduction path between said power source and said load when in a closed position, and to interrupt said path when in an open position;

a processing device connected to said relay for controlling when said relay is in an open position and when said relay is in a closed position;

a sensor connected to said processing device for detecting when said occupant has entered said area and for providing at least one output signal to said processing device;

a memory device associated with said processing device for storing program code and at least one parameter, said processing device being operable to control said relay in accordance with said stored program code, said at least one parameter and said at least one output signal to close in response to said at least one output signal for a dynamically variable period of time determined automatically by said processing device in accordance with how often said sensor detects said occupant in said area using at least one number, said number being stored in said memory device and determined by said processing device to be the duration of time elapsing between the occurrence of said sensor detecting said at least one occupant in said area, and one of initialization of said system and a prior occurrence of said sensor detecting said at least one occupant in said area;

an air-gap switch; and

a power supply circuit for providing power signals from said power source to said relay, said processing device, said sensor and said memory device and comprising a transformer, said air-gap switch being connected between said power source and said transformer.