Method and system for door alert

• US 6,310,548 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RS Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RS Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Russon, Darrel Levan, Stephens, David Clark Jr., Russon, Verlin Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/580,067
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/545.1, 340/547, 340/310.06, 340/310.08, 340/686.1, 340/538
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind

Abstract

The position of a monitored door is detected via a magnetic sensor. The detected positional information is digitally encoded and transmitted across power grid wiring within the home to at least one receiver. Based in part on the received positional information, a door alert indicator is activated. The system for door alert is also capable of monitoring multiple door or window openings via a network of interconnected sensors designed specifically for garages. Multiple door alert indicators may be placed throughout the home without interfering with the door status indicator system.

Claims

1. A status indicator system for use with a building having a door to be monitored and a power grid network which energizes a plurality of electrical outlets with an alternating current, the status indicator system comprising:

a switch operable between a first position and a second position, wherein the switch is in the first position when the door is at least partially open and being in the second position when the door is closed;

a transmitter electrically coupled with the switch, the transmitter being configured for electrical coupling with the power grid network of the building such that when the transmitter is electrically coupled with the power grid network the transmitter periodically transmits a first signal over the power grid network when the switch is in the first position and periodically transmits a second signal over the power grid network when the switch is in the second position;

a receiver having a plug configured to removably electrically couple with a select one of the plurality of electrical outlets energized by the power grid network, the receiver being configured to selectively receive the first signal and the second signal from the transmitter over the power grid network when the plug is electrically coupled with the select one of the plurality of electrical outlets; and

an indicator electrically coupled with the receiver such that the indicator is energized by the receiver when the receiver receives a select one of the first and second signals.

2. The status indicator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch is a magnetically activated switch such that the switch is in the first position when magnetically coupled to an activator and in the second position when there is no magnetic coupling with the activator.

3. The status indicator system as recited in claim 2, wherein the activator is fastened to a first edge of the door, the first edge leading the door along a door path when the door moves from a closed to an open position and the first edge following the door when the door moves from the open to the closed position.

4. The status indicator system as recited in claim 2, wherein the magnetically activated switch is a reed switch and the activator is an about 10 Amp turn magnet.

5. The status indicator system as recited in claim 4, wherein there is no magnetic coupling when detected magnetic strength is less than about 10 Amp turns.

6. The status indicator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode (LED) and an audible alarm that periodically produces sound when the door is open.

7. The status indicator system as recited in claim 6, wherein the indicator further comprises an electrical outlet socket coupled with switchable flasher circuitry such that when the indicator is energized the flasher circuitry periodically interrupts power supplied to the electrical outlet socket and when the indicator is not energized the electrical outlet socket operates without periodic power interruptions.

8. The status indicator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second signals include high-frequency signals imposed on the alternating current of the power grid network.

9. The status indicator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second signals are digitally encoded signals imposed on top of the alternating current of the power grid network.

10. The status indicator system as recited in claim 9, wherein the digitally encoded signals are synchronized high-frequency transmission windows imposed on top of the alternating current of the power grid network.

11. The status indicator system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second switch operable between a first and a second position, the second switch being in the first position when a second door is at least partially open and being in the second position when the second door is closed, the second switch being electrically coupled in series with the switch and the transmitter such that when either the switch or the second switch are in the first position the transmitter transmits the first signal via the power grid network.

12. The status indicator system as recited in claim 11, wherein the transmitter transmits the second signal via the power grid network when both the switch and the second switch are in the second position.

13. The status indicator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch further comprises a plurality of operable switches, each switch monitoring a different door and each switch having a first and a second position, the plurality of switches being electrically coupled in series such that when any one of the plurality of operable switches is in the first position the transmitter transmits the first signal via the power grid network.

14. The status indicator system as recited in claim 13, wherein the transmitter transmits the second signal via the power grid network when all of the operable switches are in the second position.

15. A method for indicating the position of a door to a home owner inside a residence via a house power system, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing whether the door is open or closed;

transmitting positional information via the house power system;

detecting positional information via the house power system; and

indicating positional information based in part on door position.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

encoding positional information;

periodically transmitting encoded positional information via high-frequency oscillation pulses on the house power system;

periodically receiving high-frequency oscillation pulses from the house power system containing encoded positional information; and

decoding positioned informal information.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of indicating positional information further comprises activating an indicator unless the positional information associated with a closed door is detected.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the steps of transmitting and detecting positional information via the house power system is accomplished in part by synchronized timing that includes using coordinated clocks, which obtain cyclic coordination via an alternating current inherently found on the house power system.

19. A status indicator system for use with a door on a building having a power grid network, the status indicator system comprising:

sensing means for determining whether the door is open or closed;

transmitting means for encoding and transmitting periodic door status information on the power grid network;

detection means for decoding periodic door status information received from the power grid network;

indicating means for conveying positional information to a user based in part on door status information received from the detection means.

20. The door status indicator as recited in claim 19, wherein the sensing means is a sensing module located in the proximity of the door for detecting the positional status of the door, the sensing module comprising a switch and a switch activator.

21. The door status indicator as recited in claim 20, wherein the sensing module is a magnetic sensor, the switch activator comprising a permanent magnet selectively affixed to the top of the door and the switch comprising a Reed switch affixed to a frame surrounding the door, the switch being in magnetic communication with the activator when the door is closed, the switch also being in electrical communication with the transmitting means.

22. The door status indicator as recited in claim 20, wherein the sensing means is a network of electrically interconnected sensing modules individual located in proximity to a plurality of doors for detecting the status of the doors, each sensing module comprising a switch and a switch activator.

23. The door status indicator as recited in claim 19 wherein the sensing means is an activator in wireless communication with a switch.

24. The door status indicator as recited in claim 19, wherein the transmitting means is integrated into a garage door opener sharing a common connection to the power grid network;

and wherein the sensing means are garage door opener switches positioned to determine whether the door is open or closed.

25. The door status indicator as recited in claim 19, wherein the transmitting means is a synchronized high-frequency oscillator in selective electrical communication with an electrical outlet.

26. The door status indicator as recited in claim 19 wherein the transmitting means digitally synchronizes a pulse with the detection means to activate the indicating means.

27. The door status indicator as recited in claim 19 wherein the detection means is selectively electrically coupled to the power grid network, the detection means activating.

28. The door status indicator as recited in claim 19 wherein the indicating means is activated if no door status information is received within a synchronized transmission time window.

29. The door status indicator as recited in claim 19 wherein the indicating means is a light emitting diode (LED) and a speaker, the speaker generating an audible alarm when the door is left open.

30. The door status indicator as recited in claim 29, wherein the indicating means further comprises an external outlet socket;

and flasher circuitry that selectively interrupts power supplied to the socket when the indicating means is activated.

31. A method for indicating the status of a door located on a building having a power grid network which energizes a plurality of electrical outlets with an alternating current, the method comprising the acts of:

mounting a switch adjacent to the door such that the switch is in a first position when the door is at least partially open and the switch is in a second position when the door is closed, the switch being electrically coupled with a transmitter;

electrically coupling the transmitter to the power grid network such that the transmitter transmits a first signal over the power grid network when the switch is in the first position and transmits a second signal over the power grid network when the switch is in the second position; and

removably inserting a plug located on a receiver into a select one of the plurality of electrical outlets energized by the power grid network, the receiver being configured to selectively receive the first signal and the second signal from the transmitter over the power grid network, an indicator being electrically coupled with the receiver such that the indicator is energized when the receiver receives a select one of the first and second signals.