Devices, methods, and systems for occupancy detection

• US 9,157,764 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Shetty, Pradeep, Foslien, Wendy, Curtner, Keith, Kolavennu, Soumitri, Mangsuli, Prunaprajna R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Tung S
• Application Number:
  US13/192,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20130030732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 702/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems for occupancy detection are described herein. One device embodiment includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to determine energy consumption data associated with a structure at a point in time, and determine whether the structure is occupied at the point in time based, at least in part, on the determined energy consumption data.

Claims

1. A computing device for determining an occupancy status of a structure, the computing device comprising:

a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed, analyze energy consumption data to determine the occupancy status of the structure; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to;

obtain energy consumption data associated with the structure at a point in time;

analyze the obtained energy consumption data to identify energy consumption directly caused by a current occupant and energy consumption not directly caused by a current occupant;

determine that the occupancy status of the structure is occupied at the point in time if energy consumption directly caused by a current occupant is detected;

determine that the occupancy status is not occupied at the point in time if energy consumption directly caused by a current occupant is not detected; and

cause the occupancy status to be sent to another device.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to:

determine whether a first portion of the obtained energy consumption data meets or exceeds a threshold for the first portion of the obtained energy consumption data; and

determine whether a second portion of the obtained energy consumption data meets or exceeds a threshold for the second portion of the obtained energy consumption data if the first portion of the obtained energy consumption data meets or exceeds the first threshold, wherein the structure is considered to be occupied at the point in time if the second portion of the determined energy consumption data meets or exceeds the second threshold.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the energy consumption data includes a peak current and a rate of change of a current.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to cause the occupancy status to be send to a programmable thermostat to activate or deactivate an HVAC system and/or to adjust a set point of the programmable thermostat.

5. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to execute the executable instructions stored in the memory to send a communication to a mobile device if the first portion of the obtained energy consumption data meets or exceeds the threshold for the first portion of the obtained energy consumption data stored in the memory.

6. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the structure is considered to not be occupied at the point in time if the second portion of the determined energy consumption data does not meet or exceed the second threshold.