Novitas, Inc.

Cooper Wiring Devices, Inc.

Brian E Elwell

James D Himonas

Jon Oswaks

The present invention provides a system comprising an occupancy sensor for sensing occupancy of an area, able to activate upon sensing occupancy of the area, maintain activation when sensing continuing occupancy, to include settings therefor, and to enable self-adjusting of the settings. It includes an infrared sensor section, able to passively sense occupancy and activate a signal, continue to activate upon sensing continuing occupancy, and enable separate processing of the settings. It also includes an ultrasonic sensor section, able to actively sense occupancy, activate a signal upon sensing continuing occupancy, and enable separate processing of the settings. The occupancy sensor is able to activate when the infrared sensor section senses occupancy, and to maintain activation when either the infrared sensor section or the ultrasonic sensor section senses continuing occupancy of the area. The infrared sensor section signals and the ultrasonic sensor section signals are each independently formed and activated.

Self-adjusting dual technology occupancy sensor system and method

An energy-saving lighting control system for controlling a series of banks of lights in an area. The system activates less than all of the series of banks of lights upon entry into the area, regardless of the last light-activating setting selected by a user.

Lighting control system and method

A fully automatic and energy efficient lighting control or light switch comprises different settings, preset by a user, and activates all or a portion of at least one bank of lights upon detecting occupants within a room. In one embodiment, the light switch detects doppler-shifted, reflected ultrasonic waves caused by occupant motion within the room. In an automatic mode, the light switch is configured to automatically switch from an initial sensitivity level for detecting motion within a short range therefrom, to a higher sensitivity level for detecting motion anywhere within the room. After the room is empty or no motion is sensed, the light switch is configured to turn the lights off following a variable time delay. The light switch returns to its initial low sensitivity level following a predetermined grace period which begins once the lights are turned off. The lights can be turned off manually when the light switch is in its automatic mode, in which case, the light switch continues to operate at the higher sensitivity level. When motion is no longer detected, and following the variable time delay and predetermined grace period, the switch automatically returns to an automatic &ldquo;on&rdquo; state. In an alternative manual mode, the light switch can be activated manually and deactivated both manually and automatically. In its manual mode, the light switch is configured to deactivate the lights upon sensing no motion and is configured to reactivate the lights automatically within the predetermined grace period upon sensing motion.

Fully automatic energy efficient lighting control and method of making same

Line powered DC power supply

Ultrasonic wall switch

A scaled, isolated range test chamber is provided for testing motion sensors, such as ultrasonic occupancy detectors, in which the detector to be tested is mounted on a drawer and slid into an enclosed chamber. The enclosed chamber includes multiple motion simulators, such as rods rotated by stepper motors, which are controlled by computer to provide an accurate and repeatable scaled test environment. The ultrasonic radiation is concentrated by the scaled test environment to avoid testing anomalies resulting from time and temperature changes or human error factors. A master sensor is calibrated to detect the predetermined minor motion of the movement of a human hand in an arc through a discrete distance of one foot in one second. The motion simulators are adjusted to rotate through a larger arc at a closer distance to be detected by the master sensor in order to determine the equivalent simulated minor motion. Production sensors are then tested in the chamber using the simulated minor motion of the motion simulators.

Range test chamber

A rate of change comparator uses an RC charging circuit and a separate RC discharging circuit to follow a transducer output. The resistor component of each RC circuit is shunted by a diode, each biased in a different orientation so that the charging circuit charges quickly through its diode but discharges slowly through its resistor and the discharging circuit discharges quickly through its diode and slowly through its resistor. The difference in output between the charging and discharging circuits is detected with a comparator, biased off by a threshold bias voltage developed from one of the circuits. The comparator is unaffected by slow changes in transducer signals due to drift, ambient condition and similar changes because the differential voltage between the circuits is minimized for transducer signal changes below the level set by a threshold bias level. When the transducer signal is positive and the rate of change of the transducer signal exceeds the minimum rate of change set by the RC time constant of the discharging circuit, the diode allows the charging circuit to charge faster than the discharging circuit and the differential voltage therebetween triggers the comparator to indicate that an event was detected if the differential voltage exceeds the threshold bias voltage. Similarly, when the transducer signal is negative and the rate of change of the transducer signal exceeds the minimum rate of change set by the RC time constant of the charging circuit, the diode allows the discharging circuit to discharge faster than the charging circuit and the differential voltage therebetween triggers the comparator to indicate that an event was detected if the differential voltage exceeds the threshold bias voltage.

Rate of change comparator

Method of calibrating motion detectors within a scaled environment

A time-delayed, variable light intensity control is configured to operate in a conventional mode in which the illumination level of incandescent lights is adjusted in accordance with rotation of the dimmer knob and in automatic dimming modes in which the illumination level is further dimmed over a predetermined period of time, to either a low level of illumination suitable for use as a night light, or until extinguished. The light intensity control controls the illumination levels as well as the time delay during automatic dimming by varying the phase angle at which a power triac is triggered. The phase angle is controlled by the timing of the generation of a first pulse in accordance with the rotation of the dimmer knob and the generation of a fixed period pulse which occurs one half cycle later. The control system is useful for other AC control systems.

Dimmer switch with gradual reduction in light intensity

A fully automatic and energy efficient lighting control or light switch comprises different settings, preset by a user, and activates all or a portion of at least one bank of lights upon detecting occupants within a room. In one embodiment, the light switch detects doppler-shifted, reflected ultrasonic waves caused by occupant motion within the room. In an automatic mode, the light switch is configured to automatically switch from an initial sensitivity level for detecting motion within a short range therefrom, to a higher sensitivity level for detecting motion anywhere within the room. After the room is empty or no motion is sensed, the light switch is configured to turn the lights off following a variable time delay. The light switch returns to its initial low sensitivity level following a predetermined grace period which begins once the lights are turned off. The lights can be turned off manually when the light switch is in its automatic mode, in which case, the light switch continues to operate at the higher sensitivity level. When motion is no longer detected, and following the variable time delay and predetermined grace period, the switch automatically returns to an automatic 'on' state. In an alternative manual mode, the light switch can be activated manually and deactivated both manually and automatically. In its manual mode, the light switch is configured to deactivate the lights upon sensing no motion and is configured to reactivate the lights automatically within the predetermined grace period upon sensing motion.

Fully automatic energy efficient lighting control and method of making

A ceiling sensor designed to interface with the computerized controllers of energy management systems is disclosed. This ceiling sensor is operable to detect motion through the use of a transmitted signal of predetermined frequency which when received has experienced a Doppler shift. Comparison of the received signal with its frequency change to the transmitted signal produces motion detection which when incorporated with an isolated latching relay enables the switching on and off of light, heating, air conditioning or security interfaces. A ceiling sensor is disclosed which is operable to detect the short, quick movements of employees working in a narrow range field of view such as a shop aisle or warehouse corridor. A second ceiling sensor is disclosed which is operable to detect the gross, large movements of employees in a large area such as an open room or warehouse. A method of fabricating a ceiling sensor for a computer controller interface is also described.

Motion detection sensor with computer interface

An energy efficient light switch providing dual switching capability for banks of overhead lights through the detection of infrared energy activity in a room. The switch has three positions preset by the user, activating a sufficient, but limited amount of light for a room through the automatic control of all, none or a portion of the banks of lights in the room. The switch is operable at 277 volts or 120 volts, has a sweep range of from 0.degree. to 180.degree. and is applicable for most lighting fixtures, fluorescent as well as incandescent and replaces the standard wall mounted wall switchplate. A method of manufacturing the energy efficient infrared light switch is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Brentwood, CA, United States of America

Brian E Elwell