U.S. patent application number 13/563209 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-22 for wireless occupancy sensing with portable power switching.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.. Invention is credited to Kevin Parsons.
Application Number | 20120293013 13/563209 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43448734 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120293013 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parsons; Kevin |
November 22, 2012 |
WIRELESS OCCUPANCY SENSING WITH PORTABLE POWER SWITCHING
Abstract
A system may include a wireless receiver to receive a wireless
signal from an occupancy sensor and at least one power switch to
control power to at least one load in response to the wireless
signal, where the wireless receiver and power switch are included
in a local switching device, and where the local switching device
comprises a power pack having a housing, a power supply to convert
high-voltage power to a low-voltage source for operating internal
circuitry in the power pack, and switch control logic to implement
an unoccupied delay time.
Inventors: |
Parsons; Kevin;
(Wilsonville, OR) |
Assignee: |
LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO.,
INC.
Melville
OR
|
Family ID: |
43448734 |
Appl. No.: |
13/563209 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12503381 |
Jul 15, 2009 |
8258654 |
|
|
13563209 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
307/113 ;
307/116 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 47/105 20200101;
H05B 47/115 20200101; H05B 47/13 20200101; H05B 47/19 20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
307/113 ;
307/116 |
International
Class: |
H01H 47/00 20060101
H01H047/00 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: a wireless receiver to receive a wireless
signal from an occupancy sensor; and at least one power switch to
control power to at least one load in response to the wireless
signal; where the wireless receiver and power switch are included
in a local switching device; and where the local switching device
comprises a power pack having a housing, a power supply to convert
high-voltage power to a low-voltage source for operating internal
circuitry in the power pack, and switch control logic to implement
an unoccupied delay time.
2. The system of claim 1 where the power pack further includes a
user interface coupled to the switch control logic to enable a user
to set the unoccupied delay time.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises one
of a dial, a push-button switch, and a keypad with full text
display.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the load comprises one of a light
fixture, an exhaust fan, a space heater and landscape wiring.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a
wireless receiver to receive a high-level occupancy signal.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a
wireless receiver to receive a low-level detector signal.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the power switch operates at one
of 120, 240 or 277 VAC.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power switch operates at one
of 12 VDC and 24 VDC.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power switch comprises one of
an air-gap relay, solid state relay, an SCR based switch, a triac
based switch, a transistor based switch, a power switch of discrete
steps, and a power switch with continuous switching.
10. A power pack comprising: a housing; a wireless receiver located
within the housing, the wireless receiver being adapted and
configured to receive a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor; a
power switch located in the housing, the power switch being adapted
and configured to control power to a load in response to the
wireless signal; and switch control logic located in the housing,
the switch control logic implementing an unoccupied time delay.
11. The power pack of claim 10, wherein the power switch turns on a
flow of power to the load in response to receiving the wireless
signal from the occupancy sensor.
12. The power pack of claim 11, wherein the power switch turns off
the flow of power to the load after delaying for the unoccupied
time delay after no longer receiving the wireless signal from the
occupancy sensor.
13. The power pack of claim 10, further comprising a user interface
coupled to the switch control logic to enable a user to set the
unoccupied time delay.
14. The power pack of claim 13, wherein the user interface
comprises one of a dial, a push-button switch, and a keypad with
full text display.
15. The power pack of claim 10, further comprising a conduit
connection extending from the housing for connecting to a light
fixture.
16. The power pack of claim 10, wherein the power switch operates
at one of 120, 240 or 277 VAC.
17. The power pack of claim 10, wherein the power switch operates
at one of 12 VDC and 24 VDC.
18. The power pack of claim 10, wherein the power switch comprises
one of an air-gap relay, solid state relay, an SCR based switch, a
triac based switch, a transistor based switch, a power switch of
discrete steps, and a power switch with continuous switching.
19. The power pack of claim 10, further comprising a power supply
located in the housing for converting high-voltage power received
by the power pack to a low-voltage source for operating internal
circuitry in the power pack.
20. A power pack comprising: a housing; a wireless receiver located
within the housing, the wireless receiver being adapted and
configured to receive a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor; a
power switch located in the housing, the power switch being adapted
and configured to control power to a load in response to the
wireless signal, the power switch being adapted and configured to
turn on a flow of power to the load in response to receiving the
wireless signal from the occupancy sensor; a power supply located
in the housing, the power supply converting high-voltage power
received by the power pack to a low-voltage source for operating
internal circuitry in the power pack; and switch control logic
located in the housing, the switch control logic implementing an
unoccupied time delay such that the power switch turns off the flow
of power to the load after delaying for the unoccupied time delay
after no longer receiving the wireless signal from the occupancy
sensor.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority and is a divisional
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/503,381 titled
WIRELESS OCCUPANCY SENSING WITH PORTABLE POWER SWITCHING, filed
Jul. 15, 2009, all which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Occupancy sensing technologies are used to monitor the
presence of human occupants in indoor and outdoor spaces. Occupancy
sensing systems conserve energy by automatically turning off
lighting and other electrical loads when the space is unoccupied.
They may also perform a convenience function by automatically
turning on lighting and other loads when an occupant enters a
space.
[0003] An occupancy sensing system generally includes at least two
major components: an occupancy sensor and a switching device. The
sensor generally needs to be positioned in a location that is
selected to have a clear view of the entire space that is to be
monitored for occupants. This type of location, however, is
typically not convenient for the switching device. Therefore,
occupancy sensor systems generally include control wiring that runs
between the occupancy sensor and the switching devices. This
additional wiring tends to be expensive and time consuming to
install. It may also be a source of system failures that are
difficult to diagnose if the wiring is concealed in walls.
Moreover, once the wiring is installed, it is difficult to
reconfigure the system if there is a change in the type or location
of loads that are to be controlled by the occupancy sensor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless occupancy
sensing system having a portable switching device according to some
of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure.
[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a wireless
occupancy sensing system having a portable switching device
according to some of the inventive principles of this patent
disclosure.
[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless occupancy
sensing system having two or more portable switching devices
according to some of the inventive principles of this patent
disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates an example technique for processing a
signal from a detector according to some of the inventive
principles of this patent disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates another example technique for processing
a signal from a detector according to some of the inventive
principles of this patent disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless occupancy
sensor according to some of the inventive principles of this patent
disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a portable switching
device for use in a wireless occupancy sensing system according to
some of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless occupancy
sensor according to some of the inventive principles of this patent
disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a power strip having
portable power switching for an occupancy sensing system according
to some of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a portable power
switching device for an occupancy sensing system according to some
of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a portable power
switching device for an occupancy sensing system according to some
of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of an appliance having
portable power switching for an occupancy sensing system according
to some of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a local power switch
for a wireless occupancy sensing system according to some of the
inventive principles of this patent disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of a local power
switch for a wireless occupancy sensing system according to some of
the inventive principles of this patent disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Some of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure
relate to the use of a portable switching device in a wireless
occupancy sensing system.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless occupancy
sensing system having a portable switching device according to some
of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. The system
of FIG. 1 includes a portable switching device 10 to control the
flow of power from a building wiring system 12 to an electrical
load 14 in response to a wireless signal 16 received from an
occupancy sensor 18.
[0020] The portable switching device 10 may be portable in the
sense that it may be removed from an interior or exterior building
space without disconnecting any permanent building wiring. For
example, the portable switching device may be implemented with a
cord-connected power strip that may be removed from a first office
by unplugging it from a receptacle and moved to second office. As
another example, the portable switching device may be implemented
with a screw-base adapter that may be connected between a light
bulb and a screw-type light socket.
[0021] In some embodiments, the wireless signal from the occupancy
sensor may be implemented as an occupancy signal that provides a
relatively high-level indication of whether the monitored space is
occupied or not. For example, the wireless signal may be encoded as
a binary signal where one state indicates the space is occupied,
and the other state indicates the space is not occupied. A binary
occupancy signal may have refinements such as a delay time
integrated into the signal, i.e., the signal does not switch from
the occupied to the unoccupied state until the space has been
unoccupied for the entire duration of the delay time.
[0022] In other embodiments, the wireless signal from the occupancy
sensor may be implemented as a detector signal that provides a
relatively low-level indication of a physical stimulus being sensed
by a detector in the occupancy sensor. For example, in an occupancy
sensor that uses passive infrared (PIR) sensing technology, the
wireless signal may be encoded to transmit primitive signals or raw
data from the PIR detector. Such signals or data may then be
processed in the portable switching device to determine whether the
monitored space is occupied.
[0023] In this and any other embodiments, the wireless signal from
the occupancy sensor may be transmitted in any suitable form, for
example, radio frequency (RF) signals, infrared (IR) signals,
ultrasonic signals, etc.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a wireless
occupancy sensing system having a portable switching device
according to some of the inventive principles of this patent
disclosure. In the system of FIG. 2, the portable switching device
20 may be configured to control power to two separate loads 22 and
24 independently in response to the wireless signal from the
occupancy sensor. For example, in some embodiments, one of the
loads may always be energized, or may be controlled by a master
switch, while the other load may be controlled by the wireless
signal from the occupancy sensor. In other embodiments, both loads
may be controlled by the wireless signal from the occupancy sensor,
but with different delay times, different levels of sensitivity,
etc. In yet other embodiments, one of the loads may be controlled
by the wireless signal from the occupancy sensor, while the other
load may be controlled by a combination of an ambient light
detector, as well as the wireless signal from the occupancy
sensor.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless occupancy
sensing system having two or more portable switching devices
according to some of the inventive principles of this patent
disclosure. In the system of FIG. 3, two different portable
switching devices 26 and 28 may be configured to control power to
two separate loads 30 and 32 in response to the wireless signal
from the occupancy sensor. For example, in some embodiments, the
first portable switching device 26 may be implemented with a
screw-base adapter to turn off a task light as soon as an occupant
has left a cubical that is monitored by the occupancy sensor, but
the second portable switching device 28 may be implemented with a
power strip configured to turn off a computer monitor and printer
30-minutes after the occupant has left the cubical.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates an example technique for processing a
signal from a detector according to some of the inventive
principles of this patent disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 4,
a signal processor 34 is included in an occupancy sensor 36 to
process signals from a detector 38. The signal processor may
include all of the functionality to process a raw signal from the
detector, as well as logic to make the final determination of
whether the monitored space should be considered occupied.
[0027] For example, with an occupancy sensor based on PIR sensing
technology, the detector 38 may include a semiconductor chip with
one or more pyroelectric detectors that generate a voltage that
changes in response to changes in the amount of infrared energy in
the field of view. In this example, the signal processor 34 may
include amplifiers, comparators, logic, etc. to determine whether a
change in the amount of infrared energy is caused by the motion of
an actual occupant or by some other source of infrared energy such
as background energy from ambient light. The signal processor may
also include logic to implement features such as a delay time to
prevent false unoccupied readings. The final output from the signal
processor is a binary occupancy signal that indicates whether the
monitored space is occupied or unoccupied. The occupancy signal is
transmitted as the wireless signal 40 to a portable switching
device 42.
[0028] Although the example of FIG. 4 is shown with only one
detector, multiple detectors may be used. For example, some
embodiments may include both PIR and ultrasound detectors, in which
case, the signal processor may include circuitry to process changes
in the output of the PIR detector, as well as detecting Doppler
shift in the output from an ultrasound transducer. The signal
processor may also include logic to make the final occupancy
determination by combining the information from the PIR and
ultrasound detectors.
[0029] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, and in any other embodiments,
the signal processor 34 and any other circuitry and/or logic may be
implemented in analog and/or digital hardware, software, firmware,
etc., or any combination thereof.
[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates another example technique for processing
a signal from a detector according to some of the inventive
principles of this patent disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 5,
the signal processor 44 is moved to the portable switching device
48. Rather than transmitting an occupancy signal, the occupancy
sensor 50 transmits a detector signal that provides a relatively
low-level indication of a physical stimulus being sensed by the
detector 52 in the occupancy sensor. For example, in an occupancy
sensor that uses PIR sensing technology, the occupancy sensor may
transmit the value of the voltage output from the PIR detector in
analog or digital form on the wireless signal 54. The signal
processor 44 in the portable switching device 48 may then perform
the processing to determine whether a change in the amount of
infrared energy received at the detector 52 is caused by the motion
of an actual occupant. The signal processor 44 may also include
logic to implement features such as a delay time, sensitivity
adjustment, etc. The portable switching device 48 then uses the
occupancy determination to control the flow of power to an
electrical load 14.
[0031] In some embodiments, the signal processing functions may be
distributed between multiple components. For exampled, the
occupancy sensor may include some rudimentary signal processing in
which the detector signal is converted to a digital form with an
analog-to-digital converter (ADC). In such an embodiment, some
amount of filtering may be included in the occupancy sensor as
well. The digitized detector signal may then be transmitted to the
portable switching device where additional signal processing
circuitry may complete the processing to make the occupancy
determination.
[0032] In other embodiments, signal processing for multiple
detectors may be distributed between multiple components. For
example, with an occupancy sensor that uses a combination of PIR
and video sensing, the signal processing for the PIR detector,
which may require relatively little processing power, may be
performed at the occupancy sensor, while processing for the video
detector, which may require more processing power, may be performed
at the portable switching device. In this example, the wireless
signal may include a binary occupancy signal relating to the PIR
portion, and a more complex detector signal relating to the video
portion. Logic at the portable switching device may combine the
binary PIR occupancy signal with the output from the video
processing to make a final occupancy determination.
[0033] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless occupancy
sensor according to some of the inventive principles of this patent
disclosure. The system of FIG. 6 includes a detector 56 and a
wireless transmitter 58. In some embodiments, the detector may be
coupled directly to the transmitter to transmit the detector signal
as a relatively low-level indication of a physical stimulus sensed
by a detector, for example, by transmitting a primitive signal or
raw data from the detector on the wireless signal 66. In other
embodiments, the occupancy sensor may include a signal processor 60
to process the detector signal and determine whether the space
monitored by the detector is occupied. In such an embodiment, the
signal processor may output a binary occupancy signal that is
transmitted as the wireless signal 66 and indicates whether the
monitored space is occupied or unoccupied. The signal processor may
include logic to implement additional features such as a delay
time, variable sensitivity, etc.
[0034] The occupancy sensor may also include one or more additional
detectors 62. In some embodiments, the output of an additional
detector may be coupled directly to the transmitter 58, while in
other embodiments, the output of an additional detector may be
processed by the signal processor 60. Alternatively, one or more
additional transmitters may be included to transmit the output
signal for one or more additional detectors, with or without
subjecting the detector signal to signal processing.
[0035] The transmitter 58 may transmit the wireless signal 66 using
any suitable wireless transmission technology. Examples include
infrared transmission using a standard from the Infrared Data
Association (IrDA), RF transmission using one of the many standards
developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE), or any other standardized and/or proprietary wireless
communication technology.
[0036] A user interface 68 may be included to enable a user to
configure the system, adjust parameters, etc. For example, the user
interface may enable a user to set an unoccupied delay time,
detector sensitivity, learn mode, etc. A user interface may be
implemented with any level of sophistication from a simple
push-button switch with no user feedback to a keypad with full text
display, etc.
[0037] A power source 64 provides power to operate some or all of
the various components of the occupancy sensor. In some
embodiments, the power source may be provided from an external
source, for example, by a hardwired connection to a 24 VDC power
supply, a 120 VAC branch circuit, etc. In other embodiments, the
power source may be internal, for example, one or more batteries,
fuel cells, photovoltaic cells, etc. Other embodiments may include
combinations of these various types of power sources. For example,
primary power may be provided by a 120 VAC circuit, which maintains
a backup battery in a charged state to provide power in the event
of a loss of the 120 VAC circuit.
[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a portable switching
device for use in a wireless occupancy sensing system according to
some of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. The
system of FIG. 7 includes a wireless receiver 70 to receive a
wireless signal from an occupancy sensor using any suitable
wireless transmission technologies, including those discussed
above. A signal processor 72 may be included depending on the
nature of the wireless signal. If the wireless signal is
implemented as an occupancy signal that provides a relatively
high-level indication of whether the monitored space is occupied,
the signal processor may be omitted. In other embodiments, if the
wireless signal from the occupancy sensor is implemented as a
detector signal the signal processor may be included to process the
detector signal and determine whether the monitored space is
occupied.
[0039] Switch control logic 74 controls a power switch 76 in
response to an occupancy signal from the receiver and/or the signal
processor. The switch control logic 74 may also control one or more
additional power switches 78. A power switch may include any
suitable form of isolated or non-isolated power switch including an
air-gap relay, solid state relay, or other switch based on SCRs,
triacs, transistors, etc. The switch may provide power switching in
discrete steps such as on/off switching, with or without
intermediate steps, or continuous switching such as dimming
control.
[0040] A user interface may be included to enable a user to
configure the system, adjust parameters, etc. For example, the user
interface may enable a user to set an unoccupied delay time,
detector sensitivity, learn mode, etc. As with the occupancy sensor
as described above, a user interface on a portable switching device
may be implemented with any level of sophistication from a simple
push-button switch, to a keypad with full text display, etc. For
example, in some embodiments, a user interface may include a
trimming potentiometer (trim pot) to set a delay time for
unoccupied mode.
[0041] The power connections to the power switches may be
implemented in any suitable form. For example, in some embodiments,
the input power connection 82 may include a standard grounded or
ungrounded power cord with a plug for connection to a wall
receptacle. In other embodiments, the input power connection may
include a screw base to connect the switching device to a standard
screw-type light socket. In embodiments that include more than one
power switch, additional power inputs 84 may be connected to the
same or separate input power connections.
[0042] Since the portable switching device of FIG. 7 includes at
least one power connection 82 or 84, one of these connections may
be utilized as a source of power to operate the wireless receiver,
signal processor, user interface, logic, etc. Alternatively, a
separate power source such as one or more batteries, PV cells, etc.
may be used as a primary or back-up source of power to operate this
circuitry.
[0043] The connection from a power switch to a load may also be
implemented in any suitable form. For example, in some embodiments,
the connection 86 from the switch 76 may include a receptacle for a
standard power plug, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), a
screw socket for a standard light bulb or other type of lamp
holder, etc. In an embodiment having two power switches in a power
strip, one of the switches may be configured to switch power to one
or more receptacles in response to the wireless signal from an
occupancy sensor under control of the switch control logic, while
the other switch may be configured to switch a separate group of
receptacles on at all times, or only turn off in response to a
master on-off switch on the power strip.
[0044] In another embodiment having two power switches in a power
strip, the two switches may both be configured to be controlled by
the wireless signal from an occupancy sensor, but the switch
control logic may cause the two switches to control separate groups
of receptacles on the power strip with different delay times.
[0045] In some other embodiments, the switch control logic may also
be configured to provide various types of overrides such as manual
or timer overrides of the occupancy sensor for certain loads. For
example, on a power strip, a specific receptacle for a coffee maker
may be configured to remain energized for a fixed length of time,
regardless of occupancy, to assure a completely brewed pot of
coffee. The user interface may be configured to enable a user to
select a specific receptacle and designate the override time and
other parameters.
[0046] As another example with a power strip, a receptacle for a
networked printer that is normally controlled by the occupancy
sensor may be manually and temporarily overridden to remain on, for
example, if the occupant knows that others will be sending network
print jobs to the printer while the occupant is away from the
monitored space.
[0047] As yet another example with a power strip, one group of
receptacles for devices such as a monitor, printer, background
music, etc., may be configured to turn off after the monitored
space is unoccupied for 10 minutes, while a second group of
receptacles for devices such as a computer CPU may be configured to
turn off after the monitored space is unoccupied for one hour.
[0048] As with other embodiments, the logic and circuitry in the
embodiment of FIG. 7 may be implemented with analog and/or digital
hardware, software, firmware, etc., or any combination thereof.
[0049] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless occupancy
sensor according to some of the inventive principles of this patent
disclosure. The embodiment of FIG. 8 includes a PIR detector 92 in
a housing 90 that may be mounted permanently to a building with
screws, clips, glue, etc., mounted temporarily to a building, for
example, with removable or repositionable two-sided tape,
hook-and-loop fasteners, etc., or left unattached on a shelf, desk,
cabinet, etc., in a location that provides the PIR sensor with an
adequate field of view of the monitored space.
[0050] In this example, the occupancy sensor also includes a
photovoltaic (PV) cell 100 to provide the primary source of power
for the sensor and recharge one or more batteries on which the
occupancy sensor runs when inadequate ambient light is available.
An access cover 98 may provide access to controls for the PIR
sensing operation such as range, sensitivity, field of interest,
learn mode, etc.
[0051] In some embodiments, the occupancy sensor may include one or
more additional detectors 94 and 96 which may include, for example,
ultrasonic transducers, audio transducers, etc., or any combination
thereof.
[0052] In this embodiment, the occupancy sensor may communicate
with one or more portable switching devices through an RF
transmitter which may be enclosed within the housing if it is
fabricated from plastic or other material that does not block RF
signals. The RF transmitter may be configured to flood the entire
monitored space with the RF signal to enable any portable switching
devices in the space to respond to the occupancy sensor. In some
embodiments, multiple wireless occupancy sensors may be configured
to operate on different frequencies. In other embodiments, an
occupancy sensor may be configured to send different wireless
occupancy signals on different frequencies, for example, occupancy
signals having different delay times may be transmitted by the same
occupancy sensor on different frequencies.
[0053] The type of wireless signal or signals transmitted by the
occupancy sensor may depend on the type, if any, of signal
processing functionality in the occupancy sensor. As discussed
above, in some embodiments with little or no signal processing
capacity, the occupancy sensor may broadcast a primitive or only
slightly processed detector signal. In such embodiments, the
elimination or reduction of signal processing at the occupancy
sensor may reduce the power consumed and therefore, extend the
battery life, reduce the size of the PV cell, etc. In other
embodiments with more signal processing capacity, the occupancy
sensor may broadcast a high-level binary occupancy signal.
[0054] Although the embodiment of FIG. 8 is shown in the context of
an RF transmitter and PIR or U/S or audio detectors, the inventive
principles may also be applied to embodiments that use other
wireless communication technologies such as infrared and other
occupancy sensing technologies.
[0055] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a power strip having
portable power switching for an occupancy sensing system according
to some of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. The
embodiment of FIG. 9 includes a housing 102 having a power cord 104
that can be plugged into a standard power receptacle. A first group
of receptacles 108 is controlled only by a master switch 106. A
second group of receptacles 110 is also controlled by the master
switch, but may also be controlled by a portable switching device
112 in response to a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor. A
wireless receiver 114 receives the wireless signal from the
occupancy sensor and controls the second group of receptacles 110
accordingly. In this embodiment, a user interface includes a trim
pot 116, but other embodiments may include a potentiometer with a
knob, an optical encoder, a keypad and display, or any other type
of user interface, or no user interface. The trim pot 116 in this
embodiment enables a user to set a custom time delay for the
switches receptacles 110.
[0056] In other embodiments, two or more groups of receptacles may
be arranged to turn off with different time delays in response to a
wireless signal from an occupancy sensor. For example, one group of
receptacles may be configured to turn off with a short time delay
after the monitored space becomes unoccupied, while another group
of receptacles may be configured to turn off with a longer time
delay. Such an embodiment may include a user interface with two
separately operable user inputs for setting the time delay.
Alternatively, one time delay may be pre-programmed or hard wired
into the power strip, while a use is able to adjust the other time
delay. In one example of an end-user configuration, a power strip
with multiple groups of receptacles may be set up with a task
light, printer, and computer monitor plugged into the group that
turns off quickly, whereas a computer CPU and coffee mug warmer may
be plugged into the group having a longer delay time. To facilitate
an orderly shutdown of the CPU, the power strip or other portable
switching device may include a communication interface to transmit
a message to the CPU in advance of powering down to enable the CPU
to initiate a shutdown sequence.
[0057] As discussed above, the wireless signal from the occupancy
sensor may be implemented as a high-level occupancy signal, a
low-level detector signal, or some combination thereof. The
portable switching device 112 may have any suitable amount of
signal processing functionality depending on the type of wireless
signal transmitted by the occupancy sensor. The portable switching
device 112 may include switch control logic to implement any of the
control techniques discussed above, including those described with
respect to FIG. 7, or any other control technique that takes
advantage of a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor.
[0058] FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a portable power
switching device for an occupancy sensing system according to some
of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. The
embodiment of FIG. 10 is configured as a light bulb adapter and
includes a body 120 having a screw base 118 that can be mounted in
a screw-type lamp socket. A screw-in socket 122 enables an
incandescent lamp, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) or other load to
be connected to the adapter. A switch in the body operates in
response to a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor received by
a wireless receiver 124. A dial 126 enables the user to manually
set a custom delay time.
[0059] As with the embodiment of FIG. 9, the wireless signal from
the occupancy sensor may be implemented as a high-level occupancy
signal, a low-level detector signal, or some combination thereof.
The embodiment of FIG. 10 may include any suitable amount of signal
processing functionality depending on the type of wireless signal
transmitted by the occupancy sensor.
[0060] FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a portable power
switching device for an occupancy sensing system according to some
of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. The
embodiment of FIG. 11 is configured as a portable in-line power
switch and includes a body 128 having blades to form a power plug
130 extending from the back of the body to connect the device to a
standard wall receptacle. A receptacle 132 is formed in the front
of the body. A power switch inside the body controls the flow of
power from the plug 130 to the receptacle 132 in response to a
wireless signal from an occupancy sensor received by a wireless
receiver 134. A dial 136 enables the user to manually set a custom
delay time.
[0061] As with the embodiments of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the wireless
signal from the occupancy sensor may be implemented as a high-level
occupancy signal, a low-level detector signal, or some combination
thereof. The embodiment of FIG. 11 may also include any suitable
amount of signal processing functionality depending on the type of
wireless signal transmitted by the occupancy sensor.
[0062] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of an appliance having
portable power switching for an occupancy sensing system according
to some of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. In
the embodiment of FIG. 12, a portable power switching device 140 is
integrated directly into the appliance 138, which in this example
is a task light, but could be any other suitable electrical
appliance. The portable power switching device 140 is mounted in a
base 146 of the task light which may be plugged in to a wall
receptacle through a power cord 150. A power switch inside the
portable power switching device controls the flow of power from the
cord 150 to a lamp 152 in response to a wireless signal from an
occupancy sensor received by a wireless receiver 142. A dial 144
enables the user to manually set a custom delay time. A master
switch 148 may completely de-energize the entire appliance.
[0063] As with the embodiments of FIG. 9 through FIG. 11, the
wireless signal from the occupancy sensor may be implemented as a
high-level occupancy signal, a low-level detector signal, or some
combination thereof. The embodiment of FIG. 12 may also include any
suitable amount of signal processing functionality depending on the
type of wireless signal transmitted by the occupancy sensor.
[0064] Some additional inventive principles of this patent
disclosure relate to the use of a time clock in a wireless
occupancy sensing system. An example is illustrated in the
embodiment of FIG. 12 where the appliance includes a time clock to
enable various clock-based control techniques to be combined with
other inventive features. An LCD display 141 and keypad 143 enable
a user to configure the clock and appliance so that the appliance
operates differently during different time periods. For example,
the clock may be programmed with a normal schedule such as 8:00 am
to 5:00 pm on weekdays. The appliance may be configured so that it
only responds to the wireless signal from an occupancy sensor
during normal work hours, but disregards the wireless signal, i.e.,
stays off, at other times. A manual override switch 145 may be
included to enable a user to manually toggle the on/off state of
the appliance during normal works hours, outside of normal work
hours, or at any time.
[0065] The time clock may be implemented with any suitable
mechanical and/or electrical platforms. In the embodiment of FIG.
12, the interface to the clock is shown as a display and keypad
that enable configuration of the clock which may be implemented
with a dedicated microcontroller, or with a microcontroller that
implements some or all of the other functions of the appliance such
as wireless reception, time delay, power switch control, manual
override, etc. In other embodiments, the time clock may be
implemented with a rotating mechanical timer with a dial face
having trippers arranged around the face to trigger on/off events
by closing and opening mechanical contacts as the dial face turns.
In some embodiments, the clock may include an astronomical
adjustment to adjust time settings based on seasons or time of
year. In an electrical implementation, a clock may be realized with
digital and/or analog hardware, software, firmware, etc., or any
combination thereof.
[0066] The keypad 143 may include left/right select buttons to
scroll through and select parameters, and up/down
increment-decrement buttons to change a selected parameter. Example
parameters may include time-of-day or day-of week settings, start
and end points for control time periods, configuration of power
switch response to control time periods, enable or disable manual
override, etc.
[0067] Although illustrated in the context of an appliance, the
inventive principles relating to time clocks may also be applied to
other portable switching devices such as power strips, lamp
holders, etc., as well as local switching devices as described
below.
[0068] Some of the inventive principles of this patent disclosure
relate to the use of a local switching device in a wireless
occupancy sensing system. A local switching device may have a
structure similar to any of the embodiments of portable switching
devices described above with respect to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6.
Rather than being portable, however, it may be local in the sense
that it may be connected to a load without any additional building
wiring between the local switching device and the load. For
example, the local switching device may be implemented with a
receptacle that is mounted in a wall outlet and configured to
receive the wireless signal from the occupancy sensor. The
switching device controls the flow of power to a load that is
plugged in to the receptacle in response to the wireless
signal.
[0069] FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a local power switch
for a wireless occupancy sensing system according to some of the
inventive principles of this patent disclosure. The embodiment of
FIG. 13 is configured as a wall outlet having a duplex receptacle
160. A mounting plate 158 enables the entire assembly to be mounted
in a standard electrical wall box. The power switch, switch control
logic, signal processing circuitry (if any), etc., may be enclosed
in a housing 156. Power connections to the switch may be through
pigtail wire leads 164 which may include hot, neutral, and ground
connections for, e.g., a 120 VAC branch circuit.
[0070] The power switch inside the housing controls the flow of
power from the wire leads to the duplex receptacle 160 in response
to a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor received by a
wireless receiver 162. A dial 166 may be included to enable the
user to manually set a custom delay time. In this embodiment, the
dial is located on the face mounting plate 158 so that it can be
adjusted by removing the wall plate, but without having to remove
the assembly from the wall box. In other embodiments, the dial or
other user interface may be located directly on the receptacle, on
or inside the housing, etc.
[0071] The wireless signal from the occupancy sensor may be
implemented as a high-level occupancy signal, a low-level detector
signal, or some combination thereof. The embodiment of FIG. 13 may
include any suitable amount of signal processing functionality
depending on the type of wireless signal transmitted by the
occupancy sensor.
[0072] Although the embodiment of FIG. 13 is illustrated as a wall
outlet with a receptacle, a local switching device may also be
embodied in other forms such as a power pack, a screw-base lamp
holder, etc.
[0073] FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of a local power
switch for a wireless occupancy sensing system according to some of
the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. The embodiment
of FIG. 14 is configured as a power pack that may be mounted
directly to a light fixture, exhaust fan, space heater, or other
electrical load. The power pack includes an enclosure having two
housing halves 168 and 170. A conduit connection 172 molded into
the housing halves provides a mechanical connection to a load such
as a light fixture. The power pack may include one or more power
switches to control the flow of power to one or more loads. The
switches may operate at relatively high voltages such as 120, 240
or 277 VAC as is commonly used in building wiring systems, although
some embodiments may operate at other voltages such as 12 VDC,
e.g., for landscape wiring. The power pack may also include a power
supply to convert high-voltage power to a low-voltage source for
operating the internal circuitry.
[0074] The power switch inside the housing controls the flow of
power to the load in response to a wireless signal from an
occupancy sensor received by a wireless receiver 174. A dial 176
may be included to enable the user to manually set a custom delay
time.
[0075] The wireless signal from the occupancy sensor may be
implemented as a high-level occupancy signal, a low-level detector
signal, or some combination thereof. The embodiment of FIG. 14 may
include any suitable amount of signal processing functionality
depending on the type of wireless signal transmitted by the
occupancy sensor.
[0076] The inventive principles of this patent disclosure have been
described above with reference to some specific example
embodiments, but these embodiments can be modified in arrangement
and detail without departing from the inventive concepts. For
example, some of the embodiments have been described in the context
of lighting loads, but the inventive principles apply to other
types of electrical loads as well. Any of the circuitry and logic
described herein may be implemented in analog and/or digital
hardware, software, firmware, etc., or any combination thereof. As
another example, some of the embodiments have been described in the
context of interior building spaces, but the inventive principles
apply to exterior or hybrid spaces as well. Such changes and
modifications are considered to fall within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *