Claims
- 1. A sensing apparatus, comprising:
- a first sensor for providing a first signal indicating a status of a first environmental condition;
- a second sensor for providing a second signal indicating a status of a second environmental condition;
- a third sensor for providing a third signal indicating a status of a third environmental condition;
- a timer for asserting a timer signal upon a lapse of a predetermined interval after a reset of said timer by assertion of a reset signal;
- an actuator for activating a load responsive to an assertion of a trigger signal and for deactivating said load responsive to a deassertion of said trigger signal; and
- logic means, coupled to said first sensor, to said second sensor, to said third sensor and to said actuator, for:
- asserting said trigger signal to said actuator to activate said load, and initiating said timer, upon detection of a first predetermined configuration of said first and second environmental conditions as respectively indicated by said first and second sensors when in a trigger mode;
- retriggering said actuator by asserting said reset signal to said timer upon detection of a second predetermined configuration, different from said first predetermined configuration, of said first and third environmental conditions as respectively indicated by said first and third sensors prior to assertion of said timer signal when in a retrigger mode;
- deasserting said trigger signal to said actuator, responsive to an assertion of said timer signal, to deactivate said load; and
- returning to said trigger mode after deactivating said actuator.
- 2. A sensing method, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring for a first predetermined configuration of a first and second environmental condition respectively indicated by a first sensor and a second sensor;
- activating a load when said first and second sensors indicate said first predetermined configuration exists;
- starting a timer measuring a lapse of a predetermined interval;
- monitoring for a second predetermined configuration, different from said first predetermined configuration, of said first environmental condition and a third environmental condition indicated by a third sensor while said timer measures said predetermined interval;
- resetting said timer if said first and third sensors indicate said second predetermined condition exists prior to lapse of said predetermined interval to retrigger said lapse of said predetermined interval;
- deactivating said load when said timer lapses; and
- retuming to a trigger mode to monitor for said first predetermined configuration of said first and second environmental conditions.
- 3. A sensing method, comprising the steps of:
- triggering a load when a first and a second sensor detect a first predetermined configuration of a first and second respective environmental condition;
- initiating a timer to measure a predetermined interval;
- retriggering said load when said first sensor and a third sensor detect a second predetermined configuration, different from said first predetermined configuration, of said first environmental condition and a third environmental condition prior to a lapse of said predetermined interval;
- resetting said timer after retriggering said load; and
- deactivating said load when said timer measures said predetermined interval.
- 4. A sensing apparatus, comprising:
- a first sensor for providing a first signal indicating a status of a first environmental condition;
- a second sensor for providing a second signal indicating a status of a second environmental condition;
- a third sensor for providing a third signal indicating a status of a third environmental condition;
- a timer for asserting a timer signal upon a lapse of a predetermined interval after a reset of said timer by assertion of a reset signal;
- an actuator for activating a load responsive to an assertion of a trigger signal and for deactivating said load responsive to a deassertion of said trigger signal; and
- logic means, coupled to said first sensor, to said second sensor, to said third sensor and to said actuator, for:
- asserting said trigger signal to said actuator to activate said load, and initiating said timer, upon detection of a first predetermined permutation of said first and second environmental conditions as respectively indicated by said first and second sensors when in a trigger mode;
- retriggering said actuator by asserting said reset signal to said timer upon detection of a second predetermined permutation, different from said first predetermined permutation, of said first and third environmental conditions as respectively indicated by said first and third sensors prior to assertion of said timer signal when in a retrigger mode;
- deasserting said trigger signal to said actuator, responsive to an assertion of said timer signal, to deactivate said load; and
- returning to said trigger mode after deactivating said actuator.
- 5. A sensing method, comprising the steps of:
- triggering a load when a first and a second sensor detect a first predetermined permutation of a first and second respective environmental condition;
- initiating a timer to measure a predetermined interval;
- retriggering said load when said first sensor and a third sensor detect a second predetermined permutation, different from said first predetermined permutation, of said first environmental condition and a third environmental condition prior to a lapse of said predetermined interval;
- resetting said timer after retriggering said load; and
- deactivating said load when said timer measures said predetermined interval.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/750,868, filed Aug. 28, 1991, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
9105106 |
Jun 1991 |
DEX |
2239742 |
Jul 1991 |
GBX |
9210074 |
Jun 1992 |
WOX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
750868 |
Aug 1991 |
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