Occupancy sensor network

Abstract

An occupancy sensor network.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-11 are schematic illustrations of an exemplary embodiment of a control system including an occupancy sensor.

FIGS. 12 a-12b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the operation of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 13 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of time averaged amplitudes of filtered signals for a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of operating the pre-amplifier of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of operating the variable bandpass filter of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 16 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the variable bandpass filter of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of time averaging the amplitudes of signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 18 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 19 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a time series the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a particular center frequency.

FIG. 20 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the time averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 22 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the time averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIG. 24 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the time averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 25 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the time averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of networking occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 27 a-27c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIG. 28 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of monitoring the system status of one or more occupancy sensors.

FIG. 29 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors in a system.

FIGS. 30 a-30c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring a system of occupancy sensors.

FIG. 31 a and 31b are exemplary embodiments of graphical user interfaces for remotely controlling and monitoring a system of occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 32 a-32b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring the profile of occupancy sensors.

FIG. 33 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring the profile of occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 34 a-34c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring the commissioning of occupancy sensors.

FIG. 35 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring the commissioning of occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 36 a-36b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIG. 37 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 38 a-38c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring the status of occupancy sensors.

FIG. 39 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIG. 40 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a duty cycle for occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 41 a-41b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring a bandpass filter for an occupancy sensor.

FIG. 42 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring a bandpass filter for an occupancy filter.

FIG. 43 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bandpass filter engine.

FIGS. 44 a-44b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of searching for quiet bandwidth zones.

FIG. 44 c is a schematic illustration of a quiet bandwidth zone database.

FIG. 45 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of quiet bandwidth zones.

FIG. 46 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of time averaging signals filtered within quiet bandwidth zones.

FIG. 47 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bandpass filter engine.

FIGS. 48 a-48b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of searching for noisy bandwidth zones.

FIG. 48 c is a schematic illustration of a permissible bandwidth zone database.

FIG. 49 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of permissible bandwidth zones.

FIG. 50 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of time averaging signals filtered within quiet bandwidth zones.

FIGS. 51 a-51b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIGS. 52 a-52b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIG. 53 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIG. 54 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIGS. 55 a-55b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 56 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 57 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 58 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 59 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an occupancy sensor.

FIG. 60 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an occupancy sensor.

Claims

1. An occupancy sensor, comprising: a sensor;a communication interface for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a communication network; anda controller operably coupled to the sensor and the communication interface;wherein the controller is adapted to: process signals generated by the sensor to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region; andcommunicate with the communication network using the communication interface.

2. An occupancy sensor, comprising: an acoustic transmitter;an acoustic receiver;a communication interface for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a communication network;a memory comprising information representative of a network address for the sensor, information representative of data corresponding to the defined region, information representative of an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor, and information representative of an office plan location assigned to the occupancy sensor; anda controller operably coupled to the acoustic transmitter, acoustic receiver, the communication interface, and the memory;wherein the controller is adapted to: transmit acoustic signals using the acoustic transmitter;receive acoustic signals using the acoustic receiver;process the received acoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region;communicate with the communication network using the communication interface;permit remote control of the occupancy sensor during a first time period and permit local control of the occupancy sensor during a second time period; andpermit remote updates of the information representative of a network address for the sensor, information representative of data corresponding to the defined region, information representative of an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor, and information representative of an office plan location assigned to the occupancy sensor.

3. The occupancy sensor of claim 2, further comprising: an infrared sensor; andwherein the controller is adapted to: process the signals generated by the infrared second to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within a defined region.

4. A method of operating an occupancy sensor, comprising: using a sensor to monitor a defined region;processing signals generated by the sensor to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region; andcommunicating with the occupancy sensor using a network.

5. A method of operating an occupancy sensor, comprising: transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region;receiving acoustic signals from the defined region;processing the received acoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region;communicating with the occupancy sensor using a network;assigning a network address to the sensor;storing information within the sensor that corresponds to the defined region;remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the occupancy sensor during a first time period;locally controlling the one or more operational aspects during a second time period; andremotely updating the information representative of a data corresponding to the defined region;wherein the information representative of data corresponding to the defined region comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor; andwherein the information representative of data corresponding to the defined region comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the occupancy sensor.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: monitoring infrared energy within the defined region; andprocessing the infrared energy to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region.

7. A system for operating an occupancy sensor, comprising: means for monitoring a defined region to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region; andmeans for communicating with the occupancy sensor using a network.

8. A system for operating an occupancy sensor, comprising: means for transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region;means for receiving acoustic signals from the defined region;means for processing the received acoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region;means for communicating with the occupancy sensor using a network;means for assigning a network address to the sensor;means for storing information within the sensor that corresponds to the defined region;means for remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the occupancy sensor during a first time period;means for locally controlling the one or more operational aspects during a second time period; andmeans for remotely updating the information representative of a data corresponding to the defined region;wherein the information representative of data corresponding to the defined region comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor; andwherein the information representative of data corresponding to the defined region comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the occupancy sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising: means for monitoring infrared energy within a defined region; andmeans for processing the received acoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region.

10. A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor, comprising program instructions for: monitoring a defined region to determine a presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region; andcommunicating with the occupancy sensor using a network.

11. A computer program for operating an occupancy sensor, comprising program instructions for: transmitting acoustic signals into a defined region;receiving acoustic signals from the defined region;processing the received acoustic signals to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region;communicating with the occupancy sensor using a network;assigning a network address to the sensor;storing information within the sensor that corresponds to the defined region;remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the occupancy sensor during a first time period;locally controlling the one or more operational aspects during a second time period; andremotely updating the information representative of a data corresponding to the defined region;wherein the information representative of data corresponding to the defined region comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the occupancy sensor; andwherein the information representative of data corresponding to the defined region comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the occupancy sensor.

12. The computer program of claim 11, further comprising program instructions for: monitoring infrared energy in the defined region; andprocessing the monitored infrared energy to determine the presence or absence of an occupant within the defined region.

13. A control system, comprising: one or more occupancy sensors;a communication network operably coupled to the occupancy sensor;one or more remote controllers operably coupled to the communication network;wherein one or more of the remote controllers are adapted to permit remote control and monitoring of one or more of the occupancy sensors.

14. A control system, comprising: one or more occupancy sensors comprising: corresponding network addresses; anda memory comprising one or more operational parameters of the corresponding occupancy sensor; anda communication network operably coupled to the occupancy sensor;one or more remote controllers operably coupled to the communication network;wherein one or more of the remote controllers are adapted to: permit remote control and monitoring of one or more of the occupancy sensors;display information corresponding to the operational parameters for one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors;control one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors during a first time period and permit local control of the one or more addressable occupancy sensors during a second time period; andupdate one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding occupancy sensor; andwherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding occupancy sensor.

15. A method of operating a control system comprising one or more occupancy sensors, comprising: providing one or more remote controllers; andcontrolling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the occupancy sensors.

16. A method of operating a control system comprising one or more occupancy sensors, comprising: providing one or more remote controllers;controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the occupancy sensors;assigning network addresses to one or more of the occupancy sensors;remotely displaying information corresponding to one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors;remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors during a first time period;locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressable occupancy sensors during a second time period;storing one or more operational parameters of the occupancy sensors within the corresponding occupancy sensors; andremotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding occupancy sensors;wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding occupancy sensor.

17. A system for operating a control system comprising one or more occupancy sensors, comprising: means for providing one or more remote controllers; andmeans for remotely controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the occupancy sensors.

18. A system for operating a control system comprising one or more occupancy sensors, comprising: means for providing one or more remote controllers;means for controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the occupancy sensors;means for assigning network addresses to one or more of the occupancy sensors;means for remotely displaying information corresponding to one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors;means for remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors during a first time period;means for locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressable occupancy sensors during a second time period;means for storing one or more operational parameters of the occupancy sensors within the corresponding occupancy sensors; andmeans for remotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding occupancy sensors;wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding occupancy sensor.

19. A computer program for operating a control system comprising one or more occupancy sensors, comprising program instructions for: remotely controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the occupancy sensors.

20. A computer program for operating a control system comprising one or more occupancy sensors, comprising program instructions for: providing one or more remote controllers;controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the occupancy sensors;assigning network addresses to one or more of the occupancy sensors;remotely displaying information corresponding to one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors;remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable occupancy sensors during a first time period;locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressable occupancy sensors during a second time period;storing one or more operational parameters of the occupancy sensors within the corresponding occupancy sensors; andremotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding occupancy sensors;wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding occupancy sensor.