Auto-configurable motion/occupancy sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12573282-B2
Application number	US-202418428481-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2024
Priority date	Mar 13, 2019
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

A person-detection device that automatically configures itself as a motion sensor or an occupancy sensor upon receiving a command from a home security panel or home automation hub.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method performed by a person detection device (PDD), comprising:
operating in a motion detection mode of operation during a first time period and, while operating in the motion detection mode of operation: detecting motion in an area monitored by the PDD; in response to detecting the motion: determining a first time from when a previous motion-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and transmitting a second motion-detected signal only when the first time is greater than a first dwell time; and operating in an occupancy mode of operation during a second time period and, while operating in the occupancy mode of operation: detecting occupancy of the area monitored by the PDD; in response to detecting the occupancy: determining a second time from when a previous occupancy-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and transmitting a second occupancy-detected signal only when the second time is greater than a second dwell time; wherein the PDD receives a first wireless command to change the operating mode of the PDD to the occupancy mode of operation and the first wireless command comprises the second dwell time.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second dwell time is greater than the first dwell time.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises: determining the motion and the occupancy using a single sensor.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises: determining the motion using a first person sensor; and determining the occupancy using a second person sensor that does not require movement of a person to be detected.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a second wireless command to enter into the motion detection mode of operation.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the single sensor comprises a passive infrared sensor.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the second person sensor comprises a thermal detection device, and the method of operating the PDD in the occupancy mode of operation comprises:
monitoring a subset of thermal elements of the thermal detection device; determining a possibility that a person is occupying the area being monitored by the PDD as a result of monitoring the subset of thermal elements; in response to determining a possibility that a person is occupying the area, begin monitoring all of the thermal elements; and determining that a person is occupying the area based on monitoring all of the thermal elements.

8 . A person detection device (PDD) for detecting motion and occupancy of a person in an area, comprising:
a memory for storing processor-executable instructions; a first person sensor; a processer coupled to the memory and the first person sensor, for executing the processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to: operate in a motion detection mode of operation during a first time period and, while operating in the motion detection mode of operation: detect motion in an area monitored by the PDD; in response to detecting the motion: determine a first time from when a previous motion-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and transmit a second motion-detected signal only when the first time is greater than a first dwell time; and operate in an occupancy mode of operation during a second time period and, while operating in the occupancy mode of operation: detect occupancy of the area monitored by the PDD; in response to detecting the occupancy: determine a second time from when a previous occupancy-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and transmit a second occupancy-detected signal only when the second time is greater than a second dwell time; wherein the PDD receives a first wireless command to change the operating mode of the PDD to the occupancy mode of operation and the first wireless command comprises the second dwell time.

9 . The PDD of claim 8 , wherein the second dwell time is greater than the first dwell time.

10 . The PDD of claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions for detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises instructions that causes the processor to:
determine the motion and the occupancy using only the first person sensor.

11 . The PDD of claim 8 , further comprising: a second person detector coupled to the processor; wherein the processor-executable instructions for detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises instructions that causes the processor to: determine the motion using the first person sensor; and determine the occupancy using the second person detector without requiring movement of a person to be detected.

12 . The PDD of claim 8 , further comprising: a wireless receiver coupled to the processor; wherein processor-executable instructions comprise further instructions that causes the processor to: receive a second wireless command to enter into the motion detection mode of operation.

13 . The PDD of claim 10 , wherein the single sensor comprises a passive infrared sensor.

14 . The PDD of claim 11 , wherein the second person sensor comprises a thermal detection device, and the processor-instructions for operating the PDD in the occupancy mode of operation comprises instructions that causes the processor to:
monitor a subset of thermal elements of the thermal detection device; determine a possibility that a person is occupying the area being monitored by the PDD as a result of monitoring the subset of thermal elements; in response to determining a possibility that a person is occupying the area, begin to monitor all of the thermal elements; and determine that a person is occupying the area based on monitoring all of the thermal elements.

15 . A method performed by a person detection device (PDD), comprising:
operating in a motion detection mode of operation during a first time period and, while operating in the motion detection mode of operation: detecting motion in an area monitored by the PDD; in response to detecting the motion: determining a first time from when a previous motion-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and transmitting a second motion-detected signal to a security controller only when the first time is greater than a first dwell time; and operating in an occupancy mode of operation during a second time period and, while operating in the occupancy mode of operation: detecting occupancy of the area monitored by the PDD; in response to detecting the occupancy: determining a second time from when a previous occupancy-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and transmitting a second occupancy-detected signal to the security controller only when the second time is greater than a second dwell time; wherein the first dwell time is predetermined and stored in a memory of the PDD and the second dwell time is determined by the security controller.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the second dwell time is greater than the first dwell time.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises: determining the motion and the occupancy using a single sensor.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises: determining the motion using a first person sensor; and determining the occupancy using a second person sensor that does not require movement of a person to be detected.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: receiving from the security controller a wireless command to enter into the mot

Assignees

• Universal Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Pradhan Ashish
• Seelman George
• Gruber Brandon
• Chen Shing
• Bailey Michael

Classifications

• G01P13/00

  Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement (electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00) · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G05B2219/2642

  Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house · CPC title

• G08B21/22

  responsive to presence or absence of persons · CPC title

• G08B21/0469 Primary

  Presence detectors to detect unsafe condition, e.g. infrared sensor, microphone (G08B21/0476 takes precedence) · CPC title