Operation of a standalone sensor device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016295671-A1
Application number	US-201615186434-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 18, 2016
Priority date	Nov 25, 2011
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, apparatuses and systems for standalone sensor unit are disclosed. For an embodiment, the standalone sensor unit includes a plurality of sensors and a controller. The controller is operative to detect a presence of a mobile unit, wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit comprises the controller being operative to sense motion with a motion sensor, and sense a strobe of light, wherein the sensed motion and the sensed strobe of light occur within a predetermined time of each other, and receive a configuration setting from the mobile unit within a window of time after presence of the mobile unit has been detected.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A standalone sensor unit, comprising:
a plurality of sensors, at least one of the plurality of sensors operative to sense light; a controller operative to:
detect a presence of a mobile unit, wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit comprises the controller being operative to;
sense a strobe of light by the at least one of the plurality of sensors; and
receive a configuration setting from the mobile unit within a window of time after presence of the mobile unit has been detected;

wherein the standalone sensor unit further comprises;
a long-wave radio operative to receive an atomic clock signal; and
an atomic clock receiver operative to set a time of the standalone sensor unit based on the received atomic clock signal; and wherein
the controller is further operative to select a profile of the standalone sensor unit based on the time.

2 . The standalone sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit further comprises the controller being operative to sense motion with a motion sensor, and sense the strobe of light, wherein the sensed motion and the sensed strobe of light occur within a predetermined time of each other.

3 . The standalone sensor unit of claim 2 , wherein sensing motion comprises sensing motion with a light detector, matching the sensed motion with one of a plurality of stored patterns of events, and identifying an event associated with the sensed motion based on a match between a one of the plurality of patterns and the sensed motion.

4 . The standalone sensor unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
an ambient light sensor operative to sense ambient light; and wherein the controller is further operative to select a time zone based on timing of the sensed ambient light.

5 . The standalone sensor unit of claim 4 , wherein selecting the time zone comprises accessing a look up table based on the time and the timing of the sensed ambient light.

6 . The standalone sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit binds the sensor unit to the mobile unit.

7 . The standalone sensor unit of claim 6 , wherein the bound mobile unit is operative as a remote switch or a wireless switch for controlling a light associated with the standalone sensor unit.

8 . The standalone sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein receiving the configuration setting comprises an operator of the mobile unit selecting the configuration setting from a plurality of predetermined configuration settings.

9 . The sensor unit of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the predetermined configuration settings enables the standalone sensor unit to connect to a network.

10 . A method comprising:
detecting, by a standalone sensor unit, a presence of a mobile unit, comprising; sensing strobe of light; and receiving a configuration setting from the mobile unit within a window of time after presence of the mobile unit has been detected;
wherein the method further comprises;
receiving, by a long-wave radio of the standalone sensor unit, an atomic clock signal;
determining a time based on the received atomic clock signal; and
selecting a profile of the standalone sensor unit based on the time.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit further comprises sensing motion and sensing the strobe of light, wherein the sensed motion and the sensed strobe of light occur within a predetermined time of each other.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein sensing motion comprises sensing motion with a light detector, matching the sensed motion with one of a plurality of stored patterns of events, and identifying an event associated with the sensed motion based on a match between a one of the plurality of patterns and the sensed motion.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising;
sensing ambient light; and selecting a time zone based on timing of the sensed ambient light.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein selecting the time zone comprises accessing a look up table based on the time and the timing of the sensed ambient light.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit binds the standalone sensor unit to the mobile unit.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the bound mobile unit is operative as a remote switch or a wireless switch for controlling a light associated with the standalone sensor unit.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the configuration comprises an operator of the mobile unit selecting the configuration setting from a plurality of predetermined configuration settings.

18 . A standalone sensor unit, comprising:
a long-wave radio operative to receive an atomic clock signal; an atomic clock receiver operative to set a time based on the received atomic clock signal; and a controller operative to select a profile of the standalone sensor unit based on the time.

19 . The sensor unit of claim 18 , further comprising:
an ambient light sensor operative to sense ambient light; and wherein the controller is further operative to select a time zone based on timing of the sensed ambient light.

20 . The sensor unit of claim 19 , wherein selecting the time zone comprises accessing a look up table based on the time and the timing of the sensed ambient light.

Assignees

• Enlighted Inc

Inventors

• Mohan Tanuj
• Prabhu Omkar
• Srinivasan Venkatesh

Classifications

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• G05D23/19 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means {(G05D23/1393 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G08B13/19

  using infrared-radiation detection systems {(G08B13/194 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G08B19/005

  combined burglary and fire alarm systems · CPC title

• G08B13/1895

  using light change detection systems (G08B13/194 takes precedence) · CPC title