Self-powered door and window opening sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016337572-A1
Application number	US-201615151743-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 11, 2016
Priority date	May 13, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting an opening and closing of an object, such as a door or window. The methods comprise: causing a piezoelectric transducer to oscillate in response to an opening of the object; harvesting energy generated as a result of the piezoelectric transducer's oscillation to power a transceiver; and transmitting, from the transceiver to a remote device, information indicating that the opening of the object has been detected by a wireless sensor coupled to the object. The information may specify a logical address linked to a physical location of the object (e.g., a MAC address).

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method for detecting an opening and closing of an object comprising:
causing a piezoelectric transducer of a wireless sensor to oscillate in response to an opening of the object; harvesting energy generated as a result of the piezoelectric transducer's oscillation to power a transceiver of the wireless sensor; and transmitting, from the transceiver to a remote device, information indicating that the opening of the object has been detected by the wireless sensor coupled to the object.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the information specifies a logical address linked to a physical location of the object.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the logical address is a Media Access Control (“MAC”) address.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the object is a door or window.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising performing operations by the remote device to determine if a security breach is occurring or has occurred based on said information received from the transceiver.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising performing operating by the remote device to illuminate an area surrounding the object or capture an image of the area surrounding the object when it is determined that a security breach is occurring or has occurred.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising detecting the opening of the object when first and second elements of a wireless sensor are pulled apart.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the first element comprises a magnet and the second element comprises the piezoelectric transducer with an end having a magnetic coating.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the first element is disposed on a moving part of the object and the second element is disposed on a non-moving part of the object.

10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the piezoelectric transducer is cantilevered within an enclosure of the wireless sensor by a mechanical support.

11 . A wireless sensor, comprising:
a piezoelectric transducer that is caused to oscillate in response to an opening of an object; an electronic circuit harvesting energy generated as a result of the piezoelectric transducer's oscillation that is to be used to power a transceiver of the wireless sensor; and the transceiver transmitting, to a remote device, information indicating that the opening of the object has been detected by the wireless sensor coupled to the object.

12 . The wireless sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the information specifies a logical address linked to a physical location of the object.

13 . The wireless sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the logical address is a Media Access Control (“MAC”) address.

14 . The wireless sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the object is a door or window.

15 . The wireless sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the information is used by remote device to determine if a security breach is occurring or has occurred based on said information received from the transceiver.

16 . The wireless sensor according to claim 11 , wherein an area surrounding the object is illuminated or an image of the area surrounding the object is captured when it is determined that a security breach is occurring or has occurred based on said information.

17 . The wireless sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the opening of the object is detected when first and second elements of a wireless sensor are pulled apart.

18 . The wireless sensor according to claim 17 , wherein the first element comprises a magnet and the second element comprises the piezoelectric transducer with an end having a magnetic coating.

19 . The wireless sensor according to claim 18 , wherein the first element is disposed on a moving part of the object and the second element is disposed on a non-moving part of the object.

20 . The wireless sensor according to claim 18 , wherein the piezoelectric transducer is cantilevered within an enclosure of the wireless sensor by a mechanical support.

Assignees

• Copeland Richard L
• Sequeira Melwyn F
• Tyco Fire & Security Gmbh

Inventors

• Copeland Richard L
• Sequeira Melwyn F

Classifications

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• G08B25/10

  using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• H04N7/183

  for receiving images from a single remote source · CPC title

• G08B13/08

  by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind · CPC title

• H04N5/2256

  Electricity · mapped topic