Door and window sensors using ambient infrared

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017076567-A1
Application number	US-201515123042-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 11, 2015
Priority date	Mar 7, 2014
Publication date	Mar 16, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor assembly for detecting open or closed state in windows and doors includes a passive infrared sensor configured to produce a change in an electrical signal based on a change in infrared radiation incident on the passive infrared sensor. A lens is operatively connected to the passive infrared sensor. At least a portion of the lens is configured to be mounted in an interface between a frame and a door or window mounted to open and close within the frame. The lens is configured to guide ambient infrared radiation to the passive infrared sensor at a first level when the door or window is closed and at a second level when the door or window is open or ajar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sensor assembly for detecting open or closed state in windows and doors comprising:
a passive infrared sensor configured to produce a change in an electrical signal based on a change in infrared radiation incident on the passive infrared sensor; and a lens operatively connected to the passive infrared sensor, wherein at least a portion of the lens is configured to be mounted in an interface between a frame and a door or window mounted to open and close within the frame, and wherein at least a portion of the lens is configured to guide ambient infrared radiation to the passive infrared sensor at a first level when the door or window is closed and at a second level when the door or window is ajar.

2 . A sensor assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lens is configured to receive ambient infrared radiation incident thereon from a first direction, and to direct infrared radiation onto the passive infrared sensor in a second direction different from the first direction.

3 . A sensor assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first and second directions are about 90° apart.

4 . A sensor assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lens includes:
a first portion housing the passive infrared sensor and including an ambient window configured to face an ambient environment; and a second portion angled relative to the first portion, wherein the second portion is configured to be mounted in the interface between a frame and a door or window mounted to open and close within the frame, wherein the first and second portions of the lens are operatively connected to one another to direct ambient infrared radiation incident on the ambient window of the first portion, into the second portion, through the second portion to the passive infrared sensor in the first portion.

5 . A sensor assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein the second portion of the lens includes an interface window configured to face into the interface between a frame and a door or window, wherein the interface window is configured to alter how much infrared radiation is incident on the passive infrared sensor depending on whether the door or window is ajar.

6 . A sensor assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein at least the second portion of the lens has a thickness less than about 2 mm.

7 . A sensor assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lens includes an adhesive surface configured for mounting the lens with at least a portion of the lens in the interface between a frame and a door or window mounted to open and close within the frame.

8 . A sensor assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lens includes an acrylic material.

9 . A sensor assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a capacitive sensor operatively connected to the lens to detect a change in capacitance based on whether the door or window is ajar to provide an additional modality of detection.

10 . A sensor assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the passive infrared sensor is a first passive infrared sensor, and further comprising a second infrared sensor operatively connected to the lens, wherein the second infrared sensor is oriented in a direction to receive a level of ambient infrared radiation independent of whether the door or window is ajar for adjustment of the first passive infrared sensor to account for changes in ambient infrared levels.

11 . A security sensor assembly for detecting open or closed state in windows and doors comprising:
a single piece passive non-magnetic sensor configured to produce a change in an electrical signal based on open or closed state of a door or window.

12 . A security sensor assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the single piece passive non-magnetic sensor is configured to be unaffected by long term changes in geometry of the door or window of greater than one inch in magnitude.

13 . A security sensor assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the single piece passive non-magnetic sensor includes an adhesive surface configured for mounting to at least one of a door frame, a door, a window frame, and a window.

14 . A method of detecting the state of a door or window comprising:
receiving ambient infrared radiation with a passive infrared sensor at a first level when a door or window is in a closed state; and receiving ambient infrared radiation with the passive infrared sensor at a second level different from the first level when the door or window is ajar.

15 . A method as recited in claim 14 ,
wherein receiving ambient infrared radiation with a passive infrared sensor at a first level when a door or window is in a closed state includes guiding a first level of ambient infrared radiation through a lens to the passive infrared sensor, and wherein receiving ambient infrared radiation with the passive infrared sensor at a second level different from the first level when the door or window is ajar includes guiding a second level of ambient infrared radiation through the lens to the passive infrared sensor.

16 . A method as recited in claim 15 ,
wherein guiding a first level of ambient infrared radiation through a lens to the passive infrared sensor includes allowing a first level of loss of ambient infrared radiation from the lens due to the door or window being closed, and wherein guiding a second level of ambient infrared radiation through a lens to the passive infrared sensor includes allowing a second level of loss of ambient infrared radiation from the lens due to the door or window being ajar.

17 . A method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the lens receives ambient infrared radiation incident thereon from a first direction, and directs infrared radiation onto the passive infrared sensor in a second direction different from the first direction.

18 . A method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the passive infrared sensor is a first passive infrared sensor and further comprising receiving a level of ambient radiation with a second passive infrared sensor oriented in a direction to receive a level of ambient radiation independent of whether the door or window is ajar and further comprising adjusting the first passive infrared sensor to account for changes in ambient infrared levels.

19 . A method as recited in claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the lens is positioned in an interface between a frame and the door or window when the door or window is closed.

20 . A method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising detecting whether the door or window is ajar using a capacitive sensor to provide an additional modality of detection.

21 . A sensor assembly for detecting state of an interface between two surfaces:
a passive infrared sensor configured to produce a change in an electrical signal based on a change in infrared radiation incident on the passive infrared sensor; and a lens operatively connected to the passive infrared sensor, wherein at least a portion of the lens is configured to be mounted in an interface between a first surface and a second surface movable relative to the first surface, and wherein the lens is configured to guide ambient infrared radiation to the passive infrared sensor at a first level when the first surface is in a first position relative to the second surface and at a second level when the first surface is in a second position relative to the second surface.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Soldner Nicholas Charles
• Dardona Sameh
• Lakamraju Vijaya Ramaraju
• Zacchio Joseph
• Siegler Ii John Michael

Classifications

• G08B13/08 Primary

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