Operation of a standalone sensor device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9900966-B2
Application number	US-201615186434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2016
Priority date	Nov 25, 2011
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

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

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

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

6. The standalone sensor unit of claim 5 , 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.

7. 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.

8. The sensor unit of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the predetermined configuration settings enables the standalone sensor unit to connect to a network.

9. 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;
selecting a profile of the standalone sensor unit based on the time;
sensing ambient light; and
selecting a time zone based on timing of the sensed ambient light.

10. The method of claim 9 , 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.

11. The method of claim 10 , 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.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein selecting the time zone comprises accessing a look up table based on the time and the timing of the sensed ambient light.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the presence of the mobile unit binds the standalone sensor unit to the mobile unit.

14. The method of claim 13 , 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.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the configuration comprises an operator of the mobile unit selecting the configuration setting from a plurality of predetermined configuration settings.

16. 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;
a controller operative to select a profile of the standalone sensor unit based on the time;
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.

17. The sensor unit of claim 16 , 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

• G05D23/19 Primary

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

• H05B47/11

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

• G08B19/005

  combined burglary and fire alarm systems · CPC title

• G08B17/12

  Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions · CPC title

• G08B13/1895

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