Radiant energy – Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling – Infrared responsive
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-24
2001-04-24
Hannaher, Constantine (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling
Infrared responsive
C250S340000, C250SDIG001, C367S093000, C340S541000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222191
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to occupancy sensors.
An occupancy sensor is an energy conservation device designed to detect the presence of human occupant(s) in a given area. When occupancy is sensed, the various electrically-powered loads in that area controlled by the sensor (for example, lights, ventilation, and the like) are energized. When that same area has been unoccupied for a predetermined period of time, the sensor de-energizes the electrical loads that it controls. Occupancy sensors may therefore conserve a great deal of energy in areas where the occupants do not exercise diligence in de-energizing those electrical loads when they leave the area.
Over the last few decades, several events have led to the growth of a large consumer market for energy saving devices including occupancy sensors. First, there has been an increase in public awareness of energy conservation and its beneficial environmental consequences. In addition, there has been increased realization by both private and government-controlled power generation industries of the economic and environmental advantages of energy conservation as a means of meeting peak load power demands. Finally, there have been legislative mandates at the federal, state and local levels for the use of energy conserving devices, such as occupancy sensors, in government and other public buildings.
Significant innovation in the design of occupancy sensors has occurred over the last few decades. The early occupancy sensors utilized primarily analog signal processing techniques, and typically employed a single type of sensing technology, such as ultrasonic, passive infrared, pressure, microwave, photoelectric, or audible sound. These single technology occupancy sensors were subject to false tripping due to a variety of reasons. For example, ultrasonic Doppler sensors were subject to false trips due to air conditioning and heating system air flow. In addition, since these sensors had no means of range discrimination, they were subject to false trips due to motion outside the desired range of interest. Similarly, passive infrared (PIR) sensors were subject to being blinded by intense, stationary sources of infrared energy.
The next generation of occupancy sensors used two or more sensing technologies. These sensors typically required the user to specify a separate activation threshold for each detector technology in the sensor. The digital detector output of each sensor technology was then combined using classical digital logic to detect occupancy. In general, these multiple sensing technology sensors had better performance than their predecessors but still exhibited a sensitivity-false alarm tradeoff.
In general, prior art occupancy sensors heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages relating to the ability to use such sensors in different environments and different commercial applications. In particular, these sensors suffer from the inability to provide broad coverage of large areas without resorting to multiple sensors pointing in multiple directions, the lack of a simple installation and removal mounting scheme, and the inability to selectively mask a sensor to accommodate different operating environments while maintaining simple installation and adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention avoids the above-noted failings of the prior art by providing a dual technology occupancy sensor that is easily mountable and configurable in order to permit a single occupancy sensor to be applied to many different environments.
Specifically, the present invention provides an occupancy sensor with a passive infrared (PIR) sensor. The occupancy sensor includes a passive infrared lens to focus infrared energy from a plurality of directions. A versatile PIR sensor masking scheme is provided that permits easy customization of the PIR sensor sensitivity pattern (i.e., the infrared energy passed by the PIR lens to the PIR sensor). Specifically, the masks of the present invention include an oblong pattern mask, an 180 degree mask, a 270 degree mask, and a 360 degree (complete) mask. In addition, each mask may be rotated, for example, in increments of 30 degrees.
Other features and advantages of the invention include a versatile mounting scheme that allows the sensor to be mounted on almost any ceiling including hard ceilings, acoustical tile ceilings, electrical boxes, and electrical conduit fittings. Moreover, the mounting permits the sensor to be installed and removed without removing the sensor mounting plate. The unique mounting also is mechanically adjustable (i.e., rotatable with tactile feedback), which allows the user to rotate the mounted sensor to direct it toward the region of interest without having to change the mounting.
Further objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing detailed description.
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Bender R. Kurt
Konradi Vadim A.
Myron Douglas D.
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Hannaher Constantine
Isreal Andrew
Mytech Corporation
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