EP1482464B1 - Bifunctional presence detector, management system and method using such detectors - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a bi-functional presence sensor, a system and a management method using such sensors.

The invention applies more particularly to the field of home automation and the tertiary field.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Home automation refers to all the techniques used by users in their homes and non-residential premises. These techniques can be automatisms or information systems intra or extra-localization.

Such automations can be based on the use of various sensors, distributed in the premises, measuring physical or physicochemical characteristics, and actuating, with respect to setpoints, heating, lighting, security and / or lighting equipment. or other domestic equipment.

Such information systems are intended to tend to remove tedious programming tasks for the user, forcing him to memorize procedures whose practice is burdensome.

Occupants of residential or non-residential premises can be brought, in fact, because of the repetitiveness of their activities, to realize the programming of equipment contributing to the creation of moods and security. Such programming is often difficult to achieve. The development of electronics and computer technology makes it possible to propose solutions based on a prediction of the states of this equipment, which firstly involves the forecasting of the periods of occupation of these premises.

The systems of the known art, most often, call for fixed programming in the implementation of functions managing comfort and safety. Such programming requires time planning according to the needs that we anticipate. Thus, you can program to turn on the heat at a given time in the afternoon if you think you are present at home at this time. Such systems are constraining because the programming of a device assumes, even if it is simple procedures, a knowledge of the mode of operation of this equipment and knowledge of its man-machine interface. Such a constraint can be even stronger if one considers that one must, following a change of lifestyle, correct the initial programming.

A known art document, the request for patent FR 0 883 050 , describes a self-configurable manager who alone learns the thermal characteristics of a building, the presence and comfort needs of its occupants and their hours of occupation. This energy manager comprises control means of a room conditioning generator for controlling the amount of energy that the generator must supply to reach a predetermined temperature.

In such an application, presence detection must favor comfort. Indeed, the user prefers that the heating system operates during his absence to avoid having to enter a room or a cold and uncomfortable apartment. Any over-detection error only results in an increase in expenses, which remains low compared to the gains obtained thanks to the automatic shutdown of the heating during the periods of absence. But such an application requires the use of particularly sensitive detectors that can react to people who are still and lying in a bed.

The security of property, and in particular the detection of any intrusion into the premises, is another application, where presence sensors are essential. Commonly, such detection uses presence sensors placed at critical points such as the entrance, access to floors or others. These sensors are connected to an alarm system that can alert the environment or specialized centers.

• les insuffisances en termes de couverture de l'espace et de sensibilité et insuffisances fonctionnelles des capteurs. Autant la première insuffisance est perfectible à l'installation, autant l'insuffisance fonctionnelle nécessite de rechercher des capteurs nouveaux. Ainsi, les capteurs piézoélectriques actuels ne sont sensibles qu'au mouvement mesuré par la dérivée de l'énergie thermique reçue en fonction du temps. Dans ces conditions, un mouvement effectué très lentement n'est pas détecté.
• les erreurs liées à l'insuffisance « d'intelligence » du capteur qui peut, par exemple, prendre un occupant habituel d'une habitation pour un intrus ou le contraire. L'usage d'un capteur unique fonctionnant en mode local n'a que la faculté de détecter une présence sans pouvoir l'attribuer à un habitué ou à un intrus. Seule la centralisation et le traitement d'une installation multicapteurs peuvent permettre la mise en oeuvre d'une base de données indispensable à l'interprétation d'un signal capteur.

Such an application has disadvantages well identified with current technologies, including the existence of detection errors or clumsy manipulations by the user. The Detection errors may be over-detections, or detection defects of multiple origins, including mainly:

• the insufficiencies in terms of space coverage and sensitivity and functional deficiencies of the sensors. As the first insufficiency is perfectible to the installation, as the functional insufficiency requires to look for new sensors. Thus, current piezoelectric sensors are sensitive only to the movement measured by the derivative of the thermal energy received as a function of time. Under these conditions, a very slow movement is not detected.
• errors related to the "intelligence" insufficiency of the sensor which can, for example, take a usual occupant of a dwelling for an intruder or the opposite. The use of a single sensor operating in local mode has only the ability to detect a presence without being able to assign it to a regular or an intruder. Only the centralization and the processing of a multisensor installation can allow the implementation of a database essential for the interpretation of a sensor signal.

There is therefore a solution for improving the function of unitary sensors by making them more intelligent or more selective, and a choice of construction of active systems, globally smarter.

The most commonly used presence sensors are piezoelectric sensors. Such sensors can cover a secure space more important than infrared barriers and are more generic than contact detectors placed in doors and windows. However, such sensors have the disadvantage of being only motion sensors. The amplitude of the detection signal depends of course on the energy emitted by a moving body but also on its movement speed. Thus, an immobile target is not detected. This is an important disadvantage both in the management of comfort when the sitting or lying occupants remain motionless as in the safe management when an intruder moves very slowly.

The invention therefore aims to achieve a combination of the two services that are comfort and safety, and solve the above problems by means of a single sensor.

• La demande de brevet EP 0 838 792 décrit un capteur d'occupation multifonctions qui délivre un premier signal d'occupation pour des systèmes de sécurité et un second signal d'occupation pour des systèmes de contrôle de gestion d'énergie. Ce capteur multifonction comprend au moins un capteur d'occupation (ou de mouvement), un capteur de lumière ambiante et un capteur de température qui partagent les mêmes communications de réseau, un processeur de contrôle, et un récepteur de communication.

Among the known art documents, mention may be made of the following documents:

• The request for patent EP 0 838 792 discloses a multifunction occupancy sensor that provides a first occupancy signal for security systems and a second occupancy signal for energy management control systems. The multifunction sensor includes at least one occupancy (or motion) sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a temperature sensor that share the same network communications, a control processor, and a communication receiver.

• une étape d'apprentissage d'une activité moyenne d'un individu en effectuant des mesures des activités habituelles de celui-ci, de traitement des données mesurées, et de mémorisations de ces données,
• une étape d'identification et de caractérisation d'une activité en temps réel de cet individu, les données mesurées étant traitées de manière analogue à l'étape d'apprentissage et de mémorisation de cette activité,
• une étape de comparaison de l'activité en temps réel avec l'activité moyenne et de détection des écarts de comportement de cet individu, ces écarts étant interprétés et comparés à une grille de décision,
• une éventuelle étape de décision d'intervention.

The request for patent FR 2 828 317 describes an autonomous method for detecting abnormal situations incurred by at least one individual operating in a defined environment, in which are arranged several sensors connected to a central unit, which comprises the following steps:

• a step of learning an average activity of an individual by measuring the usual activities thereof, processing the measured data, and storing the data,
• a step of identifying and characterizing a real-time activity of this individual, the measured data being processed in a similar way to the learning and memorizing step of this activity,
• a step of comparing the activity in real time with the average activity and detecting the differences in behavior of this individual, these differences being interpreted and compared to a decision grid,
• a possible intervention decision stage.

The U.S. Patent 5,283,551 discloses a passive intrusion alarm system comprising an infrared sensor array, a sampling sensor that is in communication with a microprocessor through an analog-to-digital converter. The sensors are sampled to provide a two-dimensional thermographic image of an intruder.

The US Patent 5,969,608 discloses an intrusion detector which comprises a set of sensor modules arranged along a perimeter, which make it possible to detect seismic vibrations caused by an intrusion into the zone defined by this perimeter.

The request for EP 0 345 878 discloses a thermal radiation detection device which comprises an array of pyroelectric detectors for receiving radiation from a scene and for generate a voltage signal at its output which varies according to these radiations. The outputs of these detectors are connected to an integrated circuit comprising a corresponding network of impedance converting circuits, a multiplexer, under the control of an address detector.

The request for EP Patent 1 271 442 discloses a detection device which comprises an element for generating a state detection information, giving the state of an object in a plurality of predetermined regions, for example the chambers of a house, by means of sensors installed in each of these regions for detecting the movement of this object, and a region determining element in which the state detection information has changed to determine the state of said object in that region.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

• un seul capteur de présence, bolométrique ou à thermopile, sensible à l'énergie du rayonnement reçu,
• un module d'amplification de signal et de mesure de l'énergie reçue, dont l'entrée est reliée à une première sortie du capteur de présence bolométrique ou à thermopile et qui délivre, en sortie, un signal de détection de présence passive,
• un module de dérivation de signal et de détection de mouvement, dont l'entrée est reliée à une seconde sortie du capteur de présence bolométrique ou à thermopile et qui délivre, en sortie, un signal de détection de mouvement.

The invention relates to a bi-functional presence sensor, comprising:

• a single presence sensor, bolometric or thermopile, sensitive to the energy of the received radiation,
• a signal amplification and measurement module of the received energy, the input of which is connected to a first output of the bolometric presence or thermopile sensor and which delivers, at the output, a passive presence detection signal,
• a signal derivation and motion detection module, the input of which is connected to a second output of the bolometric presence or thermopile sensor and which delivers, at the output, a motion detection signal.

The most commonly used presence sensors are piezoelectric sensors. However, they have the disadvantage of being only motion sensors. They are sensitive to a variation of temporal flow and therefore to the speed of movement of a body. Bolometric or thermopile sensors are basically sensitive to a permanent radiative flux. They directly measure the temperature by means for example of a thermopile sensor and give an image in the field of vision. The added value of a thermopile lies in its ability to detect the radiative flux from a person regardless of its attitude / behavior, unlike a pyroelectric sensor that can only detect a variation in radiative flux of an individual in movement.

An originality of the invention lies in the fact of associating with the sensor two processing algorithms: one using the amplified raw signal and measuring the static presence, the other realizing the derivative of the raw signal and detecting the movement. An originality also lies in the fact of using displacement detection to calibrate the detection by erasing the influence of the thermal environment and its temporal variations.

In one example each sensor comprises a motion detector associated with a presence detection module and a weak and slow motion detection module. This detector motion can then be a piezoelectric sensor.

In a second embodiment each sensor comprises a zero adjustment module for eliminating the influence of the thermal environment and its temporal variations.

• un ensemble de capteurs,
• des moyens de traitement principal des données mesurées par ces capteurs,
• des moyens de mémorisation des données ainsi traitées,
• des premiers moyens de traitement secondaire des données traitées mettant en oeuvre un premier algorithme propre, par exemple, à une gestion de confort,
• de seconds moyens de traitement secondaire des données traitées mettant en oeuvre un second algorithme propre, par exemple, à une gestion de sécurité.

The invention also relates to a system for managing such sensors, distributed in several zones of residential or non-residential premises, comprising:

• a set of sensors,
• means for main processing of the data measured by these sensors,
• means for storing the data thus processed,
• first secondary processing means processed data implementing a first own algorithm, for example, a comfort management,
• second means for secondary processing of the processed data implementing a second own algorithm, for example, a security management.

• des moyens de décision temps réel de déclenchement d'une alarme en tenant compte des résultats obtenus en sortie de ces premiers et seconds moyens de traitement secondaire,
• des moyens de supervision de ces moyens de décision effectuant une analyse des habitudes d'occupation desdites zones par lesdits occupants en partant des données mémorisées pour obtenir un historique de ces habitudes, et comparant les données mesurées en cours avec cet historique des habitudes pour établir une analyse de vraisemblance permettant de piloter ces moyens de décision pour confirmer ou temporiser toute décision.

This system can further include:

• real-time decision-making means for triggering an alarm, taking into account the results obtained at the output of these first and second secondary processing means,
• means for supervising these decision means performing an analysis of the occupation habits of said zones by said occupants in from the stored data to obtain a history of these habits, and comparing the measured data in progress with this history of habits to establish a likelihood analysis to control these decision means to confirm or delay any decision.

• une première étape de traitement secondaire des données traitées mettant en oeuvre un premier algorithme propre, par exemple, à une gestion de confort,
• une seconde étape de traitement secondaire des données traitées mettant en oeuvre un second algorithme propre, par exemple, à une gestion de sécurité,
• une étape de décision temps réel de déclenchement d'une alarme en tenant compte des résultats obtenus en sortie de ces première et seconde étapes de traitement secondaire,
• une étape de supervision de l'étage de décision effectuant une analyse des habitudes d'occupation desdites zones par lesdits occupants en partant des données mémorisées, pour obtenir un historique de ces habitudes, et comparant les données mesurées en cours avec cet historique des habitudes pour établir une analyse de vraisemblance permettant de piloter l'étape de décision pour confirmer ou temporiser toute décision.

The invention also relates to a management method using such sensors distributed in several residential or non-residential areas, which comprises the following steps:

• a first step of secondary processing of the processed data implementing a first clean algorithm, for example, a comfort management,
• a second step of secondary processing of the processed data implementing a second own algorithm, for example, to a security management,
• a step of real time decision of triggering an alarm taking into account the results obtained at the output of these first and second secondary processing steps,
• a step of supervision of the decision stage performing an analysis of the occupation habits of said zones by said occupants from the stored data, to obtain a history of these habits, and comparing the measured data in progress with this history of habits for establish a likelihood analysis that allows pilot the decision stage to confirm or delay any decision.

• une gestion de confort dans le domaine domotique,
• une sécurité anti-intrusion dans le domaine domotique,
• le maintien à domicile de personnes âgées ou malades,
• la surveillance d'animaux, par exemple dans un zoo ou à la maison,
• la surveillance passive quel que soit le domaine : banques, musées...

The bi-functional sensor of the invention can be used in many applications, and mainly in:

• comfort management in the home automation field,
• intruder security in the home automation field,
• the home care of elderly or sick people,
• the surveillance of animals, for example in a zoo or at home,
• passive surveillance whatever the field: banks, museums ...

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figure 1 illustrates a first example of the bi-functional sensor of the invention.

The figure 2 illustrates a second example of the bi-functional sensor of the invention.

The figure 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a management system implementing such sensors of the invention.

DETAILED PRESENTATION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

• une sortie présence (SP), par exemple pour des applications de confort,
• une sortie déplacement (SD), par exemple pour les applications de détection anti-intrusion.

The sensor of the invention comprises two separate outputs:

• a presence output (SP), for example for comfort applications,
• a displacement output (SD), for example for anti-intrusion detection applications.

In one example, illustrated on the figure 1 the sensor 20 of the invention comprises a motion sensor, such as a piezoelectric sensor 21, which is associated with a first very sensitive processing module 22 for detecting the slowest and slowest movements (SD output) and a second less sensitive processing module 23 integrating the energy received over long periods to access the presence (SP output).

In a second exemplary embodiment, illustrated on the figure 2 the sensor of the invention comprises a bolometric or thermopile presence sensor 31, which is fundamentally sensitive to the received radiation energy (input E), to which two processing modules 32 and 33 are associated, one amplifying the raw signal and measuring the received energy (SP signal), the other realizing the derivative of the raw signal to detect the movement (SD signal). A zero adjustment module 34, which uses the displacement detection signal SD, makes it possible to achieve a zero of this detection by eliminating the influence of the thermal environment and its temporal variations.

Presence sensors of the same type can be used for both comfort and safety services.

The presence sensors may or may not be placed in all areas or rooms of the premises and inform at any time a central system of the situation of occupied rooms. These real-time data can be associated with historical data: dates, times and, if necessary, additional data useful depending on the purpose of the service such as the instantaneous cost of energy, the outside temperature ...

• l'un qui traite, par exemple, du confort,
• l'autre qui traite de la sécurité, par exemple la détection d'intrusion.

On the basis of such common sensors, two data processing systems can therefore be associated:

• one that deals with, for example, comfort,
• the other that deals with security, such as intrusion detection.

• un ensemble 10 de capteurs C1, C2...Cn, permettant de détecter la présence d'un individu, répartis dans plusieurs zones ou pièces desdits locaux,
• des moyens 11 de traitement principal des données mesurées par ces capteurs C1, C2...Cn,
• des moyens 12 de mémorisation des données ainsi traitées,
• des premiers moyens 13 de traitement secondaire des données traitées mettant en oeuvre un algorithme propre, par exemple, à une gestion de confort,
• de seconds moyens 14 de traitement secondaire des données traitées mettant en oeuvre un algorithme propre, par exemple, à une gestion de sécurité.

As illustrated on the figure 3 a system implementing such sensors comprises:

• a set of sensors C1, C2 ... Cn, for detecting the presence of an individual, distributed in several zones or parts of said premises,
• means 11 for main processing of the data measured by these sensors C1, C2 ... Cn,
• means 12 for storing the data thus processed,
• first means 13 for secondary processing of the processed data implementing an own algorithm, for example, a comfort management,
• second means 14 for secondary processing of the processed data implementing an own algorithm, for example, a security management.

• des moyens 15 et 16 de décision temps réel de déclenchement d'une alarme (signal S2) et de l'affichage éventuel d'une température (signal S1) en tenant compte des résultats obtenus en sortie de ces premiers et seconds moyens de traitement secondaire 13 et 14,
• des moyens 17 de supervision de ces moyens de décision 15 et 16 effectuant une analyse des habitudes d'occupation desdites zones par lesdits occupants en partant des données mémorisées, pour obtenir un historique de ces habitudes, et comparant les données mesurées en cours avec cet historique des habitudes pour établir une analyse de vraisemblance permettant de piloter ces moyens de décision 15 et 16 pour confirmer ou temporiser toute décision.

It can further include:

• means 15 and 16 for real-time decision of triggering an alarm (signal S2) and the possible display of a temperature (signal S1) taking into account the results obtained at the output of these first and second secondary treatment means 13 and 14,
• means 17 for supervising these decision means 15 and 16 performing an analysis of the occupation habits of said zones by said occupants on the basis of the stored data, to obtain a history of these habits, and comparing the measured data in progress with this history habits for establishing a likelihood analysis for controlling these decision means 15 and 16 to confirm or delay any decision.

The invention also relates to a method using such means.

In the invention, any decision to trigger an alarm (signal S2) is based on an accurate analysis of the occupancy habits of the different zones or rooms of said premises to diagnose any abnormal behavior characterized by an individual.

The means of supervision of the two comfort and safety functions come to perform a filtering using a likelihood analysis. Thus for security, several factors are used: the decision to initiate a security surveillance, the detection of presence for the sensors and the said supervision that is to say the constitution of a likelihood analysis based on the habits of the occupants.

Claims (9)

1. Bi-functional occupancy sensor comprising:

   - a single bolometric or thermopile occupancy sensor (31) sensitive to the energy of received radiation,

   - a module (32) for signal amplification and measurement of received energy, whose input is connected to a first output of the bolometric or thermopile presence sensor (31) and which outputs a passive occupancy detection signal (SP),

   - a module (33) for signal and motion detection derivation, whose input is connected to a second output of the bolometric or thermopile occupancy sensor (31) and which outputs a motion detection signal (SD);
2. The sensor according to claim 1 comprising an occupancy output for comfort applications.
3. The sensor according to either of claims 1 or 2 comprising a movement output for anti-intrusion detection applications.
4. The sensor according to claim 1 which comprises a motion detector (21) associated with an occupancy detection module (23) and with a module (22) detecting slight and slow movements.
5. The sensor according to claim 4 wherein the motion detector (21) is a piezoelectric sensor.
6. The sensor according to claim 1, which comprises a zero adjustment module (34) allowing elimination of the influence of the thermal environment and temporal variations thereof.
7. A management system using sensors according to any of the preceding claims distributed over several areas of premises whether or not residential, comprising:

   - an assembly (10) of sensors (C1, ... Cn,),

   - means (11) for main processing of the data measured by these sensors,

   - means (12) to store in memory the data thus processed,

   - first means (13) for secondary processing of the processed data, applying a first algorithm,

   - second means (14) for secondary processing of the processed data, applying a second algorithm.
8. The system according to claim 7 which further comprises:

   - real-time decision means (15, 16) to trigger an alarm taking into account the results output from these first and second secondary processing means,

   - means (17) for monitoring these decision means, performing an analysis of the occupational habits of said areas by said occupiers on the basis of the memorized data to obtain journaling of these habits, and for comparing current measured data with this journaling of habits to determine a probability analysis which allows the guiding of these decision means (15, 16) to confirm or temporize any decision.
9. A management method using the sensors according to any of claims 1 to 6 distributed over several areas of premises which may or may not be residential, comprising the following steps:

   - a first step for secondary processing of the processed data, applying a first algorithm,

   - a second step for secondary processing of the processed data, applying a second algorithm,

   - a real-time decision step to trigger an alarm taking into consideration the results obtained after these first and second secondary processing steps,

   - a step for monitoring this decisional step which performs an analysis of the occupational habits of said areas by said occupiers on the basis of memorized data, to obtain journaling of these habits, and compares current measured data with this journaling of habits to determine a probability analysis which allows the guiding of this decisional step to confirm or temporize any decision.

Images