WO2007052034A1 - Commande de dispositifs électriques - Google Patents

Commande de dispositifs électriques Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007052034A1
WO2007052034A1 PCT/GB2006/004100 GB2006004100W WO2007052034A1 WO 2007052034 A1 WO2007052034 A1 WO 2007052034A1 GB 2006004100 W GB2006004100 W GB 2006004100W WO 2007052034 A1 WO2007052034 A1 WO 2007052034A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
location
exits
entries
signal
person
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2006/004100
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Steven Thomas Barson
Original Assignee
Steven Thomas Barson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Steven Thomas Barson filed Critical Steven Thomas Barson
Publication of WO2007052034A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007052034A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
    • H05B47/105—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters
    • H05B47/115—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
    • H05B47/13—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings by using passive infrared detectors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
    • H05B47/105—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
    • Y02B20/40—Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, controlling operation of an electrical device or devices depending on whether or not a location, for example a room, is occupied by one or more persons.
  • the invention has been devised in relation to the control of electric lighting in a room or other location depending on whether the room is occupied by one or more persons.
  • a motion sensor of the passive infra-red (PIR) type to sense motion within the area covered by the sensor, and switch a light or lights on for a predetermined length of time. After that time has elapsed with no further detection of motion, the light is switched off.
  • PIR passive infra-red
  • the motion sensors for such operation often have a detector for the level of ambient light to protect the light from being switched on during daylight times, and may have an overriding switch device for enabling the light to be switched on whether or not any motion is detected or when required for testing purposes.
  • the well known PIR motion sensor device as described above is not suitable for this purpose, because it will only keep the lighting switched on for the predetermined period of time, and if the occupant of the room does not move before that time has expired, or is out of the line of sight of the sensor, the light will be switched off. In many cases lighting will require to be kept switched on even though the occupant of a room does not move sufficiently to be detected by the motor sensor. On the other hand, if, in an attempt to overcome this problem, the light is set to be switched on for a relatively long time, this is wasteful of energy since the occupant's leaving the room will cause the light to be switched on and remain so long after the room has become unoccupied. This type of device can also be activated by large pets.
  • a method for controlling operation of an electrical device in dependence upon whether or not a location is occupied by at least one person comprising: detecting entries and exits of a person or persons to and from the location; counting the detected entries and exits to determine whether there is any occupation of the location; and providing a signal to control an electrical device according to whether or not the location is occupied.
  • apparatus for controlling operation of an electrical device in dependence upon whether or not a location is occupied by at least one person comprising: means for detecting entries and exits of a person or persons to and from the location; means for counting the detected entries and exits to determine whether there is any occupation of the location; and means for providing a signal for controlling an electrical device according to whether or not the location is occupied.
  • the signal for controlling an electrical device may operate switching means for switching an electrical circuit, e.g. a lighting circuit in which the apparatus is provided. Alternatively or additionally a signal may be provided for causing switching of another circuit or part of a circuit, which may be at another position.
  • the entries and exits of a person or persons relative to the location may be detected by sensing the presence of the person or persons in at least one entrance/exit part of the location, and determining the direction of movement of each person sensed as occupying the entrance/exit part(s).
  • the direction of movement of a person in an entrance/exit part of the location may be determined by sensing motion in adjacent regions of the entry/exit part, the regions being positioned so that when motion is sensed in one region followed by the other the order in which the respective motions in the regions are sensed will indicate whether a person is moving in the direction to enter or exit from the location.
  • the regions may be spaced from other another or may overlap.
  • the entrance/exit part of the location is a doorway rather than an elongate passage which must be travelled by person entering or leaving the location, overlapping or very closely adjacent regions in the vicinity of the doorway would be appropriate.
  • Motion in the entry/exit part(s) may conveniently be sensed by infra-red motion sensing elements, positioned so as to be able to sense motion in the required regions. If such sensing elements are mounted adjacent one another, suitable directing devices such as Fresnel lenses may be arranged to ensure that they respond to motion in the required regions. Means for detecting the order in which motion in the regions is sensed indicates whether a person is entering or exiting the location.
  • a light switch for controlling at least the main installed lighting in a room usually is provided on a wall immediately adjacent the doorway, such wall being either that in which the door is provided or, if the doorway is adjacent a comer of the room, a wall extending generally at right angles to the wall in which the door is provided.
  • adjacent sensing elements in the apparatus may have directing devices providing respective fields of sensitivity which extend obliquely of the doorway just inside the room, so as to be able to respond to movement of a person in the normal area and in the normal directions used for entry to or exit from the room.
  • the sensing elements may have their directing devices arranged for their fields of sensitivity to extend generally parallel to one another and to the wall in which the door is provided, just inside the door.
  • Apparatus requires the provision of a suitable counting circuit to count the entries to and exits from the location, and to give a signal when the status of the location changes from being unoccupied to occupied and vice versa.
  • An electrical device which may be controlled in accordance with the invention may be lighting equipment.
  • a signal provided in accordance with the invention may control the lighting equipment so that when the location is unoccupied the light will be off, whilst when it is detected that the location is occupied by one or more persons the light is switched on.
  • Apparatus in accordance with the invention may be provided with a means for detecting a level of ambient light, e.g. daylight, in the location, and if there is sufficient ambient light it will not be necessary to switch on the controlled lighting in the location. Movement of persons into and out of the location when there is sufficient ambient light need not be counted, or preferably the method of counting entries and exits relative to the location is continued even if there is sufficient ambient light, so that if the location is occupied and the ambient light level drops, the controlled lighting can be switched on.
  • a level of ambient light e.g. daylight
  • Apparatus in accordance with the invention may be incorporated in a unit able to be mounted in replacement for a conventional light switch.
  • Light switches are nearly always positioned by the entrance/exit of a room, so are conveniently positioned to be able to detect a person's entering and leaving the room. It is relatively simple to remove an existing light switch and replace it by an apparatus in accordance with the invention. Further, as a result of the height at which light switches usually are mounted on walls (or on the ceiling in the case of a pull-cord operated switch for use in a bathroom for example), it is relatively easy to set the apparatus so as to be able to detect the movement of persons including children but not domestic pets.
  • apparatus in accordance with the invention may control the light or lights in the room which previously were operated by the existing light switch. Usually, this will comprise one or more ceiling and/or wall-mounted lights.
  • the apparatus may provide for control of further lights or other electrical appliances by including transmitting means for emitting a signal or signals to control other switching devices. Such transmitting means may emit a radio signal or signals which is received by the further switching device(s).
  • a so-called remote control socket which is able to be plugged into a conventional electrical outlet and itself has a socket outlet into which a light or other electrical appliance may be plugged.
  • a radio receiver is incorporated, responsive to a control signal emitted by a remote control unit, enabling a user to switch the electrical appliance on or off without having to operate a switch physically located on the appliance or socket outlet.
  • Apparatus in accordance with the invention may be able to transmit signals to control one or more of such remote control sockets.
  • An override facility is preferably provided so that control of the electrical device can be effected otherwise than as a result of the counting process for determining whether or not the location is occupied. For example, in the case of a bedroom, lighting may be required to be switched off even when the room is occupied.
  • a switch may be provided which is operable to decrease the number of persons counted as occupying the location to 0.
  • the apparatus according to the invention may be disengaged completely until reengaged by further operation of a switch.
  • a light in a bedroom for example, would not automatically be switched on when another person enters the room some time after a first person has switched the light off.
  • An override device may also be used to switch lights on, and analogously to its use to switch lights off, it may comprise a switch which either adds one to the occupancy of the location in question, to cause the apparatus to switch on, or a switch may completely override the apparatus in accordance with the invention.
  • An audible or other signal may be emitted when a person leaving the location has reduced the occupancy thereof to 0. This would indicate to the last person leaving a room for example that the room has now been classified as empty and the lights will be switched off after a small time delay, e.g. 5 seconds. If the indication of 0 occupancy is incorrect, a person leaving the location could operate the override switch to add 1 to the occupancy, so the lights will not be switched off.
  • the invention provides that these may be at least one further apparatus including means for detecting entries and exits of a person or persons to or from the location, and means for transmitting a signal to the first apparatus, to be counted together with the entries and exits detected by the first detecting means, to determine whether there is any occupation of the location.
  • Such a further apparatus may take the form of a "slave" unit which can be mounted in relation to a further entry/exit point for the location.
  • Such a “slave” unit may comprise sensing elements arranged generally as in the first detecting means, together with means which detects the order in which motion in the respective regions is sensed to indicate whether a person is entering or exiting the location, and cause a signal to be transmitted, e.g. by radio, according to whether the occupancy of the location is increased or decreased.
  • Such a “slave” unit may be battery powered since there may be no source of electrical power at the position where it is to be located. If passive infrared motion sensing elements are used, these have a low electrical consumption when no movement is sensed, and since a radio signal is required to be transmitted to the first detecting means only upon sensing of movement, a life of a year or more can be expected to be achieved by primary or rechargeable batteries of a size able to be accommodated in a typical "light switch" housing, before replacement or recharging is required.
  • the first detecting means may draw its electrical power supply from a lighting circuit in which it is connected.
  • a rechargeable battery may be incorporated in the detecting means, arranged to be charged when the light(s) is on, or possibly a small quiescent current may be caused to flow through a light or lights connected in such a circuit even when switched off, to ensure the battery is kept charged. This latter possibility is not available in the case of a fluorescent light. If the battery becomes discharged, manual switching only is possible, and radio communication will not function.
  • the invention may also be useful for use in controlling other electrical devices e.g. by causing one or more electrical power outlets to be switched on or off, or by putting electrical appliances into a "stand-by" or “sleep” mode.
  • a separate detector for room occupancy may be used for this purpose, or a device used for lighting control could send an electrical signal to cause further switching devices to be operated on electrical socket outlets or appliances, as above described.
  • the invention may be used in association with telecommunications equipment, for example, for indicating to a telephone apparatus in which room a calling signal should be given in a premises having a number of rooms with calling signals
  • Radio communication utilised in apparatus according the invention, between the first apparatus and a further or slave unit, and between the first apparatus and one or more remotely-controlled switching devices, may be at a radio frequency and power level which is licence-exempt.
  • the first or master apparatus including the detecting means, counting means, and signalling means may be constructed on two printed circuit boards.
  • a first printed circuit board which is disposed immediately behind the front plate of a unit, carries the motion sensing elements, switches for manual operation of the various functions, a microcontroller, and radio transmitting and/or receiving modules.
  • a second printed circuit board, spaced behind the first printed circuit board, would carry the means for mains electrical power switching, and a battery/charging circuit.
  • Such ah arrangement of printed circuit boards has the advantage that for a "slave" unit, only the first printed circuit board having sensors, manually operable switches, micro-controller, and radio transmitting circuits would be required, the second printed circuit board being unnecessary.
  • this illustrates a first or "master” apparatus 10 and a second or “slave” unit 12.
  • the apparatus 10 is a unit able to be mounted on a wall, for example, in substitution for an ordinary light switch, controlling a light (or lights) 14 for a room or other location, and receiving electrical power from a supply 16.
  • the apparatus 10 would be disposed adjacent an entry/exit point such as a doorway of the room.
  • the apparatus 10 incorporates the operative components above described.
  • it has means for detecting entries and exits of persons to and from the location, such means preferably including infra-red motion sensing elements positioned so as to be able to sense the presence of persons in adjacent regions in the vicinity of the apparatus.
  • Such motion sensing elements are provided behind a front plate of the unit, the front plate having a window 18 with a lens or lenses arranged so the motion sensing elements are responsive to motion in suitably positioned fields of sensitivity.
  • the lenses are adjustable, so suitable fields of sensitivity may be set wherever the apparatus is positioned in relation to a doorway.
  • the field(s) of sensitivity of the apparatus may be set, by adjustment of the lens or lenses, to extend to either side of the unit, enabling a common unit to be utilised for installation to either side of a doorway.
  • a radio receiving circuit receives signals from the "slave" unit 12.
  • the apparatus further includes means for counting entries and exits to determine whether the location is occupied or not, and means for giving a signal in accordance with the state of occupation of the location, to a switching means for switching the electrical power supply to the light(s) 14.
  • the apparatus includes manually-operable, e.g. push- button, switches 20, 22 of which the switch 20 is an increment switch for increasing by one the counted number of persons within the location. 22 is a decrement switch for decreasing to 0 the number of persons occupying the location, i.e. switching the light(s) off when required if such switching does not occur automatically.
  • the apparatus 10 further includes a manually operable switch 24 which has three positions providing respectively for total (overriding) switching "off" of the light(s), automatic operation of the light(s) by means of the apparatus, and overriding switching "on” of the light(s).
  • the switch 24 may be a rocker switch, and it may have a mid position which is the overriding "off' position.
  • the apparatus 10 may derive its power supply for the motion sensors and associated circuitry from the electrical power supply for the light(s) 14.
  • a rechargeable battery may be incorporated.
  • the apparatus further includes means for transmitting a radio signal to switching devices associated with further electrical circuits, which may comprise so-called remote-controlled sockets 30, able to be plugged into conventional electrical socket outlets and themselves having socket outlets into which a light or other appliance may be plugged.
  • switching devices associated with further electrical circuits which may comprise so-called remote-controlled sockets 30, able to be plugged into conventional electrical socket outlets and themselves having socket outlets into which a light or other appliance may be plugged.
  • Each incorporates a radio receiver responsive to a radio signal emitted by the apparatus 10.
  • a further switch 26 such as a rocker switch may be provided on the apparatus 10, such further switch having, like the switch 24, three operative positions namely an overriding "off” position, an overriding "on” position, and a position in which the sockets 30 are switched automatically in accordance with the detected state of occupancy of the room or other location.
  • the "slave” unit 12 is able to be mounted in a position adjacent another point of entry to or exit from the location. Like the apparatus 10, it incorporates motion sensors whose field of sensitivity is determined by a lens or lenses 32 in a window in a front plate of the unit, and a circuit which, from the order in which the sensing elements respond to movement, determines whether a person is entering or leaving the location. It also includes manually operable increment and decrement switches 34, 36 respectively.
  • a radio transmitter circuit transmits signals to the main apparatus 10 in accordance with detected or manually-input increments or decrements in the location's occupancy, to be counted by the counting circuit in the apparatus 10 in addition to the changes in occupancy detected by the sensors at the unit 10. If a location has more than two entry/exit points, additional "slave" units 12 may be provided.
  • the slave unit 12 may incorporate a battery, primary or rechargeable so that it can operate independently of any mains electrical power supply.
  • suitable means may be provided for setting the apparatus, e.g. by adjusting the frequency or some other characteristic of radio transmissions, so that transmissions in one location are not interfered with by transmissions from another location, e.g. a different room in a building or adjacent building. It is well known for such provision to be made in apparatus involving radio transmissions.
  • a hand-held remote control unit may enable the apparatus to be operated by a person in the location but remote from the main or a slave unit.

Landscapes

  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil pour commander le fonctionnement d'un dispositif électrique en fonction de l'occupation ou non d'un emplacement par au moins une personne, comprenant des moyens pour détecter des entrées et des sorties d'une ou de plusieurs personnes dans et de l'emplacement ; des moyens pour compter les entrées et les sorties détectées pour déterminer si l'emplacement est occupé ; et des moyens pour produire un signal afin de commander le dispositif électrique selon que l'emplacement est occupé ou non.
PCT/GB2006/004100 2005-11-03 2006-11-03 Commande de dispositifs électriques WO2007052034A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0522448A GB2432028A (en) 2005-11-03 2005-11-03 Controlling electrical devices on the basis of occupancy
GB0522448.0 2005-11-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007052034A1 true WO2007052034A1 (fr) 2007-05-10

Family

ID=35516276

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2006/004100 WO2007052034A1 (fr) 2005-11-03 2006-11-03 Commande de dispositifs électriques

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2432028A (fr)
WO (1) WO2007052034A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1035772C2 (nl) 2008-07-28 2010-01-29 Lely Patent Nv Automatisch aanpassen stalverlichting.
ATE498878T1 (de) * 2008-10-28 2011-03-15 Everspring Ind Co Ltd Verfahren zur erkennung der anwesenheit einer person
GB2489218A (en) * 2011-03-17 2012-09-26 Univ Strathclyde Occupancy detection system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4277727A (en) * 1979-08-02 1981-07-07 Levert Francis E Digital room light controller
DE3608869A1 (de) * 1986-03-17 1987-09-24 Frobenius Wolf Dietrich Prof D Intelligenter lichtschalter (ils)
US4719363A (en) * 1987-04-03 1988-01-12 Gallacher Douglas L System for automatically controlling lights in a room
GB2231954A (en) * 1989-05-18 1990-11-28 David Chen A switch for automatically controlling electric appliances in a room
GB2238896A (en) * 1989-11-03 1991-06-12 Sure Right Webb Ltd Light switch

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2121212A (en) * 1982-05-06 1983-12-14 Master Designer Limited Building services control

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4277727A (en) * 1979-08-02 1981-07-07 Levert Francis E Digital room light controller
DE3608869A1 (de) * 1986-03-17 1987-09-24 Frobenius Wolf Dietrich Prof D Intelligenter lichtschalter (ils)
US4719363A (en) * 1987-04-03 1988-01-12 Gallacher Douglas L System for automatically controlling lights in a room
GB2231954A (en) * 1989-05-18 1990-11-28 David Chen A switch for automatically controlling electric appliances in a room
GB2238896A (en) * 1989-11-03 1991-06-12 Sure Right Webb Ltd Light switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2432028A (en) 2007-05-09
GB0522448D0 (en) 2005-12-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20240255978A1 (en) Method and apparatus for providing energy device and system status
US5349330A (en) Touch programmable illumination means
US5489891A (en) Control means for lighting devices
US7122976B1 (en) Light management system device and method
US5673022A (en) Motion sensor/photoelectric light sensor plug-in receptacle
EP2717655A1 (fr) Système de contrôle de l'éclairage
JP2007174095A (ja) ワイヤレス配線器具および負荷制御システム
GB2443454A (en) Standby power energy - saving device
JP5182043B2 (ja) 電力監視装置
MX2011008679A (es) Dispositivo de sensor energizado a traves de recoleccion rf.
KR100813656B1 (ko) 다기능 재실관리 시스템
JP4915046B2 (ja) 換気装置ならびに換気装置を利用したネット家電システム
WO2007052034A1 (fr) Commande de dispositifs électriques
KR101733469B1 (ko) 스마트 스위치 시스템
KR100924578B1 (ko) 조명 난방 일체형 스위치
JP2010098900A (ja) 電力監視装置
KR20160141120A (ko) 레이더센서를 이용한 동작감지형 무선조명제어방법
CN208013686U (zh) 一种智能开关及安防智能开关系统
KR20110122987A (ko) 대기전력, 온도조절 및 조명제어가 가능한 통합스위칭장치 및 그 방법
KR20170124146A (ko) 보안 기능을 갖는 스마트 스위치 시스템
TWI706633B (zh) 全自動智慧型開關
JP4960157B2 (ja) 照明システム
JP5673193B2 (ja) 人体感知センサを備えた負荷制御装置
JP5256086B2 (ja) 熱線センサ用端末装置
JP5190391B2 (ja) カードスイッチシステム及びカードスイッチ

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 06808397

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1