WO2021101491A1

WO2021101491A1 - A smart acoustic sensor system

Info

Publication number: WO2021101491A1
Application number: PCT/TR2020/051137
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yeşim MOĞULKOÇ; Abdulsamet ÖZCAN; Kübra ÖZGÜR
Original assignee: Ankara Üni̇versi̇tesi̇ Rektörlüğü
Priority date: 2019-11-22
Filing date: 2020-11-19
Publication date: 2021-05-27

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart acoustic sensor system that can perform the control of the lamp at the desired luminance (lumen) of the lighting without requiring any control and mechanical effect with only high amplitude sound waves (loud call, clap or finger click). The basic usage area of the present invention is determined as to allow the individuals with limited mobility, patients in hospitals or at their homes, disabled individuals, children to change the lighting quality without requiring any other person or device. Since the invention is easily integrated into current lighting systems, economic transformation will be ensured without requirement of changes in the current infrastructure.

Description

A SMART ACOUSTIC SENSOR SYSTEM

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a smart acoustic sensor system that does not require contact and operates with acoustic detection to be used in areas where the user has motion restrictions.

State of the Art

Triggering of all devices operating with electric is provided by the electric current received from the power source. The circuit is required to be in closed condition so as to provide electric current. In order to bring the electrical devices to the operating status, the circuit that is being open is closed; the electrical current is provided to flow over the required electronic parts so as to perform their tasks. For this reason, all electronic devices have a switch mechanism. At the same time, the switch mechanisms provide the operation of different mechanisms of the electronic devices according to the values detected by the sensors or execution of sequential processes so as to perform different functions of the electronic devices.

Different triggering methods such as triggering with ordinary switch, triggering with dimmer switch, triggering with photocell, triggering with motion sensor, triggering via mobile or internet are used in the state of the art.

The method of triggering with an ordinary switch operates based on the principle of preventing the electrical current by cutting the physical contact of the wire (conductor) on the electric current located in the electronic device with the remaining section of the circuit. Therefore, the current that flows on the wire is interrupted and no current flows on the electronic device circuits. Lighting switches, which are mostly used in the houses, operate in this manner. Since the electric current does not make contact when the switch is in open condition, the electronic device is in closed condition. When the switch is turned off, the connection of the conductor with the rest of the circuit is realized and the circuit is completed since the electric current is supplied. Thus, the electronic device is activated. While using ordinary switch, it is provided passage of current or not. In other words, the controlled flow of the electric current cannot be performed. Also, it is required a physical contact so as to trigger the switch.

The triggering method with the dimmer switch is a switch type that is used in loads where the current amount and operating conditions change. The dimmer circuit is a power control circuit that operates with the alternating current. It is provided to operate the halogen lamps with variable brightness or motors with changing rotation speed under desired conditions and parameters by means of the dimmer switches where the amount of current supplied to the electronic device with a potentiometer (changing resistance) can be adjustable. It is used widely in the lighting systems for brightness control. Apart from this, it is also used in various electronic devices according to the requirement such as temperature control, motor speed control etc. The electrical current can be adjusted as required by the dimmer switch between “present” and “absent”. Physical contact is required so as to operate the dimmer switches.

Photocells are used in the photocell triggering method. Detection is made with the help of the photocell optical factors. It is possible to operate the electronic devices to operate at required time (there is change in the optical factors), mainly by means of the photocell sensor that is used in parallel with an ordinary switch or relay.

They are the systems that can control the systems operating with AC current by means of the relay that operates sensitive to photocell. The photocell does not transform the light into electric in a photocell system, only the voltage is changed depending on its resistance. This kind of a system is used to control, stop or operate electronic or electromechanical systems as photosensitive. The photocell does not transform optical factors into electric by itself, it only uses the principle of photo resistors’ changing their resistances according to the light and thus the system voltage changes and accordingly, the adjustment of the electronic devices controlled by the current is provided when the current flowing through the established circuit is changed. Such system is used to control, stop or operate electronic or electromechanical systems sensitively against optical factors. It is required change in the optical factors so as to perform triggering by photocell. In the triggering method with the motion sensor, motion sensors with active or passive property that detect the movement within the environment by means of infrared, ultrasonic, microwave, vibration methods. A heat, sound source shall be moving in an environment so as to perform triggering with the motion sensor.

In the triggering method over mobile or internet, it is transmitted the required activation for triggering to the switch as data. When this data reaches the triggering mechanism with communication methods such as internet, local network, GSM etc., the switch operates and arranges the current amount so as to carry out the required process. It is possible to control the devices connected to 8, 16 and 24 relay receiver units wirelessly over internet or wireless network modem with smart mobile devices. Extendable relay modules provide wireless communication with the central unit. In this manner, they are systems that can facilitate to control the remote devices to the central unit.

In the United States application numbered US10021765, it is disclosed a trigger in which the lighting can be turned on and off by the mobile or internet application and user interface and if possible, the lighting quality is changed and a system in which this trigger is used. The inventive system operates as a smart switch mechanism with remote control.

In the United States application numbered US2015223310, it is disclosed a switch that can control the electrical load and a device that can perform load control by using this switch. Each sensor can provide the environment to be illuminated as required by sending communication information to the control device wirelessly, once it is triggered. It is stated that the communication will be made via radio frequency.

In the United States application numbered US2019045605, it is disclosed the application method of a system to be assembled for lighting. It is mentioned that each lighting element is a part of the network and each of them has a specific network address for the system that contains at least two lighting elements. This lighting equipment contains one sensor and one trigger in its structure. Therefore, it is set forth that regardless of their positioning in the area where the lighting is made, location-focused lighting can be realized with the lighting equipment that can be programmed as required. In the United States application numbered US2018084106, it is disclosed the use of Bluetooth devices as a mobile triggering device. In this context, it is described triggering of the switch by a wearable Bluetooth device at a predetermined distance from the switch mechanism.

Considering the state of the art; only photosensitive sensors are used in the lighting control applications without requiring automation and an external switching assembly.

Technical problems aimed to be solved with the Invention

The present invention relates to a smart acoustic sensor system that can perform the control of the lamp at the desired luminance (lumen) of the lighting without requiring any control and mechanical effect with only high amplitude sound waves (loud call, clap or finger click). The basic usage area of the present invention is determined as to allow the individuals with limited mobility, patients in hospitals or at their homes, disabled people, and children to change the lighting amount without requiring any other person or device. Since the invention is easily integrated into current lighting systems, economic transformation will be ensured without requirement of changes in the current infrastructure.

Description of the Invention

The smart acoustic sensor system realized to fulfill the mentioned aims of the invention is shown in the figures, in which;

Figure 1- is a schematic view of the plan view of the smart acoustic sensor system.

Figure 2- is a schematic view of the side view of the smart acoustic sensor system.

Figure 3- is a view of the circuit scheme of the smart acoustic sensor system.

The parts in the figures are enumerated and their equivalents are as follows.

1. Smart acoustic sensor system

2. LED lights

3. 7 - segment monitor

4. Cover

5. Microphone 6. Logic compiler circuit

7. Dimmer circuit

8. Preamplifier circuit

9. Vu meter circuit

Detailed Description of the Invention:

The present invention relates to a smart acoustic sensor system (1) that can perform the control of the lamp at the desired luminance (lumen) of the lighting without requiring any control and mechanical effect with only high amplitude sound waves (loud call, clap or finger click).

Smart acoustic sensor system (1) with the properties as being long-lasting, calibrating according to the environment, operating the light source at intermediate lumen values, having the sensor and control part in single piece, and being integrated into the existing lighting system, ensures to control the lighting systems with the acoustic sound waves.

After the sound is output by the sound generator, it travels similar to the acoustic waves depending on the characteristics of the environment in which it travels. The acoustic wave travels within the environment and reaches the microphone (5). The sound waves that come to the microphone (5) hit the diaphragm inside the microphone (5) and they create mechanical vibrations by travelling inwardly or outwardly according to the changes in the air pressure based on sound waves. A voltage occurs at the output ends of the microphone (5) as a consequence of these vibrations. The logic compiler circuit (6) operates by means of the changes occurred in this voltage and the dimmer circuit (7) connected to this compiler operates. The dimmer circuit (7) ensures control of the lighting by changing the current amount that flows to the lighting element of the light source. Therefore, the inventive smart acoustic sensor system (1) is controlled.

In order to fulfill the mentioned aims, the inventive smart acoustic sensor system (1) comprises a cover (4) so as to protect all circuit elements in it from external environment factors, to be mounted on the desired location as required and to display a suitable view in the area of application. In order to fulfill the aims of the invention, the inventive intelligent acoustic sensor system (1) must contain at least one dimmer circuit (7). The lumen level of the lighting element is controlled by LDR positioned on the dimmer circuit (7). In a different embodiment of the invention, it is possible to control settings such as alternative AC motor speed. The most critical element of the dimmer circuit (7) of the invention is BT137 triac element. The phase angle of the current passing through the diac with the help of the capacitor also changes in case the resistance value of the potentiometer on the dimmer circuit (7) changes due to time. As an alternative to the operation performed by the potentiometer, the photosensitive resistance changes the signal passing through diac by changing the current on the capacitor. Diac provides necessary pulse (trigger) signals so as to trigger the triac. When the triac passes to the triggering state, the load (bulb/motor etc.) connected to the circuit is controlled. The current that passes through the diac connected to the triggering foot so as to bring the triac to the triggering state must be controlled. The phase angle of the current is required to be changed so as to control the current flowing through said circuit. The capacitor on the circuit must be continuously filled and discharged so as to create the phase angle. Thus, the phase angle, namely the phase difference, is created. The value of the photosensitive resistance connected in parallel to the capacitor is changed so as to provide the phase difference, thus a phase difference occurs in the current that passes through diac. The load connected to the triac can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the amount of light falling on the LDR surface so as to make LDR to provide the required control in the dimmer circuit (7). In the inventive system (1), opto-resistances are preferred as optical isolators. Thus; DC control circuits provide load control by making transmission to the AC load circuit by light.

In order to achieve the required aims of the invention, there is at least one microphone (5) on the same. The circuit element called capacitive microphone (5) are sound sensors that operate based on the static electric. The diaphragm of the capacitive microphones (5) vibrates due to the received sound waves and this vibration leads to change in the capacity of the microphone (5). This change in the capacity generates electrical signals at the output of the microphone (5) according to sound property. They are suitable for robotic studies because they are used by being fed with DC current and can be produced in small dimensions. The capacitive microphones (5) have a very wide frequency characteristic between 50-15000 Hz. In the capacitive microphones (5), distortion ratio is low, however impedance ratio is high.

In order to achieve the required aims of the invention, at least one preamplifier circuit is used on the same. The electrical signals obtained from the microphone (5) are of low amplitude. For this reason, signals are required to be strengthened so as to make interpretation. The preamplifier circuit (8) to be used to this end directs the sinusoidal sound wave that comes to the same over the microphone (5) in half a wave. The amplitude of the electric wave obtained by the transistor on the circuit is increased.

In order to achieve the required aims of the invention, there is at least one Vu meter circuit (9) on the same. Vu meter circuits (9) converts the analog signals obtained from the preamplifier circuit (8) into digital by using various integrated circuits. The sound waves that are obtained after they are detected by the microphone (5) are converted into analog signals by the microphone (5) and they are converted into digital signals by the Vu meter circuit (9) and thus converted into numerical values. Thus, it is ensured that the sound intensity can be used as a trigger. Some of the outputs on the Vu meter circuit (9) are connected to the LED lights (2) on the smart acoustic sensor system (1). The sound allows for observing the sound intensity. The amplitude of the sound is determined by determining the amplitude of the analog signals obtained from the sound waves by the microphone (5) and the relevant LED light (2) located on the smart acoustic sensor system (1) is turned on. Thus, it is visually shown the amplitudes of the sound waves to the user.

In order to achieve the required aims of the invention, there is at least one logic circuit (6) on the same. This logic circuit has a single synchronous control input. The operation principle of the logic circuit is as follows; when the value obtained at the output is the same as the value given from the control input and in case the value given by the control input changes, the change of the value obtained at the output (0 or 1) is realized with the change of the triggering signal from 0 to 1.

Output Q has the value of the control input D when the triggering signal is received. When D = 0, with the arrival of the trigger signal, Q = 0;

As long as D = 0 continues, even if the state of the "Clock" (square wave) signal changes, Q = 0;

If it takes the value D = 1, then Q = 1 on the positive side of the first received trigger signal. The operating table of the logic circuit is as follows.

In order to achieve the required aims of the invention, there is at least one 7 -segment viewer (3) on the same. 7-segment viewers (3) are circuits that are used for displaying values digitally obtained for viewing with numbers. All numbers are provided to be displayed with the lighting of seven rectangular sized LEDs. The control level made by the dimmer circuit (7) is visually provided to the user by means of the 7 -segment viewer (3) that can be operated with various integrated circuits. It is aimed to provide and control the lighting without the need for any control and mechanical factor by means of the inventive smart acoustic sensor system (1). Since the intensity of light is adjusted; it is reduced the intensity in dark environments and thus, it is prevented eyes from being disturbed by intense light. The system (1) can be integrated into current lighting installation systems. Another advantage of the geometric form of the system (1) is that it can directly integrate to lighting armatures such as chandelier etc. Thus, the system (1) does not offend the eye decoratively. The adjustments made can be visually observed by means of LED lights (2) and 7-segment viewer (3) included in the system (1).

Particularly disabled wellness centers, hospitals, nursing homes and wellness centers of individuals in need of special care have been determined as the application fields of the invention. Particularly, it is possible to use the same in all areas where there are individuals with restriction in their movement capabilities.

Considering the usage fields of the system (1), it can be achieved high efficiency through its suitability for the use of all individuals.

In different embodiments of the invention, it can be applied and used as a trigger/regulator in all areas where optical sensors, mechanical sensors, smart home systems and finally, it is employed mobile control units.

The invention can be used for the public benefit in education areas, the health sector etc. since it is appropriate for easy use in buildings. When new approaches in the technological products are taken into consideration, human intervention was minimized by making electrical and electronic systems that are photosensitive and smart; our study can be used in products that are within the scope of Industry 4.0.

Claims

1. A smart acoustic sensor system (1) characterized by comprising at least one microphone (5) so as to provide the lighting at the desired luminance (lumen) value with sound waves without requiring any control and mechanical effect.

2. A smart acoustic sensor system (1) according to claim 1 characterized by at least one preamplifier circuit (8) that is used so as to increase the amplitude of the electrical signals generated from sound waves detected by the microphone (5).

3. A smart acoustic sensor system (1) according to claim 2 characterized by at least one Vu meter circuit (9) that ensures to convert analog signals, amplitude of which is increased by the preamplifier circuit (8) to digital values, and to use these numerical values as an output signal for different controls.

4. A smart acoustic sensor system (1) according to claim 3 characterized by a dimmer circuit (7) that comprises at least one LDR and one triac circuit elements that are used to control the lumen level of the lighting element.

5. A smart acoustic sensor system (1) according to claim 4 characterized by LED lights (2) that are placed to display the sound intensity converted into a numerical value by means of the Vu meter circuit (9) to the users.

6. A smart acoustic sensor system (1) according to claim 5 characterized by a 7- segment viewer (3) that displays the user the control applied to the lighting element by means of the dimmer circuit (7) and thus displays the brightness level of the lighting element visually