Power-saving sensor
AssigneeEcolink Intelligent Technology, Inc.
InventorBrandon Gruber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor is disabled when it receives a signal from a control unit that the control unit has been placed into one or more particular operating modes. In response to receiving the signal, the sensor becomes disabled, thereby preventing detection and/or transmission of certain signals to the security panel. When the control unit is placed into another mode of operation, the control unit sends a signal to the sensor and, in response, the sensor is re-enabled, allowing the sensor to function normally.
Claims10
A battery-operated, wireless, power-saving sensor, comprising:
- a motion detector;
- a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;
- a transmitter;
- a receiver;
- and
- a processer coupled to the motion detector, the memory, the receiver, and the transmitter, for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the sensor to transition from an enabled state to a disabled state in response to receiving a first predetermined signal via the receiver wherein, in the enabled state, the sensor will transmit via the transmitter a wireless signal in response to the motion detector detecting a motion, in both the enabled state and the disabled state the sensor will cause itself to periodically transmit via the transmitter a heartbeat signal, and, in the disabled state, the transmitter is one of powered off, disconnected from the processor, and operated with a reduced transmission power relative to when the transmitter is used to transmit the heartbeat signal.
A method performed by a sensor having a processor connected to each of a motion detector, a receiver, and a transmitter, comprising:
- transitioning from an enabled state to a disabled state in response to receiving a first predetermined signal via the receiver wherein, in the enabled state, the sensor will transmit via the transmitter a wireless signal in response to the motion detector detecting a motion, in both the enabled state and the disabled state the sensor will cause itself to periodically transmit via the transmitter a heartbeat signal, and, in the disabled state, the transmitter is one of powered off, disconnected from the processor, and operated with a reduced transmission power relative to when the transmitter is used to transmit the heartbeat signal.
A method performed by a sensor having a processor connected to each of a motion detector, a receiver, and a transmitter, comprising:
- operating the receiver at a reduced duty cycle in response to receiving a first predetermined signal via the receiver;
- while the receiver is operating with the normal duty cycle periodically transmitting via the transmitter a heartbeat signal and, in between transmissions of the heartbeat signal, causing the transmitter to be one of powered off, disconnected from the processor, and operated with a reduced transmission power relative to when the transmitter is used to transmit the heartbeat signal;
- subsequently operating the receiver at a normal duty cycle in response to receiving a second predetermined signal via the receiver;
- and
- while the receiver is operating with the normal duty cycle transmitting via the transmitter a wireless signal in response to the motion detector detecting a motion and periodically transmitting via the transmitter the heartbeat signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.