# US 8,783,114 B2 · Occupancy sensor

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- Number: US 8,783,114 B2
- Document ID: US8783114B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/183,224
- Filed: 2011-07-14
- Published: 2012-01-19
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2010-07-14
- Assignees: Healthsense, Inc.
- Applicants: David T. Anderson; Brian J. Bischoff; John L. Ryan
- Inventors: David T. Anderson; Brian J. Bischoff; John L. Ryan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783114B2

## CPC

- G01L 1/22: using resistance strain gauges
- G01L 1/2218: {the supports being of the column type, e.g. cylindric, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction}
- G08B 21/0415: {detecting absence of activity per se}
- G08B 21/0461: {integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor}
- A61G 2203/32: for force
- G01G 19/445: {in a horizontal position}
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)
- G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16)

## Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices, and systems for determining occupancy of a user. One method to determine occupancy of a user includes sensing a change in resistance of a sensor element of an occupancy sensor, correlating the change in resistance to a force transmitted to the occupancy sensor, and determining an occupancy status of a user based on the force transmitted.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for determining occupancy of a user, comprising:
transmitting a force to an occupancy sensor via an activator bar, wherein the activator bar is fixed at a first end and a second end and is coupled to a sensor element of the occupancy sensor between a first end and a second end of the sensor element, and an edge support surrounds the activator bar and wherein the occupancy sensor is between a base and the activator bar;
sensing a change in resistance of a sensor element of the occupancy sensor;
correlating the change in resistance to a force transmitted to the occupancy sensor; and
determining an occupancy status of a user based on the force transmitted.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes correlating the change in resistance to a force transmitted to the occupancy sensor by converting the change in resistance to a voltage that correlates to the force transmitted.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes calibrating an unloaded threshold and a loaded threshold of the sensor element by sensing the resistance of the sensor element and determining a force transmitted to the sensor element without a user transmitting force to the sensor element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the method includes determining an unoccupied status of the user when the sensing element resistance is at or above the unloaded threshold.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the method include determining an occupied status of the user when the sensing element resistance is below the loaded threshold and has not exceeded the unloaded threshold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the method include determining an occupied status of the user when the sensing element resistance is below the unloaded threshold for a period of time.

### Claim 7

An occupancy sensor, comprising:
a sensing element, wherein a resistance of the sensing element is dependent on a force exerted on the sensing element;
an activator bar, wherein an edge support surrounds the activator bar, wherein the activator bar is fixed a first end and a second end and is coupled to the sensing element between a first end and a second end of the sensing element, and wherein the occupancy sensor is between a base and the activator bar, and wherein the activator bar transmits the force to the sensing element; and
a module, wherein the module senses the resistance of the sensing element and converts the resistance to a corresponding voltage.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The occupancy sensor of claim 7, wherein a cable connector couples the sensing element to the module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The occupancy sensor of claim 7, wherein the module includes circuitry to sense the resistance of the sensing element and convert the resistance of the sensing element to the corresponding voltage.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The occupancy sensor of claim 7, wherein the sensor element is coupled to a base and the activator bar is placed over a portion of the sensor element and coupled to the base.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The occupancy sensor of claim 7, wherein the occupancy sensor includes a number of fasteners to couple the occupancy sensor to a structure.

### Claim 12

A system for determining occupancy of a user, comprising:
a support structure, wherein a static object is placed on the support structure; and
an occupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor includes:
a sensing element, wherein a resistance of the sensing element is dependent on a force exerted on the sensing element;
an activator bar, wherein the activator bar is formed of materials with variable stiffness, wherein the activator bar is fixed at a first end and a second end and is coupled to the sensing element between a first end and a second end of the sensing element, wherein the occupancy sensor is between a base and the activator bar, and wherein the activator bar transmits the force to the sensing element; and
a module, wherein the module senses the resistance of the sensing element and converts the sensed resistance to a voltage correlating to the force exerted on the sensing element.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the occupancy sensor is placed between the support structure and the static object.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the module determines an occupancy status of a user based on the sensed resistance.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the module determines an occupancy status of a user based on the force exerted on the sensing element being above or below a load or unload threshold.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the occupancy sensor is battery powered.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the module wirelessly transmits a signal indicating an occupancy status to a computing device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the occupancy sensor and the computing device wirelessly communicate with each other as part of an activity monitoring system.