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US 9,921,557 B2Granted
Automation system comprising a monitoring device and methods therefor
AssigneeSilvair Sp. z o.o.
InventorsSzymon Slupik, Adam Gembala, Maciej Witalinski
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Abstract
A monitoring device for use in an automation system, such as for a home, warehouse, or any type of structure. The monitoring device includes sensors, a processor, and a transmitter. Using its sensors, the monitoring device is capable of acquiring data about itself and/or its environment. That data is used by the monitoring device and/or a central controller to generate a request for an actor, such as lighting, an HVAC system, motorized drapes, a home entertainment system, other home systems, or appliances, to change its state.
Claims29
A building automation system comprising:
- a first monitoring device having a housing comprising a body and a cap, wherein the cap comprises a plurality of windows, at least some of which windows are infrared transparent, and wherein the housing contains:
- (a) a first sensor of a first group of sensors, wherein the first group of sensors include sensors that monitor a state of the first monitoring device and provide first data representative thereof;
- (b) a second sensor of a second group of sensors, wherein the second group of sensors includes sensors that monitor a state of the first monitoring device's ambient environment and provide second data representative thereof;
- (c) a processor that generates a first message based on at least one of the first data and the second data;
- (d) a transmitter that transmits the first message;
- and
- (e) an active infrared (IR) sensor, wherein the active IR sensor comprises a first near-IR light-emitting diode (LED) and a first receiver for detecting near-IR, and further wherein:
- (i) the first near-IR LED is positioned in the housing and with respect to the cap so that near-IR radiation emitted therefrom escapes from a first window of the plurality thereof, and
- (ii) the first receiver is positioned in the housing and with respect to the cap so that near-IR radiation entering the housing through a second window of the plurality thereof is received by the first receiver.
6 more elements
A building automation system comprising:
- (1) a plurality of monitoring devices, including a first monitoring device comprising a housing comprising a body and a cap, wherein the cap comprises a plurality of windows, at least some of which windows are infrared transparent, and wherein the housing contains:
- (a)a first sensor of a first group of sensors, wherein the first group of sensors include sensors that monitor a state of the first monitoring device and provide first data representative thereof,
- (b)a second sensor of a second group of sensors, wherein the second group of sensors includes sensors that monitor a state of the first monitoring device's ambient environment and provide second data representative thereof,
- (c)a processor that generates a first message based on at least one of the first data and the second data,
- (d) a transmitter that transmits the first message, and
- (e) an active infrared (IR) sensor, wherein the active IR sensor comprises a first near-IR light-emitting diode (LED) and a first receiver for detecting near-IR, and further wherein:
- (i) the first near-IR LED is positioned in the housing and with respect to the cap so that near-IR radiation emitted therefrom escapes from a first window of the plurality thereof, and
- (ii) the first receiver is positioned in the housing and with respect to the cap so that near-IR radiation entering the housing through a second window of the plurality thereof is received by the first receiver;
- wherein each monitoring device in the plurality of monitoring devices is capable of:
- (aa) monitoring its own state, wherein the monitored state is at least one of the monitoring device's angular rotation, orientation in space, or location,
- (bb) monitoring a state of the monitoring device's ambient environment,
- (cc) generating a first message pertaining to the results of (aa) and (bb), and
- (dd) transmitting the first message;
- (2) a central controller, wherein the central controller receives the first message and generates a second message based thereon, wherein the second message comprises a request for a first actor to change a state thereof;
- and
- (3) the first actor, wherein the first actor receives the second message and complies with the request.
13 more elements
A system comprising:
- a first monitoring device having:
- (a) a first group of sensors including an accelerometer and a gyroscope, wherein the first group of sensors include sensors that monitor a state of the first monitoring device and provide first data representative thereof, wherein the state of the first monitoring device is angular rotation thereof;
- (b) at least a second sensor of a second group of sensors, wherein the second group of sensors includes sensors that monitor a state of the first monitoring device's ambient environment and provide second data representative thereof;
- (c) a processor that generates a first message based on at least one of the first data and the second data;
- and
- (d) a transmitter that transmits the first message;
- wherein the first message represents if the first monitoring device is rotated when in contact with a support surface, and is based on whether (i) a first surface of the first monitoring device abuts the support surface, as in a first orientation, or (ii) a second surface of the first monitoring device abuts the support surface, as in a second orientation, wherein rotation and orientation are determined by the accelerometer and the gyroscope;
- and
- wherein the first message is for representing (i) a first functionality while the first monitoring device is in the first orientation and (ii) a second functionality while the first monitoring device is in the second orientation.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.