Motion detector module
View Patent ↗A motion detector comprises a housing having a front side and a back side. Conductors are disposed on the back side so as to electrically connect to a wiring module installed within an electrical box. An infrared (IR) sensor is mounted within the housing and configured to receive IR radiation focused from a lens disposed on the front side. The IR sensor generates a sensor signal in response to motion across the field-of-view of the lens. A controller is responsive to the sensor signal so as to generate a switch signal. A relay is responsive to the switch signal so as to switch an electrical power source connecting to an electrical power load via the conductors and the wiring module.
1. A motion detector comprising:
a housing having a front side and a back side;
a plurality of shielded plugs disposed on said back side and configured to removably electrically connect to a separate wiring module installed within an electrical box without accessing electrical wiring routed to said electrical box;
a sensor mounted within said housing and configured to generate a sensor signal in response to motion;
a controller responsive to said sensor signal to generate a switch signal so as to connect an electrical power source to an electrical power load via said wiring module.
2. The motion detector according to claim 1 further comprising:
a tap in electrical communication with said electrical power source so as to provide said controller an AC signal,
said controller configured to generate said switch signal in temporal proximity to a zero crossing of said AC signal.
3. The motion detector according to claim 1 , wherein said shielded plugs comprise walls disposed around the peripheries of one or more outwardly extending prongs, said walls being configured to interlock with complementary channels of said wiring module.
4. A motion detector comprising:
a housing having a front side and a back side;
a plurality of shielded plugs disposed on said back side and configured to electrically connect to a wiring module installed within an electrical box without accessing electrical wiring routed to said electrical box;
a sensor mounted within said housing and configured to generate a sensor signal in response to motion;
a controller responsive to said sensor signal to generate a switch signal so as to connect an electrical power source to an electrical power load via said wiring module
a first circuit board and a second circuit board retained within said housing, said second circuit board mounted on said first circuit board; and
a relay driver configured to actuate a relay in response to said switch signal,
wherein said sensor and said controller are mounted on said first circuit board and said relay and said relay driver are mounted on said second circuit board.
5. A motion detector comprising:
an electrical box configured to accept a plurality of electrical conductors in communication with a power source and a power load;
a wiring module comprising a wiring side and a functional side, said wiring module being mounted within said electrical box; and
a motion detector module, separate from said wiring module, being removably mounted to said functional side of said wiring module via a plurality of shielded plugs,
wherein said wiring side of said wiring module comprises terminations for said electrical conductors,
wherein said functional side of said wiring module comprises shielded sockets in electrical communication with said terminations, wherein said shielded sockets are configured to receive said shielded plugs of said motion detector module and to prevent exposure of a user to said plurality of electrical conductors, and
wherein said motion detector module comprises a detector for receiving radiation that is indicative of motion, said motion detector module being responsive to motion so as to connect said power source with said power load via said motion detector module contacts.
6. The motion detector according to claim 5 , wherein said motion detector module is configured to connect said power source with said power load only in temporal proximity to zero-crossings of said power source.
7. The motion detector according to claim 6 , wherein said shielded plugs comprise walls disposed around the peripheries thereof, said shielded sockets comprise recessed channels disposed around peripheries thereof, and wherein said walls are configured to mate with said channels.
8. A motion detector method comprising the steps of:
routing conductors for an electrical power source and an electrical power load to an electrical box;
mounting a wiring module within said electrical box;
terminating said conductors at said wiring module;
physically mounting and electrically connecting a motion detector module to said wiring module, without accessing said conductors, so as to place said motion detector module in electrical communication with said electrical power source and said electrical power load via said wiring module; and
switching said electrical power source to said electrical power load in response to motion.
9. The motion detection method according to claim 8 comprising the further steps of:
receiving infrared radiation into said motion detector module;
detecting motion based at least in part on said infrared radiation;
detecting a zero-crossing of said electrical power source corresponding to a change in AC voltage polarity; and
switching said electrical power source to said electrical power load in response to said detected motion and said detected zero-crossing.
10. The motion detection method according to claim 9 comprising the further step of:
interchangeably plugging said motion detector module and a switch module into said wiring module,
wherein said switch module is configured to manually connect and disconnect said electrical power source and said electrical power load.