Granted Patent B2

US 10,198,922 · App. 15/344,973 · Granted Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

Claims (53)

1. A computer implemented method for monitoring a monitored space, comprising:

periodically emitting with an active infrared sensor a modulated infrared signal into the monitored space being monitored by a home automation system;

receiving with the active infrared sensor the modulated infrared signals reflected from objects in the monitored space;

determining a baseline signal corresponding to the monitored space based at least in part on a first portion of the received modulated infrared signals;

comparing the baseline signal to a second portion of the received modulated infrared signals;

determining, based at least in part on the comparing, at least one of whether a number of objects in the monitored space has changed and whether any of the objects are moving; and

deriving a pattern of behavior associated with the objects based at least in part on the determining.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting at least one operation of the home automation system based at least in part on the deriving.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein adjusting at least one operation of the home automation system comprises:

any of turning one or more security features on or off, arming or disarming one or more security function, locking or unlocking one or more barriers, or sending one or more notices to a remote user, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a frequency shift in the received modulated infrared signals.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

determining whether any of the objects are moving based on the frequency shift.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

determining a direction of movement of the objects based on the frequency shift.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active infrared sensor is integrated into a control panel of the home automation system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining step includes using Doppler effect, or amplitude modulation, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the baseline signal to the second portion of the received modulated infrared signals occurs between each duty cycle, or between sets of a plurality of duty cycles comprises.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active infrared sensor comprises:

an emitter configured to emit the modulated infrared signals; and

a receiver configured to receive the modulated infrared signals reflected from the objects in the monitored space.

11. An apparatus for monitoring a monitored space using a home automation system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

periodically emit with an active infrared sensor a modulated infrared signal into the monitored space;

receive with the active infrared sensor the modulated infrared signals reflected from objects in the monitored space;

determine a baseline signal corresponding to the monitored space based at least in part on a first portion of the received modulated infrared signals;

compare the baseline signal to a second portion of the received modulated infrared signals;

determine, based at least in part on the comparing, at least one of a change in a number of objects in the monitored space and a direction of movement of objects in the monitored space using at least one of amplitude modulation and Doppler effect; and

derive a pattern of behavior associated with the objects based at least in part on the determining.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

adjust at least one operation of the home automation system based at least in part on the deriving.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

emit and receive the modulated infrared signals multiple times per second.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

determine at least one of presence and direction of movement of two or more objects in the monitored space concurrently.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein comparing the baseline signal to the second portion of the received modulated infrared signals occurs between each duty cycle, or between sets of a plurality of duty cycles.

16. An active infrared (IR) sensor for use in a home automation and security system, comprising:

an infrared emitter configured to disperse at least one infrared beam into a monitored space;

an infrared receiver configured to receive reflected infrared signals from the monitored space; and

a controller configured to:

determine a baseline signal corresponding to the monitored space based at least in part on a first portion of the received modulated infrared signals;

compare the baseline signal to a second portion of the received modulated infrared signals;

determine, based at least in part on the comparing, at least one of a change in a number of objects in the monitored space and a direction of movement of objects in the monitored space using at least one of amplitude modulation and Doppler effect; and

derive a pattern of behavior associated with the objects based at least in part on the determining.

17. The active infrared sensor of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

adjust at least one operation of the home automation and security system based at least in part on the deriving.

18. The active infrared sensor of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a frequency shift in the received modulated infrared signals.

19. The active infrared sensor of claim 18 , wherein the controller uses the frequency shift to determine a direction of motion of one or more objects in the monitored space.

20. The active infrared sensor of claim 16 , wherein the active infrared sensor is integrated into a housing of a control panel of the home automation and security system.

Assignments (8)