Auto-configurable motion/occupancy sensor

1 . A method performed by a person detection device (PDD), comprising:

operating in a motion detection mode of operation during a first time period and, while operating in the motion detection mode of operation:

detecting motion in an area monitored by the PDD;

in response to detecting the motion:

determining a first time from when a previous motion-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and

transmitting a second motion-detected signal only when the first time is greater than a first dwell time;

and

operating in an occupancy mode of operation during a second time period and, while operating in the occupancy mode of operation:

detecting occupancy of the area monitored by the PDD;

in response to detecting the occupancy:

determining a second time from when a previous occupancy-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and

transmitting a second occupancy-detected signal only when the second time is greater than a second dwell time;

wherein the PDD receives a first wireless command to change the operating mode of the PDD to the occupancy mode of operation and the first wireless command comprises the second dwell time.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second dwell time is greater than the first dwell time.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises: determining the motion and the occupancy using a single sensor.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises: determining the motion using a first person sensor; and determining the occupancy using a second person sensor that does not require movement of a person to be detected.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a second wireless command to enter into the motion detection mode of operation.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the single sensor comprises a passive infrared sensor.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the second person sensor comprises a thermal detection device, and the method of operating the PDD in the occupancy mode of operation comprises:

monitoring a subset of thermal elements of the thermal detection device;

determining a possibility that a person is occupying the area being monitored by the PDD as a result of monitoring the subset of thermal elements;

in response to determining a possibility that a person is occupying the area, begin monitoring all of the thermal elements; and

determining that a person is occupying the area based on monitoring all of the thermal elements.

8 . A person detection device (PDD) for detecting motion and occupancy of a person in an area, comprising:

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

a first person sensor;

a processer coupled to the memory and the first person sensor, for executing the processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to:

operate in a motion detection mode of operation during a first time period and, while operating in the motion detection mode of operation:

detect motion in an area monitored by the PDD;

in response to detecting the motion:

determine a first time from when a previous motion-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and

transmit a second motion-detected signal only when the first time is greater than a first dwell time;

and

operate in an occupancy mode of operation during a second time period and, while operating in the occupancy mode of operation:

detect occupancy of the area monitored by the PDD;

in response to detecting the occupancy:

determine a second time from when a previous occupancy-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and

transmit a second occupancy-detected signal only when the second time is greater than a second dwell time;

wherein the PDD receives a first wireless command to change the operating mode of the PDD to the occupancy mode of operation and the first wireless command comprises the second dwell time.

9 . The PDD of claim 8 , wherein the second dwell time is greater than the first dwell time.

10 . The PDD of claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions for detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises instructions that causes the processor to:

determine the motion and the occupancy using only the first person sensor.

11 . The PDD of claim 8 , further comprising: a second person detector coupled to the processor; wherein the processor-executable instructions for detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises instructions that causes the processor to: determine the motion using the first person sensor; and determine the occupancy using the second person detector without requiring movement of a person to be detected.

12 . The PDD of claim 8 , further comprising: a wireless receiver coupled to the processor; wherein processor-executable instructions comprise further instructions that causes the processor to: receive a second wireless command to enter into the motion detection mode of operation.

13 . The PDD of claim 10 , wherein the single sensor comprises a passive infrared sensor.

14 . The PDD of claim 11 , wherein the second person sensor comprises a thermal detection device, and the processor-instructions for operating the PDD in the occupancy mode of operation comprises instructions that causes the processor to:

monitor a subset of thermal elements of the thermal detection device;

determine a possibility that a person is occupying the area being monitored by the PDD as a result of monitoring the subset of thermal elements;

in response to determining a possibility that a person is occupying the area, begin to monitor all of the thermal elements; and

determine that a person is occupying the area based on monitoring all of the thermal elements.

15 . A method performed by a person detection device (PDD), comprising:

operating in a motion detection mode of operation during a first time period and, while operating in the motion detection mode of operation:

detecting motion in an area monitored by the PDD;

in response to detecting the motion:

determining a first time from when a previous motion-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and

transmitting a second motion-detected signal to a security controller only when the first time is greater than a first dwell time;

and

operating in an occupancy mode of operation during a second time period and, while operating in the occupancy mode of operation:

detecting occupancy of the area monitored by the PDD;

in response to detecting the occupancy:

determining a second time from when a previous occupancy-detected signal was transmitted by the PDD; and

transmitting a second occupancy-detected signal to the security controller only when the second time is greater than a second dwell time;

wherein the first dwell time is predetermined and stored in a memory of the PDD and the second dwell time is determined by the security controller.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the second dwell time is greater than the first dwell time.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises: determining the motion and the occupancy using a single sensor.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein detecting the motion and the occupancy comprises: determining the motion using a first person sensor; and determining the occupancy using a second person sensor that does not require movement of a person to be detected.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: receiving from the security controller a wireless command to enter into the motion detection mode of operation.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the single sensor comprises a passive infrared sensor.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the second person sensor comprises a thermal detection device, and the method of operating the PDD in the occupancy mode of operation comprises:

monitoring a subset of thermal elements of the thermal detection device;

determining a possibility that a person is occupying the area being monitored by the PDD as a result of monitoring the subset of thermal elements;

in response to determining a possibility that a person is occupying the area, begin monitoring all of the thermal elements; and

determining that a person is occupying the area based on monitoring all of the thermal elements.