[0001] This invention relates to automatically de-energizing power utilizing equipment after
a lack of animal activity or sound for a predetermined time period.
[0002] As a result offossil fuel shortage, strong opposition to nuclear generated electrical
power, and economic unavailability of other forms of power, e.g. geothermal power
and the like, there has been a strong need for energy saving devices. There have been
several prior art detection systems designed to detect human activity in a specified
environment as for example, a room or other enclosure. One such prior art device utilized
a source of microwave radiation. Human activity within the specified environment with
the microwave radiation would cause a triggering of a signal to energize or de-energize
electrically operable equipment.
[0003] There have been other systems to detect human activity, as for example, passing through
a doorway or across some barrier or threshold. One such detection system used a light
beam and light sensor such that breaking of the beam would cause initiation of an
electrical signal to operate some electrically operable equipment, e.g. trigger an
alarm or cause a door to open.
[0004] Exemplary of burglar alarm circuits are the Stettner et al Patent No. 3,761,912 in
which a timing circuit is used in connection with a silicon controlled rectifier for
generating an alarm or energizing lights for a selected period of time in response
to the occurrence of a sound and immediately after the sound. After a substantial
period of time, the circuit is de-energized and turns off the lights and/or sound.
[0005] U.S. Patent No. 4,102,732 also discloses a circuit to sense an inanimate object as
well as an animate object and relies upon a clocking system to actuate an alarm after
a predetermined period of inactivity. U.S. Patent No. 3,445,836 also discloses an
alarm system which operates by means of audio frequency signals and includes a plurality
of sound actuated sensors. U.S. Patent No. 4,099,168 discloses an intrusion alarm
system which operates on the basis of an audio frequency signal.
[0006] There has been at least one proposed system using ultrasonic radiation for generating
a standing wave in a specified environment for sensing the presence of or a lack of
human activity. If the wave was not disturbed, then equipment could be automatically
de-energized. Any disturbance in the standing wave would cause a re-energization of
the equipment. A similar system has been proposed using a standing wave of microwave
radiation. These systems were not passive in sensing and were not specifically sensitive
to human activity.
[0007] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which
is capable of sensing energy within a certain wavelength range generated as a result
of animal activity and in a particular environment for a predetermined time interval.
Brief Summary of the Disclosure
[0008] An apparatus for detecting the presence of animal activity or the lack of animal
activity in a specified environment and during a predetermined time interval. The
apparatus is designed to control energization and de-energization of equipment, preferably
electrically operable equipment. If animal activity is not detected in the specified
environment within the predetermined time interval, then the apparatus is effective
to de-energize the electrically operable equipment in order to provide at least energy
savings. On the other hand, if the animal activity is detected in the specified environment,
the apparatus is designed to permit energization, or otherwise, to maintain energization
of the electrically operable equipment. In this way, the apparatus of the present
invention functions as a so-caled "intelligent switch". The apparatus is not limited
to use only with electrically operable equipment and can be used with other forms
of powered equipment.
[0009] The apparatus of the invention includes an analog circuit portion and a digital circuit
portion. The analog circuit portion is designed to provide for the detection of energy
within a specified wavelength range which results from animal activity. In a preferred
embodiment, the energy is in the sonic wavelength range which is deemed for the purposes
of this invention to include the subsonic wavelength as well as super-sonic wavelength.
The analog circuit portion includes a sensor mechanism, such as a microphone, in order
to detect sound within a specified environment, such as a room orthe like, which constitutes
a defined volume. The analog circuit portion may also include band pass filters, gain
amplifiers and the like in order to process the signal for further use in the digital
portion of the circuit, as hereinafter described.
[0010] The animal activity in accordance with the present invention, is preferably human
activity. Moreover, the specific area or environment is preferably an enclosed environment
or limited environment. The human or other animal activity is detected by the registration
of a noise level (spectral signature) above a user-adjustable threshold level and
within a predefined spectral bandwidth. The user-adjustable threshold level is preferably
manually operable or adjustable in connection with the present invention.
[0011] A pulse shaper, e.g. a Schmitt trigger inverter is used as an interface between the
analog portion and the digital portion of the circuit. This Schmitt trigger acts as
a discretizer to provide output pulses in a form which are compatible with and capable
of being effectively used by the digital portion of the circuit.
[0012] More specifically, the system of the present invention senses the presence or absence
of human activity within a defined volume by registering the special signatures above
the user-adjustable threshold level and within the spectral bandwidth. Upon detection
of signal above this threshold level within a predetermined time period, the noise
is used to activate a built-in-user selectable time delay mechanism. The output of
the system is an electrical impulse and may be used to activate or de-active electrical
devices or systems connected to the system of the present invention.
[0013] As a specific example, if the user of the invention selects the noise threshold level
appropriate to the environment and sets the time delay, i.e. a predetermined time
interval or period, for e.g., ten minutes the system will moniter for noise characteristics
of human activity within the specified environment. If no noise is registered there
will be no inputs over this ten minute time period. Consequently, the system will
shut off all lights, air-conditioning, stereo or other electrically operable devices
that may be connected to the system. On the other hand, if the system of the invention
does register a noise input during the ten minute or other time interval and above
the threshold level, it will automatically reset its timing circuit to zero and thereby
energize all of the electrically operable equipment connected thereto and thereby
restart the process and the predetermined time period.
[0014] The apparatus is passive in that it does not generate any form of standing wave or
other signal form. It is thus passive in the sense that it does not generate any signal
which must be detected or interrupted in order for the apparatus to be operative.
[0015] The "predetermined" time interval is a time interval or time period which may be
manually set in the apparatus itself by a manually operable control, such as a potentiometer,
as hereinafter described. The term "predetermined" time interval will, of course,
also include fixed time intervals which could be the same or vary from apparatus to
apparatus, and which could also be factory-set.
[0016] The predetermined time interval in the apparatus of the present invention will be
an appreciable time interval or time period, at least compared to a standard burglar
alarm system. In the conventional burglar alarm, the alarm is initiated as soon as
an intrusion is detected. In the present invention, there will be an appreciable delay
which is usually one minute or longer, and typically, will be considerably longer,
e.g., in the range of ten to fifteen minutes or longer.
[0017] The apparatus of the invention is essentially a so-called "intelligent" apparatus
or "intelligent switch" as aforesaid. The apparatus is intelligent at least in the
sense that it is capable of making a decision, even though it may be a somewhat elementary
decision making process. In essence, the apparatus effectively searches for human
or other animal activity at all times and thereby effectively monitors a lack of animal
activity, at least within the predetermined time period and thereby makes a decision
to effectively energize or de-energize the electrical operable equipment.
[0018] In this respect, it should be understood that other forms of decision making apparatus
or the so-called "intelligent components" could be used with or to modify the apparatus
of the invention. For example, the apparatus is capable of being operated with programmed
logic utilizing a form of microprocessor as opposed to the random logic circuit as
described herein. In this way, the circuitry could be software programmed to make
the necessary decisions which are not being made by the random logic in the apparatus
of the invention. Decision making software program logic of this type could be designed
to average out background noise in an accurate manner and account for the existence
of such background noise.
The Drawings
[0019]
FIGURE 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall electronic portion of the
apparatus of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a schematic circuit view of one form of analog circuit portion;
FIGURE 3 is a schematic circuit view of a modified form of analog circuit portion;
FIGURE 4 is a schematic circuit view of a digital circuit portion; and
FIGURE 5 is a schematic circuit view of a modified form of digital circuit portion.
Detailed Description
[0020] "A" designates a circuit forming part of the apparatus of the present invention which
automatically permits de-energization and energization of equipment operable by the
circuit. The circuit is illustrated in a block diagram form in Figure 1. The apparatus
A comprises a transducer 10, such as microphone, or the like, designed to detect energy
within the sonic or so-called acoustic wavelength range.
[0021] The analog circuit portion, designated by reference numeral 12, may or may not be
deemed to include the transducer 10. The analog circuit portion 12 includes a gain
amplifier 14 and a high impedence input preamplifier 16, although the latter is not
absolutely necessary. The analog circuit portion 12 preferably includes a low pass
filter 18 and a high pass filter 20. It is important that the analog circuit portion
includes at least a gain amplifier.
[0022] The apparatus of the present invention also includes the digital circuit portion
22 comprising a pulse shaper, such as a Schmitt trigger inverter 24. This pulse shaper
functions as a discretizer and enables the analog circuit portion to be directly coupled
to the digital circuit portion 22. In this respect, the discretizer 24 may be considered
to be part of the analog circuit portion, or the digital circuit portion, or considered
a separate element.
[0023] The digital circuit portion 22 comprises a clock generator which is often referred
to as a timer, such as an oscillator 26. The output of the oscillator 26 is introduced
into a NOR gate 28 which serves to provide an input to and also receives a feedback
from an interval timer 30 over a feedback circuit 31.
[0024] The output of the interval timer 30 is introduced through a switching circuit including
an inverter 34 and an electrical switch, such as a relay 36. A load 38 is illustrated
as being connected to a source of electrical power 40 through the electronic switch
36.
[0025] Each of the aforesaid components could be operated by a suitable power supply, as
for example, a power supply 42 illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. This power
supply could be an AC power source taken directly from the environment from which
the apparatus is used, as for example, a 120 volt AC power source. A battery power
source or the like, could be provided in order to enable portability of the apparatus.
[0026] Each of the aforesaid components forming part of the apparatus A of the present invention
and which are shown somewhat schematically in Figure 1, are more fully illustrated
in more detail in Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings.
[0027] The transducer 10 may be a microphone or other sound pick-up-device which is connected
through a capacitor 44 to the adjustable gain amplifier 14. The capacitor 44 is designed
to isolate the amplifier 14 from the microphone 10, and the latter of which has one
terminal thereof grounded.
[0028] A feedback circuit 48 is connected to the output and one of the inputs of the amplifer
14 and includes a resistor 50 for biasing the amplifier and establishing a full open
loop gain. An externally adjustable gain control potentiometer 52 is connected to
the feedback circuit 48 to thereby enable external adjustment of the gain of the amplifer.
A capacitor 54 of 6,000 microfarads is connected to the last mentioned input of the
amplifier 14 for detecting a low frequency cutoff point of the amplifer as for example,
a one thousand hertz cutoff point.
[0029] Connected to the output of the amplifier 14 is a voltage dividing circuit 56 comprised
of a pair of resistors 58 and 60 and each of which have essentially the same value.
Finally, connected between the resistors 58 and 60 of the voltage dividing circuit
56 is an amplifier output line 62. The voltage dividing circuit 56 is also designed
to prevent overloading of the input. In the output line 62 is a filter 65 which may
be a combination of a low pass filter and a high pass filter as heretofore described.
[0030] The amplifier 14 provides an open loop gain of approximately 320,000 and is designed
to have a low frequency cutoff as aforesaid at approximately 3 dB frequency of approximately
500 Hz. which may be adjusted over a limited range by means of the potentiometer 52.
The amplifier may be operated by a 15 volt power supply.
[0031] Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of analog circuit portion 12" and is comprised
of a transducer such as a crystal microphone 10', similar to the microphone 10. A
capacitor 44' couples the microphone 10' into an input amplifier stage 64 comprised
of a preamplifier 66 having a resistive- feedback circuit 68. A potentiometer 70 is
connected to the feedback circuit 68 and is also grounded through a capacitor 72.
This potentiometer 70 is designed to provide adjustable gain from about 10 to about
100. The feedback circuit 68 contains a resistor 74, which in combination with a similar
resistor 76, forms a voltage dividing network. The resistor 74 and the setting of
the potentiometer 70 effectively determine the gain of the amplifier. The capacitor
72 is designed to provide an AC gain with a low frequency cut off at about 100 Hz.
[0032] The output of the preamplifier 66 is connected through a coupling capacitor 78 to
a low pass filter 80 with linear phase characteristics and with a three decibel (break)
frequency of 5 KHz. In one preferred aspect the cut-off slope would have a -20 decibel
per decade starting at 10 KHz, thus providing attenuation above 8.5 KHz.
[0033] The output of the low pass filter 80 is introduced into a high pass filter 82, preferably
configured as a high pass elliptic filter with a three decibel cut off (break) frequency
of one thousand KHz. The cut off slope is again about -20 dB per decade at a frequency
of about one KHz and in this way, is capable of providing effective low frequency
attenuation. The combination of the low lass filter 80 and the high pass filter 82
effectively forms a band pass filter combination with a spectral bandwidth or response
of about 6.5 KHz.
[0034] The output of the high pass filter is introduced into the gain amplifier 14 which
is linear with a fixed gain of about 10.94.
[0035] The gain amplifier has an output connected to discretizer 24, which may be a schmitt
trigger inverter. The discretizer 24 operates as the interface between the analog
and digital portions of the circuit and is designed to provide an output of rectangularly
shaped pulses between about 0 V and 10 V from the analog output of the analog portion
of the circuit, and also eliminates low level background noise within the spectral
band of the circuit. The discretizer 24 is also provided with an output line 32 which
is capable of being introduced into the digital circuit portion.
[0036] The potentiometer 70 is preferably externally located to enable a user to compensate
for background noise and provide a desired degree of sensitivity. A light emitting
diode 84 located at the discretizer would be turned off and on with respect to the
sensitivity when the potentiometer 70 is adjusted so that, an optimum condition is
achieved. The low pass filter is designed for a cut off at about 300 Hz although it
could have a low cut off point as low as a 100 Hz. The high pass filter is designed
with a cut off frequency of about 7.5 KHz although it could have a high cut off freuqncy
as much as 20 KHz or greater.
[0037] The digital circuit portion 22 in one embodiment, is more fully illustrated in Figure
4. This circuit portion 22 in Figure 4 can also be referred to as a time delay and
output circuit section and receives the output line 32 from the amplifier circuit
portion or otherwise the output line 32' from the discretizer 24.
[0038] The time delay and output circuit 22 also comprises a first counter 90 having an
output connected through an inverting NOR gate 92 to a second counter 94. The counters
90 and 94 are preferably solid state counters. However, one solid state counter could
be substituted for the two counters 90 and 94.
[0039] The first of the counters 90 receives an input through a NOR gate 96 from a solid
state timer 98. The NOR gate 96 can be considered to form part of the timer to constitute
a timer circuit 100. The gate 96 serves as a disable gate in order to disable the
counters.
[0040] The output of the second counter 94 is connected to a decoder NAND gate 102 which
serves as a decoder and allows the timer 94 to function as a divide by six counter.
The output of the decoder gate 102 is connected through another NOR gate 104 to a
third solid state counter functioning as a timer 106, and connected to the timer 106
is a manually operable solid state, programmable timing switch 108 to permit external
control over a predetermined time period which may be manually adjusted.
[0041] An output of the counter 106 is connected to a flip-flop 110 and also to part of
a feedback circuit 112, including a NAND gate 114 which serves as an inverter or inverting
gate. This gate 114 is connected to another NAND gate 116 and an inverting gate 118.
The gate 116 receives an input from the output of the discretizer 24. The output of
the gate 118 is introduced back into the third counter 106 in order to complete the
feedback path. The flip-flop 110 has also one input to the NOR gate 96.
[0042] The output of the flip-flop 110 is connected through an inverting buffer amplifier
120 to a relay e.g., the electrical solid state switching relay 36. The relay is operable
by means of an optically isolated triac 126 and is provided with output terminals
128 for connection to a suitable load 38.
[0043] The load 38 as indicated above, may adopt any electrically operable device or equipment,
e.g. lights, air-conditioning equipment, etc. When the circuit detects sound over
a certain level within a specified environment during or after a predetermined time
period, it generates a signal which is an enable signal to operate the equipment and
when no sound is detected in the environment during the time period, the relay cuts
power to the equipment.
[0044] The discretizer 24 clears the first and second counters 90 and 94, respectively,
and resets the third counter 104 and the flip-flop 110 as well as energizes the solid
state relay 36. This decoder is capable of detecting for example, six counts and then
shifts to a zero level. When the counter 106 reaches a maximum count, its output will
shift to a zero level and thereby turns off the flip-flop 110 which, energizes the
relay 36 effectively creating a disenable signal since the third counter 106 generates
a signal which enables the clock through NOR gate 96. The disenable signal turns off
the relay to discontinue power to the load.
[0045] The flip-flop 110 can turn on the solid state relay 36 and thereby functions as a
latch. It is reset as soon as the noise is detected as being above the threshold level.
Thus, the flip-flop 110 remains reset until the predetermined time period, set through
the manually operable solid state time delay mechanism 58, has expired.
[0046] The first and second counters 90 and 94, the decoder gate 102, and the third counter
106 form an adjustable time delay circuit. The basic timebase is supplied by the timer
98. The count of the third counter 106 is set by the programmable switch 108 which
allows for the programmable time delay. The output of the JK flip-flop 110 is set
by the timing circuit which receives the output from the third counter 106. The setting
of the flip-flop 110 disables the output from the timer 98, thus preventing the timer
circuit from counting any further. The output of the JK flip-flop 110, when set, enables
the output of the solid state relay 36 through the inverting buffer.
[0047] The entire system may be reset from the output of the discretizer 24. Whenever a
signal which is above the Schmitt trigger threshold is received from the amplifier,
all of the counters and the flip-flop 110 are reset to zero, thereby restarting the
time delay. This action will also energize the solid state relay 36. The solid state
relay 36 will only be in the "on" condition as long as noise levels from the amplifier
are above the Schmitt trigger thresholds. During period of inactivity, and depending
upon which time period has been selected, the time circuitry will time-out, thereby
setting the output of the flip-flop 110 and turning off the solid state relay 36.
[0048] Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of digital circuit portion 22' which receives
an input over the output line from the discretizer 24 and which is introduced into
a NOR gate 134, the latter of which also receives an input from a counter 136. The
counter 136 is designed to replace the two counters 90 and 94 in Figure 4. The output
of the inverted NOR gate 134 is directed to a second counter 138 and the latter, of
which, functions in a manner similar to the counter 96. The counter 138 also functions
as a timer and is provided with a timing switch 140 connected thereto.
[0049] The circuit 22' also employs a timer circuit 142 similar to the timer circuit 100.
The timer circuit 142 includes a solid state timing chip 144 provided with a resistive-capactive
network as illustrated. The output of the timing circuit 142 is directed to a NOR
gate 146 which receives an input from a switching circuit 148. The output of the NOR
gate is .introduced, as an input, into the first counter 136. Thus, the construction
of the timing circuit 142 and the NOR gate 146 is similar to that of the counter 90
and the NOR gate 92.
[0050] The timer 142 is configured as an astable multivibrator with a rectangular output
wave form, preferably between 0 and 10 volts and with a time period of about 6 seconds.
The frequency of the timer is determined by a pair of resistors 149 and 150 in a voltage
dividing network along with a capacitor 151. The output of the timer 142 through the
NOR gate 146 is a complement of the actual output of the timer 142 if the other input
into the NOR gate were a low or logic zero level.
[0051] The output of the timer circuit 142 is introduced into the counter 136, preferably
a divide by ten up-counter. Thus, the counter 136 will produce an output after 10
counts (approximately 60 seconds) thereby causing the counter 138 to increment by
one. The counter 138 is preferably a divide-by-sixteen up-counter. Certain inputs
to the counter 138 are programmable inputs from the timing switch 140, which can be
adjusted to provide a time interval of about 1 to 15 minutes in units of one minute
increments. The counter 138 actually begins a count with a number programmed by the
switches 140 and always ends with the count of 15 or whatever is elected and preprogrammed
as the highest number of a count.
[0052] The switching circuit 148 effectively operates as an output switching circuit and
receives an output from the main timer 138 through an inverting NOR gate 130 and is
comprised of a pair of JK flip-flops 152 and 154. These flip-flops 152 and 154 each
provide electrical signals to one or more amplifiers 156 and 158 and which are connected
to relays (not shown). When the flip-flops 152 and 154 are shifted to the set state,
they will provide an electrical output signal which is amplified by the amplifiers
156 and 158 and this signal causes the electrically operable equipment to be de-energized.
[0053] A capacitor 160 is connected across the output of the NOR gate 134 and the input
to the flip-flop 154 and is grounded. The capacitor 160 operates as a pulse stretcher
and functions as a low pass filter. This prevents a narrow pulse from inadvertently
triggering the apparatus and thus makes the apparatus more reliable.
[0054] When the counter 138 begins a count and ends with the highest number of count, a
signal is transmitted to the JK flip-flop 154 in the output circuit 148 through a
NOR gate inverter 130 which causes the JK flip-flop 154 to immediately set. A low
level signal from the analog circuit portion immediately resets the counter 136 as
well as each of the flip-flops 152 and 154. This same signal also presets the counter
138 in accordance with the code introduced by the manually operable switches 140.
[0055] The flip-flop 154 sets the flip-flop 152 and also acts as a 1-count delay during
the timing period, that is the period before the counter 138 is reset and the flip-flop
152 is set. As the flip-flop 154 is set, its positive going output pulse goes high
and the lower or negative going output pulse goes low. The positive going pulse causes
the output of the NOR gate 134 to go low which preloads the counter 138 and also clears
the flip-flop 154. The flip-flop 152, which may have already previously cleared, remains
unaffected by this operation. Upon clearing the flip-flop 154, the lower or inverted
pulse goes high which thereby sets the flip-flop 152. When the flip-flop 152 is set,
its Q or positive output, that is the upper output, goes high which disenables the
clock input from the counter 142 to the counter 136. Accordingly, any further counting
is inhibited.
[0056] In accordance with the above outlined construction, a steady state condition then
results with the count of both of the counters 136 and 138 being inhibited. The flip-flop
154 is set and the output of the flip-flop 152 is connected to the relay. This condition
remains until a high level signal is received from the amplifier which will clear
the counter 136, thereby preloading the counter 138. This will also clear both of
the flip-flops and enable the clocking pulses from the timer 142 to further energize
each of the relays.
1. Apparatus for controlling the energization of a load in accordance with the presence
or absence of human activity in an environment comprising a detector (10) responsive
to such activity, a counter (30) supplied by a clock generator (26) and arranged to
count a pre-determined time interval, the detector being connected to the counter
to re-start the said interval whenever activity is detected, and an output circuit
(36) responsive to the condition of the counter to control the supply of energy to
a load (38) characterized in that the output circuit (36) is arranged to de-energize
the load (38) when the counter has counted the said time interval without the detector
(10) sensing any activity and the detector is a passive sensor.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein time delay control means is operatively
connected to said counter to adjust the predetermined time interval.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the time delay control means is manually
adjustable.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 comprising signal generating means
operatively associated with said sensing device for generating a signal upon the detection
of sound in the specified environment.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including sensitivity control means operatively
connected to said signal generating means to adjust and control the sensitivity of
the apparatus to account for background noise.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising logic circuit means operatively connected
to said counter and output circuit to determine if there was no sound for at least
the predetermined time interval, and causing said output circuit to provide a responsive
action.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claims 4, 5 or 6 comprising low pass filter means for filtering
out low frequency components of the signal and using a portion of the signal more
representative of human activity.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said passive sensing
means senses for sound of the type associated with physical activity normally associated
with the presence of a human being in a specified environment and thereby also recognizing
a lack of such activity during a predetermined time interval without generating or
relying upon a standing wave for such sensing, and which also does not rely upon generation
of any signal by said apparatus to be introduced into said specified environment and
which signal must be detected or interrupted in the specified environment for operation.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the output circuit comprises a relay means
coupled to the electrically operable device and controls the electrical power delivered
to the electrically operable device in response to the occurrence of the presence
of a human being.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said counter comprises:
(a) a first counter operatively connected to said clocking circuit means to initiate
a counting operation upon detection of sound in said predetermined time interval in
said specified environment, and
(b) a second counter operatively connected to said first counter to reset a counting
operation in response to a lack of sound in said predetermined time interval.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first counter provides a rectangular
wave determining a count period, for example one second, and the second counter is
configured to count to a certain modulo number, for example six.
1. Appareil pour commander l'alimentation d'une charge en fonction de la présence
ou de l'absenced'activité humaine dans un environnement, comprenant un détecteur (10)
sensible à une telle activité, un compteur (30) alimenté par un générateur d'horloge
(26) et agencé pour compter un intervalle de temps prédéterminé, le détecteur étant
connecté au compteur pour faire redémarrer ledit intervalle chaque fois qu'une activité
est détectée et un circuit de sortie (36) qui répond à l'état du compteur pour commander
l'alimentation en énergie d'une charge (38), caractérisé en ce que le circuit de sortie
(36) est agencé pour couper l'alimentation de la charge (38) lorsque le compteur a
compté ledit intervalle de temps sans que le détecteur (10) ne détecte une activité
et en ce que le détecteur est un capteur passif.
2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel des moyens de commande temporisés
sont connectés fonctionnellement audit compteur pour régler l'intervalle de temps
prédéterminé.
3. Appareil selon la revendication 2, dans lequel les moyens de commande temporisés
sont réglables manuellement.
4. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, comprenant des moyens
générateurs de signaux associés fonctionnellement audit dispositif capteur pour engendrer
un signal en réponse à la détection d'un son dans l'environnement spécifique.
5. Appareil selon la revendication 4, comprenant des moyens de réglage de la sensibilité
connectés fonctionnellement auxdits moyens générateurs de signaux pour régler et commander
la sensibilité de l'appareil, pour tenir compte du bruit de fond.
6. Appareil selon la revendication 4, comprenant des moyens de circuit logique connectés
fonctionnellement audit compteur et audit circuit de sortie pour déterminer s'il n'y
a pas eu de son pendant au moins l'intervalle de temps prédéterminé, ces moyens amenant
ledit circuit de sortie à fournir une action en réponse.
7. Appareil selon l'une des revendications 4, 5 ou 6, comprenant des moyens formant
filtre passebas pour éliminer les composants basse fréquence du signal et utilisant
une partie du signal qui est plus représentative d'une activité humaine.
8. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel lesdits
moyens capteurs passifs captent un son du type associé à une activité physique normalement
liée à la présence d'un être humain dans un environnement spécifique et reconnaissant
également une absence de telle activité pendant un intervalle de temps prédéterminé
sans engendrer d'onde stationnaire ni fonder cette détection sur une onde stationnaire,
et qui n'est pas non plus fondé sur la production par ledit appareil d'un signal qui
doit être introduit dans ledit environnement spécifique, lequel signal doit être détecté
ou interrompu dans l'environnement spécifique pour provoquer le fonctionnement.
9. Appareil selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le circuit de sortie comprend des
moyens formant relais couplés au dispositif électrique et commande l'énergie électrique
fournie au dispositif électrique en réponse à l'occurrence de la présence d'un être
humain.
10. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit
compteur comprend:
a) un premier compteur connecté fonctionnellement auxdits moyens de circuit d'horloge
pour déclencher une opération de comptage en réponse à la détection d'un son dans
ledit intervalle de temps prédéterminé dans ledit environnement spécifique, et
b) un deuxième compteur connecté fonctionnellement audit premier compteur pour remettre
une opération de comptage à zéro en réponse à l'absence d'un son dans ledit intervalle
de temps prédéterminé.
11. Appareil selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le premier compteur forme une
onde rectangulaire déterminant une periode de compte, par exemple une seconde et le
deuxième compteur est configuré pour compter jusqu'à un certain nombre mudulo, par
exemple six.
1. Gerät zur Steuerung der Energiezufuhr zu einer Last in Übereinstimmung mit dem
Vorhandensein oder dem Nichtvorhandensein von menschlicher Aktivität in einer Umgebung,
wobei das Gerät einen auf eine derartige Aktivität ansprechenden Detektor (10), einen
Zähler (30), der von einem Taktgenerator (26) gespeist wird und dazu ausgelegt ist,
ein vorbestimmtes Zeitintervall zu zählen, wobei der Detektor mit dem Zähler verbunden
ist, um dieses Intervall erneut beginnen zu lassen, wenn immer Aktivität festgestellt
wird, und eine Ausgabeschaltung (36) aufweist, die auf den Zustand des Zählers anspricht,
um die Energiesufuhr zu einer Last (38) zu steuern, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die
Ausgabeschaltung (36) dazu ausgelegt ist, die Energieversorgung der Last (38) abzubrechen,
wenn der Zähler dieses Zeitintervall, ohne daß der Detektor (10) irgendeine Aktivität
festgestellt hat, gezählt hat, und daß der Detektor ein passiver Meßfühler ist.
2. Gerät nach Anspruch 1, in welchem eine Laufzeitsteuervorrichtung wirksam mit dem
Zähler verbunden ist, um dieses vorbestimmte Zeitintervall einzustellen.
3. Gerät nach Anspruch 2, in welchem die Laufzeitsteuervorrichtung manuell einstellbar
ist.
4. Gerät nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, das eine Signalerzeugungsvorrichtung aufweist,
die dieser Meßfühlereinrichtung funktionsmäßig zugeordnet ist, um ein Signal bei Feststellung
von Schall in der spezifizierten Umgebung zu erzeugen.
5. Gerät nach Anspruch 4, das eine Empfindlichkeitssteuervorrichtung aufweist, die
wirksam mit dieser Signalerzeugungsvorrichtung verbunden ist, um die Empfindlichkeit
des Geräts bei Inbetrachtziehung von Untergundgeräuschen einzustellen und zu steuern.
6. Gerät nach Anspruch 4, das logische Schaltungsvorrichtungen aufweist, die mit diesem
Zähler und dieser Ausgabeschaltung wirksam verbunden sind, um festzustellen, ob für
zumindest dieses vorbestimmte Zeitintervall kein Schall auftrat, und um diese Ausgabeschaltung
zu veranlassen, für eine entsprechende Wirkung zu sorgen.
7. Gerät nach Anspruch 4, 5 oder 6, das eine Tiefpaßfiltervorrichtung aufweist, um
tiefe Frequenzkomponenten des Signals herauszufiltern und einen Bereich des Signals
auszunutzen, der repräsentativer für die menschliche Aktivität ist.
8. Gerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in welchem die passive Meßfühlereinrichtung
Schall der Art aufnimmt, die physischer Aktivität zugeordnet ist, die normalerweise
von der Anwesenheit eines sich in einer spezifizierten Umgebung aufhaltenden Menschen
herrührt, und dabei auch ein Fehlen derartiger Aktivität während eines vorbestimmten
Zeitintervalls erkennt, ohne für ein derartiges Aufnehmen eine stehende Welle zu erzeugen
oder auf einer stehenden Welle zu beruhen, und wobei die passive Meßfühlereinrichtung
ebenfalls nicht auf der Erzeugung irgendeines Signals durch dieses Gerät beruht, welches
Signal in diese spezifizierte Umgebung einzubringen ist und für ein Funktionieren
in dieser specifizierten Umgebung festgestellt oder unterbrochen werden muß.
9. Gerät nach Anspruch 8, in welchem die Ausgabeschaltung eine Relaisvorrichtung aufweist,
die mit einer elektrisch betreibbaren Vorrichtung gekoppelt ist und die an diese elektrisch
betreibbare Vorrichtung abgegebene elektrische Leistung in Abhängigkeit vom Auftreten
der Anwesenheit eines menschlichen Wesens steuert.
10. Gerät nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in welchem der Zähler aufweist:
(a) einen ersten Zähler, der funktionsfähig mit dieser taktgebenden Schaltungsvorrichtung
verbunden ist, um eine Zählfunktion bei Feststellung von Schall in diesem vorbestimmten
Zeitintervall innerhalb dieser spezifizierten Umgebung zu initiieren, und
(b) einen zweiten Zähler, der funktionsfähig mit ' diesem ersten Zähler verbunden
ist, um eine Zählfunktion ansprechend auf ein Fehlen des Schalls in diesem vorbestimmten
Zeitintervall zurückzusetzen.
11. Gerät nach Anspruch 10, in welchem der erste Zähler eine eine Zählperiode, beispielsweise
eine Sekunde, festsetzende Rechteckschwingung erzeugt, und der zweite Zähler dazu
ausgelegt ist, bis zu einer bestimmten Modulo Zahl, beispielsweise 6, zu zählen.