Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system and method for the wireless light sensor input to a security system, wherein the light sensed by the light sensor is used to determine the activation and deactivation state of the security system. The system and method determine a light level threshold value and obtaining a light level value. Further, the obtained light level value is compared to a light level threshold value in order to determine if the present light level value is greater than or less than the light level threshold value, and finally, a signal is transmitted to a remote device in response to the comparison of the light level value.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of control devices that are utilized to activate, deactivate or control home, industrial or commercial security systems and the ancillary systems associated with therewith.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Currently, security systems have the capability to control appliances and lamps remotely located throughout a property. “Experiment #10” remote command protocols (X-10 for short) are well known protocols for the utilization of power distribution lines for the transmission of command data between electric devices. X-10 was specifically developed as a protocol to provide an electronic, wireless method for the remote control of electronic equipment. The method operates by sending a data message over normal AC main power lines at a specific carrier frequency, whereby a device can be “commanded” to turn “on” or “off.” However, devices that utilize X-10 technology cannot perform any other functions and thereby must be used in conjunction with other technological devices in order to provide additionally functionality to a system.  
         [0003]     There is a need for a security system that differentiates between day and night in order to effectively activate applications that may be utilized in conjunction with the system for recognizing day and night modes.  
         [0004]     The proposed invention will be used to send a signal to the control panel that indicates the presence of light, specifically sunlight. The invention is adjustable, so that the amount of light necessary to trigger the invention is adjustable. The control panel can be programmed to switch on either one or multiple controllers when the absence or presence of sunlight is indicated via the invention, wherein the controllers can utilize X-10 remote command protocols. In a home security environment the present invention, based upon the signals that are transmitted and received by way of the invention, can control a security system. Further, in an industrial or commercial environment, the status of day or night can be utilized by the present invention to activate or deactivate surveillance cameras, area illumination and control illuminated signs among other devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention relates to a system and method for the wireless light sensor input to a security system, wherein the light sensed by the light sensor is used to determine the activation and deactivation state of the security system.  
         [0006]     An embodiment of the present invention comprises a system for the wireless light sensor input to a security system. The system comprises a light sensor, the light sensor having a light detection means for detecting the change of states of light from light-to-dark and from dark-to-light. The light sensor also has a processor that is in electrical communication with the light detection means in addition to a wireless transmitter that is in electrical communication with the processor.  
         [0007]     The system further comprises an alarm control panel that is in communication with the light sensor. The alarm control panel has a processor, a receiver in electrical communication with the processor, and a power line interface that is in electrical communication with the processor. The power line interface is coupled to a power distribution system.  
         [0008]     At least one remote device controller is coupled to the power distribution system. The remote device controller is in electrical communication with the alarm control panel via the power distribution system. At least one remote device is coupled to the power distribution system, wherein the remote device is in electrical communication with the at least one remote device controller via the power distribution system.  
         [0009]     A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a method for the wireless light sensor input to a security system. The method comprises the steps of determining a light level threshold value and obtaining a light level value. Further, the method compares the obtained light level value to the light level threshold value in order to determine if the present light level value is greater than or less than the light level threshold value and transmitting a signal to a remote device in response to the comparison of the light level value. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  is an embodiment of a light sensor and control panel of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a method that relates to embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     One or more exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below in detail. The disclosed embodiments are intended to be illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. In reference to the drawings, like numbers will indicate like parts continuously throughout the views.  
         [0015]     The present invention is initially described in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 1 A.  FIGS. 1 and 1 A show a system for the wireless light sensor input to a security system. The system has a light sensor  102 , wherein the light sensor  102  comprises a light detection means  114  for detecting the ambient light level. The light detection means  114  may comprise, but is not limited to a phototransistor. A processor  116  is in electrical communication with the light detection means  114 , and a wireless transmitter  118  is in electrical communication with the processor.  
         [0016]     The system also has an alarm control panel  104  that is in communication with the light sensor  102 , wherein the alarm control panel  104  comprises a processor  122  and a receiver  120  that is in electrical communication with the processor  122 . Additionally, the control panel has a power line interface  126  that is in electrical communication with the processor  122 . The power line interface  126  is coupled to the AC main power lines  106  of a power distribution system.  
         [0017]     At least one remote device controller  108  is coupled to the power lines  106  of the power distribution system. The remote device controller  108  is also in electrical communication with the alarm control panel  104  via the power lines  106  of the power distribution system. At least one remote device  110  is coupled to the power distribution system  106 , the remote device  110  being in electrical communication with the at least one remote device controller  108  via the AC main power lines  106  of the power distribution system.  
         [0018]     The light sensor  102  and control panel are further detailed in  FIG. 1A . A light detection means  114  is connected via a terminal block  132  to a current source. The processor  116  outputs a DC reference voltage to a resistor  128 ; thereby creating a current source whose output voltage is dependent upon the resistance of the load circuit. The light current that passes through the light detection means  114  determines the light detection means  114  equivalent resistance. The light detection means  114  resistance is inversely proportional to the amount of light falling upon the light detection means  114 .  
         [0019]     Therefore, when it is dark, almost no light current is generated by the light detection means  114 , and summarily the output voltage is high. This output voltage is fed into an analog to digital converter (ADC) within the processor  116 . In addition, a potentiometer  130  can be adjusted to render a voltage proportional to the potentiometer&#39;s  130  threshold setting, the voltage is fed into a second ADC channel of the processor  116 . The processor  116  is usually in a sleep state, where it consumes minimal battery current. The processor  116  will occasionally activate in order to check the two ADC converter inputs.  
         [0020]     Since the visual emission of light from the sun does not change very fast, sampling of the light can be done once per minute. Prior to checking the inputs, the processor  116  turns on the reference voltage output line that applies power to the light detection means  114  and the threshold potentiometer  130 .  
         [0021]     Periodic measurements are made of the light detection means  114  and potentiometer  130  voltages in order to determine if a change in the light level that is indicative of a light-to-dark state or a dark-to-light level has occurred. If it is determined that a change of state indicative of a light-to-dark or a dark-to-light transition has occurred, the processor  116  raises a gate voltage to turn on the transmitter  118 . The processor  116  then transmits a data signal via the transmitter to the control panel  104 , wherein the signal is indicative of the change of the light level; the signal being either a Fault or Restore signal.  
         [0022]     The processor  116  of the light sensor  102  comprises a “Fault mode” switch (not shown). The Fault mode switch is a two-state switch that defines how the transmitter  118  will transmit a Fault signal that is generated within the system. The position of the Fault mode switch determines whether the transition to light or darkness will result in the generation of a fault signal. The Fault mode will turn on an external accessory and the Restore signal will deactivate an external accessory. Normally, the presence of light will result in the generation of a Fault signal, with the exception of when the Fault mode switch is set to invert the process, in that instance then darkness will generate a Fault signal.  
         [0023]     The light level threshold value when the processor  116  switches between states, light-to-dark or dark-to-light, are adjustable by setting the position of the potentiometer  130 . For example an offset light level threshold value is set at the potentiometer  130 . When the light level value is determined to be lower than the light level threshold value then, a Fault signal is transmitted to the control panel  104 . If it is determined that the light level threshold value power is greater than the light level threshold value, then a Restore signal is transmitted to the control panel  104 . Thus, for light level values lower than the light level threshold value plus hysteresis, the light level is always indicative of a dark-to-light condition. Accordingly, for light level values higher than the light level threshold value, the light level value is always indicative of a light-to-dark state. A hysteresis model is applied as an offset between the values of the voltage threshold of light-to-dark or dark-to-light levels in order to prevent the invention from switching back and forth between light levels due to minor light level fluctuations.  
         [0024]     Upon receiving a Fault signal, the alarm control panel  104  transmits a command signal via the power lines  106  of the power distribution system to the remote device controller  108  to activate the remote device  110 . As previously mentioned, the controller  108  can be equipped with hardware that will enable it to transmit commands to the remote device controller  108 , such as hardware that utilizes X-10 data command protocols. When the transmitted command is received at the remote device controller  108 , the remote device controller transmits an activation or deactivation signal to the remote device  110 , thereby, either activating or deactivating the remote device  110 .  
         [0025]     Similarly, upon receiving a Restore signal, the alarm control panel  104  transmits a command signal via the power lines  106  of the power distribution system to the remote device  110  to deactivate the remote device  110 . When the transmitted command is received at the remote device controller  108 , the remote device controller transmits a deactivation signal to the remote device  110 , thereby, deactivating the remote device  110 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a flow diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention that relates to a method of inputting wireless light sensor input to a security system. The method is initiated at step  202 , where it is determined if there has been a sufficient time delay between the periodic measurement of the present light level. If it is determined that there has been a sufficient interval between light level measurements, then at step  204  the light level threshold control value is measured. Next, at step  206  the light sensor  102  sensor output light level value is measured. At step  208 , depending upon the current system current state of Fault or Restore, a choice is made to enter step  210  or step  214 .  
         [0027]     At step  210  it is determined if the current light level is greater than the threshold light level value. If it is determined that the light level value is not greater than the threshold value than the method then the method is re-initiated at step  202 . If it is determined that the light level value is greater than the threshold light level value, then at step  212 , a Restore signal is transmitted from the light sensor  102  to the control panel  104 .  
         [0028]     At step  214  it is determined if the current light level is less than the threshold light level value plus the value derived from the hysteresis model of the light level. If it is determined that the light level value is greater than the threshold value than the method then the method is re-initiated at step  202 . If it is determined that the light level value is less than the threshold light level value plus the hysteresis value, then at step  216 , a Fault signal is transmitted from the light sensor  102  to the control panel  104 .  
         [0029]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.