Patent ID: 7605841

Claim:
An object detection apparatus, comprising: a first sensor configured to detect an object; a second sensor configured to determine whether the object is coming close to or going away from the second sensor; a third sensor including a video camera, a microphone, or a combination thereof; power supply means for supplying power to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor; and power supply control means for supplying power to the first sensor without supplying power to the second sensor, under a normal condition, in which the first sensor detects that the object is not present and for supplying power to the second sensor when the first sensor detects that the object is present, wherein the power supply control means controls a power supply to the third sensor to be started when the second sensor has detected that the object is coming close to the second sensor, and controls the power supply to the third sensor to be prevented when the second sensor determines that the object is going away from the second sensor.