RE: Re: Occupancy Sensors and No Light Switches

["Dan Hoehnen" <dhoehnen@xxxxxxx>]

I am not positive, but it is my understanding that Bill's house uses either
a RF or IR device that is worn by each person.  Each device has a unique
ID,
allowing the house to know WHO is WHERE in the house.

I have no idea if this is based on a commercially available system or if it
is custom designed for Bill.

Another interesting option is a proximity sensor.  I'm pretty sure I have a
link to one on my HA Index site, www.homeautomationindex.com.  I think it
is
made by Russell Bic (maybe www.bic.com).  Anyway, it detects a person near
the sensor, whether or not the person is moving.  This may be a solution. 
I
have not tried it, but I think I remember people using it with good success
on the comp.home.automation newsgroup.

Dan

> I understand that the 'Gates residence' controls room functions
(Music,
> pictures etc) by knowing not only that the room is occupied, but who
is
> in there?
>
> Anybody know how this works and (more to the point) if us mortals can
> afford it?
>
> Nick
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: paul.gordon [mailto:paul_gordon@xxxxxxx]
> > Sent: 23 June 2000 12:34
> > To: ukha.d
> > Cc: paul.gordon
> > Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Occupancy Sensors and No Light Switches
> >
> >
> > I don't think this can really be done properly with only one
> > form of input
> > (IE PIR's) - at least not economically!
> >
> > I think you need a minimum of two types of sensor - PIR for
movement
> > detection within the room, AND perimeter sensing to detect
> > actual entry/exit
> > into the room.
> >
> > Perimeter detection could be by pressure pads by the doors -
> > you'd need a
> > minimum of two of them - one outside the door, one inside, to
> > be sure of
> > correctly deducing the direction of travel. This still would
> > need care to
> > ensure you could guarantee detecting someone using the door -
> > IE the pads
> > would need to be big enough to ensure that they would not be
> > stepped over by
> > accident... Also, some logic would be required to ensure that
> > it didn't get
> > confused when only ONE pad is activated (someone walking
> > around one one side
> > of the door, without actually passing through it...)
> >
> > Alternatively, a break-beam type detector in the door frame,
> > positioned on
> > the "outside" of the door - IE the opposite side to
which it
> > opens - so that
> > the door itself never breaks the beam regardless of whether
> > its open or
> > closed...  This could be high enough of the ground to avoid
> > pets, but still
> > always "see" people passing through.
> >
> > A combination of both of these types of detector would
> > probably be most
> > reliable - allied with some reasonably simple "state"
> > tracking - IE start
> > off knowing the room is empty, then using the detectors
> > combined inputs,
> > it's possible to keep a counter of exactly how many occupants
> > are in each
> > room at any time.
> >
> > Entry or exit is determined by the order in which the zones
> > are tripped, and
> > the delay between each zone. - Of course, it's ALWAYS going
> > to be possible
> > to fool any of these systems, but only if you're in the habit of
> > long-jumping through the doors in your house!!
> >
> > A front door is a far more tricky proposition - what about
> > when someone
> > comes to the door, and you have a conversation with them -
> > both the inside
> > and outside pressure pads would be tripped concurrently (although
not
> > simultaneously), and a break-beam would not be tripped at
> > all! - anyone care
> > to think about how you'd program for this scenario??
> >
> > No doubt about it though - this is going to need a lot of zones!!
- a
> > minimum of two per door, for every door in a room!...
> >
> > Why can't it be as easy as it is on Star Trek?? - Any of
> > those i-button
> > gizmo's have anything to offer for occupancy detection?? - How
about
> > proximity detection within a room, by wearing a special badge?
> >
> > Regards.
> >
> > Paul G.
> >
> >
> > >This may be another daft suggestion by me but here goes
> > anyway.... why not
> > >mount the PIRs on the ceiling facing down just in front of
> > the door, as you
> > >oper the door the sensor would trigger before you got into
> > the room (unless
> > >you were running!). You'd probably need another sensor
> > 'further in the
> > >room'
> > >for once-you-were-in-there detection. This assumes that you
> > close doors
> > >behind you though...
> > >
> > >Andy
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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