Multi-Sensor Presence Detection to Cut False Positives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detection sensor systems are high-cost, impractical, and prone to false positives due to unreliable factors like reference velocity, lacking a single system to accurately and efficiently detect objects, people, and animals.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-based presence sensor system integrating multiple specially configured sensors, including environmental, thermal cameras, radar, and passive infrared sensors, with a microcontroller to enhance detection accuracy and mitigate weaknesses, utilizing a programmed presence algorithm to generate reliable presence indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple remote sensors are utilized to detect presence, then detection coverage is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple different types of sensors (mmWave radar, thermal camera, environmental sensors, PIR sensor) into a single integrated presence detection system. This merging approach maintains high detection reliability through multi-sensor data fusion while reducing system complexity compared to using multiple separate sensor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor system performs multiple functions simultaneously: presence detection, environmental monitoring (temperature, humidity, CO2), thermal imaging, and motion detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems, lowering overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If sensitive sensors are used to detect presence, then detection sensitivity is improved, but false positive rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensor fusion with cross-validation feedback mechanisms. Each sensor type provides feedback to the others, allowing the system to distinguish true presence signals from false positives. For example, the mmWave radar can detect breathing patterns while PIR and thermal sensors provide corroborating evidence, reducing false positives from sensitive individual sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite sensing approach combining multiple sensor technologies with different detection principles (electromagnetic wave, thermal radiation, infrared). This composite sensor system leverages the strengths of each sensor type while compensating for their individual weaknesses, maintaining high sensitivity while reducing false positives through multi-modal verification.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are integrated into a single system, then detection accuracy is improved, but device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested sensor configuration where sensors are arranged in a compact, space-efficient manner. The mmWave radar, thermal camera, environmental sensors, and PIR sensor are nested or closely integrated within a single housing, minimizing the overall device footprint while maintaining all detection functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides cost-effective, efficient detection and tracking of objects, people, and animals, with reduced false positives, enabling applications in security, fall detection, elderly monitoring, and home automation, and monitoring environmental variables.
Implementation Method 1
at least one radar sensor operably and communicatively coupled with the microcontroller and configured to detect, track, and count a person, animal, or predetermined physical object in an ambient environment with an emitted radio frequency
Implementation Method 2
at least one passive infrared sensor operably and communicatively coupled with the microcontroller and configured to detect changes in ambient infrared radiation
Implementation Method 3
at least one thermal camera operably and communicatively coupled with the microcontroller and configured to detect, track, and count a person, animal, or predetermined physical object
Data Source
AI summary
A hardware-based presence sensor system and method of operation that includes providing a hardware computer chip with a microcontroller, an environmental sensor configured to measure intensity of ambient light, ambient temperature, ambient humidity, atmospheric pressure, and ambient carbon dioxide, a thermal camera configured to detect, track, and count a person, animal, or predetermined physical object, with a radar sensor configured to detect, track, and count a person, animal, or predetermined physical object in an ambient environment with an emitted radio frequency, and with a passive infrared sensor configured to detect changes in ambient infrared radiation. The microcontroller is operably configured to independently receive presence signals from each of the environmental sensor, thermal camera, the radar sensor, and the passive infrared sensor and execute a programmed presence algorithm utilizing the presence signals to generate a presence detection electronic-based indicator.