Occupancy sensor

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices, and systems for determining occupancy of a user. One method to determine occupancy of a user includes sensing a change in resistance of a sensor element of an occupancy sensor, correlating the change in resistance to a force transmitted to the occupancy sensor, and determining an occupancy status of a user based on the force transmitted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining occupancy of a user, comprising:
 sensing a change in resistance of a sensor element of an occupancy sensor;   correlating the change in resistance to a force transmitted to the occupancy sensor; and   determining an occupancy status of a user based on the force transmitted.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes transmitting a force to the occupancy sensor via an activation bar coupled to the occupancy sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes correlating the change in resistance to a force transmitted to the occupancy sensor by converting the change in resistance to a voltage that correlates to the force transmitted. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further includes calibrating an unloaded threshold and a loaded threshold of the sensor element by sensing the resistance of the sensor element and determining a force transmitted to the sensor element without a user transmitting force to the sensor element. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method include determining an unoccupied status of the user when the sensing element resistance is at or above the unloaded threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method include determining an occupied status of the user when the sensing element resistance is below the loaded threshold and has not exceeded the unloaded threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method include determining an occupied status of the user when the sensing element resistance is below the unloaded threshold for a period of time. 
     
     
         8 . An occupancy sensor, comprising:
 a sensing element; wherein a resistance of the sensing element is dependent on a force exerted on the sensing element   an activator bar, wherein the activator bar transmits the force to the sensing element; and   a module, wherein the module senses the resistance of the sensing element and converts the resistance to a corresponding voltage.   
     
     
         9 . The occupancy sensor of  claim 8 , wherein a cable connector couples the sensing element to the module. 
     
     
         10 . The occupancy sensor of  claim 8 , wherein the module includes circuitry to sense the resistance of the sensing element and convert the resistance of the sensing element to the corresponding voltage. 
     
     
         11 . The occupancy sensor of  claim 8 , wherein an edge support surrounds the activator bar. 
     
     
         12 . The occupancy sensor of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor element is coupled to a base and the activator bar is placed over the sensor element and coupled to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The occupancy sensor of  claim 8 , wherein the bed occupancy sensor includes a number of fasteners to couple the bed occupancy sensor to a bed structure. 
     
     
         14 . A system for determining occupancy of a user, comprising:
 a support structure, wherein a static object is placed on the support structure; and   an occupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor includes:
 a sensing element; wherein a resistance of the sensing element is dependent on a force exerted on the sensing element; and 
 a module, wherein the module senses the resistance of the sensing element and converts the sensed resistance to a voltage correlating to the force exerted on the sensing element. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the occupancy sensor is placed between the support structure and the static object. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the module determines an occupancy status of a user based on the sensed resistance. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the module determines an occupancy status of a user based on the force exerted on the sensing element being above or below a load or unload threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the module wirelessly transmits a signal indicating an occupancy status to a computing device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the occupancy sensor and the computing device are wirelessly coupled together as part of an activity monitoring system. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the occupancy sensor is battery powered.