Apparatus and method for a computerized fiber optic security system

• US 20060097140A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woven Electronics LLC (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Woven Electronics LLC (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Owens, Mary H., Browning,, Thomas E. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,800,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/227.14
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/186 using light guides, e.g. optical fibres

Abstract

A computerized apparatus and method for detecting unauthorized activity in a protected area in real-time using a fiber optic cable having an optical sensor line, a fiber scanning unit, and a computer. Detecting unauthorized activity is done by scanning the sensor line using the scanning unit to obtain repetitive scan signals representing the state of the sensor line, receiving scan signals at the computer, processing the scan signals to determine an initial baseline representing the normal state of the sensor line, storing the baseline, continuously monitoring the sensor line using the scan signals received in real-time by the computer, comparing the scan signal to the baseline, determining if a fault has occurred based on an predetermined attenuation change in one or more of the scan signals as compared to the baseline, generating a fault signal, and providing a warning of a fault in response to the fault signal.

Claims

1. A fiber optic security system for detecting unauthorized activity in a protected area comprising:

a fiber optic cable having a optical sensor line;

a fiber optic scanning unit for scanning said optical sensor line and receiving scan signals estimating attenuations in said optical sensor line;

a system computer for receiving and processing said scan signals;

a computer readable medium in communication with said computer;

a computer program including computer readable instructions in communication with said computer readable medium which includes,

receiving instructions for receiving scan signals from said scanning unit,

baseline initialization instructions for establishing a baseline signal based on initial information from said scan signals,

monitoring instructions for monitoring said optical sensor line by automatically receiving said scan signals in real-time representing the condition of said optical sensor line in real-time,

comparison instructions for determining if unauthorized activity has taken place based on a real-time comparison of said baseline signal and said scan signals,

fault instructions for generating a real-time fault signal in response to a predetermined change in one or more of said scan signals indicating the unauthorized activity has taken place; and

said computer outputting a warning in response to said fault signal to notify an attendant that the unauthorized activity has taken place.

2. The security system of claim 1 further comprising:

an audible output device responsive to said system computer for audibly indicating the transmission of said fault signal.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a display in communication with said system computer; and

said set of computer readable instructions include display instructions for visually indicating the occurrence of a fault on said display.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said set of computer readable instructions include mapping instructions for mapping said fault signal as a visual representation of a specific location of the fault.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said comparison instructions include instructions for determining if said scan signal contains attenuations, comparing said attenuations to said baseline signal, and transmitting a fault signal if said attenuations do not match said baseline signal.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a set of level data in communication with said system computer representing types of faults associated with levels of attenuations; and

said set of computer readable instructions include fault level instructions for comparing at least one attenuation from said scan signal with said level data to determine the type of fault associated with said attenuation and transmitting the type of fault for display.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a set of distance data in communication with said system computer representing prescribed locations associated with corresponding distances in said distance data; and

said set of computer readable instructions include distance instructions for determining the distance of the fault based on the position of said attenuation on said scan, comparing the distance of the fault to said distance data, determining the prescribed location of the fault for display, and transmitting the prescribed location of the fault for display.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one sensor disposed along said fiber optic cable for detecting an intrusion along said fiber optic cable at prescribed locations and causing a change in the scan signal representing the intrusion.

9. A computerized fiber optic security system including a system computer for receiving and analyzing a scan signal from a fiber optic scanning unit to detect unauthorized activity in a secured area wherein said system comprises:

a computer readable medium;

a computer program residing on said computer readable medium including a set of computer readable instructions which includes,

receiving instructions for receiving scan signals from said scanning unit,

baseline initialization instructions for establishing a baseline signal based on initial information from said scan signals,

monitoring instructions monitoring said optical sensor line by receiving said scan signals in real-time representing the condition of said optical sensor line in real-time,

comparison instructions for determining if unauthorized activity has taken place based on a real-time comparison of said baseline signal and said scan signals, and

fault instructions for generating a real-time fault signal in response to a predetermined change in one or more of said scan signals indicating the unauthorized activity has taken place.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said set of computer readable instructions include audible output instructions for activating an associated audible output device in response to receiving said fault signal.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said set of computer readable instructions include display instructions for visually indicating the occurrence of a fault on an associated display.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said set of computer readable instructions include mapping instructions for mapping said fault signal on a visual representation of the fiber optic cable on the display whereby a specific location of the fault is indicated.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said comparison instructions include instructions for determining if said scan signal contains attenuations, comparing said attenuations to said baseline signal, and transmitting a fault signal if said attenuations do not match said baseline signal.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a set of level data in communication with said computer readable medium representing types of faults associated with levels of attenuations; and

said set of computer readable instructions include fault level instructions for comparing at least one attenuation from said scan signal with said level data to determine the type of fault associated with said attenuation and transmitting the type of fault for display.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a set of location data in communication with said computer readable medium representing prescribed locations associated with corresponding distances;

said set of instructions including location instructions for determining the distance of the fault based on the position of said attenuation on said scan and determining the prescribed location of the fault based on a comparison of the distance of the fault and said set of location data.

16. A computerized method for detecting unauthorized activity in a protected area in real-time using a fiber optic cable to provide an optical sensor line, a optical fiber scanning unit, and a remote computer comprising:

scanning said optical sensor line using said fiber scanning unit to obtain repetitive scan signals representing the real-time state of said sensor line;

receiving said scan signals at said remote computer;

processing the scan signals to determine an initial baseline signal representing the state of said sensor line in a normal, undisturbed state;

storing said initial baseline signal in a computer readable memory accessible by said remote computer;

continuously monitoring said optical sensor line using said scan signals received in real-time by said remote computer;

comparing said scan signal to said baseline signal;

determining if a fault condition indicating unauthorized activity has occurred at a location along said sensor line based on an predetermined attenuation change in one or more of said scan signals as compared to said baseline signal;

generating a fault signal indicating that a fault has occurred based on said attenuation change; and

providing a warning of a fault in response to said fault signal.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising activating an associated audible output device upon receiving said fault signal from said remote computer.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising visually indicating the occurrence of a fault on an associated display screen upon receiving said fault signal.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising mapping said fault signal on a visual representation of said fiber optic cable on said associated display.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining the type of fault that has occurred based on the comparison of said initial baseline signal and said scan signal.