Field disturbance sensor utilizing leaky or radiating coaxial cable for a conformable antenna pattern

• US 20070296578A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Duff, David Delos
• Granted Patent: US 7,714,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/567
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/583 using transmission of continuous unmodulated waves, amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated waves and based upon the Doppler effect resulting from movement of targets
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2497 using transmission lines, e.g. cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/203 Leaky coaxial lines

Abstract

A system, device, and method for monitoring an uncontrolled area around a mobile object uses a distributed antenna, which can be a leaky coaxial cable, enclosing its perimeter. A field disturbance sensor, such as a microwave sensor, detects an intruder entering a protected area defined by field of the antenna. An alarm signal is sent to a wireless transceiver for transmission of an alarm event to a remote station. A biometric sensor, such as a passive infrared heat detector, can be used in conjunction with the field disturbance sensor to reduce possible false alarms. Identification of a legitimate alarm may alternatively be verified with video images obtained near an area of interest in proximity to the mobile object, which may be forwarded by the wireless transceiver to a remote station for analysis.

Claims

1. A system for providing security for an object in an uncontrolled environment comprising:

a field disturbance sensor;

a distributed antenna connected to said field disturbance sensor and substantially disposed around a perimeter of said object.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said antenna is a coaxial cable.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said object is trailer.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said object is a tractor together with a trailer.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said field disturbance sensor is a microwave sensor.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said field disturbance sensor is operatively connected to a wireless transceiver.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless transceiver is response to an alarm indication issued from said field disturbance sensor in connection with an intruder entering a protected area.

8. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said wireless transceiver is operable to receive satellite signals.

9. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said wireless transceiver is operable to provide communication with a communications system consisting of an analog cellular telephone system, a digital cellular telephone system or a wireless data communications network.

10. A system as recited in claim 6 including at least one biometric sensor wherein said field disturbance sensor is capable of receiving input from said at least one biometric sensor and that is responsive to detection of parameters within a predetermined threshold level, said wireless transceiver being operable to transmit an alert warning to a remote station in connection with biometric sensor detection of a parameter within a predetermined threshold level together with detection of an intruder by said field disturbance sensor.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said biometric sensor is an infrared heat detection sensor.

12. A system as recited in claim 6 which further comprises a digital video recorder and camera responsive to detection of an intruder by said field disturbance sensor, said digital video recorder being operable to record camera images in a vicinity of the object.

13. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said field disturbance sensor is capable of receiving input from at least one biometric sensor which is responsive to detection of parameters within a predetermined threshold level, said wireless transceiver being operable to transmit an alert warning to a remote station in connection with biometric sensor detection of a parameter within a predetermined threshold level together with detection of an intruder by said field disturbance sensor.

14. A security device for a vehicle comprising:

a field disturbance sensor;

a distributed antenna connected to said field disturbance sensor and substantially disposed around a perimeter of a substantial portion of said vehicle.

15. A device as recited in claim 14 wherein said antenna is a coaxial cable.

16. A device as recited in claim 14 wherein said vehicle is trailer.

17. A device as recited in claim 14 wherein said vehicle is a tractor together with a trailer.

18. A device as recited in claim 14 wherein said field disturbance sensor is a microwave sensor.

19. A method for security monitoring of an area around an object comprising:

detecting motion by sensing field disturbances around said object in connection with receiving signals from an antenna source surrounding a perimeter of said object.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

analyzing a biometric signal in conjunction with detecting motion.

21. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

recording images of an area under surveillance after detecting motion by sensing filed disturbances around said object.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein said images are wirelessly forwarded to a remote location.

23. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein images of an area under surveillance are recorded after detecting motion and after analyzing a biometric signal and determining an indication of a human presence in the area under surveillance.

24. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the recorded images are analyzed for determination of human intrusion into an area under surveillance.

25. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein said biometric signal is a biometric heat detection signal.