Infrared sensitive security lighting system

• US 20080252730A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Winfield Vision Development (Holding) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Winfield Vision Development (Holding) Ltd.
• Inventors: Hong, Siu Chi
• Application Number:
  US11/975,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20080252730A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/155
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A motion triggered digital security system that includes a an infrared motion sensor, a light sensor, an image sensor, and an illuminator. Upon the detection of motion the system determines the level of light present, and if needed the illuminator is initiated. The image sensor then acquires digital images in the form of still images or video clips which are saved on a memory card.

Claims

1. A motion triggered digital security system, comprising:

a housing;

a digital signal processor disposed inside the housing;

a passive infrared motion sensor disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor;

a light sensor disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor;

an image sensor, adapted to obtain digital images, disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor;

a means for display disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor, wherein the means for display is adapted to display digital security system status information;

an illuminator disposed outside the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor;

means for connecting the illuminator to the housing;

a Universal Serial Bus socket disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor, wherein the Universal Serial Bus socket is adapted to receive a Universal Serial Bus cable for uploading the digital images to a personal computer;

a memory card slot disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor, wherein the memory card slot is adapted to receive a digital memory card for storage of the digital images acquired by the image sensor;

wherein the digital signal processor, the passive infrared motion sensor, the light sensor, the image sensor, the means for display, the Universal Serial Bus socket, and the memory card slot are sized to fit within the housing.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first amplifier connecting the light sensor to the digital signal processor, wherein the first amplifier is adapted to amplify a first signal from the light sensor to the digital signal processor.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second amplifier connecting the passive infrared motion sensor control to the digital signal processor, wherein the second amplifier is adapted to amplify a second signal from the passive infrared motion sensor to the digital signal processor.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a passive infrared motion sensor control disposed on the housing, the passive infrared motion sensor control adapted to adjust a sensitivity of the passive infrared motion sensor to motion.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital memory card is at least one of a Secure Digital card, a Secure Digital High Capacity card, a CompactFlash card, a Memory Stick card and an xD-Picture Card.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for display comprises a liquid crystal display.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a dynamic random access memory module disposed inside the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an AC/DC current converter disposed inside the housing.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for connecting the illuminator to the housing comprises a connector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the connector is adapted to connect both the illuminator and the housing to a surface.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a means for connecting the housing, the means for connecting the housing adapted to connect the housing to a surface.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for time and date keeping in electronic contact with the digital signal processor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises two or more parts adapted to be fastened together.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the two or more parts comprise molded fire rated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing has a length between about 50 mm and about 200 mm, a width between about 40 mm and about 160 mm, and a height between about 45 mm and about 180 mm.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the length of the housing is between about 75 mm and about 150 mm, the width between about 60 mm and about 120 mm, and the height between about 60 mm and about 140 mm.

3. The system of claim further comprising a light sensor control disposed on the housing, the light sensor control adapted to adjust a sensitivity of the light sensor to light.

18. A method for monitoring an area, comprising:

supplying a digital signal processor disposed inside a housing;

using a passive infrared motion sensor disposed in the housing to detect motion, wherein the motion triggers the infrared motion sensor to send a first signal to the digital signal processor;

using a light sensor disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor to measure an ambient light intensity, wherein the light sensor sends a second signal to the digital signal processor;

using the digital signal processor to compare the second signal to a predetermined value, wherein upon the second signal being lower than the predetermined value the digital signal processor engages an illuminator disposed outside the housing;

using the digital signal processor to engage an image sensor disposed in the housing to obtain one or more digital images; and

directing the one or more digital images to a digital memory card positioned in a memory card slot disposed in the housing, wherein the digital signal processor, the passive infrared motion sensor, the light sensor, and the memory card are sized to fit within the housing.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising uploading the one or more digital images to a personal computer via a Universal Serial Bus cable connected to a Universal Serial Bus socket disposed on the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising imprinting a date and time on the digital image.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more digital images comprise a series of images in a film clip.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising amplifying the first signal from the passive infrared motion sensor.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising amplifying the second signal from the light sensor.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising adjusting the amplification of the first and second signals.

25. A motion triggered digital security system, comprising:

a housing;

a digital signal processor disposed inside the housing;

a passive infrared motion sensor disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor;

a light sensor disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor;

an image sensor, adapted to obtain digital images, disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor;

a means for display disposed in the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor, the means for display adapted to display digital security system status information;

an illuminator disposed outside the housing and in electronic contact with the digital signal processor;

a first amplifier connecting the light sensor to the digital signal processor, a light sensor control disposed on the housing, the light sensor control used to adjust a sensitivity of the light sensor to light; and

a second amplifier connecting the passive infrared motion sensor control to the digital signal processor, a passive infrared motion sensor control disposed on the housing to adjust a sensitivity of the passive infrared motion sensor to motion;

wherein the digital signal processor, the passive infrared motion sensor, the light sensor, the image sensor, the means for display, the first amplifier, the second amplifier are sized to fit within the housing.