SECURITY SYSTEM INCLUDING LESS THAN LETHAL DETERRENT

• US 20100128123A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Security Systems Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bosch Security Systems Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: DiPoala, William
• Granted Patent: US 9,779,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/02 with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid

Abstract

A security system includes a video system for capturing images of an intruder. A deterrent dispensing device dispenses a deterrent substance in a selected direction. An actuator module is communicatively coupled to the video system and is coupled to the deterrent dispensing device. The actuator module receives a video signal from the video system and, in response thereto, controls the deterrent dispensing device to thereby aim the dispensed deterrent substance in a direction of the intruder.

Claims

1. A security system, comprising:

a video system configured to capture images of an intruder;

a deterrent dispensing device configured to dispense a deterrent substance in a selected direction; and

an actuator module communicatively coupled to the video system and coupled to the deterrent dispensing device, the actuator module being configured to receive a video signal from the video system and, in response thereto, control the deterrent dispensing device to thereby aim the dispensed deterrent substance in a direction of the intruder.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a two-way audio device configured to warn the intruder before the deterrent substance is dispensed.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator module includes a processor configured to analyze the video signal to thereby detect motion of the intruder.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a passive infrared motion detector, the actuator module being configured to control the deterrent dispensing device dependent upon an output signal of the passive infrared motion detector.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator module includes a radio frequency transmitter configured to receive the video signal from the video system and transmit the video signal to a remote location.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the actuator module includes a radio frequency receiver configured to receive a radio frequency deterrent dispensing signal from the remote location, the deterrent dispensing signal indicating whether to dispense the deterrent substance from the deterrent dispensing device, the deterrent dispensing signal being dependent on the captured images.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the deterrent dispensing signal from the remote location comprises a numeric code transmitted from a personal electronic device that receives the video signal.

8. A method of operating a security system, comprising the steps of:

using a video camera in the security system to capture images of a monitored area;

providing a deterrent device in the security system; and

deciding whether to activate the deterrent device, the deciding being based upon the captured images.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the deterrent device comprises a deterrent dispensing device, the method comprising the further steps of:

determining a location of a moving object based upon the captured images; and

aiming a deterrent substance from the dispensing device based on the location of the moving object.

10. The method of claim 8 comprising the further step of rotating the camera in a 360 degree arc while capturing the images.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the video camera comprises a pan, tilt, zoom camera.

12. The method of claim 8 comprising the further step of providing a microphone in the security system to capture sound within the monitored area, the deciding step being based upon the captured sound.

13. The method of claim 8 comprising the further steps of:

providing a speaker in the security system; and

using the speaker to warn an intruder who is detected in the captured images before activating the deterrent device.

14. The method of claim 8 comprising the further step of transmitting a video signal based upon the captured images to a remote location, the deciding step being performed by a human after viewing the captured images on a video monitor that receives the video signal at the remote location.

15. A method of operating a security system, comprising the steps of:

using a video camera in the security system to capture images of a monitored area;

providing a deterrent device in the security system;

transmitting a radio frequency video signal based upon the captured images to a remote location; and

receiving a radio frequency deterrent activation signal from the remote location, the deterrent activation signal indicating whether to activate the deterrent device, the deterrent activation signal being dependent on the captured images.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising the further steps of:

receiving the video signal at a personal electronic device; and

displaying the captured images on the personal electronic device based upon the video signal.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising the further step of transmitting the deterrent activation signal from the personal electronic device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the deterrent activation signal is transmitted in response to a human entering a numeric code into the personal electronic device after viewing the captured images displayed on the personal electronic device.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the deterrent device comprises a deterrent dispensing device, the method comprising the further steps of:

determining a location of a moving object based upon the captured images; and

aiming a deterrent substance from the dispensing device based on the location of the moving object.

20. The method of claim 15 comprising the further steps of:

providing a microphone in the security system to capture sound within the monitored area;

providing a speaker in the security system to emit sounds into the monitored area;

transmitting a radio frequency audio signal based on sounds captured by the microphone to the remote location, the deterrent activation signal being dependent on the captured sounds; and

using the speaker to warn an intruder who is at least one of detected in the captured images and detected in the captured sounds, the warning occurring before activating the deterrent device.