Portable security container with rotation detection system

• US 20110133933A1
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xitel Pty. Limited
• Original Assignee: Xitel Pty. Limited
• Inventors: Davis, Barrie William, Davis, Benjamin John, Davis, Mathew Kai
• Granted Patent: US 8,436,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds

Abstract

A device and method for protecting personal property. The device includes an angular rotation detection system utilizing a gyroscope and an alarm adapted to signal when the device has tilted or rotated beyond a predetermined position from a reference position.

Claims

1. A mobile personal alarm system for monitoring a hand-carried object having an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis, comprising:

a MEMS gyroscope adapted to detect angular rotation of the object around at least one of the X, Y and Z-axes;

a controller operable to determine a change in the angular rotation of the object around at least one of the X, Y and Z-axes based on the detection of the angular rotation by said MEMS gyroscope; and

an alarm adapted to transmit a signal upon a change in the angular rotation of the object as determined by said controller, said controller activating said alarm when the change determined by said controller exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is operable to determine a magnitude of an angular rotation change around any of its X and/or Y and or Z-axis.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic low pass filter to reduce background noise between said MEMS gyroscope and said controller.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a rolling average filter to reduce background noise between said gyroscope and said controller.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said controller includes a microcontroller programmed for sensor fusion to activate said alarm when combined data from said MEMS gyroscope and accelerometer exceed a predetermined threshold.

7. A container, comprising:

a body having a storage compartment dimensioned to store a hand-carried object; and

an angular rotation detection system having a MEMS gyroscope, a controller operable to determine a change in angular rotation of said body from a reference point based on a stationary position of said body, and an alarm adapted to transmit a signal when said controller has determined a change in the angular rotation of said body.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein said controller is operable to determine a change in magnitude of the angular rotation of the said body.

9. The container of claim 7, further comprising an electronic low pass filter to reduce background noise between said gyroscope and said controller.

10. The container of claim 7, further comprising a rolling average filter to reduce background noise between said MEMS gyroscope and said controller.

11. The container of claim 7, wherein said body includes a lid, said angular detection system being incorporated in said lid.

12. The container of claim 7, wherein said controller is operable to activate said alarm when the change determined by said controller exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

13. The container of claim 7, wherein said body has a length in the range of approximately 20 to 35 cm, a width in the range of approximately 10 to 25 cm, and a height in the range of approximately 2 to 12 cm.

14. A method for alerting a person to movement of a hand-carried object from a reference position, comprising:

measuring the angular rotation of the object due to movement to determine a first measurement;

re-measuring the angular rotation of the object due to movement after a pre-selected time interval to determine a second measurement;

comparing the first and second measurements; and

producing an alarm signal if the measurements are different.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the producing of the signal includes producing the signal upon detection of an angular rotational change of the body.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the producing of the signal includes producing the signal upon detection of a change in magnitude of the angular rotational change of the body.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising utilizing an electronic low pass filter to decrease background noise.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising utilizing a rolling average filter to decrease background noise.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising measuring acceleration of the object with an accelerometer.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing the object in a container, the alarm signal being produced from within the container.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising at least one of:

measuring a position of the object relative to the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field with a magnetometer; and

measuring a direction of the object with a compass.

22. A mobile personal safe, said safe comprising:

a base forming a storage compartment configured to store a hand-carried personal item;

a lid configured to close said storage compartment;

an angular rotation detection system having a MEMS gyroscope, a microcontroller operable to determine a change in angular rotation of said base from a reference point based on a stationary position of said base, and an alarm adapted to transmit an audible signal of at least 80 dB outside said safe when said microcontroller has determined a change in the angular rotation of said body, said microcontroller activating said alarm when the change determined by said microcontroller exceeds a pre-programmed threshold; and

a lock integral with at least one of said base and said lid for locking said lid in a closed position relative to said base.

23. The safe of claim 22, further comprising an accelerometer for determining tilt, said microcontroller activating said alarm when said microcontroller determines that a change in tilt exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

24. The safe of claim 23, further comprising a compass, said microcontroller being programmed for sensor fusion to activate said alarm when combined data from said MEMS gyroscope, accelerometer and compass exceed a predetermined threshold.