Intrusion alarm control system

• US 3,900,841 A
• Filed: 03/22/1974
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Case Corporation (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Ernest J. Buckles
• Inventors: Buckles, Ernest J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/453,677
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.4,338,317,276,325,261,262,266,258R 200/6B,61.93
• US Class Current: 340/527
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation

Abstract

Sensors detect a disturbance and initiate a timing mechanism, the timing mechanism controlling the actuation, in a logically timed sequential manner, of a plurality of warning, alarm and/or monitoring functions in a degree reflecting the severity of the intrusion and then resetting the system to its pre-intrusion condition. Utilization of the timing mechanism greatly diminishes the possibility of false alarms, reduces harassment alarms associated with overzealous, authorized usage of the property, and provides a deterrence capability, this being made possible by the mechanism'"'"''"'"'s ability to discriminate between relative levels of abuse. The system can be employed to perform a deterrence and warning function in conjunction with any property desired to be protected but is particularly useful in association with unattended property which must be capable of withstanding a limited degree of abuse or disturbance from over-zealous but legitimate users of the property.

Claims

1. An intrusion alarm control system for protecting property against intrusion comprising:

a. at least one sensor associated with said property for producing an output signal in response to an intrusion;

b. timing means having first and second inputs, said first timing means input being connected to said sensor, said timing means producing first and second groups of sequential, preselected timing signals defining, respectively, first and second timing cycle portions, wherein said first group of preselected timing signals are reversibly produced in response to said output signal from said sensor at a rate reflecting the severity of said intrusion, and said second group of preselected timing signals are irreversibly produced in response to a signal at said second input of said timing means;

c. a plurality of switches each having aN input and an output, said inputs of said switches being connected to said timing means, and a first one of said switches having its output connected to said second timing means input, each of said switches being actuatable by at lease one of said preselected timing signals of at least one of said groups, said first switch being actuatable by the last one of said preselected timing signals of said first group, whereby, actuation of said first switch causes said timing means to initiate production of said second group of sequential preselected timing signals; and

d. a plurality of output functions each connected to one of said outputs of one of said switches other than said first switch, each of said output functions being activated upon actuation of its respective one of said switches.

2. The intrustion alarm control system according to claim 1, wherein said timing means includes means for causing, during said first timing cycle portion, the production of said first group of sequential preselected timing signals to advance in a direction towards the completion of said timing cycle portion whenever the severity of said intrustion is above a predetermined threshold level and, to otherwise recede in a direction opposite thereof whereupon said timing means is reset to its pre-intrusion condition.

3. The intrustion alarm control system according to claim 1, wherein said timing means comprises:

a. fast forward timing means for generating, during said first timing cycle portion, a first series of timing signals in proportion to the impulse and, at a rate reflecting the instantaneous disturbance force, sensed by said sensor during intrusion against said property, and, during said second timing cycle portion, a second series of timing signals at a first predetermined constant rate and in the same direction as said first series of timing signals;

b. slow reverse timing means for generating, during said first timing cycle portion, a third series of timing signals at a second predetermined constant rate and in a direction reverse to that of said first series of timing signals and, during said second timing cycle portion, a fourth series of timing signals at a third predetermined constant rate and in the same direction as said first series of timing signals; and

c. integration means for combining said first and second series of timing signals from said fast forward timing means with said third and fourth series of timing signals from said slow reverse timing means and developing therefrom an integrated output signal comprising said first and second groups of sequential, preselected timing signals, wherein said first group of signals comprise preselected ones of the combination of said first and third series of timing signals and said second group of signals comprises preselected ones of the combination of said second and fourth series of timing signals.

4. The intrustion alarm control system according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of switches includes a second switch having its output connected to said slow reverse timing means, the activation of said second switch causing said slow reverse timing means to transistion from producing said third series of timing signals to producing said fourth series of timing signals and, said first switch having its output connected to said fast forward timing means.

5. The intrusion alarm control system according to claim 3, wherein said timing means includes means for causing said rate of generation of said first series of timing signals to exceed said rate of generation of said third series of timing signals whenever the severity of said intrusion is above a predetermined threshold level.

6. The intrusion alarm control system according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of switches includes a third switch having its output connected to said slow reverse timing means, the activation of said third switch causing said slow reverse timing means to initiate generation of said third series of timing signals.

7. The intrUstion alarm control system according to claim 3, wherein said fast forward timing means comprises:

a. a proportional servo means in communication with said sensor, the output of said servo means comprising said first series of timing signals; and

b. a rapid advance timing means whose output comprises said second series of timing signals.

8. The intrusion alarm control system according to claim 7, wherein said proportional servo means comprises a first gearhead servomotor and said rapid advance timing means comprises a second gearhead servomotor.

9. The intrustion alarm control system according to claim 7, wherein said proportional servo means and said rapid advance timing means comprise a single gearhead servomotor.

10. The intrustion alarm control system according to claim 3, wherein said slow reverse timing means comprises:

a. a reference servo means whose output comprises said third series of timing signals; and

b. a slow advance timing means whose output comprises said fourth series of timing signals.

11. The intrusion alarm control system according to claim 10, wherein said reference servo means comprises a first gearhead servomotor and said slow advance timing means comprises a second gearhead servomotor.

12. The intrusion alarm control system according to claim 10, wherein said reference servo means and said slow advance timing means comprise a single gearhead servomotor.

13. The intrusion alarm control system according to claim 3, wherein said integration means comprises a differential gear assembly, a camshaft operatively connected thereto, and a plurality of cam surfaces operatively engaging said camshaft, said differential gear assembly having in association therewith two input shafts, one of said input shafts being in communication with said fast forward timing means, for applying said first and second series of timing signals to said differential gear assembly, and the other of said input shafts communicating with said slow reverse timing means, for applying said third and fourth series of timing signals to said differential gear assembly, each of said cam surfaces communicating with at least one of said switches.

14. The intrusion alarm control system according to claim 13, wherein each one of said switches comprises a cam switch.

15. The intrusion alarm control system according to claim 3, wherein amplifier means is located intermediate and in communication with said sensor and said fast forward timing means.

16. The intrusion alarm control system according to claim 13, wherein tell-tale means is associated with said camshaft, said tell-tale means comprising a circular dial in fixed relation to said camshaft, a primary pointer rotatably affixed to said camshaft, said primary pointer including a tab projecting therefrom, said primary pointer adapted to, in association with said circular dial, indicate the angular position of said camshaft, and a tell-tale pointer cooperative with said primary pointer and responding only to forward rotation of said camshaft by means of said tab projecting from said primary pointer, thereby indicating, in association with said circular dial, maximum forward rotation of said camshaft.