Bio-alarm security system

• US 4,100,536 A
• Filed: 10/07/1976
• Issued: 07/11/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas S. Ball
• Original Assignee: Thomas S. Ball
• Inventors: Rugh, John D., Ball, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/730,376
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 340/207 R, 340/277, 340/279, 340/224, 340/206, 340/201 P, 325/118, 325/113, 325/55, 128/2.05 P, 128/2.06 F, 128/2.1 A
• US Class Current: 340/870.09
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02455 provided with high/low alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0297 Robbery alarms, e.g. hold-up alarms, bag snatching alarms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a bio-alarm security system particularly adapted for use in banks for activating an alarm during a robbery without the need for affirmative voluntary action by an employee which might be prevented by the person committing the crime. The system includes one or more pulse rate detectors which are worn by employees, an amplifier and transmitter for transmitting the heart rate or rates to a receiving station where the heart rate signals are monitored. If abnormally fast heartbeat rates are detected such as would be caused by the stress of a robbery, an alarm is activated.

Claims

1. An alarm system comprising:

an alarm;

means carried by at least two individuals for detecting the state of psychological arousal in said individuals and emitting separate first signals of varying intensity corresponding to said states of arousal;

means for transmitting said signals;

means for receiving said signals;

means for comparing each of said first signals with predetermined signals, each of said predetermined signals being proportional to the normal state of arousal of the individual from which said first signal was emitted;

means for activating said alarm in a predetermined response to the totality of such comparisons.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said alarm is activated upon at least two of said first signals being greater than said corresponding predetermined signals.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said alarm is activated upon one of said first signals being greater than said corresponding predetermined signals and one of said detecting and emitting means failing to emit a first signal.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said alarm is activated upon all of said detecting and emitting means failing to emit said first signals.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said detecting and emitting means comprise a plurality of plethysmograph transducer assemblies, each of said assemblies being adapted to be worn on the ear of one of said individuals and being comprised of an infrared light source and a phototransistor, said source and phototransistor being disposed on opposite sides of the wearer'"'"'s earlobe such that variations in the amount of light received by the phototransistor resulting from the pulsating blood level within the earlobe cause variations in the current flow through the phototransistor, said variations being proportional to the pulse rate of the individual.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receiving means converts the signals received thereby into DC voltages proportional to the pulse rate of said individuals;

and wherein said comparing means comprise a plurality of comparators, one terminal on each of said comparators being in contact with a voltage source proportional to the normal pulse rate of one of said individuals and a second terminal of each of said comparators being electrically coupled to said DC voltage proportional to the detected pulse rate of the corresponding individual, each of said comparators indicating if said DC voltage is greater than the voltage of said source proportional to the predetermined normal pulse rate of the individual, thereby indicating an aroused state, and means for activating said alarm upon all of said comparators so indicating.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said detecting and emitting means comprise a plurality of plethysmograph transducer assemblies, each being adapted to be worn on the ear of one of said individuals and being comprised of an infrared light source and a phototransistor, said source and phototransistor being disposed on opposite sides of the wearer'"'"'s earlobe such that variations in the amount of light received by the phototransistor resulting from the pulsating blood level within the earlobe cause variations in the current flow through the phototransistor, said variations being proportional to the pulse rate of the individual.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said detecting and emitting means measures the pulse rate of one of said individuals, and said comparing means compares a first signal proportional to said pulse rate with a predetermined signal proportional to the normal pulse rate of the individual from whom said first signal was emitted.

9. An alarm system comprising:

an alarm;

a plurality of plethysmograph transducer assemblies each being adapted to be worn on the ear of an individual and being comprised of an infrared light source and a phototransistor, said source and phototransistor being disposed on opposite sides of the wearer'"'"'s earlobe such that variations in the amount of light received by the phototransistor resulting from the pulsating blood level within the earlobe cause variations in the current flow through the phototransistor, said variations being proportional to the pulse rate of the individual;

means for transmitting separate signals varying in intensity corresponding to said variations in current flow;

means for receiving said signals and converting said signals into DC voltages proportional to the pulse rates of said individuals;

comparing means comprising a plurality of comparators, one terminal on each of said comparators being in contact with a voltage source proportional to the normal pulse rate of one of said individuals and a second terminal on each of said comparators being electrically coupled to said DC voltage proportional to the detected pulse rate of said individual, each of said comparators performing a comparison between said DC voltage and the voltage of said source proportional to the predetermined normal pulse rate of the individual; and

means for activating said alarm in a predetermined response to the totality of all such comparisons.