Area surveillance system

• US 4,347,590 A
• Filed: 03/03/1980
• Issued: 08/31/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henri J.A. Charmasson, Vernon G. Heger
• Original Assignee: Henri J.A. Charmasson, Vernon G. Heger
• Inventors: Charmasson, Henri J. A., Heger, Vernon G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nowicki, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US06/126,579
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 367/93, 367/94, 354/25, 354/163, 354/195, 340/691, 340/541
• US Class Current: 367/93
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/40 using time delay of the reflected waves, e.g. of ultrasonic waves

Abstract

An area surveillance system which combines an ultrasonic intrusion detector, an electronic range finder, an instant camera and an alarm. The system is packaged in a temper-proof housing and is particularly suitable for the protection of residential and commercial buildings and for providing a quick identification of intruders. The output of the range finder is used to focus the camera objective on the intruding subject. After focusing a series of pictures of the area are taken. The pictures are readily available for early identification of the intruder. By means of an interface programming device, immediate or delayed silent and/or audible alarms are triggered upon detection of the intruder.

Claims

1. An automatic focusing assembly for adjusting the objective of a camera in response to the movement of a body within the camera field of vision which comprises:

means for periodically emitting an ultrasonic signal over an area within said field of vision;

means for detecting the echo of said ultrasonic signal reverberating from said area;

means for generating a first binary-coded signal proportional to the elapsed time between said ultrasonic signal and the detection of said reverberating echo;

means for generating a second binary-coded signal proportional to the setting of said objective;

means for detecting coincidence between said first and second binary-coded signals;

a first gear coupled to said objective;

a pair of semi-circular gears alternately engaging said first gear;

an uni-directional electrical motor;

means for coupling said electrical motor to said pair of semi-circular gears and means, responsive to said means for detecting coincidence for de-energizing said motor.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 which further includes means for triggering the camera in response to said means for detecting coincidence.