Apparatus and method for monitoring remote security zones

• US 4,524,354 A
• Filed: 05/10/1982
• Issued: 06/18/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rad Partners, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Jack B. Morgan
• Inventors: Morgan, Jack B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US06/376,455
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.32, 340/825.36, 340/825.1, 340/502, 340/505, 340/506, 340/518, 340/541, 340/525
• US Class Current: 340/525
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/002 only replying the state of the sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems

Abstract

Apparatus and a method for detecting the actuation of any of a plurality of security sensors at respective zones remotely spaced from a central control location and for displaying information representing the operating status of a zone whose sensor has been actuated. The apparatus comprises a control unit having a central processor and an input coupled to a transponder bus to which a plurality of remote transponders are connected, each transponder having a number of security sensors associated therewith. The control unit further includes a visual display having a first portion for displaying sequentially the identifying numbers assigned to the remote zones and a second portion for displaying the operating status of a zone whose identifying number is shown on the first portion of visual display. When a sensor is actuated at one of the zones, the central processor of the control unit causes the identifying number of the zone and the status of the zone to be displayed simultaneously. The control unit also displays information as to whether the sensor actuation at the zone is continuous or of short duration. By actuation of a status switch on the control unit, an operator can acknowledge a change in the status of the zone and return the display to its initial status condition before or after taking steps to correct any action which caused the status change at the zone. The control unit can also display information which indicates a power failure, a line problem, or a tampering of the equipment.

Claims

1. A security system for a plurality of remote security zones spaced from a central control location comprising:

a central control unit adapted to be placed at said central control location; and

actuatable sensor adapted to be placed at each of said zones, respectively; and

means coupling the central control unit with the sensors when the sensors are at respective zones, each zone having an identifying number, said central control unit including a central processor, a display, a first switch for actuating the display under the control of the central processor to cause the identifying numbers of the zones to be sequentially displayed on the display, a second switch for actuating the display under the control of said central processor to cause the status of a zone to be displayed on the display when the identifying number of the zone is displayed on the display, the status of each zone being changeable as a function of the actuation and deactuation of the respective sensor, whereby the status of a zone can change from a first status condition to a second status condition when the respective sensor is actuated, said second switch being actuatable under the control of the central processor to return the status of a zone displayed on said display to the first status condition when the status of the zone is in the second status condition when the sensor is deactuated after being actuated, said central processor being operable to display a symbol on the display representing an active actuation condition of a sensor when the sensor remains actuated after being actuated, the actuation of the second switch being operable to cause the central processor to display a third status condition of a zone before the status of the zone is returned to the first status condition if the sensor at the zone remains actuated after being actuated.

2. A security system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the central processor operates to permit a zone identifying number to be entered into the display without causing a change in the status of the zone from the first status condition to the second status condition if the second switch is actuated when the status of a zone is in the first status condition before the zone is entered.

3. A security system as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included a map display adjacent to the central control unit, said map display having three light sources for each zone, respectively, one of the light sources representing a first status condition of the respective zone, the second light suorce representing a second status condition of the zone, and the third light source representing a third status condition of the zone.

4. A security system for a plurality of remote security zones spaced from a central control location comprising:

a central control unit adapted to be placed at said central control location;

an actuatable sensor adapted to be placed at each of said zones, respectively;

transponder means coupling the sensors with the central control unit when the sensors are at respective zones, each sensor having a secure condition and an alarm condition, each sensor being in an alarm condition after the sensor has been actuated and before it is deactuated, each zone having an identifying number associated with it, said central control unit including a central processor, a display, a pair of first switches for actuating the display under the control of the central processor to cause the identifying number of the zones to be sequentially displayed on the display, one of the first switches being operable to sequence the identifying numbers in a forward direction and the other first switch being operable to sequence the identifying numbers in a reverse direction, said central control unit further including a second, status switch for actuating the display under the control of the central processor unit to cause the status of a zone to be displayed on the display when the identifying number of the zone is displayed on the display, each zone having a secure status, an alarm status and an access status, the status of each zone being changeable from the secure status to the alarm status when a sensor at the zone is actuated, the central processor being operable to change the status of a zone displayed on the display from the alarm status to the access status when the second switch is actuated and when the actuated sensor remains actuated, the central processor being operable to change the status of a zone displayed on the display from the alarm status to the secure status when the second switch is actuated and when the sensor is thereafter deactuated, said central processor being further operable to change the status of a zone displayed on the display from the access status to the secure status when the second switch is actuated as the zone is in the access status, the central processor being operable to change the status of a zone displayed on the display from the secure status to the access status when the second switch is actuated and as the sensor of the zone remains deactuated, whereby entry to the corresponding zone will be permitted without causing the zone to be placed in an alarm status.

5. A method of monitoring a plurality of remote security zones each being capable of having a secure status, an alarm status and an access status comprising:

providing an actuatable sensor at each zone, respectively;

displaying the status of each zone on a visual display at a central control location;

changing the status of a zone displayed on the display from a secure status indication to an alarm status indication when the sensor at the zone is actuated;

providing an observable indication of the alarm status indication;

returning the status of a zone corresponding to an actuated sensor to a secure status after the alarm status has been displayed on the display and the actuated sensor has been deactuated;

changing the status of a zone from an alarm status to an access status when a corresponding sensor remains actuated after being actuated; and

causing the change of the status of a zone from an access status to a secure status after said changing step when the corresponding sensor has been deactuated, said returning, changing and causing steps being effected by a number of actuations of a single electrical switch.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein each zone has an identifying number, and wherein is included the step of selectively displaying the identifying number of each of said zones at said central control location.

7. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein each zone has an identifying number, and including the step of displaying the identifying number of a zone at said central control location when the sensor corresponding to the zone is actuated.