Intrusion alarm system

• US 5,283,551 A
• Filed: 12/31/1991
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sentrol Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aritech BV
• Inventors: Guscott, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US07/815,490
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 340/567, 340/518, 340/588, 340/523, 340/309.15, 340/573, 358/105, 358/108, 358/113, 250/342, 250/349, 250/338.1
• US Class Current: 340/567
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/194 using image scanning and comparing systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 250/01 Passive intrusion detectors

Abstract

A passive intrusion alarm system having an array of infrared sensing elements arranged and sampled so as to provide a two dimensional thermographic image of an intruder.

Claims

1. An intrusion alarm system comprising:

a stationary linear array of infrared sensors disposed in a first plate and producing output signals in response to detection of infrared emissions from an intruder, said detection occurring when said intruder travels in a direction of motion having a component in a predetermined direction with respect to said array;

said linear array of infrared sensors oriented substantially orthogonal with respect to said predetermined direction of said component, said predetermined direction of said component being in a second plane spaced from and parallel to said first plane; and

a data processing system in communication with said array of infrared sensors;

said data processing system receiving data corresponding to said output signals from said linear array of infrared sensors, and generating pixel data to provide a two dimensional thermographic image of said intruder in response to said received data.

2. The intrusion alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a trigger sensor in communication with said data processing system, said trigger sensor producing an output trigger signal in response to detection of infrared emissions from said intruder and causing said data processing system to store data corresponding to said output signals from said linear array of infrared sensors.

3. The intrusion alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a commutator in communication with each said infrared sensor in said linear array of infrared sensors, said commutator sequentially sampling the output signal from each infrared sensor in response to an output trigger signal from a trigger sensor to produce a commutated output signal.

4. The intrusion alarm system of claim 3 further comprising an analog-to-digital converter in communication with said commutator, said analog-to-digital converter converter said commutated output signal from said commutator into data for storage.

5. An intrusion alarm system comprising:

a stationary linear array of infrared sensors disposed in a first plane and producing output signals in response to detection of infrared emissions from an intruder, said detection occurring when said intruder travels in a direction of motion having a component in a predetermined direction with respect to said array;

said linear array of infrared sensors oriented substantially orthogonal with respect to said predetermined direction of said component, said predetermined direction of said component being in a second plane spaced from and parallel to said first plane;

a data processing system in communication with said array of infrared sensors and processing data corresponding to said output signals from said linear array of infrared sensors; and

a central processing facility in communication with said data processing system;

said central processing facility receiving said data corresponding to said output signals from said infrared sensors from said data processing system and generating pixel data to provide a two dimensional thermographic image of said intruder in response to said received data.

6. An intrusion alarm system comprising:

a stationary linear array of infrared sensors disposed in a first plane, each of said infrared sensors producing an output signal in response to detection of infrared emissions from an intruder, said detection occurring when said intruder travels in a direction of motion having a component in a predetermined direction with respect to said array;

said linear array of infrared sensors oriented substantially orthogonal to said predetermined direction of said component, said predetermined direction of said component being in a second plane spaced from and parallel to said first plane;

a commutator in communication with each of said infrared sensors of said linear array of infrared sensors, said commutator sequentially selecting each of said infrared sensors of said linear array of infrared sensors and receiving said output signal from said selected infrared sensor to produce a commutated output signal in response to said received output signal;

an amplifier in communication with said commutator, said amplifier amplifying said commutated output signal from said commutator to produce an amplified output signal in response to said commutated output signal;

a sample and hold circuit in communication with said amplifier, said sample and hold circuit sampling and holding said amplified output signal from said amplifier to produce a sampled output signal in response to said amplified output signal;

an analog to digital converter in communication with said sample and hold circuit, said analog to digital converter converting said sampled output signal from said sample and hold circuit to a digital representation of said sampled output signal and producing a digitized output signal in response to said sampled output signal;

a microprocessor in communication with said analog to digital converter, said microprocessor receiving said digitized output signal from said analog to digital converter, processing said digitized output signal and producing pixel data in response to said digitized output signal;

a memory in communication with said microprocessor, said memory storing said pixel data produced by said microprocessor;

a display for generating a two dimensional thermographic image of said intruder from said stored pixel data;

an output driver in communication with said memory, said output driver communicating said stored pixel data from said memory to said display; and

a trigger sensor in communication with said microprocessor, said trigger sensor producing an output trigger signal in response to detection of infrared emissions from said intruder, said output trigger signal triggering said microprocessor to produce said pixel data.