Interactive tracking device

• US 5,299,971 A
• Filed: 12/24/1991
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank J. Hart
• Original Assignee: Frank J. Hart
• Inventors: Hart, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US07/813,089
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 446/14, 446/130, 446/431, 446/433, 446/441, 446/484, 180/167, 180/169, 901/1, 901/96, 340/552, 340/556, 340/557
• US Class Current: 446/484
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/08 Dolls, faces, or other representations of living forms with moving parts in the nature of toys A63H
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2019/086 Dolls
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

An automatic passive interactive tracking device is disclosed which provides for the detection of intruders with a single quadruplex stationary passive infrared sensor covering a relatively wide field of view. Alternatively, two dual sensors may be incorporated. The stationary sensor or sensors provides a signal to a microcontroller, which drives a stepper motor to rotate additional sensors with narrower fields of view to more precisely determine the exact bearing of the intruder. By incorporating appropriate analog to digital conversion and algorithms in the microcontroller, approximate range may also be determined. When the intruder has been verified by all of the sensors, a camera and/or light is activated to record the intruder. A number of the tracking devices may be linked together to cover a larger area, and may provide signals to a remotely located monitor and/or security post. As each device requires only a single camera and no human operator, great savings may be achieved in the costs involved in such security. Alternative embodiments provide for a sonic emitter, directional laser or strobe light to frighten intruders such as animals in agricultural areas, and provision may be made for a portable unit for police surveillance and/or traffic monitoring.

Claims

1. An automatically activated and operated passive infrared tracking device for the detection and continual tracking of an intruder, comprising;

a stationary portion including passive detectors for the detection of radiation emission by said intruder and a stepper motor,

a rotatable portion mounted to said stepper motor and including passive detectors for the detection of radiation emission by said intruder and video monitoring means,

control means including circuitry for determination of the general direction and range of said intruder by said stationary portion passive detectors, operation of said stepper motor to cause said rotatable portion to rotate to align at least one of said rotatable portion passive detectors with said intruder and to continually track said intruder, verification of said intruder by said rotatable portion passive detectors, and activation of said video monitoring means, and

one or more of said tracking devices linked with one another to provide coverage to a remote security post.

2. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein;

said stationary portion passive detectors comprise integrated and cooperative quadruplex passive infrared sensors.

3. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein;

said rotatable portion passive detectors comprise integrated and cooperative quadruplex passive infrared sensors.

4. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein;

said stationary portion passive detectors comprise a pair of dual passive infrared sensors.

5. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein;

said rotatable portion passive detectors comprise a pair of dual passive infrared sensors.

6. The tracking device of claim 1 including;

light means cooperating with said video monitoring means.

15. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein:

said rotatable portion passive detectors are disposed immediately adjacent one another and provide contiguous fields of view.

7. An automatically activated and operated passive infrared tracking device for the detection and continual tracking of an intruder, comprising;

a stationary portion including passive detectors for the detection of radiation emission by said intruder and a stepper motor,

a rotatable portion mounted to said stepper motor and including passive detectors for the detection of radiation emission by said intruder and intruder deterrent means,

control means including circuitry for determination of the general direction and range of said intruder by said stationary portion passive detectors, operation of said stepper motor to cause said rotatable portion to rotate to align at least one of said rotatable portion passive detectors with said intruder and to continually track said intruder, verification of said intruder by said rotatable portion passive detectors, and activation of said deterrent means, and

one or more of said tracking devices linked with one another to provide coverage to a remote security post.

8. The tracking device of claim 7 wherein;

said deterrent means comprises a sonic emitter.

9. The tracking device of claim 7 wherein;

said deterrent means comprises a directional laser.

10. The tracking device of claim 7 wherein;

said deterrent means comprises a strobe light.

11. The tracking device of claim 7 wherein;

said stationary portion passive detectors comprise integrated and cooperative quadruplex passive infrared sensors.

12. The tracking device of claim 7 wherein;

said rotatable portion passive detectors comprise integrated and cooperative quadruplex passive infrared sensors.

13. The tracking device of claim 7 wherein;

said stationary portion passive detectors comprise a pair of dual passive infrared sensors.

14. The tracking device of claim 7 wherein;

said rotatable portion passive detectors comprise a pair of dual passive infrared sensors.

16. The tracking of claim 7 wherein:

said rotatable portion passive detectors are disposed immediately adjacent one another and provide contiguous fields of view.