Batteryless sensor used in security applications

• US 5,317,303 A
• Filed: 09/11/1992
• Issued: 05/31/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ANRO Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ANRO Engineering Incorporated, Multispectral Solutions Incorporated (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Fontana, Robert J., Ross, Gerald F., Mara, Richard M., Robbins, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/943,715
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/545, 340/547-549, 340/541, 340/540
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/10 by pressure on floors, floor coverings, stair treads, counters, or tills
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A batteryless sensor includes a small and concealed permanent magnet motor which operates as a generator to convert rotational or translational energy to an ersatz Vcc transient power supply via a mechanical arrangement to radiate a coded VHF oscillator signal to a repeater or central processing unit located as far as one mile from the sensor. The receiver is able to monitor a multiplicity of sensor units over a given time period.

Claims

1. A system including a number of batteryless sensors and a single receiver for detecting an intrusion at any one of said sensors, each of said sensors comprises:

a sensor enclosure having an opening at atop end and a spring anchor at a bottom end;

a rod positioned parallel to an intersection of two sides of said enclosure and having a top end protruding through said opening;

a spring connected to said spring anchor;

a pulley;

a toothed belt having one end connected to said spring and another end connected to said rod at a bottom end in such a manner as to be wrapped around said pulley for a predetermined angle, said rod protruding through said opening a first predetermined distance under tension from said spring when said rod is in a first position, and said rod protruding through said opening a second predetermined distance under tension from said spring when said rod is being held in second position by a protected body,

generator means having said pulley positioned so that rotation of said pulley by said belt when said rod moves between said first position and said second position, and between said second position and said first position, generates a predetermined voltage;

electronic means coupled to said generator means and responsive to said predetermined voltage for generating a coded rf signal identifying said sensor;

said single receiver responsive to said coded rf signal from said any one of said sensors for signaling that said intrusion occurred and identifying a site of said intrusion.

2. The batteryless sensor of claim 1 wherein said generator means comprises:

a gear train being driven by said pulley for amplifying the rotational speed of said pulley, and

a motor/generator coupled to an output shaft of said gear train for generating said predetermined voltage.

3. The batteryless sensor of claim 2 wherein said electronic means comprises:

a full-wave rectifier for receiving said predetermined voltage and producing an unregulated peak signal;

a regulator for receiving said unregulated peak signal and producing a constant voltage for a predetermined time;

a tone generator for receiving said constant voltage and producing a unique frequency signal to identify said sensor;

an oscillator set for a fixed frequency is modified by said unique frequency to produce said coded rf signal when receiving said constant voltage; and

a dipole for sending out said coded rf signal to said receiver.

4. A system for detecting an opening or a closing of a number of doors at one or more locations, each of said doors having a covert batteryless sensor, said system including a single receiver for indicating an opening or a closing of any one of said doors, each of said sensors comprises:

a first magnet immovably mounted in a hinged side door edge with one pole face of said magnet flush with said door edge;

a second magnet slideably mounted in a door jamb with an opposing pole face parallel to, facing and axial to said one pole face and flush with said door jamb when said door is ajar;

plunger rod means axially fixed to said second magnet to allow said second magnet to be magnetically repelled by said first magnet so as to move axially a predetermined distance away from said first magnet when said door is closed, and move axially said predetermined distance towards said first magnet when said door is opened,

wherein said plunger rod means includes;

a sensor enclosure having an opening at a top end;

a rod positioned parallel to an intersection of two sides of said enclosure and having a top end protruding through said opening and securely fastened to said second magnet, said rod protruding through said opening so as to position said opposing pole face of said second magnet flush with said door jamb when said door is ajar, and to move a predetermined distance when said door is closed and said second magnet is repelled;

generator means coupled to said plunger rod means including means for following a movement of said predetermined distance, and including means for generating a coded rf signal upon detecting said movement; and

said single receiver being responsive to said coded rf signal from said any one of said sensors for signaling that said intrusion occurred and identifying a site of said intrusion.

5. The sensor of claim 4 wherein said follower means comprises:

said enclosure having a spring anchor fastened at a bottom end;

a spring connected to said spring anchor;

a pulley;

a toothed belt having one end connected to said spring and another end connected to said rod at a bottom end in such a manner as to be wrapped around said pulley for a predetermined angle so as to provide tension to said rod to maintain said opposing pole face of said second magnet flush to said door jamb when said door is ajar, said pulley translating a linear distance traveled by said rod to a rotational angle when said door is opened and said second magnet is repelled.

6. The sensor of claim 5 wherein said generating means comprises:

a gear train being drive by said pulley for amplifying the rotational speed of said pulley as said pulley rotates through said angle, and

a motor/generator coupled to an output shaft of said gear train for generating said predetermined voltage.

7. A system including a number of batteryless sensors and a single receiver for detecting an intrusion at any one of said sensors, each of said sensors comprises:

means for positioning a sensor in a location whereby said intrusion would effect a physical displacement of a medium;

mechanical means for sensing said physical displacement, said mechanical means including;

a sensor enclosure having an opening at a top end;

a rod positioned parallel to an intersection of two sides of said enclosure and having a top end protruding through said opening to a first position, and said rod protruding through said opening to a second position, when said rod is being held by a protected body;

generator means coupled to said mechanical means for converting said sensing of said physical displacement to a predetermined voltage;

electronic means coupled to said generator means and responsive to said predetermined voltage for generating a coded rf signal identifying said sensor;

said single receiver responsive to said coded rf signal from said any one of said sensors for signaling that said intrusion occurred and identifying a site of said intrusion.

8. The sensor of claim 7 wherein said generator means comprises:

said enclosure having a spring anchor fastened at a bottom end;

a spring connected to said spring anchor;

a pulley;

a toothed belt having one end connected to said spring and another end connected to said rod at a bottom end in such a manner as to be wrapped around said pulley for a predetermined angle so as to provide tension to said rod to maintain said rod in said first position, said pulley translating a linear distance traveled by said rod from said first position to said second position to a rotational angle;

a gear train being driven by said pulley for amplifying the rotational speed of said pulley as said pulley rotates through said angle, and

a motor/generator coupled to an output shaft of said gear train for generating said predetermined voltage.

9. A system for detecting an opening or a closing of a number of windows at one or more locations, each of said windows having a covert batteryless sensor, said system including a single receiver for indicating an opening or a closing of any one of said windows, each of said sensors comprises:

a first magnet immovable mounted in a window frame with one pole face of said magnet flush to said window frame edge;

a second magnet slideably mounted in a corresponding side of said window with its opposing pole face parallel to, facing and axial to said one pole face;

spring means axially fixed to said second magnet to allow said opposing pole face to move axially a predetermined distance toward said one pole face when said window is in a first position, and move axially said predetermined distance away from said one pole face when said window is in a second position,

wherein said spring means includes a rod axially fastened to said second magnet at a top end and a toothed belt having one end connected to a spring and another end connected to said rod at a bottom end in such a manner as to be wrapped around a pulley for a predetermined angle so as to provide tension to said rod to maintain said opposing pole face of said second magnet flush to said door jamb when said door is ajar, said pulley translating a linear distance traveled by said rod to a rotational angle when said door is opened and said second magnet is repelled;

generator means including means for following a movement of said second magnet said predetermined distance, and including means for generating a coded rf signal upon detecting said movement; and

said receiver being responsive to said coded rf signal from said any one of said sensors for signaling that said intrusion occurred and identifying a site of said intrusion.

10. A method of detecting an intrusion by means of a batteryless sensor including the steps of:

A. Installing the sensor at a location where the intrusion would generate a mechanical displacement;

B. Mechanically sensing the mechanical displacement as a movement in a straight line;

C. Converting said straight line movement to a rotational movement;

D. Mechanically speeding up the rotational movement;

E. Generating an output voltage;

F. Converting the output voltage to a coded rf signal;

G. Sensing the coded rf signal over the air;

H. Receiving the coded rf signal at a remote site; and

I. Identifying the intrusion source.