Currency alarm pack having receiver automatic gain hysteresis

• US 5,448,223 A
• Filed: 09/28/1994
• Issued: 09/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3SI Security Systems, Inc. (3SI Holdco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICI America Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Johnson, Raymond C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/314,419
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/522, 109/32, 109/31, 109/29, 109/38
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/02 with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid

Abstract

A currency alarm pack for triggering an alarm to foil a bank robbery consists of a receiver for detecting an electromagnetic field at the exit of a bank and a circuit which activates an alarm to release dye and/or tear gas when the alarm pack leaves the field. The receiver has automatic gain control hysteresis causing its gain to increase when it first detects the field so that it automatically locks onto the field. This reduces the chance of activation of the alarm pack inside a bank if the robber does not exit the bank immediately.

Claims

1. A currency alarm comprising a package simulating the appearance of a pack of currency, said package having, hidden within it, receiver means responsive to a field and producing an output, detection means, responsive to the output of said receiver means, for detecting a field, alarm means for producing an alarm when triggered, means responsive to said detection means for triggering said alarm means if a field is detected by said detection means and thereafter the amplitude of the field at the receiver means decreases to a level substantially below the level at which the detection means first detects the field.

2. A currency alarm pack according to claim 1 in combination with a bank defined by an enclosure having an exit and an exit field generating means adjacent to said exit, wherein the exit field generating means produces a field having an amplitude, throughout a substantial portion of said enclosure, below the level at which the detection means first detects the field.

3. A currency alarm pack according to claim 1 in which said detection means comprises means for converting said output of the receiver means to digital pulses and for counting the number of said pulses which occur in a predetermined interval.

4. A currency alarm pack according to claim 1 in which said detection means comprises a microprocessor.

5. A currency alarm pack according to claim 1 in which said receiver means comprises redundant receivers.

6. A currency alarm comprising a package simulating the appearance of a pack of currency, said package having, hidden within it, receiver means responsive to a field and producing an output, detection means, responsive to the output of said receiver means, for detecting a field, alarm means for producing an alarm after being triggered, means responsive to said detection means for triggering said alarm means if a field is detected and thereafter the amplitude of the field at the receiver means decreases, and means for increasing the sensitivity of said receiver means when the field is detected by said detecting means, whereby the alarm means is triggered only when the amplitude of the field at the receiver means falls to a triggering level substantially below the level at which the detection means first detects the field.

7. A currency alarm according to claim 6 in combination with a bank defined by an enclosure having an exit and an exit field generating means adjacent to said exit, wherein the exit field generating means produces a field having an amplitude, throughout a substantial portion of said enclosure, which is below said triggering level.

8. A currency alarm pack according to claim 6 in which said detection means comprises means for converting said output of the receiver means to digital pulses and for counting the number of said pulses which occur in a predetermined interval.

9. A currency alarm pack according to claim 6 in which said detection means comprises a microprocessor.

10. A currency alarm pack according to claim 6 in which said receiver means comprises redundant receivers.

11. A currency alarm pack according to claim 6 in which said receiver means comprises an amplifier having a feedback loop, including a resistor, and in which said means for increasing the sensitivity of said receiver comprises switching means for short-circuiting said resistor.