Presence-detecting system

• US 5,459,450 A
• Filed: 11/01/1994
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beghelli S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Beghelli S.P.A.
• Inventors: Beghelli, Gian P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/333,246
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 340/538, 340/310 CP, 340/310 R, 340/288, 340/565, 340/541, 340/555-557, 340/573, 340/506, 340/531, 340/632, 340/825.22, 340/825.77, 340/310.01 , 340/310.08
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/06 using power transmission lines

Abstract

A system for detecting presences has modules or devices equipped with electronic circuits for the transmission and reception of binary messages by carrier current passing through the normal domestic electric network. The devices, connected to the electric network by an incorporated plug, are in addition equipped with actuators for the control (command) of the electric power equipment in order to intercommunicate at an equivalent rank level. This system consisting of an ensemble of several devices of the above-mentioned kind associated with devices having presence-detecting characteristics is capable of carrying out the function of an anti-intrusion alarm installation.

Claims

1. An intrusion alarm system, comprising:

a multiplicity of identical presence-detecting modules each having a housing, a sensor on said housing responsive to the intrusion of a person in a region of said sensor, a plug directly projecting from said housing, configured to be inserted into a standard outlet of an electrical power network having a multiplicity of standard outlets, and mounting the housing on one of said outlets, and a circuitry connected to said sensor and said plug and provided with means for delivering first signals being transmitted by a carrier current of information along said electrical power network to a control center module and means for response to second signals being transmitted by said carrier current from said control center module to one of said presence-detecting modules for informing said control center module of its own state, each of said presence-detecting modules being selectively mountable on said one of the multiplicity of outlets of said network;

wherein said control center module has a housing, a plug on said housing of said control center module configured to be inserted into said one of the standard outlets of said electrical power network, and a control circuitry connected to said plug and provided with means for response to said first signals being transmitted from said presence-detecting module and for transmitting said second signals to each of said presence-detecting modules by said carrier current, of the second signals by said control center module interrogating said presence-detecting modules for monitoring the status of said presence-detecting modules; and

a remote control unit for said control center module in wireless radio communication therewith and formed with a keyboard enabling programming and control of said control center module, said control center module and all of said presence-detecting modules being functionally interchangeable and mountable at any of said outlets of said network, each of said presence-detecting modules comprises an infrared radiation detector forming said sensor, a battery serving as an independent power source for emergency operation of the system upon a failure of said network, and at least one pair of differently colored pilot lights, said control center and each of said presence-detecting modules having identical electronic elements enabling said modules to be used functionally interchangeably, said first and second signals between each of said presence-detecting modules and said control center module are transmitted through said network by said carrier current transmission, at least one of said presence-detecting modules is provided with another sensor for gas and fumes.

2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein said remote control unit comprises a plurality of command keys on said keyboard, and a radio transmitter communicating with said control center module.