Portable security system for outdoor sites

• US 5,463,595 A
• Filed: 10/13/1993
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arne Rodhall, Donald E. Taylor
• Original Assignee: Arne Rodhall, Donald E. Taylor
• Inventors: Rodhall, Arne, Taylor, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/135,795
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 367/93, 340/573, 340/522, 340/426
• US Class Current: 367/93
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/18 using ultrasonic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A security system (10) suitable for use in monitoring property at an outdoor site that includes a portable housing (12) that supports a motion detector (14) for sensing motion within a detection zone. The security system further includes an ultrasonic transducer (74) and several alarm generators capable of repelling a human intruder, including a high intensity illumination source (18), high decibel siren (82), strobe light (19), and a speaker (78) for transmitting a prerecorded message. When an intrusion is initially detected by the motion detector, the ultrasonic transducer is activated to emit an ultrasonic signal that is irritating to nonhuman animals, thus clearing the detection zone of nonhuman intruders. If after sounding of the ultrasonic transducer motion is still detected, one or more of the alarms is activated. Additionally, an automatic telephone dialer (86) may be included in the system and activated by the system as another type of alarm, in response to detected intrusion. The system is integrated within the portable housing and is resistant to false alarms, making it suitable for use in monitoring property stored at an outside site. A method for utilizing the security system to protect property is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A portable security system suitable for protection of property within a monitored area from human intruders, the security system comprising:

a portable housing;

a detector mounted on the housing for sensing an intrusion event within the monitored area and producing a detection signal when an intrusion event is detected;

a first alarm generator mounted within the housing for producing an output signal effective at clearing the monitored area of non-human animal intruders, the output signal not being alarming to humans;

a second alarm generator mounted within the housing for producing a second alarm capable of startling a human intruder;

a controller mounted within the housing for sequentially activating the first alarm generator for a predetermined period of time in response to the detection signal from the detector and thereafter activating the second alarm generator if the detector is then producing the detection signal; and

a power supply for powering the detector, the first and second alarm generators and the controller.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein the first alarm generator comprises an ultrasonic signal generator mounted within the housing and operable to produce an ultrasonic signal transmitted from the housing when activated by the controller in response to the detection signal from the detector.

3. The security system of claim 2, wherein the controller operates to activate the ultrasonic signal generator for at least a portion of a predetermined threshold time period in response to the detection signal from the detector, followed by the activation of the second alarm generator at the end of the predetermined time period if the detector is then producing the detection signal.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein the second alarm generator is selected from the group consisting of a first illumination source and a verbal message generator, further comprising a third alarm generator that is activated sequentially after activation of the first alarm generator if a detection signal is still being produced by the detector, the third alarm generator being selected from the group consisting of a high decibel audio alarm, a strobed illumination source, and an automatic telephone dialer.

5. The security system of claim 4, wherein the second alarm generator comprises a verbal message generator, further comprising means mounted within the housing and linked to the verbal message generator for recording a verbal message for broadcasting by the verbal message generator.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a motion detector that produces the detection signal when motion is sensed within a detection zone extending from the detector.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein the second alarm generator comprises a high decibel audio alarm.

8. The security system of claim 1, further comprising an automatic telephone dialer housed within the housing and activatable by the controller in response to the detection signal from the detector to cause the automatic telephone dialer to send a signal to a remote site for summoning aid to the monitored area.

9. The security system of claim 8, wherein the controller is operable to activate the automatic telephone dialer after the detector has detected a predetermined number of intrusion events in excess of a selected threshold number of intrusion events during a predetermined time period.

10. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a shock sensor mounted within the housing for detecting mechanical impacts to the housing, wherein the controller is operable to activate the first or second alarm generator in response to detection of an impact by the shock sensor.

11. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a tamper sensor for sensing attempts to breach the integrity of the housing, wherein the controller is operable to activate the first or second alarm generator in response to tampering sensed by the tamper sensor.

12. The security system of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a primary alternating current power supply and a backup direct current power supply, wherein if the primary power supply is interrupted during operation of the security system, the controller activates the first or second alarm generator utilizing power from the backup power supply.

13. A security system suitable for protection of property within a monitored area from human intruders, the security system comprising:

a detector for sensing an intrusion within the monitored area and producing a detection signal when intrusion is detected;

an alarm generator for producing an alarm capable of startling a human intruder;

an ultrasonic signal generator;

a controller for activating the ultrasonic signal generator for at least a portion of a predetermined first time period in response to the detection signal from the detector, and for activating the alarm generator at the end of the first time period if the detector is then producing the detection signal; and

a power supply for powering the detector, the alarm generator, the ultrasonic signal generator, and the controller.

14. The security system of claim 13, wherein the controller also activates the alarm generator if the detector produces the detection signal continuously for a predetermined second time period commencing after the end of the first time period.

15. The security system of claim 13, wherein the alarm generator comprises a first alarm generator and a second alarm generator, each for producing an alarm capable of startling a human intruder, wherein the controller operates to activate the first alarm generator for a predetermined second time period, and activates the second alarm generator at the end of the predetermined second time period if the detector is then producing the detection signal.

16. The security system of claim 15, wherein the first alarm generator is selected from the group consisting of a first illumination source and a verbal message generator, and the second alarm generator is selected from the group consisting of a high decibel audio alarm, a strobed illumination source, and an automatic telephone dialer.

17. A method for protecting property within a monitored area from human intrusion, comprising:

detecting an intrusion within the monitored area with a detector and producing a detection signal when intrusion is detected;

generating an ultrasonic signal for at least a portion of a predetermined time period in response to the detection signal from the detector to clear animals sensitive to ultrasound from the monitored area; and

activating an alarm generator capable of startling a human intruder at the end of the predetermined time period if the detector is then producing the detection signal.

18. A method for protecting property within a monitored area from human intrusion, comprising:

positioning a plurality of portable security systems around the perimeter of the monitored area, each security system including a detector for sensing an intrusion within a corresponding detection zone and for producing a detection signal when intrusion is detected, an alarm generator for producing an alarm and a controller for activating the alarm generator in response to receiving the detection signal from the detector;

forming a communication link between the plurality of portable security systems so that the controllers of the security system are capable of communicating with each other;

operating the detector of each of the security systems until a detection signal is generated by the detector of one of the security systems; and

sending a signal over the communication link from the controller of the security system having the detector that generated the detection signal to the controllers of the other security systems, whereby the controllers of the other security systems become subservient to the controller of the first security system that sent the signal, and the alarm generator of each of the security systems is activated by the controller of each of the security systems.