Security system and method for monitoring security in the vicinity of a location perimeter

• US 5,483,224 A
• Filed: 09/22/1994
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kitty Rankin Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kitty Rankin Incorporated
• Inventors: Rankin, Kathleen V., Niederer, Kurt W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/310,573
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545, 340/546, 340/531, 340/521, 340/584, 340/539
• US Class Current: 340/539.17
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/002 with occupancy simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station

Abstract

A security system and method for monitoring security in the vicinity of a location perimeter is provided. The security system includes security sensors positioned in a detecting relation to the location perimeter for detecting a condition indicating a potential violation of security in the vicinity of the perimeter. The security sensors have a normal, negative state indicative of no violation of security and a positive state indicative of a potential violation of security. A detection indicator operatively communicates with the security sensors for storing information indicating whether a security sensor is in the positive or negative state. A signal receiver operatively communicates with the detection indicator. A signal transmitter is activated from outside the location perimeter, and transmits a control signal to the signal receiver. A warning device operatively communicates with the detection indicator for indicating to a position outside the location perimeter the current positive or negative state of the security sensor.

Claims

1. A personal security system for periodic interrogation by an authorized user of the system for monitoring security in the vicinity of a location perimeter to permit the system user to determine a potential violation of security before entering the location perimeter, said personal security system comprising:

(a) detection means positioned in a detecting relation to the location perimeter for detecting a condition indicating a potential violation of security in the vicinity of the perimeter, said detection means having a normal, negative state indicative of no violation of security and a positive state indicative of a potential violation of security;

(b) storage means electrically connected to said detection means for storing information indicating whether the detection means is in the positive or negative state;

(c) signal receiving means electrically connected to said storage means;

(d) signal transmitting means for being operated by the system user, and activated from outside the location perimeter for transmitting a system interrogation control signal to said signal receiving means for interrogating the security system to determine the state of said detection means;

(e) indicator means electrically connected to said storage means for indicating to a position outside the location perimeter and to the system user the current positive or negative state of the detection means; and

(f) indicator activation means electrically connected to said indicator means and responsive to the system interrogation control signal received by said signal receiving means from said signal transmitting means, such that;

(1) for the negative state of said detection means, said indicator activation means communicates to the position outside the location perimeter and to the system user the negative state of the detection means indicating no violation of security; and

(2) for the positive state of said detection means, said indicator activation means communicates to the position outside the location perimeter and to the system user the positive state of the detection means indicating a potential violation of security.

2. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said detection means comprises a plurality of security sensors spaced-apart within the vicinity of the location perimeter.

3. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said signal transmitting means comprises a radio transmitter having at least one push-button control for being manually actuated to transmit the control signal to said signal receiving means.

4. A security system according to claim 3, wherein said signal receiving means comprises a radio receiver for receiving the control signal transmitted by said radio transmitter.

5. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said indicator means comprises an electrical warning device located in the vicinity of the location perimeter, and indicating to a position outside the location perimeter the current positive or negative state of the detection means, such that for the positive state of said detection means, said indicator activation means directs an energizing voltage to said warning device for activating said warning device and indicating a potential violation of security.

6. A security system according to claim 5, wherein said warning device comprises an electric light.

7. A security system according to claim 5, and including manual reset means electrically connected to said indicator activation means for deactivating said warning device.

8. A security system according to claim 1, and including emergency alarm activation means electrically connected to said signal transmitting means for directing an energizing voltage to an emergency alarm located in the vicinity of the location perimeter.

9. A security system according to claim 8, wherein said signal transmitting means comprises a radio transmitter having at least one push-button control for transmitting the control signal to said signal receiving means, and for directing the energizing voltage to the emergency alarm located in the vicinity of the location perimeter to thereby activate the emergency alarm.

10. A security system according to claim 9, and including timer means electrically connected to said signal receiving means and cooperating with said emergency alarm activation means for providing a preset activation time period within which the emergency alarm is activated.

11. A security system according to claim 10, and including manual reset means electrically connected to said emergency alarm activation means for deactivating the emergency alarm.

12. A security system according to claim 1, and including accessory activation means for automatically controlling a plurality of electrical accessories associated with the location perimeter, said accessory activation means electrically connected to said indicator means and responsive to the system interrogation control signal received by said signal receiving means from said signal transmitting means, such that:

(1) for the negative state of said detection means, said accessory activation means directs an energizing voltage to one or more of the plurality of electrical accessories to activate the electrical accessory; and

(2) and for the positive state of said detection means, said accessory activation means is inoperative.

13. A security system according to claim 12, wherein said accessory activation means automatically controls operation of the electrical accessories in a fixed sequence.

14. A security system according to claim 12, wherein said accessory activation means automatically controls operation of the electrical accessories in a random sequence.

15. A method for monitoring security in the vicinity of a location perimeter to permit a system user to determine a potential violation of security before entering the location perimeter, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing detection means for detecting a condition indicating a potential violation of security in the vicinity of the perimeter, said detection means having a normal, negative state indicative of no violation of security and a positive state indicative of a potential violation of security;

(b) providing storage means for storing information indicating whether the detection means is in the positive or negative state;

(c) providing signal receiving means electrically connected to said storage means;

(d) activating signal transmitting means operable by the system user from outside the location perimeter for transmitting a system interrogation control signal to said signal receiving means for interrogating the security system to determine the state of said detection means;

(e) providing indicator means electrically connected to said storage means for indicating to the system user the current positive or negative state of the detection means; and

(f) activating said indicator means in response to the system interrogation control signal received by said signal receiving means from said signal transmitting means, such that;

(1) for the negative state of said detection means, said indicator activation means communicates to the system user the negative state of the detection means indicating no violation of security; and

(2) for the positive state of said detection means, said indicator activation means communicates to the system user the positive state of the detection means indicating a potential violation of security; and

(g) providing emergency alarm activation means for directing an energizing voltage to an emergency alarm located in the vicinity of the location perimeter.

16. A method according to claim 15, and including the step of providing a preset activation time period within which the emergency alarm is activated.

17. A method according to claim 15, and including the step of automatically controlling a plurality of electrical accessories associated with the location perimeter, such that:

(1) for the negative state of said detection means, an energizing voltage is directed to one or more of the plurality of electrical accessories to activate the electrical accessory; and

(2) and for the positive state of said detection means, the electrical accessories are inactive.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said accessory controlling step comprises the step of automatically controlling operation of the electrical accessories in a fixed sequence.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said accessory controlling step comprises the step of automatically controlling operation of the electrical accessories in a random sequence.