Home security system for detecting an intrusion into a monitored area by an infrared detector

• US 5,570,079 A
• Filed: 04/24/1995
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Devan T. Dockery
• Original Assignee: Devan T. Dockery
• Inventors: Dockery, Devan
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/427,433
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/691, 340/541, 340/567
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A security system has a flee-standing intrusion detector. The free standing intrusion detector has a transmitter coupled with a portable receiver to alert a homeowner that an intrusion has taken place or occurred within a pre-set time period. The area under surveillance is monitored by an infrared detector which activates the transmitter upon the detection of abrupt differences in infrared radiation levels, associated with the presence of a warm body in an otherwise equilibrated environment. A radio signal is emitted by the transmitter which is received by the portable hand-held remote receiver. A first signal, indicating that an intrusion has been detected less than a preselected period of time in the past in the monitored areas, is displayed on the receiver for that preselected period of time. After the preselected period of time has elapsed, a second signal is generated to indicate that the intrusion took place at a time greater than the preselected period of time in the past and that the probability of the intruder still being present is less. Once the intrusion detector is activated, the signal is continuously transmitted to the portable receiver until the intrusion detector has been reset.

Claims

1. A security system for a home comprising:

a free standing intrusion detector to be set in an area of said home to be protected, said free standing intrusion detector comprising;

an intrusion detector to generate an intrusion signal in response to an intrusion into said area;

a radio signalling transmitter responsive to said intrusion signal to transmit a radio signal;

means for modulating said radio signal for a predetermined time in response to said intrusion signal; and

time delay means for delaying the actuation of said intrusion detector to allow a person sufficient time to exit said area to be protected after setting said intrusion detector; and

a portable receiver adapted to be hand carried comprising;

means for generating an output signal in response to said radio signal; and

display means for generating a visual display indicating an intrusion has occured in response to said output signal.

2. The security system of claim 1 wherein the intrusion detector further comprises an independent source of electrical power enabling said intrusion detector to function independent of the power source of said home.

3. The security system of claim 2, wherein said intrusiondetector is an infrared sensor.

4. The security system of claim 2 wherein said independent source of electrical power is a battery.

5. The security system of claim 1 wherein said radio signalling transmitter further comprises means for encoding said radio signal, and wherein said portable receiver has means for making said portable receiver selectively responsive to said encoded radio signal.

6. The security system of claim 1 wherein said means for modulating further comprises a timer which counts down a pre-set number of minutes.

7. The security system of claim 1 wherein said display means is a visual indicator.

8. The security system of claim 7 wherein said visual indicator is at least one light-emitting diode.

9. The security system of claim 1 wherein said means for modulating said radio signals modulates said radio signals with time-dependent intermittent signals for said predetermined period of time.

10. The security system of claim 9 wherein a steady signal is transmitted after the expiration of said predetermined period of time.

11. The security system of claim 1 having a switch responsive to said intrusion signal to provide electrical power to said radio signalling transmitter means and said means for modulating.

12. The security system of claim 11 wherein said switch is an SCR.

13. The security system of claim 12 further comprising a reset means for manually resetting said means for modulating, said time delay means and said SCR after the occurance of an intrusion.

14. A home security system comprising:

a free-standing intrusion detector to be set in an area to be protected which when activated will initiate an alarm sequence, said intrusion detector having intrusion detector means for detecting all intrusion, transmitter means for transmitting a radio signal in response to said intrusion detection, and timing means activated by said intrusion detector means, said timing means including means for modulating said radio signal transmitted by said transmitter means to produce a modulated radio signal for a preselected period of time after said intrusion detector detects and intrusion; and

a portable receiver adapted to be hand carried by a home owner, said portable receiver responsive to said modulated radio signal to generate a first visual signal and responsive to said radio signal transmitted after said preselected period of time to generate a second visual signal.

15. The home security system of claim 14 wherein said means for modulating is a blinker circuit producing an intermittent signal and said modulated radio signal is a time dependant intermittent radio signal.

16. The home security system of claim 15 wherein said first visual signal is a blinking visual signal and said second visual signal is a continuous signal.

17. The home security system of claim 14 wherein said intrusion detector further includes a battery connected to said intrusion detector means and a switch responsive to said intrusion detector mean'"'"'s detecting an intrusion to connect said battery to said transmitter means and said timing means.

18. The home security system of claim 17 wherein said intrusion detector means is an infrared detector.

19. The home security system of claim 17 wherein said intrusion detector includes delay means for delaying the activation of said intrusion detector for a predetermined time after setting said intrusion detector to detect an intrusion to allow the homeowner sufficient time to exit said area to be monitored.