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

• US 5,854,588 A
• Filed: 10/24/1996
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• 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:
  US08/736,536
• Time in Patent Office: 796 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 includes an intrusion detector having a transmitter coupled with a portable receiver to alert a homeowner or the like 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 receipt 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 upon activation by a transmitter-receiver carried by the homeowner or the like as he/she approaches the protected area. The radio signal from the transmitter is received by the portable remote transmitter-receiver. A first signal, indicating that an intrusion has been detected in the monitored areas, is displayed on the receiver for a 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. The first signal indicates that the intrusion is recent and that the probability of the intruder still being present is great. Once the intrusion detector is activated, the signal is stored until transmission is requested by the portable receiver and then transmitted continuously until the intrusion detector has been reset.

Claims

1. A security system for a home or the like comprising:

an intrusion detector to be set in an area of said home or the like to be protected, said intrusion detector comprising;

means for generating an intrusion signal in response to an intrusion into said area;

means for storing the intrusion signal and for transmitting a radio signal only upon actuation by receipt of a predetermined radio signal;

means for modulating said radio signal for a predetermined time after the receipt of 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 comprising;

means for generating said predetermined radio signal to activate said radio signal from said intrusion detector and for generating an output signal in response to said radio signal from said intrusion detector; and

display means for generating a visual display indicating an intrusion has occurred 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 independently of the power source of said home or the like.

3. The security system of claim 2, wherein said intrusion detector 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 signaling 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 signal modulates said radio signal 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 signaling 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 occurrence of an intrusion.

14. A security system comprising

an 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 an intrusion, transmitter means for transmitting a radio signal indicative of said intrusion detection in response to activation by receipt of a transmitted radio signal of a predetermined frequency, 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 an intrusion;

and

a portable receiver including means to transmit said radio signal for receipt by said transmitter means and responsive to said modulated radio signal from said transmitter means to generate a first visual signal and responsive to said signal transmitted by said transmitter means after said preselected period of time to generate a second visual signal.

15. The 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 dependent intermittent radio signal.

16. The 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 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 means detecting an intrusion to connect said battery to said transmitter means and said timing means.

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

19. The 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 home owner sufficient to exit said area to be monitored.