System for absorbing and or scattering superfluous radiation in an optical motion sensor

• US 6,121,876 A
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: C & K Systems, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: McKenney, David I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/047,425
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 340/567, 340/565, 340/693.5, 340/693.1, 340/547, 250/353, 250/342, 250/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 340/567
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/193 using focusing means

Abstract

An infrared intrusion sensing system comprises a compound lens having a plurality of lines of focus for focusing infrared radiation that enters the system onto a detector, and a window to allow infrared radiation to enter the system and then be focused onto the detector by a set of curvilinear-shaped mirrors. The detector is located near the focal point of the compound lens elements and curvilinear-shaped mirror elements. An enclosure surrounding the detector provides isolation from insect entry and constitutes an insect exclusion enclosure envelope. The enclosure envelope is a protective volume of space for the optical paths between the lens or window and the detector that prevents the entry of objects about 1 mm in diameter or larger which could interfere with the optical paths. Pigmenting, texturing, and/or contouring the insect exclusion enclosure surrounding the detector is provided for the purpose of absorbing and/or scattering superfluous radiation that is not focused on the detector, thereby minimizing false alarms and providing improved operating performance by the infrared intrusion sensing system. An alternate embodiment provides an insert for the insect exclusion enclosure which comprises the pigmenting, texturing and/or contouring, and permits easy update of an existing sensor systems.

Claims

1. An intrusion sensing system comprising:

(a) a front assembly having a compound lens for focusing radiation;

(b) a circuit board including a radiation detector for sensing said radiation and circuitry for processing detected radiation, wherein said radiation detector and associated circuitry are responsive to a useful wavelength band of radiation; and

(c) a rear assembly for mating with said front assembly and enclosing said circuit board within said front assembly and said rear assembly;

(d) said front assembly comprising means attached to said compound lens for excluding insects from said radiation detector and preventing superfluous radiation from reaching said radiation detector, said superfluous radiation comprising radiation inside and outside said useful band which is not focused on said radiation detector but enters said lens from outside said system.

2. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said insect excluding means comprises an opening on a first end adjacent to said compound lens for receiving said focused radiation and an opening on a second end which is smaller than said opening on said first end for accepting said radiation detector extending therethrough from said adjacent circuit board.

3. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said insect excluding means comprises a pigmentation for absorbing said superfluous radiation.

4. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said insect excluding means comprises a textured surface for scattering superfluous radiation.

5. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said insect excluding means comprises a contoured surface for preventing said superfluous radiation from reflecting onto said radiation detector.

6. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said front assembly comprises another window on a bottom end of said front assembly and said insect excluding means for receiving radiation;

and

said radiation entering said sensing system through said bottom end window strikes mirrors above said detector for reflecting said radiation onto said radiation detector.

7. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 3 wherein said pigmentation provides a black color to said insect excluding means.

8. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 4 wherein said textured surface comprises repetitive, random deviations from a normal smooth surface to form a three-dimensional topography on said surface.

9. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 5 wherein said contoured surface comprises peaks and valleys for causing lossy reflections of said superfluous radiation within said valleys.

10. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 2 wherein a sealing means is disposed around said second end opening of said insect excluding means when said second end opening is disposed against said circuit board.

11. An intrusion sensing system comprising:

(a) a front assembly having a compound lens for focusing radiation;

(b) a circuit board including a radiation detector positioned opposite said compound lens for sensing said radiation and circuitry for processing detected radiation, wherein said radiation detector and associated circuitry are responsive to a useful wavelength band of radiation; and

(c) a rear assembly for mating with said front assembly and enclosing said circuit board within said front assembly and said rear assembly;

(d) said front assembly comprising means attached to said compound lens for excluding insects from said radiation detector;

(e) said front assembly further comprising means inserted within said insect excluding means for suppressing superfluous radiation from reaching said radiation detector, said superfluous radiation comprising radiation inside and outside said useful band which is not focused on said radiation detector but enters said lens from outside said system.

12. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 11 wherein said insect excluding means and said suppressing means comprises an opening on a first end adjacent to said compound lens for receiving said focused radiation and an opening on a second end which is smaller than said opening on said first end for accepting said radiation detector extending therethrough from said adjacent circuit board.

13. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 11 wherein said suppressing means comprises a pigmentation for absorbing said superfluous radiation.

14. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 11 wherein said insert suppressing means comprises a textured surface for scattering superfluous radiation.

15. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 11 wherein said insert suppressing means comprises a contoured surface for preventing said superfluous radiation from reflecting onto said radiation detector.

16. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 11 wherein said front assembly comprises another window on a bottom end of said front assembly and said insect excluding means for receiving radiation;

and

said radiation entering said sensing system through said bottom end window strikes mirrors above said detector for reflecting said radiation onto said radiation detector.

17. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 13 wherein said pigmentation provides a black color to said suppressing means.

18. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 14 wherein said textured surface comprises repetitive, random deviations from a normal smooth surface to form a three-dimensional topography on said surface.

19. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 15 wherein said contoured surface comprises peaks and valleys for causing lossy reflections of said superfluous radiation within said valleys.

20. An intrusion sensing system comprising:

(a) a front assembly having a compound lens for focusing radiation;

(b) a circuit board including a radiation detector for sensing said radiation and circuitry for processing detected radiation, wherein said radiation detector and associated circuitry are responsive to a useful wavelength band of radiation;

(c) a baffle, having a first open end attached around the perimeter of said radiation detector and a second open end facing said compound lens, for suppressing superfluous radiation from reaching said radiation detector, said superfluous radiation comprising radiation inside and outside said useful band which is not focused on said radiation detector but enters said lens from outside said system; and

,

(d) a rear assembly for sealably mating with said front assembly and enclosing said circuit board within said front assembly and said rear assembly thereby excluding insects from entering said sensing system.

21. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 20 wherein said baffle comprises said opening on a second end in front of said compound lens for receiving said focused radiation and said opening on a first end which is smaller than said opening on said second end for accepting said radiation detector extending therethrough from said adjacent circuit board.

22. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 20 wherein said baffle comprises a pigmentation for absorbing said superfluous radiation.

23. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 20 wherein said baffle comprises a textured surface for scattering superfluous radiation.

24. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 20 wherein said baffle comprises a contoured surface for preventing said superfluous radiation from reflecting onto said radiation detector.

25. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 20 Wherein said-front assembly comprises another window on a bottom end of said front assembly for receiving radiation;

and

said radiation entering said sensing system through said bottom end window strikes mirrors above said detector for reflecting said radiation onto said radiation detector.

26. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 22 wherein said pigmentation provides a black color to said baffle.

27. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 23 wherein said textured surface comprises repetitive, random deviations from a normal smooth surface to form a three-dimensional topography on said surface.

28. The intrusion sensing system as recited in claim 24 wherein said contoured surface comprises peaks and valleys for causing lossy reflections of said superfluous radiation within said valleys.

29. A method of suppressing superfluous radiation in an intrusion sensing system comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a front assembly having a compound lens for focusing radiation;

(b) sensing said radiation with a detector positioned on a circuit board including circuitry coupled to said detector for processing sensed radiation, wherein said radiation detector and associated circuitry are responsive to a useful wavelength band of radiation;

(c) enclosing said intrusion sensing system with a rear assembly which is disposed adjacent to one side of said circuit board and joined together with the periphery of said front assembly; and

(d) providing a suppressing means within said front assembly for preventing superfluous radiation from reaching said detector, said superfluous radiation comprising radiation inside and outside said useful band which is not focused on said detector but enters said lens from outside said system, said suppressing means attached to said compound lens prevents insects from entering the space envelope of said suppressing means and affecting said detector.

30. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein said method comprises the step of adding a pigmentation to the material of said suppressing means for absorbing said superfluous radiation.

31. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein said method comprises the step of providing a textured surface on said suppressing means for scattering superfluous radiation.

32. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein said method comprises the step of providing a contoured surface on said suppressing means for preventing superfluous radiation from reflecting onto said radiation detector.

33. The method as recited in claim 32 wherein said step of providing a contoured surface comprises the step of providing peaks and valleys for causing lossy reflections of said superfluous radiation within said valleys.

34. A method of suppressing radiation in an intrusion sensing system comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a front assembly having a compound lens for focusing radiation;

(b) sensing said radiation with a detector positioned on a circuit board including circuitry coupled to said detector for processing sensed radiation, wherein said radiation detector and associated circuitry are responsive to a useful wavelength band of radiation;

(c) enclosing said intrusion sensing system with a rear assembly which is disposed adjacent to one side of said circuit board and joined together at the periphery of said front assembly;

(d) excluding insects from said radiation detector with enclosure means attached to said compound lens and positioned within said front assembly; and

(e) inserting within said enclosure means for suppressing superfluous radiation from reaching said detector, said superfluous radiation comprising radiation inside and outside said useful band which is not focused on said detector but enters said lens from outside said system.

35. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein said method comprises the step of adding a pigmentation to the material of said suppressing means for absorbing said superfluous radiation.

36. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein said method comprises the step of providing a textured surface on said suppressing means for scattering superfluous radiation.

37. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein said method comprises the step of providing a contoured surface on said suppressing means for preventing superfluous radiation from reflecting onto said radiation detector.