Self-contained security system

• US 6,288,642 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lasershield Systems, Inc. (Qiagen NV)
• Original Assignee: Lasershield Systems, Inc. (Qiagen NV)
• Inventors: Dohrmann, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US09/432,669
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/541, 340/565, 340/567, 340/573.1, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/693.2, 340/693.5, 340/525, 340/815.4, 340/636
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• 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 comprising at least one satellite unit coupled in signal communication to a main unit, the main unit for emitting an alerting stimulus in response to a signal received from the satellite unit indicating the presence of a security threat.

Claims

1. A security system comprising:

at least one satellite unit coupled in signal communication to a main unit, the main unit further comprising a housing, the housing being substantially in the form of a pyramid with a base and at least three faces converging at an apex, and an apparatus for emitting an alerting stimulus in response to a signal received from the satellite unit indicating the presence of a security threat;

at least one controller contained by the at least one satellite unit and the main unit;

a lamp positioned on the at least one satellite unit and the main unit, such that there is no portion of the security system above the lamp obstructing the lamp'"'"'s illumination;

a discrete power source contained by the at least one satellite unit and the main unit for providing power to the controller and the lamp;

a power cord engagable to a fixed power source for providing power to the controller and the lamp, the lamp movable by the controller into an illuminated condition in response to the controller receiving power only from the discrete power sources;

a panic switch located on one of the at least three faces, for causing the apparatus to emit the alerting stimulus upon actuation of the panic switch;

a detector, for detecting the presence of at least one security threat, located on one of the at least three faces, oriented in an approximately vertical position, forming an angle with the one of the at least three faces upon which the detector is placed, the detector and the panic switch being located on different faces; and

a segmented light fixture including a plurality of lights arranged in substantially linear series, the plurality of lights being parallel to a horizontal edge of the housing base, the plurality of lights being placed in different illuminated states by the controller in response to detecting one of the ARMED, DISARMED and TROUBLED conditions.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein the alerting stimulus comprises one or more of an audible stimulus and a visual stimulus.

3. The security system of claim 1, further including signal apparatus, the alerting stimulus comprising an activation of the signal apparatus for alerting emergency personnel over a communication pathway.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein the discrete power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the lamp carried by the at least one satellite unit and the main unit main unit is movable into an illuminated condition in response to actuation of a switch.

6. A security system comprising:

a housing, substantially in the form of a pyramid and having a base and at least three faces converging at an apex, the housing containing an apparatus for emitting an alerting stimulus in response to the presence of a security threat;

a controller contained by the housing for controlling operation of the security system;

a lamp positioned at the apex of the housing, such that there is no portion of the security system above the lamp obstructing the lamp'"'"'s illumination;

a discrete power source contained by the housing for providing power to the controller and the lamp;

a power cord engagable to a fixed power source for providing power to the controller and the lamp, the lamp movable by the controller into an illuminated condition in response to the controller receiving power only from the discrete power source;

a detector, for detecting a security threat, on one of the at least three faces, oriented in an approximately vertical position, forming an angle with the one of the at least three faces upon which the detector is placed; and

a panic switch on one of the at least three faces, for causing the apparatus to emit the alerting stimulus upon actuation of the panic switch, the panic switch being on a different face than the detector.

7. The security system of claim 6, wherein the alerting stimulus comprises at least one of a visual stimulus and an audible stimulus.

8. The security system of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is movable between an ARMED condition, a DISARMED condition, and a TROUBLED condition.

9. The security system of claim 8, further comprising a segmented light fixture, including a plurality of lights arranged in substantially linear series, the plurality of lights being parallel to a horizontal edge of the housing base, the plurality of lights being placed in different illuminated states by the controller in response to detecting one of the ARMED, DISARMED and TROUBLED conditions.

10. The security system of claim 9, wherein the illuminated states are selected from the group consisting of:

a strobing illuminated state, a rolling illuminated state, and a steady illuminated state.

11. The security system of claim 6, wherein the detector comprises a motion detector.

12. The security system of claim 6, wherein the housing contains a signal apparatus, for alerting emergency personnel over a communication pathway in response to an alerting stimulus.

13. The security system of claim 6, wherein the discrete power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

14. The security system of claim 6, wherein the lamp is movable into an illuminated condition in response to actuation of a switch.