Intruder detecting method and apparatus therefor

• US 6,317,040 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optex Company Limited (OPTEX GROUP Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Optex Company Limited (OPTEX GROUP Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/636,262
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/517, 340/518, 340/521, 340/522, 340/551, 340/552, 340/556, 340/553, 340/555, 340/557, 250/349, 250/342, 250/334, 250/336.1, 250/338.1
• US Class Current: 340/522
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/18 Prevention or correction of operating errors G08B29/02, G08B29/12 take precedence

Abstract

A intruder detecting apparatus for detecting a intruder invading an detection area defined in, for example, a window, entrance or apron region in front of one or more wall-mounted paintings includes a first sensor 2X having an detection area 7A defined in the front side of the objects 5 and 6 to be watched and the region upwardly of those objects 5 and 6 to be watched, and a second sensor 2Y having an detection area 7B defined in the front side of the objects 5 and 6 to be watched and the region downwardly of those objects 5 and 6 to be watched. A timer-equipped logic circuit 13 is provided in at least one of the first and second sensors 2X and 2Y. The other of the first and second sensors 2X and 2Y has an output path 17 provided therein for outputting a detection signal a from a detector 10 within such sensor to an external circuit. The timer-equipped logic circuit 13 generates an warning signal b when the timer-equipped logic circuit 13 receives the detection signal a from one of the sensors 2X and 2Y, which is provided with the timer-equipped logic circuit 13, and the detection signal a, outputted through the output path 17, within a predetermined time.

Claims

1. A intruder detecting method which comprises the steps of:

providing a first sensor having an detection area defined on the front side of an object to be watched and a portion upwardly of the object to be watched, and a second sensor having an detection area defined on the front side of the object to be watched and a portion downwardly of the object to be watched; and

generating an alarm when the first and second sensors perform a detecting operation simultaneously within a predetermined time.

2. A intruder detecting apparatus which comprises:

a first sensor having an detection area defined on the front side of an object to be watched and a portion upwardly of the object to be watched;

a second sensor having an detection area defined on the front side of the object to be watched and a portion downwardly of the object to be watched;

a timer-equipped logic circuit provided in at least one of the first and second sensors;

an output path provided in at least the other of the first and second sensors having a detector and operable to output a detection signal from such detector to an external circuit; and

said timer-equipped logic circuit being operable to generate a warning signal when the timer-equipped logic circuit receives within a predetermined time, a detection signal, fed from a detector within said one of the first and second sensors and a detection signal outputted through the output path of the other of the first and second sensors.

3. The intruder detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an output path provided in said one of the first and second sensors provided with the timer-equipped logic circuit, for outputting the detection signal as a warning signal.

4. The intruder detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the first and second sensors is disposed on one side of the object to be watched.

5. The intruder detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of the first and second sensors is disposed on one side of the object to be watched and the other of the first and second sensors is disposed on the opposite side of the object to be watched.

6. The intruder detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said one of the first and second sensors provided with the timer-equipped logic circuit includes an output terminal connected with one of an output end of the timer-equipped logic circuit and a switch operable to selectively connect one of an output signal from the timer-equipped logic circuit and a detection signal from a detector to the output terminal.

7. The intruder detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said one of the first and second sensors provided with the timer-equipped logic circuit includes a switch for selectively inputting one of a detection signal from the other of the first and second sensors and a detection signal from a detector of such one of the first and second sensors to one of two input terminals of the timer-equipped logic circuit, the other of the two input terminals of the timer-equipped logic circuit being inputted with the detection signal from the detector of such one of the first and second sensors.

8. A intruder detecting apparatus which comprises:

a first sensor having an detection area defined on the front side of an object to be watched and a portion upwardly of the object to be watched;

a second sensor having an detection area defined on the front side of the object to be watched and a portion downwardly of the object to be watched;

a receiver for generating an alarm in response to receipt of a warning signal based on detection from the first and second sensors;

a timer-equipped logic circuit provided in the receiver for generating the alarm when the timer-equipped logic circuit receives respective warning signals from the first and second sensors simultaneously within a predetermined time.

9. A intruder detecting sensor having a curtain shaped or semi-curtain shaped detection area, said sensor comprising:

a timer-equipped logic circuit adapted to receive a detection signal, as one of input signals, from a detector provided in the sensor, and operable to generate a warning signal when the timer-equipped logic circuit receives such one of the input signals and the other of the input signals simultaneously within a predetermined time;

an input path for inputting an input signal from an external circuit to the timer-equipped logic circuit as the other of the input signals; and

an output path for outputting the detection signals as the warning signal.

10. The intruder detecting sensor as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a switch for selectively outputting one of an output signal from the timer-equipped logic circuit and an output signal from the detector as the warning signal.

11. The intruder detecting sensor as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a switch disposed on the input path for selectively outputting such one of the input signals and an output signal from the external circuit to the timer-equipped logic circuit as such other of the input signals.