Tamper detection sensor antenna

• US 7,215,241 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ohanes Ghazarian
• Original Assignee: Ohanes Ghazarian
• Inventors: Ghazarian, Ohanes
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/392,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20030179098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.26, 340/552, 340/573.4, 340/600, 340/635, 340/540
• US Class Current: 340/426.26
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2497 using transmission lines, e.g. cable
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits

Abstract

A communication interfering object presence detection sensor, for use with an antenna system, which initiates an alarm signal whenever a communication interfering object presence is detected by said antenna sensor for a predetermined time within proximity of said antenna.

The object presence detection sensor generates an optical, RF, ultrasonic or magnetic field signal(s) around an antenna towards a preset distance from the antenna, generating antenna operation protective shield signal(s) around said antenna.

Communication interfering object presence detection sensor of the present invention is responsive to the detection of object(s) presence within the pattern of said sensor-generated signals.

The object detection sensor antenna of the present invention additionally transmits said alarm signals to a monitoring station containing information to both said antenna tamper condition and to said antenna location.

And the communication interfering object detection sensor antenna of the present invention is capable of sending signal(s) to immobilize a vehicle upon detection of a communication interfering object presence within the pattern of object detection signal(s).

Claims

1. A tamper detection sensing antenna comprising:

an antenna and proximity sensor, wherein said antenna is used for RF communication, and said sensor is used for generating signals in the proximity of said antenna so as to detect the presence of antenna communication interfering objects within the proximity of said sensing antenna;

wherein when said sensing antenna defects the presence of communication interfering objects within the proximity of the antenna for a predetermined time, said sensor transmits a communication interference detection alarm signal.

2. A tamper detection sensing antenna of claim 1, wherein said sensor is connected to an apparatus, wherein said apparatus receives said communication interference detection alarm signal for a predetermined time, said apparatus generates audio and/or visual alarm signals to warn about the presence of said communication interfering object in proximity of said antenna.

3. The tamper detection sensing antenna of claim 1, wherein said antenna is connected to a communication apparatus, said communication apparatus transmitting said communication interfering detection alarm signal to a monitoring station, wherein said alarm signal to a monitoring station, wherein said alarm signal includes information pertaining to both a tamper alarm condition, and information pertaining to a condition and/or location of the communication apparatus.

4. The tamper detection sensing antenna of claim 3, wherein said communication apparatus further includes a secondary antenna, and wherein said tamper alarm signal is transmitted via a hardwired connection or wirelessly via said secondary antenna by said apparatus to the monitoring station.

5. The tamper detection sensor antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sensor antenna is a GPS antenna which is connected to a GPS receiver unit containing a wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication apparatus antenna, said GPS antenna and GPS receiver unit being installed on at least one mobile asset used for tracking a location of said at least one asset.

6. The tamper detection sensing antenna as claimed in claim 5, wherein said wireless communication apparatus of the GPS receiver unit is a wireless communication device, said device transmitting said communication interfering tamper alarm signal via said wireless communication apparatus antenna.

7. The tamper detection sensing antenna of claim 1, further including a secondary antenna, wherein said antenna of the tamper detection sensing antenna is connected to a communication apparatus through a hard wire connection means, said connection means being tamper proof such that if said connection means is tampered with, said apparats transmits a tamper alarm signal to a monitoring station via said hard wire connection means, or wirelessly through said antenna of the tamper detection sensing antenna, and/or said secondary antenna.

8. The tamper detection sensing antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensing antenna is connected to a communication apparatus with a normally closed loop connection via a wire harness, such that when said harness is tampered with or disconnected, said normally closed loop connection becomes open, and the communication apparatus generates and/or transmits a tamper alarm signal to a monitoring station.

9. The tamper detection sensing antenna as claimed in claim 5, wherein said GPS antenna is installed on a vehicle that includes vehicle immobilizer circuitry, and said sensing antenna is connected to a vehicle GPS tracking apparatus, wherein hen said apparatus receives a communication interfering tamper alarm signal from said GPS tamper detection antenna for a predetermined time, said apparatus activating said vehicle immobilizer circuitry to immobilize said vehicle.

10. The tamper detection sensing antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tamper detection sensing antenna is additionally equipped with a built-in RF transceiver which is used for establishing a wireless communication link between said tamper detection sensing antenna and a communication apparatus, said transceiver or communication apparatus randomly generating a unique coded signal so as to supervise operation of the antenna,

wherein if a supervisory random communication signal is interrupted, said communication apparatus and/or said sensing antenna transmits and/or generates a tamper alarm signal.

11. The tamper detection sensing antenna as claimed in claim 9, wherein a vehicle communication apparatus transmits an antenna tamper detection signal to said monitoring station, and said monitoring station upon receipt of said signal, transmits a signal to said vehicle communication apparatus to cause immobilization of the vehicle.

12. The tamper detections of claim 1, wherein said signal is one of optical, RF Microwave, Electromagnetic, and ultrasonic signals.