Glassbreak alarm recorder for false alarm verification

• US 7,319,392 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Petek, Thomas R, Piel, Kevin G, Babich, Thomas S, Smith, Richard A
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US11/193,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.16, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340540-541, 340/545.1, 340/545.2, 340/545.3, 340/550, 340/566, 340/426.18, 340/426.27, 340/384.5, 340/384.7
• US Class Current: 340/545.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/04 by breaking of glass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range

Abstract

A glass breakage detector (100) having an acoustic transducer (102) for sensing first acoustic waves (130) and for providing a first analog signal (110) representative of the received first acoustic waves (130), an analog to digital converter circuit (104) adapted to convert the first analog signal (110) to a digital signal (112), processing circuitry (106) adapted to process the digital signal (112) to determine if the received first acoustic waves (130) are a result of glass breakage and generate an alarm signal (116) when it is determined that the received first acoustic waves (130) are a result of glass breakage, and a memory circuit (108), wherein the processing circuitry (106) is adapted to cause the memory circuit (108) to store the digital signal (112) for subsequent retrieval and analysis.

Claims

1. A glass breakage detector comprising:

a. an acoustic transducer for sensing first acoustic waves and for providing a first analog signal representative of the received first acoustic waves,

b. an analog to digital converter circuit adapted to convert the first analog signal to a digital signal;

c. processing circuitry adapted to

i. process the digital signal to determine if the received first acoustic waves are a result of glass breakage; and

ii. generate an alarm signal when it is determined that the received first acoustic waves are a result of glass breakage;

d. a memory circuit;

 

wherein the processing circuitry is adapted to cause the memory circuit to store the digital signal for subsequent retrieval and analysis;

e. a digital to analog converter adapted to convert a digital signal stored in the memory circuit to a second analog signal; and

f. a speaker adapted to convert the second analog signal to second acoustic waves;

wherein the processing circuitry is further adapted to

i. retrieve a previously stored digital signal from the memory circuit, and

ii. cause the digital to analog converter to convert the digital signal to a second analog signal for conversion to second acoustic waves suitable for being heard locally by an observer of the glass breakage detector.

2. The glass breakage detector of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is further adapted to cause the memory circuit to store the digital signal when the processing circuitry determines that the received first acoustic waves are a result of glass breakage.

3. The glass breakage detector of claim 1 further comprising means for resetting the memory circuit.

4. The glass breakage detector of claim 2 further comprising data transmission circuitry;

wherein the processing circuitry is further adapted to

iii. retrieve a previously stored digital signal from the memory circuit, and

iv. cause the data transmission circuitry to transmit the digital signal over a data transmission path to which the data transmission circuitry is operably coupled.

5. A security system device comprising:

a. an alarm device comprising;

i. a first transducer adapted to sense a physical event in a protected space and generate an input signal indicative of sensing the physical event; and

ii. first processing circuitry adapted to analyze the input signal and generate an alarm signal when the input signal meets predefined criteria;

b. an acoustic transducer for sensing first acoustic waves and for providing a first analog signal representative of the received first acoustic waves,

c. an analog to digital converter circuit adapted to convert the first analog signal to a digital signal;

d. a memory circuit; and

e. second processing circuitry adapted to cause the memory circuit to store the digital signal for subsequent retrieval and analysis;

wherein the memory circuit stores the digital signal when the second processing circuitry determines that the received first acoustic waves are a result of glass breakage;

f. a digital to analog converter adapted to convert a digital signal stored in the memory circuit to a second analog signal; and

g. a speaker adapted to convert the second analog signal to second acoustic waves;

wherein the second processing circuitry is further adapted to

i. retrieve a previously stored digital signal from the memory circuit, and

ii. cause the digital to analog converter to convert the digital signal to a second analog signal for conversion to second acoustic waves suitable for being heard locally by an observer of the security system device.

6. The security system device of claim 5 further comprising means for resetting the memory circuit.

7. The security system device of claim 5 wherein the memory circuit stores the digital signal when the first processing circuitry generates an alarm signal.

8. The security system device of claim 5 further comprising data transmission circuitry;

wherein the second processing circuitry is further adapted to

i. retrieve a previously stored digital signal from the memory circuit, and

ii. cause the data transmission circuitry to transmit the digital signal over a data transmission path to which the data transmission circuitry is operably coupled.

9. The security system device of claim 5 wherein the alarm device comprises a passive infrared motion sensor.

10. The security system device of claim 5 wherein the alarm device comprises a microwave motion sensor.

11. The security system device of claim 5 wherein the alarm device comprises a window or door opening sensor.

12. The security system device of claim 5 wherein the alarm device comprises a smoke alarm.

13. A method of operating a glass breakage detector comprising:

a. sensing by an acoustic transducer first acoustic waves;

b. providing by the acoustic transducer a first analog signal representative of the sensed first acoustic waves,

c. converting the first analog signal to a digital signal;

d. processing the digital signal to determine if the received first acoustic waves are a result of glass breakage;

e. generating an alarm signal when it is determined that the received first acoustic waves are a result of glass breakage;

f. storing in a memory circuit the digital signal for subsequent retrieval and analysis;

g. retrieving a previously stored digital signal from the memory circuit,

h. converting the digital signal to a second analog signal; and

i. converting the second analog signal to second acoustic waves suitable for being heard locally by an observer of the detector.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of storing the digital signal when it is determined that the received first acoustic waves are a result of glass breakage.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

retrieving a previously stored digital signal from the memory circuit, and

transmitting the digital signal over a data transmission path.

16. A method of operating a security system device comprising:

a. sensing by a first transducer a physical event in a protected space;

b. generating an input signal indicative of sensing the physical event;

c. analyzing the input signal and generating an alarm signal when the input signal meets predefined criteria;

d. sensing with an acoustic transducer first acoustic waves;

e. providing a first analog signal representative of the sensed first acoustic waves,

f. converting the first analog signal to a digital signal;

g. storing in a memory circuit the digital signal for subsequent retrieval and analysis;

wherein storing the digital signal when it is determined that the first acoustic waves are a result of glass breakage;

h. retrieving a previously stored digital signal from the memory circuit,

i. converting the digital signal to a second analog signal; and

j. converting the second analog signal to second acoustic waves suitable for being heard locally by an observer of the security system device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of storing the digital signal when an alarm signal is generated.