Security system

• US 7,425,983 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Izumi, Shiho, Kuragaki, Satoru, Kuroda, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALLEN C
• Application Number:
  US10/755,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20040141056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/148, 348/155, 348/340, 340/531, 250/342, 342/70
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/187 by interference of a radiation field
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A simple outdoor security system which uses sensors to monitor an area around a building to detect intruders while reducing the number of sensors necessary for ensuring detection accuracy, which has at least a detection means for radiating light or an electric wave to a prescribed area to detect an object, receiving a wave reflected by the object and detecting at least the speed and location of the object; an imaging means for imaging the object; and a means for directing said imaging means toward the object according to the object'"'"'s speed and location detected by said detection means.

Claims

1. A security system comprising a detection means for radiating light or an electric wave to a prescribed area, receiving a wave reflected by an object, and obtaining at least a relative speed and location of said object, an imaging means for picking up image information of the prescribed area, a moving means for changing the imaging direction of said imaging means a control device that determines from the relative speed if said object is an intruder or moving away candidate, and a recording device that starts recording when said control device determines that said object is an intruding object,

wherein said moving means is controlled according to the relative speed and location of said object so as to direct the imaging direction of said imaging means toward said object, and said detection means determines the relative speed of said object and transmits an electric wave from one transmission antenna and receives the signial by two receiving antennas to detect the azimuth of the target.

2. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said detection means is a 2-frequency CW type millimeter wave radar.

3. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said imaging means is a camera.

4. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said imaging means has a zoom means for enlarging or reducing the size of the image information according to the relative speed and location of said object.

5. A security system according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting means for radiating light or an electric wave to the prescribed area and a means for changing the radiation direction of said lighting means, wherein light or an electric wave is radiated according to the location of said object to pick up an image of said object.

6. A security system according to claim 5, wherein said lighting means can change output according to the location of said object.

7. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said recording means records at least the relative speed and location of said object detected by said detection means or image information captured by said imaging means.

8. A security system according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission means for transmitting an output of said detection means and/or an output of said imaging means, wherein at least the relative speed and location of said object detected by said detection means or image information captured by said imaging means is transmitted.

9. A security system according to claim 8, further comprising a means for processing image information of said object and determining whether said object detected by said detection means is a person or not, wherein when it is determined that said detected object is a person, at least the relative speed and location of said object detected by said detection means or image information captured by said imaging means is transmitted.

10. A security system according to claim 8, further comprising a receiving means for receiving information transmitted by said transmission means, and an information display means for displaying information received by said receiving means.

11. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said moving means changes the imaging direction of said imaging means, a transmission means is provided for transmittng an output of said detection means and/or an output of said imaging means, a receiving means for receiving information transmitted by said transmission means, and a display means is provided for displaying received information for observation by an operator,

wherein said moving means is controlled according to the relative speed and location of said object so as to track said object and pick up an image of said object.

12. A security system according to claim 11, further comprising an annunciation means for notifying an operator that said receiving means has received information.

13. A security system according to claim 12, wherein said annunciation means notifies the operator of the receipt of said information by means of sound.

14. A security system according to claim 12, further comprising a means for processing image information of said object and determining whether said object received by said receiving means is a person or not, wherein when it is determined that said detected object is a person, said annunciation means is activated.

15. A security system according to claim 11, further comprising a means for processing image information of said object and determining whether said object received by said receiving means is a person or not, wherein when it is determined that said detected object is a person, said display means starts to display said image information.

16. A radar device for a security system according to claim 1, wherein said security system is installed outside the building, radiates light or an electric wave to a prescribed area, receives a wave reflected by an object, and obtains at least the relative speed and location of said object,

wherein the beam width of the radar device is at least 10 degrees.

17. A radar device for a security system according to claim 16,

wherein the location of said object is detected by one transmission antenna transmitting an electric wave and two receiving antennas receiving the signal.