Security system and monitoring method using power line communication technology

• US 7,504,938 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Eiza, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/486,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20070090969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 340/538, 34053811-53817, 340/666, 340/541, 340/545.2, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 3405681-5729, 177 45- 49, 200/85.R, 737/60, 737/63, 738/55
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/10 by pressure on floors, floor coverings, stair treads, counters, or tills
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/06 using power transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/542 using zero crossing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A pressure sensor portion includes a plurality of pressure sensors arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns inside a pressure-sensor-equipped carpet. The pressure sensor portion senses a pressure applied to the surface thereof and outputs a pressure value to a control portion. In an initial learning mode, a storage portion stores, as an initial value, the pressure value output from the pressure sensor portion. In a sensing operation mode, the control portion outputs to a modem portion a data signal indicating that an abnormal event is sensed, when the pressure value output from the pressure sensor portion is larger than the initial value stored in the storage portion by at least a prescribed threshold value. The modem portion superimposes the data signal received from the control portion on a power carrier wave (with a frequency of 50-60 Hz) and outputs the data signal to a power supply plug.

Claims

1. A security system using a power line communication technology utilizing a power line to provide data communication, comprising:

a pressure sensor portion sensing a pressure applied to a surface thereof;

a storage portion storing at least one initial value of a pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion. wherein each initial value corresponds to a weight on the pressure sensor portion, and is associated with a registration number;

a control portion outputting a data signal indicating that an abnormal event is sensed when the pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion does not fall within a prescribed range centered on one of the at least one initial value stored in said storage portion; and

a modem portion superimposing said data signal on a power carrier wave on said power line, and notifying a prescribed destination that the abnormal event is sensed.

2. The security system according to claim 1,

wherein said storage portion is further adapted to store at least one moving route, and

wherein said control portion is further adapted to compare said moving route stored in said storage portion With a moving route associated with a pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion, and outputs a data signal indicating that an abnormal event is sensed when the pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion does not fall within a prescribed range centered on one of the at least one initial value stored in said storage portion and the moving route associated with the pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion is different from the moving route stored in said storage portion.

3. The security system according to claim 2, wherein said pressure sensor portion includes a plurality of pressure sensors arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

4. A monitoring method using a power line communication technology utilizing a power line to provide data communication, comprising the steps of:

storing at least one initial value of a pressure value output from a pressure sensor portion sensing a pressure applied to a surface thereof, wherein each initial value corresponds to a weight on the pressure sensor portion. and is associated with a registration number;

comparing each of said at least one initial value with a pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion, and when the pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion does not fall within a prescribed range centered on one of the at least one initial value stored in said storage portion, generating a data signal indicating that an abnormal event is sensed; and

superimposing said data signal on a power cater wave on said power line and notifying a prescribed destination that the abnormal event is sensed.

5. The monitoring method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

storing at least one moving route;

comparing the stored moving route with the moving route associated with a pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion; and

generating a data signal indicating that an abnormal event is sensed when the pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion does not fall within a prescribed range centered on one of the at least one initial value stored in said storage portion and the moving route associated with the pressure value output from said pressure sensor portion is different from the moving route stored in said storage portion.