Threat detection and monitoring apparatus with integrated display system

• US 7,843,356 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InfrAegis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: InfrAegis, Inc.
• Inventors: Webb, Gregory E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/470,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 340/522, 340/502, 340/506, 340/540, 340/541, 340/539.12, 340/539.13, 340/573.1, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/632, 250/358.1, 250/380, 250/559.4, 348/143, 713/300, 700/297
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations

Abstract

The present invention is generally related to a threat detection and monitoring apparatus with an integrated display system. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for use as a public safety and emergency messaging system adapted to detect and identify threats in the surrounding environment and display useful information regarding the threat or other public information to the public.

Claims

1. A threat detection and monitoring apparatus comprising:

a display device comprising a viewing screen;

one or more sensors for detecting a threat and/or monitoring surroundings integrated with the display device;

wherein at least one sensor is a computer-aided trace detection system;

a logic system operably connected to the sensors to process information received from the sensors according to pre-selected instructions; and

a communications device adapted to be coupled to a network, and configured to transmit processed information related to a detected threat and be responsive to remote instruction over the network;

wherein the display device displays information of interest on the screen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mass broadcast loudspeaker system for audio messaging.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus has the ability to network cellular, satellite, digital radio (point to point or multipoint) and WiFi systems.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising an antenna array comprised of any combination of the following:

cellular, satellite, digital radio (point to point or multipoint) and WiFi antennae.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is a camera which is responsive to instructions from the logic system.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the camera is a high speed vectoring camera.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said camera has frontal and pan, tilt, and zoom capability.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the logic system includes software enabling the apparatus to determine a person'"'"'s behavioral characteristics.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is included for nuclear material or nuclear by-product detection.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said sensor utilizes lithium 6.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is included for radiological detection.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said sensor utilizes thallium-coated sodium iodide crystals to detect the presence of radiation.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer-aided trace detection system sensor comprises a mass spectrometer and a gas chromatographic column.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is included for gunshot detection.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a gas detection system is included to identify specific gases.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one sensor is included to detect dangerous gases.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a housing is included to define an interior chamber.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one temperature sensor is included to monitor the temperature of the interior chamber.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one tamper sensor is included to monitor unauthorized intrusion of the interior chamber.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one vibration sensor is included to monitor detrimental vibration levels in the interior chamber.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an uninterruptible power supply is included to supply power in the event of a power failure.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus uses rechargeable batteries to supply back up power to the components.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus utilizes a switch to convert DC battery power to AC power.

24. A threat detection and monitoring apparatus comprising:

a display device comprising a viewing screen;

one or more sensors for detecting a threat and/or monitoring surroundings integrated with the display device;

wherein at least one sensor is a computer-aided trace detection system;

wherein at least one sensor is a nuclear detection system; and

wherein at least one sensor is a radiological detection system;

a logic system operably connected to the sensors to process information received from the sensors according to pre-selected instructions;

a communications device adapted to be coupled to a network, and configured to transmit processed information related to a detected threat and be responsive to remote instruction over the network;

a mass broadcast loudspeaker system for audio messaging;

an antenna array comprised of any combination of the following;

cellular, satellite, digital radio (point to point or multipoint) and WiFi antennae;

wherein the display device displays information of interest on the screen.

25. A threat detection and monitoring apparatus comprising:

a display device comprising a viewing screen;

sensors for nuclear detection, chemical detection, radiological detection, gunshot detection, explosives detection, contraband detection, and human behavioral-recognition;

wherein said sensor for chemical detection includes a computer-aided trace detection system comprising a mass spectrometer and a gas chromatographic column;

a logic system operably connected to the sensors to process information received from the sensors according to pre-selected instructions; and

a communications device adapted to be coupled to a network, and configured to transmit processed information related to a detected threat and be responsive to remote instruction;

wherein the display device displays information of interest on the screen.