Anti-mask motion sensor

• US 8,169,356 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Xiaodong, Helland, James N., Green, Leslie K.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US11/968,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342/27, 342/28, 342/59, 342/175, 342192-197, 342450-465, 342 89-103, 342368-377, 340/500, 340/540, 340541-567, 343772-786, 343834-840, 343/907, 343912-916, 343/755, 343/700.R, 343/753, 343/872, 343/873, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 342/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/36 Means for anti-jamming , e.g. ECCM, i.e. electronic counter-counter measures
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence

Abstract

A motion sensing method and apparatus includes a housing enclosing a microwave motion sensor including an antenna, and a security system. The antenna may be a patch antenna which includes microwave radiating elements for transmitting and receiving a microwave signal for sensing motion. A reflector is attached to the housing and positioned above the antenna for downward shaping of the microwave signal. The microwave radiating elements together with the reflector provide a radiation pattern where a main beam is transmitted in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the antenna and a sided lobe is transmitted downward in amplitude below the microwave motion sensor. An alarm circuit indicates when the microwave sensor detects motion in armed mode, and a masking circuit indicates when the microwave sensor detects motion in a mask zone when the security system is unarmed. A second sensor may be positioned beneath the microwave motion sensor.

Claims

1. A method for detecting motion in a security system, comprising:

positioning a microwave sensor within a housing which includes a security system, and the microwave sensor includes an antenna having a microwave radiating element;

transmitting and receiving a microwave signal for detecting motion using the antenna;

downwardly shaping the microwave signal;

initiating an alarm signal when the microwave sensor detects motion; and

initiating a mask condition signal when the microwave sensor detects motion when the security system is unarmed.

2. The method of claim 1, further including inwardly shaping the microwave signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further including inwardly shaping the microwave signal toward a central longitudinal axis extending through the antenna.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

shaping the microwave signal to substantially encompass a second sensor having a different sensing or detecting technology than the microwave sensor, and the second sensor positioned substantially beneath the antenna.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm signal is initiated when the microwave signal detects motion within a main protection zone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mask condition signal is initiated when the microwave signal detects motion within a mask zone.

7. A motion detecting apparatus in a security system, comprising:

a housing including a security system;

a microwave sensor including an antenna positioned within the housing, and the antenna including at least one microwave radiating element for transmitting and receiving a microwave signal for detecting motion;

a reflector attached to the housing and positioned above the antenna for downward shaping the microwave signal;

an alarm circuit for indicating when the microwave sensor detects motion when the security system is in an armed mode; and

a masking circuit for indicating when the microwave sensor detects motion within a specified mask zone when the security system is unarmed.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the reflector reflects energy downwardly using a predetermined shape of the reflector to produce a specified microwave signal pattern.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the reflector is arcuate with respect to opposite edges of the antenna.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the reflector is planar.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of microwave radiating elements.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, further including a second sensor having a different sensing or detecting technology than the microwave sensor, and the second sensor positioned substantially beneath the antenna such that the second sensor is substantially encompassed by the microwave signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the alarm circuit indicates when the microwave signal detects motion within a main protection zone.

14. A microwave motion sensor antenna system, comprising:

an antenna, at least a portion of the antenna including a planar surface, and the antenna including at least one microwave radiating element disposed on the planar surface for transmitting and receiving a microwave signal for detecting motion; and

an arcuate reflector positioned above the antenna for downward shaping the microwave signal.

15. The microwave motion sensor antenna system of claim 14, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of microwave radiating elements.

16. The microwave motion sensor antenna system of claim 14, wherein the antenna includes an array of microwave radiating elements.

17. The microwave motion sensor antenna system of claim 14, wherein the reflector is arcuate with respect to a planar surface of the antenna.

18. The microwave motion sensor antenna system of claim 14, wherein the reflector is arcuate with respect to opposite edges of the antenna.