Security threat detection system

• US 8,305,447 B1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas K. Wong
• Original Assignee: Thomas K. Wong
• Inventors: Wong, Thomas K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs, Lashonda
• Application Number:
  US12/583,975
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 348/151, 348153-155, 348/159, 348/625, 348/630, 348/675, 348/708, 348718-721, 382/103, 382/107, 382/146, 382/242, 382/243, 725/9, 725/10, 725/14, 725/17
• US Class Current: 348/151
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19606 Discriminating between target movement or movement in an area of interest and other non-signicative movements, e.g. target movements induced by camera shake or movements of pets, falling leaves, rotating fan
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19667 Details realated to data compression, encryption or encoding, e.g. resolution modes for reducing data volume to lower transmission bandwidth or memory requirements

Abstract

A system for detecting intrusion into a space which includes motion detection light structure for producing and projecting a light pattern formed by a plurality of light beams of a certain character into a space and video motion detecting structure including a video camera having a field of view including at least some of the light pattern to detect intrusion into the light pattern. When motion is detected, images of the video camera are transmitted for threat assessment, and a scene illumination light is activated to improve visibility during nighttime operation.

Claims

1. Apparatus for detecting intrusion into a space, said apparatus including, in combination:

motion detection light structure for simultaneously producing a plurality of light beams having different lengths and solid conic configurations and for projecting said light beams into said space, said projected plurality of light beams including a conic first light beam configuration having a longitudinal axis and a conic second light beam completely surrounding said first light beam immediately adjacent to said motion detection light structure, said motion detection light structure including a light source and a reflector structure operatively associated with said light source to project said plurality of light beams into said space with the first light beam being an elongated light beam extending a first distance from said motion detection light structure into said space when not interrupted by an object in said space and the second light beam extending a second distance from said motion detection light structure into said space when not interrupted by an object in said space, said second distance being less than said first distance whereby said first light beam is completely embedded in said second light beam immediately adjacent to said motion detection light structure; and

video motion detecting structure including a video camera having a field of view including at least some of said light beams produced by said motion detection light structure to detect intrusion into said space.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said motion detection light structure additionally includes a collimating lens positioned to receive light reflected by said reflector and form said first light beam.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said motion detection light structure additionally includes a light filter positioned to receive light reflected by said reflector structure.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said video camera is located adjacent to said motion detection light structure, spaced from said light beams, and aimed toward said light beams at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said first light beam.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally including masking means operatively associated with said video camera to mask and restrict certain areas for motion detection within the field of view thereof.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally including a scene illumination light operatively associated with said video motion detecting structure illuminated in response to detection by said video motion detecting structure of object intrusion during nighttime operation.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally including threat evaluation means operatively associated with said video motion detecting structure for analyzing images transmitted from said video camera.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally including video combiner switch structure operatively associated with said video camera for displaying video images transmitted from said video camera along with images from other video cameras.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said motion detection light structure is one of a plurality of motion detection light structures operatively associated with said video motion detecting structure whereby light beams produced by said plurality of motion detection light structures are within the field of view of said video camera.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said video motion detecting structure is one of a plurality of video motion detecting structures operatively associated with said motion detection light structure.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said motion detection light structure is one of a plurality of motion detection light structures remotely spaced from the video motion detecting structure.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally including a self protection video motion detecting structure mounted in an elevated position.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said motion detection light structure includes an infrared light source.

15. A plurality of apparatuses for detecting intrusion into a plurality of spaces, each apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses including, in combination:

motion detection light structure for simultaneously producing a plurality of light beams having different lengths and solid conic configurations and for projecting said light beams produced thereby into a space of said plurality of spaces, said plurality of light beams including a conic first light beam and a conic second light beam completely surrounding said first light beam immediately adjacent to said motion detector light structure, said motion detection light structure including a light source and a reflector structure operatively associated with said light source to project said plurality of light beams into said space with the first light beam being an elongated light beam extending a first distance from said motion detection light structure into said space when not interrupted by an object in said space and the second light beam extending a second distance from said motion detection light structure into said space when not interrupted by an object in said space, said second distance being less than said first distance whereby said first light beam is completely embedded in said second light beam immediately adjacent to said motion detection light structure; and

video motion detecting structure including a video camera having a field of view including at least some of the light beams produced by the motion detection light structure to detect intrusion into said space.

16. The plurality of apparatuses according to claim 15 wherein a first apparatus thereof is spaced from a second apparatus thereof.

17. The plurality of apparatuses according to claim 16 wherein the light beams of the first apparatus are directed toward the second apparatus and wherein the spacing between the first apparatus and the second apparatus is less than the length of the first light beam produced by said first apparatus.

18. The plurality of apparatuses according to claim 16 wherein the video cameras and motion detection light structures of the apparatuses are pointed at opposing apparatuses and wherein the apparatuses have self protection video motion detecting structures.

19. The plurality of apparatuses according to claim 15 wherein said each apparatus thereof receives a first light beam from another apparatus thereof.

20. The plurality of apparatuses according to claim 19 positioned along the periphery of an area with the first light beams thereof extending about said area.

21. The plurality of apparatuses according to claim 15 wherein at least one of said apparatuses includes a scene illumination light turned on when motion is detected.

22. A method of detecting intrusion into a space, said method including the steps of:

positioning a motion detection light structure including a light source and a reflector structure adjacent to said space;

employing said motion detection light structure to produce a plurality of light beams having different lengths and solid conic configurations;

employing said motion detection light structure to project said plurality of light beams into said space, said plurality of light beams including a conic first light beam and a conic second light beam completely surrounding said first light beam immediately adjacent to said motion detector light structure;

utilizing said reflector structure and said light source to project said plurality of light beams into said space with the first light beam being an elongated light beam extending a first distance from said motion detection light structure into said space when not interrupted by an object in said space and the second light beam extending a second distance from said motion detection light structure into said space when not interrupted by an object in said space, said second distance being less than said first distance whereby said first light beam is completely embedded in said second light beam immediately adjacent to said motion detection light structure; and

employing video motion detecting structure including a video camera having a field of view including at least some of said light beams to detect intrusion into said space.

23. The method according to claim 22 including the steps of incorporating a collimating lens into said motion detection light structure to receive light reflected by said reflector and employing said collimating lens to focus light received from said reflector.

24. The method according to claim 22 including incorporating a light filter into said motion detection light structure, said light filter being positioned to receive light reflected by said reflector.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein said light beams are substantially concentric and wherein said video camera is located adjacent to said motion detection light structure, spaced from said light beams, and aimed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said first light beam.

26. The method according to claim 22 additionally including the step of masking and restricting certain areas for motion detection within the field of view of said video camera.

27. The method according to claim 22 additionally including the steps of employing a scene illumination light in operative association with said video motion detecting structure and illuminating said scene illumination light in response to detection by said video motion detecting structure of object intrusion during nighttime operation.

28. The method according to claim 22 additionally including the steps of employing threat evaluation means in operative association with said video motion detecting structure and utilizing said threat evaluation means to analyze images transmitted from said video camera.

29. The method according to claim 22 including the step of employing video combiner switch structure in operative association with said video camera to display video images transmitted from said video camera along with images from other video cameras.

30. The method according to claim 22 wherein said motion detection light structure is one of a plurality of motion detection light structures operatively associated with said video motion detecting structure, light beams produced by said plurality of motion detection light structures being located within the field of view of said video camera.

31. The method according to claim 22 wherein said video motion detecting structure is one of a plurality of video motion detecting structures operatively associated with said motion detection light structure.

32. A method of employing a plurality of apparatuses for detecting intrusion into a plurality of spaces, each apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses including motion detection light structure and video motion detecting structure, with respect to each apparatus the method comprising the steps of:

utilizing the motion detection light structure of the apparatus to produce a plurality of light beams having different lengths and solid conic configurations and project the plurality of light beams produced thereby into a space of said plurality of spaces, said plurality of light beams including a conic first light beam and a conic second light beam completely surrounding said first light beam immediately adjacent to said motion detector light structure;

utilizing said reflector structure and said light source to project said plurality of light beams into said space with the first light beam being an elongated light beam extending a first distance from said motion detection light structure into said space when not interrupted by an object in said space and the second light beam extending a second distance from said motion detection light structure into said space when not interrupted by an object in said space, said second distance being less than said first distance whereby said first light beam is completely embedded in said second light beam immediately adjacent to said motion detection light structure; and

utilizing in the video motion detecting structure of the apparatus a video camera having a field of view including at least some of said light beams produced by the motion detection light structure thereof to detect intrusion into said space.

33. The method of claim 32 including the steps of directing the light beams of a first apparatus toward a second apparatus and maintaining the spacing between the first apparatus and the second apparatus less than the length of the first light beam produced by the first apparatus.

34. The method according to claim 33 including the step of employing a scene illumination light to illuminate at least one of said plurality of spaces responsive to detection of object intrusion therein.

35. The method according to claim 32 wherein said each apparatus receives a light beam from another apparatus.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein the apparatuses are positioned along the periphery of an area with the light beams thereof extending about said area.

37. The method according to claim 32 wherein video cameras and motion detection light structures of the apparatuses are pointed at opposing apparatuses and self protection video motion detecting structures are incorporated in the apparatuses.