Systems and methods of directing a camera to image weapon fire

• US 20080266084A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shotspotter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shotspotter Incorporated
• Inventors: Fisher, Ken S., Baxter, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/906 Airborne shock-wave detection

Abstract

A system and method for detecting, identifying, and fixing the location of the source of an acoustic event. The inventive system includes: a plurality of sensors dispersed at somewhat regular intervals throughout a monitored area; a communication network adapted to deliver information from the sensors to a host processor; and a process within the host processor for determining, from the absolute times of arrival of an event at two or more sensors, a position of the source of the event. Acoustic events are detected and analyzed at each sensor so that the sensor transmits over the network: an identifier for the sensor; an identifier for the type of event; and a precise absolute time of arrival of the event at the sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the system also identifies the type of weapon firing a gunshot.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A method of directing a camera towards, a gunshot event, the method comprising:

networking at least three sensors across an area to be monitored, wherein each of the at least three sensors is configured to detect the gunshot event, and wherein the location of each of the at least three sensors is known;

performing time of arrival processing of the gunshot event at each of the at least three sensors;

determining an approximate location of a source of the gunshot event as a function of arrival time and sensor location data; and

performing processing associated with generating instructions to direct a movable camera towards the approximate location.