System for detecting perturbations in an environment using temporal sensor data

• US 5,493,273 A
• Filed: 09/28/1993
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Smurlo, Richard P., Everett, Hobart R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/127,934
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/552, 340/555, 340/556, 340/557, 340/527, 340/522, 340/521, 340/511, 340/505, 340/517, 340/529, 340/309.15, 340/550, 317/93, 317/94
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems

Abstract

A system for detecting perturbations within an environment, comprises: oner more arrays of sensors for providing a series of sensor output signal sets comprising the substantially contemporaneous generation of sensor output signals by the sensors in response to monitoring a scene within a coverage zone of the sensor; and a data processor operably disposed for storing a series of data corresponding to the sensor output signal sets generated at intervals over a predetermined period of time, for transforming the series of data into a final composite perturbation score, and for generating a perturbation output signal when the final composite perturbation score exceeds a reference value. The system may also include an output device for generating a perturbation alarm signal in response to the output device receiving the perturbation output signal.

Claims

1. A method for discerning perturbations within an environment, comprising the steps of:

1) initializing a sensor weight variable in a data processor;

2) initializing an iterand I in the data processor, where I is a positive integer;

3) initializing an iterand j in the data processor, where j is a positive integer;

4) monitoring an environment with a sensor array comprising an M number of j^th sensors, each j^th sensor monitoring a j^th scene of the environment, where j and M are positive integers and j<

M, said j^th sensor generating j^th output signals representing the j^th scene;

5) employing the data processor to add a constant value to the sensor weight variable to provide a j^th updated sensor weight variable if the j^th output signals exhibit a change of state and if the (j+1)^th output signals exhibit a change of state within a predetermined time period before occurrence of the first change of state, where (j+1)≦

M;

6) storing the j^th updated sensor weight variable;

7) incrementing the iterand j in the data processor;

8) repeating steps (4)-(7) an (M-2) number of times in the data processor;

9) determining the maximum of the (M-1) number of j^th updated sensor weight variables;

10) storing the maximum j^th sensor weight variable determined in step (9) as the i^th initial composite threat score;

11) storing the product of the maximum j^th sensor weight variable and an i^th weighting factor to provide an i^th product;

12) repeating steps (3)-(11) an (N-1) number of times, where N is a positive integer;

13) determining the sum of the N number of ith products to provide a persistence factor;

14) determining the sum of the persistence factor and the N number of ith initial composite threat scores; and

15) generating a human discernable output if the sum determined in step (14) is greater than a reference value.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining in said data processor a bearing to a perturbation detected within said environment from said j^th and (j+1)^th output signals.