Aquatic splash detection system

• US 5,563,580 A
• Filed: 09/12/1995
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James O. Stephens
• Original Assignee: James O. Stephens
• Inventors: Stephens, James O.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/527,631
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/556, 340/566, 340/522, 340/573, 340/540
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/082 by monitoring electrical characteristics of the water
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/086 by monitoring a perimeter outside the body of the water

Abstract

A security system for pools and spas incorporates two distinct sections. The first control means allows for automatic operation and consists of sensors that detect and keep track of the number of adults entering or leaving the pool area and deactivate or activate the second control means of the system. Within the second control means, a motion detector first senses movement of an animate object in the area adjacent to the pool, which then interrupts, for a certain period of time, pool cleaning equipment to allow the aquatic sonic transducer to operate at a more effective sensitivity which senses frequencies characteristic of splashing over other sounds, coupled to circuitry responsive to the same frequencies. When splashing is detected, alarms are activated which then need to be reset.

Claims

1. A security system providing automatic control, said system comprising in combination:

(a) a sensor means to detect tall persons passing through an entrance and producing signals therefrom

(b) a means to totalize said signals and with a preset total, activate a detection means

(c) said detection means in response to intrusion detection, activating an alarm.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein each entrance to a specified area has said sensor means.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein said detection means deactivates for a period of time, any noise making devices and during said time, activates a means to detect and distinguish vibrations in a liquid medium, output of said means activating alarms.

4. The security system of claim 3, said means to detect vibrations in a liquid medium being a device which has a mechanical resonance of approximately 3 K Hz, producing an electrical signal coupled to circuitry responsive to 3 K Hz.

5. A means to detect the number of tall persons passing through an entrance, wherein said means upon acquiring a preset total, activates a detection means which when detecting movement of an animate body, deactivates for a period of time, noise making devices while during same said time, activates a means to detect and distinguish vibrations in a liquid medium, output of said means activating alarms.

6. An aquatic pool alarm system comprising a first and a second control means to provide automatic operation by said first control means detecting and totalizing tall persons in a pool area and activating said second control means when no tall persons are in said pool area, said second control means then detecting animate movement in said pool area, and thereupon interrupting noise making devices and activating a circuit and transducer which are frequency responsive to splashing, said splashing when detected activating a latch which turns on alarms.