House arrest monitoring system with improved tamper detection

• US 5,912,623 A
• Filed: 11/28/1997
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alert Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alert Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Pierson, Martin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/980,224
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.4, 340/573.1, 340/572.1, 340/539, 340/825.54, 340/568.4, 340/508, 340/506, 340/504, 340/540, 340/571, 379/38, 455/100
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A house arrest monitoring system wherein a transmitter module is attached to the subject by a strap containing a number of conductors. The module includes a microprocessor which applies a voltage to selected conductors and establishes a voltage pattern on the conductors. Any detected change in the pattern causes the generation of a tamper signal. The system is set for monitoring by an optical signal to prevent unauthorized resetting following a tamper condition.

Claims

1. An electronic monitor for attachment to a subject being monitored wherein a tampering of the monitor is detected and a tamper condition is indicated, said monitor comprising:

a) a strap terminating in first and second connectors, said strap containing a plurality of conductors each having a first end and a second end, said conductors extending between said first and second connectors;

b) a module having first and second engaging means for receiving the first and second connectors respectively, said strap and module being attached to the subject;

c) a transmitter contained within said module for generating a monitor signal, said transmitter indicating a tamper condition when the strap and module are disconnected;

d) means for applying a voltage to the first end of selected conductors in the strap to establish a voltage pattern at the second ends of said plurality of conductors;

e) means for monitoring the voltage pattern at the second ends to determine a change in voltage pattern causing the transmitter upon detection of a change to indicate a tamper condition.

2. The monitor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for applying a voltage to the selected conductors operates intermittently.

3. The monitor in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for applying a voltage to the selected conductors is time variable whereby the voltage is applied to different conductors of said plurality of conductors.

4. The monitor in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for applying a voltage is programmable to provide a varying voltage pattern.

5. The monitor in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an optical reset circuit contained within the module, the application of an optical reset signal reinitiating operation of the monitor.

6. The monitor in accordance with claim 5 further comprising an enabling circuit contained within the module for authorizing the optical reset circuit to receive a reset signal.

7. The monitor in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a clock signal generator contained within the module for establishing the rate for monitoring the voltage pattern.

8. The monitor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of conductors includes at least four adjacently spaced conductors.

9. The monitor in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for applying a voltage to the first ends of selected conductors applies voltage to two non-adjacent conductors in the strap.

10. The monitor in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means for applying a voltage to said first ends includes a microprocessor for establishing a varying voltage pattern at the second ends of said plurality of conductors.

11. The monitor in accordance with claim 10 further comprising an optical reset sensor in the module, the application of an optical reset signal to said sensor initiating operation of said transmitter.

12. The monitor in accordance with claim 11 further comprising an enabling circuit in the module for authorizing the optical reset circuit to receive a reset signal.

13. A method for detecting tampering of an electronic monitoring system attached to a subject being monitored which comprises the following steps:

a) providing a securing strap having opposing ends for electrical connection to an electronics module containing a transmitter, the strap containing a plurality of conductors therein;

b) securing the electronics module to the subject by attaching the module to the securing strap;

c) applying a voltage at an end of the strap to selected conductors in said plurality of conductors to establish a voltage pattern at the opposing end of the strap;

d) monitoring the voltage pattern at the opposing end and detecting a change in said pattern, the detection of a change indicating tampering with the monitoring system.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising actuating the transmitter to generate a tamper signal upon detection of a change in said pattern.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the voltage is applied to nonadjacent conductors in the securing strap.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the voltage is intermittently applied to nonadjacent conductors.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the voltage is applied to different conductors over a period of time thereby changing the voltage pattern accordingly.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of resetting the transmitter following the generation of the tamper signal.

19. A tamper condition detection circuit for detecting an unauthorized removal of a transmitter module from a monitored subject, said circuit comprising:

a) an encircling strap terminating in first and second electrical connectors;

b) a plurality of individual conductors embedded in said strap and extending between said first and second electrical connectors, and

c) a transmitter module for receiving the first and second electrical connectors which includes;

i. first means for establishing a voltage pattern at the first electrical connector for the individual conductors;

ii. second means for sensing the voltage pattern on the plurality of conductors at the second electrical connector, and

iii. third means for detecting a variation between the voltage patterns present at the first and second connectors, said variation indicating the presence of a tamper condition.

20. The tamper condition detection circuit in accordance with claim 19 wherein said first, second and third means are included in a microprocessor contained in the transmitter module.

21. The tamper condition detection circuit in accordance with claim 20 wherein said microprocessor establishes a voltage pattern at the first electrical connector by the application of a voltage to alternate conductors in the encircling strap.