Smart sensors for perimeter and border security

• US 7,893,960 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Morton L. Wallach
• Original Assignee: Morton L. Wallach
• Inventors: Wallach, Morton L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ustaris; Joseph G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pe; Geepy
• Application Number:
  US11/693,772
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 348/164, 348/143, 348/152, 348/156, 348/161
• US Class Current: 348/164
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/10 by pressure on floors, floor coverings, stair treads, counters, or tills
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/181 using active radiation detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/194 using image scanning and comparing systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A border or perimeter is protected from intruders, such as illegal immigrants, terrorists with WMD or smugglers of drugs. The method comprises a detection and communication processing system capable of a high probability of detection and low probability of false positives. The system includes land-based sensor particles and sensitive airborne or land-based camera processing units. The sensors are sown over key border or perimeter landscape areas and are activated by specific pressure levels characteristic of the weight of transiting intruders whereby the sensors emit characteristic optical signals. Specific emitted indicators detect people, vehicles, or particular animals.

Claims

1. A sensor composite particle comprising:

a. a first bead;

b. a second bead comprising a fluorescent area;

c. an adhesive; and

d. a fluorescent coating which will emit a first wavelength of light when interrogated with a second wavelength of light;

wherein;

e. said fluorescent coating covers said fluorescent area; and

f. said first bead is bonded to said second bead with said adhesive such that;

i. said fluorescent coating is substantially obscured by said first bead; and

ii. said first bead will break away from said second bead exposing said fluorescent coating when said composite particle is subjected to a pressure greater than or equal to that of a given weight being placed on said sensor composite particle.

2. The sensor composite particle of claim 1 wherein said pressure of a given weight being placed on said sensor composite particle is the pressure of a typical adult'"'"'s foot stepping on said sensor composite particle.

3. The sensor composite particle of claim 1 wherein said first wavelength and said second wavelength are in the visible or IR.

4. The sensor composite particle of claim 3 wherein said first wavelength is 980 nm and said second wavelength is 800 nm.

5. The sensor composite particle of claim 1 wherein said beads are truncated spheres or truncated ellipsoids and wherein said beads comprise plastic.

6. The sensor composite particle of claim 5 wherein:

a. the diameter of said beads is in the range of 0.05 to 50 mm;

b. the length of said fluorescent area of said beads is in the range of 1/10 to 1.0 times the diameter of said beads; and

c. said adhesive is between 0.005 and 2.0 ml of moisture activated cyanoacrylate.

7. The sensor composite particle of claim 5 wherein:

a. the diameter of said beads is in the range of 1 to 3 mm;

b. the length of said fluorescent area of said beads is in the range of ½

to ¾

times the diameter of said beads; and

c. said adhesive is between 0.05 and 0.5 ml of moisture activated cyanoacrylate.

8. The sensor composite particle of claim 1 wherein said beads comprise wood, metal, glass or polymer.

9. The sensor composite particle of claim 1 wherein said beads comprise plastic or environmentally degradable plastic.

10. The sensor composite particle of claim 1 which additionally comprises an external adhesive such that said particle will stick to a landscape when it is placed on it.

11. A method comprising the steps of:

a. dispersing one or more sensor composite particles on an area adjacent to a perimeter or border, each of said sensor composite particles comprising;

i. a first bead;

ii. a second bead comprising a fluorescent area;

iii. an adhesive; and

iv. a fluorescent coating which will emit a first wavelength of light when interrogated with a second wavelength of light;

wherein;

v. said fluorescent coating covers said fluorescent area; and

vi. said first bead is bonded to said second bead with said adhesive such that;

1. said fluorescent coating is substantially obscured by said first bead; and

2. said first bead will break away from said second bead exposing said fluorescent coating when said composite particle is subjected to a pressure greater than or equal to that of a given weight being placed on said sensor composite particle;

b. interrogating at least a portion of said area adjacent to said perimeter or border with a beam comprising said second wavelength of light;

c. monitoring said area adjacent to said perimeter or border with a secondary sensor camera capable of detecting light at said first wavelength; and

d. triggering an alarm if said secondary sensor camera detects light at said first wavelength at a given intensity, said given intensity being greater than the background intensity of light at said first wavelength.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said pressure of a given weight being placed on said sensor composite particle is the pressure of a typical adult'"'"'s foot stepping on said sensor composite particle.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said first wavelength and said second wavelength are in the IR.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said secondary sensor camera is capable of detecting said first wavelength at an intensity of at least 0.0001 lux.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said one or more sensor composite particles are distributed such that the probability of detection of an intruder crossing said area adjacent to said perimeter or border is in the range of 0.9 to 1.0.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said one or more sensor composite particles are distributed such that the probability of detection of an intruder crossing said area adjacent to said perimeter or border is in the range of 0.95 to 1.0.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said secondary sensor camera is mounted on an aircraft and said method further comprises flying over said area adjacent to said perimeter or border with said aircraft such that said secondary sensory camera may view at least a portion of said area adjacent to said perimeter or border.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said perimeter or border is at least a portion of the perimeter or border of one or more of:

a. the United States;

b. a chemical plant;

c. a building;

d. a Federal building;

e. a State building;

f. a nuclear power plant;

g. an oil or natural gas fired power plant;

h. a coal fired power plant;

i. an airport;

j. a nuclear material storage area;

k. a biological material storage area;

l. a piece of industrial equipment;

m. a university campus;

n. a commercial campus;

o. a military base;

p. a storage facility;

q. an oil field;

or

r. an oil refinery.

19. A system comprising:

a. one or more sensor composite particles dispersed on an area adjacent to a perimeter or border, each of said sensor composite particles comprising;

i. a first bead;

ii. a second bead comprising a fluorescent area;

iii. an adhesive; and

iv. a fluorescent coating which will emit a first wavelength of light when interrogated with a second wavelength of light;

wherein;

v. said fluorescent coating covers said fluorescent area; and

vi. said first bead is bonded to said second bead with said adhesive such that;

1. said fluorescent coating is substantially obscured by said first bead; and

2. said first bead will break away from said second bead exposing said fluorescent coating when said composite particle is subjected to pressure greater than or equal to that of a given weight being placed on said sensor composite particle;

b. an illuminator to emit an interrogation beam comprising said second wavelength of light;

c. a secondary sensor camera capable of detecting light at said first wavelength; and

d. an alarm which is triggered if said secondary sensor camera detects light at said first wavelength at a given intensity, said given intensity being greater than the background intensity of light at said first wavelength.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said first wavelength of light is in the visible spectrum.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein at least 99% of the area of said fluorescent coating is obscured by said first bead when said first bead is bonded to said second bead.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the shape of said second bead is ellipsoidal.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein said fluorescent area is relatively flat compared to the rest of the surface of said second bead.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein said sensor composite particles comprise one or more first composite particles and one or more second composite particles wherein:

a. said first composite particles comprise a first fluorescent coating and a first adhesive such that said first composite particles will break apart at a first pressure;

b. said second composite particles comprise a second fluorescent coating and a second adhesive such that said second composite particles will break apart at a second pressure; and

c. said first pressure is the pressure of a typical adult person stepping on said first particle and said second pressure is the pressure of a small vehicle rolling over said second particle.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein said perimeter is that of a storage area.

26. The method of claim 11 wherein said first wavelength of light is in the visible spectrum.

27. The method of claim 11 wherein at least 99% of the area of said fluorescent coating is obscured by said first bead when said first bead is bonded to said second bead.

28. The method of claim 11 wherein the shape of said second bead is ellipsoidal.

29. The method of claim 11 wherein said fluorescent area is relatively flat compared to the rest of the surface of said second bead.

30. The method of claim 11 wherein said sensor composite particles comprise one or more first composite particles and one or more second composite particles wherein:

a. said first composite particles comprise a first fluorescent coating and a first adhesive such that said first composite particles will break apart at a first pressure;

b. said second composite particles comprise a second fluorescent coating and a second adhesive such that said second composite particles will break apart at a second pressure; and

c. said first pressure is the pressure of a typical adult person stepping on said first particle and said second pressure is the pressure of a small vehicle rolling over said second particle.

31. The method of claim 11 wherein said perimeter is that of a storage area.