Gunshot detection sensor with display

• US 8,036,065 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shotspotter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shotspotter Incorporated
• Inventors: Baxter, Kevin C., Fisher, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US11/849,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20110069585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 367/128, 367/906, 367/136, 367/111, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 367/128
• 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: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/906 Airborne shock-wave detection

Abstract

A system for locating and identifying an acoustic event such as gunfire. The inventive system employs a plurality of man wearable acoustic sensors for detecting gunfire, each acoustic sensor having a display associated therewith for displaying information concerning the acoustic event to a user. In preferred embodiments, the sensor includes a microphone for receiving acoustic information; an A/D converter; a processor for processing the digitized signal to detect a gunshot and determine a time of arrival; a GPS receiver for determining the position of the acoustic sensor; and a network interface for bidirectional communication with a system server. Preferably the display comprises: an LCD; and an electronically readable compass. When the display and acoustic sensor are in separate housings, the acoustic sensor includes a transmitter and the display includes a receiver for transferring the gunshot information.

Claims

1. A method of providing information for display regarding a weapon fire incident, the method comprising:

receiving, at a central processor in communication with a sensor, acoustic data regarding a potential gunshot event detected by the sensor, the sensor including a sensor microphone, a processor and a GPS receiver, wherein the sensor is part of an array of sensors and has an associated display;

processing location information of the sensor determined via the GPS receiver;

processing, via the central processor, location information related to the gunshot event; and

providing positional information regarding a source location of the gunshot event for display on the associated display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the display is configured to be man wearable.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the sensor is man-wearable and the display is integrated with the sensor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes an electronic compass.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the positional information comprises an azimuth to the source location of the gunshot.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the positional information comprises a range to the source location of the gunshot.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising an indication of a weapon type associated with the gunshot.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an aural indication to warn a user.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising indicating if the weapon fire incident is friendly fire.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a map for the display.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the positional information is displayed relative to a location of the sensor provided by the GPS receiver.

2. A method of providing information for display regarding a weapon fire incident, the method comprising:

receiving, at a central processor in communication with a sensor, acoustic data regarding a potential gunshot event detected by the sensor, the sensor including a sensor microphone, a processor and a GPS receiver, wherein the sensor is part of an array of sensors and has an associated display;

processing location information of the sensor determined via the GPS receiver;

determining, via the central processor, a source location of the gunshot event; and

providing positional information regarding the source location of the gunshot event for display on the associated display.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the positional information is displayed relative to a location of the sensor provided by the GPS receiver.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein the sensor is man-wearable and the display is integrated with the sensor.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the positional information comprises an azimuth to the source location of the gunshot.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein the positional information comprises a range to the source location of the gunshot.

17. The method of claim 2 further comprising an indication of a weapon type associated with the gunshot.

18. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing an aural indication to warn a user.

19. The method of claim 2 further comprising indicating if the weapon fire incident is friendly fire.

20. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing a map for the display.