Abstract: The present invention discloses a security system for monitoring a mobile, ground-based platform via image acquisition in the form of electrical pixel signals. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of cameras attached to the platform and arranged to capture images of zones associated with the interior of the platform or with its exterior and current ambient environmental surroundings. Storage media is located on the platform for storing images captured in the form of electrical signals by the cameras. The system is configured for transferring images to the storage media and to at least one remote location wherein the images are viewable at the remote location. The system may advantageously employ wireless transmission to transfer images to a remote location. The images may be captured responsive to an input such as from a panic button. The system may also employ removable storage media for storing images on the platform.

Abstract: A time multiplexed integrated alarm contact for reporting detected alarm conditions to a system controller in a hardwired alarm system and wherein distinguishable binary frequencies are used for synchronizing/responding and for programming the contact. During programming, an identity code is written into an included shift register and non-volatile memory defining the system reporting interval and the contact's reporting interval within the system interval. Controller initiated synchronizing signals induce each contact's status transmission with or without resetting an alarm buffer and whereby redundant alarm reports may be obtained.

Abstract: A multiplexing method for an alarm system is disclosed in which a plurality of transponders connected in parallel by a pair of wires each monitors an opening and responds to a synchronizing signal after a preprogrammed time delay corresponding to the particular transponder if the opening it is monitoring is secured.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for determining the location of a member of a class of individual transmitter-receiver units distributed throughout a defined facility. A central station establishes a two-way communication channel with one or more relay stations and sends a coded message identifying a particular individual unit over the communication channel. The relay stations respond to the message by sending out wake-up signals and radiant energy inquiry signals. The individual unit identified in the inquiry signal responds with a radiant energy acknowledgment signal. Embodiments of the invention disclose the use of infrared energy or ultrasonic energy for the radiant energy. Ultrasonic signals are sent on a plurality of frequencies. The relay stations send identification signals to the central station which identify the sending relay station and indicate whether an acknowledgment signal was received.

Abstract: An ultrasonic communication system capable of wireless installation and supervised operation is achieved by communicating each information bit as two distinct ultrasonic frequencies separated in frequency enough to assure that the signal strength of both transmissions will not be in a deep null at the receiver location at the same time. The transmissions can be coded with a format that recognizes the correct data transmission even if reception of one frequency is lost. By use of transponders and other auxiliary units with periodic polling, supervised operation throughout a building can be maintained with events such as intrusion, fire or emergency as well as failures of particular units of the system reported.

Abstract: An ultrasonic intrusion alarm system has a central control unit and a plurality of remote processors connected to the control unit by means of a single cable having two conductors which need not be shielded. All signals necessary for the proper operation of the system flow along the cable. The control unit provides a modulated ultrasonic signal and DC power to the remote processors along the cable, and each remote processor sends back an alarm along the cable when an intrusion is detected. The signal from each receiving transducer is applied to circuitry in an associated remote processor which detects the presence of doppler shifted signals representative of a moving object in the protected premises. The control unit includes processing circuitry for detecting signals on the cable which indicate that a remote processor has detected a moving object.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of processing in an ultrasonic alarm system to detect the doppler-shifted components which indicate the presence of an intruder. A master control applies to each of the transmitter transducers a signal which alternates between two frequencies at a modulation frequency. The output signal from the receiving transducer is synchronously detected and low pass filtered. The filtered signal is applied to electronics which respond to the presence of modulation frequency components in the filter output signal. A first embodiment utilizes a high-Q bandpass filter having a resonance frequency equal to the modulation frequency. In a second embodiment, the modulation frequency is used to effectively perform a correlation between the received signal and the modulation frequency.

Abstract: A ball joint for support of and orientation of a device in any direction stabilized against rotation on its own axis including means locking the ball in a selected position.

Abstract: A transducer assembly capable of radiating and detecting energy over a controlled beam width around a selected axis is formed by a piezoelectric element mounted in a cylindrical resonant cavity defined by a Helmholtz chamber. The resonant chamber has an energy emitting end wall positioned normal to the selected axis and is arranged to have a single aperture ring which emits energy symmetrically around the axis at a predetermined radial offset distance therefrom. The energy emitted from the chamber through the end wall sums to form along and around the selected axis a beam-like pattern of controlled width, the beam width being controllable as a function of the offset distance and the energy wavelength. In one embodiment, circular apertures which operate to emit spherical radiation patterns are formed in the chamber end wall. In another embodiment, an annular aperture is formed in the chamber end wall concentric with the selected axis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic or microwave intrusion detection system uses a modulated transmitter having one or more transducers or antennas for maintaining wave fields in the area to be protected and a receiver fed by one or more transducers or antennas which detect echo reflections of the energy from within the area. The receiver employs two mixers energized to be mixed with the echo signals and a portion of the energy from the transmitter, one of the mixers receiving such transmitter energy with 90.degree. phase shift relative to the other mixer. The outputs of the two mixers thus are in quadrature phase relative to each other and define a rotating vector which contains the information relating to the echo signals. The modulation product of these quadrature signals obtained by multiplying them together is processed continuously at the modulation frequency to obtain more reliable target information in the presence of substantially larger clutter return signals and other interference.

Abstract: An ultrasonic intrusion detection system having means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic energy within a protected zone and generating an alarm when a moving object is present in the protected zone is supplemented to provide multiple independent response zones utilizing the same transmitter for all zones but individual receiver modules which can be added to the existing transmitter-receiver system to provide protection for additional independent zones with associated indicators for selectively indicating those zones which have been triggered by the presence of an intruder or other moving object.

Abstract: An ultrasonic or microwave intrusion detection system uses a transmitter having one or more transducers or antennas for maintaining wave fields in the area to be protected and fed by one or more transducers or antennas which detects echo reflections of the energy from within the area. The receiver employs two mixers energized to be mixed with the echo signals and a portion of the energy from the transmitter, one of the mixers receiving such transmitter energy with 90.degree. phase shift relative to the other mixer. The outputs of the two mixers thus are in quadrature phase relative to each other and define a rotating vector which contains the information relating to the echo signals. The product of these quadrature signals obtained by multiplying them together is processed continuously to obtain target information in the presence of substantially larger clutter return signals and other interference.

Abstract: An ultrasonic or microwave intrusion detection system uses a transmitter having one or more transducers or antennas for maintaining wave fields in the area to be protected and fed by one or more transducers or antennas which detects echo reflections of the energy from within the area. The receiver employs two mixers energized to be mixed with the echo signals and a portion of the energy from the transmitter, one of the mixers receiving such transmitter energy with 90.degree. phase shift relative to the other mixer. The outputs of the two mixers thus are in quadrature phase relative to each other and define a rotating vector which contains the information relating to the echo signals. The product of these quadrature signals obtained by multiplying them together is processed continuously to obtain target information in the presence of substantially larger clutter return signals and other interference.