Progressive Dynamics, Inc.

Microwave Sensors

Earl R Goodrich, Ii

Larry Eccleston

James C Cook, Ii

David P Orlowski

Manot Swasdee

A field disturbance monitor system which senses changes in a reflected signal caused by animate objects compared to inanimate objects in the same zone. The system employs a microprocessor which controls the system. A transmitter transmits a pulses microwave signal in response to a control signal from the microprocessor. A receiver receives a return signal which represents a reflection of the transmitted signal. A sample and hold circuit senses and holds the magnitude of the pulsed signal. Analog to digital conversion is obtained, whereby a ramp generator generates a ramp voltage which is compared with the magnitude of the received signal by a comparator. The microprocessor measures the time it takes the ramp voltage to rise to the magnitude of the detected signal. The microprocessor continuously computes a recursive short term average and compares this average value with a recursive long-term average. Deviations between the two time periods are the result of a disturbance within the monitoring field. Furthermore, the system is continuously self-adjusted to allow the conversion process to occur within the bounds of the measurement circuit, by changing the gain applied to the detected signal.

Field disturbance monitor system

A system for producing alternating electromagnetic fields for use in theft detection and surveillance systems, including an arrangement of field-generating inductance coils for disposition on opposite sides of a passage to be monitored by the electromagnetic field produced by such coils. In a preferred such arrangement, upper and lower coils are used on each side of the passage and such coils are mutually distinct from one another and separately energizeable so as to generate separate components of a resulting composite electromagnetic field. The upper and lower coils in each such set are preferably disposed in coplanar alignment with one another but have at least portions of one coil overlapping portions of the other, so as to enhance uniformity in the resulting electromagnetic field. The array of separately-energizeable coils provides for resultant flux vector variation in the magnetic field along three mutually orthogonal axes as a function of coil drive excitation phase variation. The specification further discloses preferred coil-drive circuitry for accomplishing such purposes.

Method and apparatus for producing electromagnetic surveillance fields

The specification discloses a digital/analog signal analyzer for an electromagnetic surveillance system. Included is a notch filter having a switched capacitor filter controlled by a phase lock loop for nulling a time-varying driving frequency from the received signal. The analyzer further includes structure for digitizing the received signal and for implementing a recursive filter to enhance digital feature extraction. The recursive filter in turn includes structure for delaying a read address for subsequent use as a write address to facilitate the rapid updating of data in memory. Also included is a digital-to-analog converter assembly having a pair of piggy-backed digital-to-analog converters to produce an analog signal dependent upon both a mantissa and an exponent of a digital number in scientific notation.

Signal analysis apparatus including recursive filter for electromagnetic

Methods and apparatus for producing alternating electromagnetic fields for use in theft detection and surveillance systems include individual series-type electrical drive circuits for separately energizing each of the field-generating coil windings with maximum efficiency and control, and transformer-type coupling between the different field-generating coil drive circuits to effect balanced and equalized current flow in the different coil windings and thereby enhance both drive efficiency and field uniformity. Additionally, a current-sense winding provides for monitoring of field coil current flow, and for feedback control of the magnitude and/or frequency of the coil excitation drive. In a preferred embodiment, the fields are generated by at least two coils on each opposite side of the field, and the coils are separately energized through separate but commonly-coupled drive circuits.

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East Lansing, MI, United States of America

Earl R Goodrich, Ii