Other

Clairol Incorporated

Security Organization Supreme-sos-inc.

National Industrial Security Corp.

Frank Schwarz

Henry J Walter

Richard H Nielson

Kent Chen

A integrated IR detector for detecting both motion and fire/smoke includes in one embodiment a single source of IR radiation and separate IR sensors for sensing motion and smoke. The separate sensors are coupled by their outputs to separate amplifier circuits and provide separate outputs indicating motion (intrusion) detection and smoke detection. The entire arrangement of IR source and dual sensors are mounted in a single housing and powered by a common power supply. In a second embodiment, a single passive IR motion detector having a pair of phase opposed series connected sensors is coupled to a circuit for detecting motion (intrusion) while one of the pair of sensors is coupled to a circuit for sensing changes in ambient temperature. The circuit for detecting ambient temperature changes includes logic analysis and time constant filtering to produce an alarm signal only when ambient temperature changes exceed a preset threshold rate of degrees per second. Common power supplies and control units are disclosed which allow coupling alarm signals on a single two-wire or four-wire circuit.

Infrared detector for detecting motion and fire and an alarm system

Combination fire/intrusion alarm detectors using active infared elements

A motion sensor having front and rear fields of view includes a housing containing an infrared sensor mounted on a surface which may be a circuit board containing associated electronics to form the motion detector which produces an output in response to the motion of a warm body passing through the sensor's field of view. A front part of the housing is provided with a forward looking optical system, preferably a multifaceted Fresnel lens, and a rear part of the housing is provided with at least one rearward looking optical system. A reflector is provided directly between the sensor and the forward looking optical system for reflecting infrared light entering the rearward looking optical system onto the detector. According to one embodiment of the invention, the rearward looking optical system includes a pair of Fresnel lenses and the reflector is a flat mirror. In another embodiment of the invention, the rearward looking optical system includes a pin hole and the reflector is a reflective surface on the inside of the forward looking optical system. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the rearward looking optical system is a window without any lens and the reflector is a focusing mirror. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rearward field of view is directed downward.

Infrared detectors having front and rear fields of view

Solar powered outdoor lighting and/or alarm systems are provided and include a light source or alarm, a passive infrared (PIR) sensor in conjunction with a battery recharged via solar cells, and a control circuit coupled to the light source or alarm, the PIR sensor, and the rechargeable battery. The control circuit guarantees that the light source or alarm is turned on by the battery only when the sensor senses the presence of a moving target. The systems may include a light detector which is utilized to prevent the system from activating in daylight. In the case of a lighting system, a timer is utilized to turn off a lamp after a desired period of time (e.g. 3 minutes). By limiting the 'on-time' of the light source, a two to five watt bulb may be used. In the case of an alarm, the alarm may be hardwired to the control circuit; or if desired, a transmitter powered by the rechargeable battery may be used to transmit an alarm signal to a remote receiver. The receiver is in turn coupled to its own power supply and to a control circuit which controls or switches desired components such as horns, bells, lights, etc.

Solar powered lighting and alarm systems activated by motion detection

Central control unit for an alarm system

An electric hair dryer having a radiometer which remotely senses the infrared radiation emanating from the hair being dried and which contains a control means that causes the heating means in the dryer to turn off when the infrared radiation indicates the temperature of the hair is about 50.degree. C.

Hair dryer with remote sensing temperature control

Infrared detectors, such as thermistors, thermocouples, thermopiles, pyroelectric detectors, and the like, are rendered insensitive to short wave radiation, such as the visible or near infrared, but sensitive to longer wave infrared, for example, beyond 4.5.mu. by coating the active surface of the detector with a strong reflector of visible light but which absorbs infrared at least in the range from 7.mu. to somewhat beyond 10.mu.. A preferred example of the paint, which appears white to the eye, is titanium dioxide, but this is not the only material which can be used as any white or strongly diffuse reflecting coating which absorbs in the infrared from 7.mu. on can be used. The infrared instrument for which the detector is particularly useful is an intrusion detector or burglar alarm which is activated by the infrared radiation from the intruder, which is in the range from around 7.mu. to 10.mu. and beyond. The strongly diffuse reflecting action in the visible prevents false alarms from ambient light. As is common, the detector can be mounted in a housing which protects it and which is provided with a window that transmits infrared. Improved differential sensitivity is obtained by coloring the window, which may be of a plastic such as polyethylene, with dyes or pigments which are opaque or poor transmitters for visible light.

Selective infrared detector

This invention relates to intrusion detection devices, and in one embodiment includes an array of infra-red detectors with associated means for selectively increasing the number of scan zones which may be monitored by the same detector array, by providing an optical system with reflectors and/or lenses having a multiplicity of facets set at selected angles to direct primary impulses received from portions of the entire scanned field sequentially to the detector array.

Growing community of inventors

Stamford, CT, United States of America

Frank Schwarz