EP0470058A2 - Dispositif antivol incorporé dans le câble d'alimentation d'un appareil actionné électriquement - Google Patents
Dispositif antivol incorporé dans le câble d'alimentation d'un appareil actionné électriquement Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0470058A2 EP0470058A2 EP91830340A EP91830340A EP0470058A2 EP 0470058 A2 EP0470058 A2 EP 0470058A2 EP 91830340 A EP91830340 A EP 91830340A EP 91830340 A EP91830340 A EP 91830340A EP 0470058 A2 EP0470058 A2 EP 0470058A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- sensor
- plug
- power supply
- cord
- socket
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
- G08B13/02—Mechanical actuation
- G08B13/14—Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
- G08B13/1409—Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
Definitions
- the present invention relates to alarm systems in general and more in particular to a device for signaling a tentative to displace an electric appliance, powered through a cord plugged into an outlet socket of the power distribution network.
- Office machines, computers, air conditioners, television sets, recorders and the like are electrical appliances often having an intrinsic nonnegligeable value which abund in working premises and in houses. Also in premises provided with antitheft alarm installations, situations often occur when, though temporarily, it is impossible to maintain the premises where these appliances are under the protection of the alarm system, which commonly is in practice an antiintrusion alarm installation implying the nonaccessibility of the protected areas when the alarm system is activated. Naturally the alarm system cannot be left active when authorized personnel must freely access to the premises, for example the cleaning personnel during post-working hours in offices and commercial premises, maintenance technicians or building restructuration personnel during vacation periods, and so forth.
- the alarm system especially the volumetric and/or perimetral detectors, must be disactivated in order to permit free access and movement of the workers.
- electrical appliances also of a high value, may remain virtually unattended and may become the object of larceny by part of ill-intentioned persons taking advantage of the momentary forced disactivation of the alarm system of the traditional type.
- An objective of the present invention is that of implementing in a simple way and compatibly with an eventually pre-existent alarm system, a permanent antitheft protection of electrical appliances which are powered through an electric insulated cable teminating with at least a plug which is plugged into an outlet socket of the power distribution network, also when the normal volumetric and perimetral sensors of said existing antiintrusion alarm system are momentarily disactivated in order to permit the access and the movement of authorized personnel within the area where these carriable electrical appliances are located.
- the device of the invention has the prerogative of not requiring any substantial modification of the appliance to be protected nor the assembly, inside these appliances, of particular sensors or devices for disabling the function of the appliance and which may be reset for instance only by means of a secret code.
- the appliance as such remains perfectly functional and is not modified at all. What is functionally modified, in accordance with the present invention, is merely the cable or cord connection necessary for powering the appliance and which connect the latter to the outlet socket of the power distribution network and eventually the outlet socket of the power distribution network and the wiring thereto.
- the power cord of the electrical applicance may be an insulated cable provided with a plug and a socket temination, or may be a cable fixedly connected to a power connection block inside the appliance and teminating with a plug capable of being plugged into the outlet socket of the distribution network.
- a cord termination whether it may be defined as a "plug” or as a “flying socket” be provided with at least three power semi-contacts (or more preferably with at least free semi-contacts, by including a third semi-contact, for connecting to ground potential the electrical appliance's structure through the power cord), capable of mating with respective semi-contacts of another electrical connection organ by a "plugging-in” action.
- the power cord as a whole comprising a single or two flying terminations, is functionally modified by providing the cord with organs capable of discriminating between a state of connection or of nonconnection of the power cord.
- organs capable of discriminating between a state of connection or of nonconnection of the power cord.
- the sensor of the device of the invention may be represented by a contact or monopolar switch, which may be substantially unbiased (clean contact), having two stable states of open contact and of closed contact, which are respectively attained when the power cable of the appliance is physically connected (e.g. into an outlet socket of the power distribution network) and when it is disconnected, or viceversa.
- a contact or monopolar switch which may be substantially unbiased (clean contact), having two stable states of open contact and of closed contact, which are respectively attained when the power cable of the appliance is physically connected (e.g. into an outlet socket of the power distribution network) and when it is disconnected, or viceversa.
- the sensor of the state of connection or disconnection of the cord may be represented by a first pair of additional semi-contacts present in a connection terminal of the power cord (socket or plug), through which the supply voltage of the appliance is replicated by deriving it through a second pair of additional semi-contacts, which are functionally present in the other connection termination (socket or plug), which may be functionally cooperating with the first of said cable terminations.
- the close or open state of the contact or switch connected to two additional electrical connection terminals which are preferably formed in the same power outlet socket of the distribution network or the presence or lack of presence of the supply voltage of the electrical appliance on a similar pair of additional electrical terminals present in said outlet socket of the power distribution network, will be detected by means of common electrical devices used for this purpose which will conveniently be positioned at distance from the outlet socket of the power distribution network to which the protected appliance is connected and most preferably incorporated in an electronic control unit, through the generation of a substantially bistable electrical signal, i.e. a current or a voltage capable of stably assuming one or the other of two preset logic levels.
- Such a bistable level electrical signal is processed by the electronic central unit, which, in function of the programming received, will recognize an alarm state and actuate the acustic and/or visual alarms and/or other pre-established antitheft actions.
- the conductors for connecting the two additional poles of the "sensor" which is incorporated in the power cord of the appliance, to the electronic circuitry for the generation of the bistable level signal and for the processing thereof and the generation of actuating signals may be laid into separate channels or through channels traversed by the power distribution wires, according to what is usually done for wiring volumetric and perimetral sensors of a common alarm system.
- locally installed transmitting units may be used capable of discriminating the state of the connection-disconnection sensors of one or several power cords plugged into a series of local power outlet sockets, and of generating a bistable level signal and to convert it into a series of digitally coded pulses which may be transmitted in this form to a receiver of a central processing unit through the same conductors of the power distribution network without causing interferences.
- a receiver of a central processing unit through the same conductors of the power distribution network without causing interferences.
- an electrical appliance 1 is electrically powered by means of a power supply cable which is indicated with 2 as a whole, which in the particular case shown, is provided with two terminations, respectively a plug termination 3 and a flying socket termination 4.
- a power supply cable which is indicated with 2 as a whole, which in the particular case shown, is provided with two terminations, respectively a plug termination 3 and a flying socket termination 4.
- these supply cords have three wires, two of which are essentially dedicated to the electrical supply of the appliance 1, while the third wire is used for connecting to ground potential the appliance's structure, in accordance with widely implemented antishock regulations.
- Each termination of the supply cord is provided with semi-contacts which mate with respective semi-contacts of the cooperating electrical connection fixtures which in the case shown are respectively an outlet socket 5 of the electric power distribution network (e.g. a wall socket) and a connection receptacle 6, present in a back panel of the appliance 1.
- the cable 2 is purposely a cable provided with two additional wires, respectively 7 and 8, beside the two power supply wires 9 and 10 and the ground wire 11. Therefore, the plug 3 and the socket 5 may as shown in the Figure, be provided with a pair of additional semi-contacts, respectively 7a-8a and 7b-8b, beside of course the said trio of supply and ground semi-contacts.
- the wiring to the socket 5 of the distribution network contemplates the connection to the two additional semi-contacts 7b and 8b of the socket of a pair of wires 7 and 8 beside the three conductors of power supply and ground: 9, 10 and 11.
- a zone S wherein any suitable sensor of the state of connection or of not connection of the supply cord, i.e. of the state of insertion or of not insertion of the flying socket termination 4 into the respective mating receptacle 6 of the appliance 1, may be incorporated.
- connection sensor may be connected to a circuitry capable of generating a signal having a substantially bistable logic level and which may be processed by a central control unit capable of recognizing from the level of said bistable signal the state of connection or disconnection of the appliance 1 and of actuating, depending on the programming received, antitheft measures, such as for example the activation of an alarm siren and/or the acustic or visual signaling of the event in a certain surveillance station.
- the sensor of the connection or disconnection state of the power cord is indifferent to the fact that the appliance 1 be switched on or off, by simply detecting the state of connection or nonconnection of the power cord, as will be described in more detail later.
- a power cable of the type shown in Fig. 1 is reproduced schematically also in the Figures 2, 4, 7 and 10, while Figures 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 schematically depict a power cable of an appliance 1 provided with a single plug-termination 3 and fixedly connected at the other extremity inside the appliance itself.
- the invention is applicable to both cases, as shown in the figures.
- the same parts or components which are functionally equivalent to each other are indicated by the same number.
- two supply wires 9 and 10 respectively are shown, while an eventual third conductor, dedicated to the connection to ground of the structure of the appliance 1, is omitted.
- the sensor of the connection state of the cord is constituted by a switch 11 which is incorporated in the flying socket 4 and which is acted upon by a rod 12 which is normally kept in an extended position by the spring 13 and which, upon the insertion of the flying socket 4 in the relative receptacle 6 of the appliance, interferes with the end wall of the receptacle 6 and is forced back into the flying socket body, against the elastic reaction force exerted by the spring 13, by a distance sufficient to close the switch 11, the two terminales of which are connected to the additional conductors 7 and 8, respectively, of the power cord and through the pair of additional semi-contacts 7a-7b and 8a-8b, to the input circuitry of a programmable central processing unit, according to techniques which are well known to a skilled person.
- an eventual cutting of the power cable will be recognized by the input circuitry of the control unit as a disconnection of the power cord and similarly will cause an eventual activation of the alarms.
- FIG. 3 A device similar to that of Fig. 2 is schematically shown in Fig. 3 as applied to the case of a power cable provided with a single termination, i.e. a terminal plug 3, being the other extremity of the cable permanently anchored inside the appliance 1. Also in this case an eventual cutting of the power cable will be recognized by the alarm system.
- FIG. 4 Another embodiment of the device of the invention, is shown in Fig. 4, wherein a mercury switch 14, sensitive to acceleration, is shown. Also in this case, the cutting of the power cord, as well as any tentative to disconnect the cable will be immediately detected by the system through the mercury switch sensor.
- the sensor of the disconnection of the power cord may also be a magnetic proximity sensor.
- a permanent magnet 15 may be incorporated which, upon the plugging-in of the plug 3, causes the closing of the switch 16 acting against the elastic reaction force of the spring 17, thus determining the electrical continuity between the pair of conductor 7 and 8, which will be recognized by the control circuitry.
- the magnetic switch 16 may also be housed within the wall socket 5 of the power distribution network by providing the terminal plug 3 of the cord with a permanent magnet 15. In this case though an eventual cutting of the power cord will not be recognized by the system as an alarm event.
- the sensor of the connection state of the power cord of the appliance is an optoelectronic sensor formed by a photodiode 18 whose state of conductivity is determined by the illumination of its junction by a light source 19, which may be assembled within the receptacle 6 for the cord of the appliance 1.
- the conductivity state of the photodiode 18 will be recognized by the input circuitry of a control unit through the two-conductor line formed by the pair of wires 7 and 8.
- the sensor may also be a Hall-effect device.
- a capacitive type proximity sensor 20 mounted inside the wall outlet socket 5 and acted upon by an interfering protrusion 21 of the terminal plug 3 of the cord of the appliance 1 is shown in Fig. 8. Also in this embodiment, the cutting of the power cord would not be detected by the alarm circuitry.
- the senor of the connection or disconnection state of the power cord of an appliance is implemented in a simple way by at least two pairs of additional semi-contacts 7a-7b and 8a-8b, through which on the relative pair of conductors 7 and 8, directed to the input circuitry of the control unit, the supply voltage may be replicated.
- the detecting circuitry of the control unit will be capable of recognizing the presence or absence of the supply voltage across the terminals of the two conductors (7 and 8) line and as a consequence, of generating a substantially bistable logic level signal which will be processable by the control circuitry in order to actuate eventually the alarms.
- an eventual cutting of the power cable would be detected by the control circuitry.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)
- Insulated Conductors (AREA)
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT8362990 | 1990-08-03 | ||
IT08362990A IT1243304B (it) | 1990-08-03 | 1990-08-03 | Dispositivo antiesportazione per un'apparecchiatura elettricamente alimentata incorporato nel cavo di alimentazione dell'apparecchiatura |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0470058A2 true EP0470058A2 (fr) | 1992-02-05 |
EP0470058A3 EP0470058A3 (en) | 1992-11-04 |
Family
ID=11323388
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19910830340 Withdrawn EP0470058A3 (en) | 1990-08-03 | 1991-07-30 | Antitheft device for an electrically powered apparatus, incorporated in the power cord of the apparatus |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0470058A3 (fr) |
IT (1) | IT1243304B (fr) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1999003081A1 (fr) * | 1997-07-05 | 1999-01-21 | Mayburn Ltd. | Equipement de surveillance |
WO1999052088A1 (fr) * | 1998-04-06 | 1999-10-14 | Safety Cable As | Cable d'alarme |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3919705A (en) * | 1973-02-05 | 1975-11-11 | Joseph L Stendig | Loop cord alarm system |
US4097843A (en) * | 1976-11-12 | 1978-06-27 | Basile Sebastian B | Warning device and receptacle adaptor |
EP0052193A1 (fr) * | 1980-11-14 | 1982-05-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Dispositif pour assurer la sécurité contre le vol ou l'usage frauduleux d'appareils électriques |
US4584570A (en) * | 1983-12-12 | 1986-04-22 | Eamon Solan | Electrical appliance plug removal alarm |
US4654640A (en) * | 1985-12-03 | 1987-03-31 | United Technologies Corporation | Digital PBX integrated workstation security system |
-
1990
- 1990-08-03 IT IT08362990A patent/IT1243304B/it active IP Right Grant
-
1991
- 1991-07-30 EP EP19910830340 patent/EP0470058A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3919705A (en) * | 1973-02-05 | 1975-11-11 | Joseph L Stendig | Loop cord alarm system |
US4097843A (en) * | 1976-11-12 | 1978-06-27 | Basile Sebastian B | Warning device and receptacle adaptor |
EP0052193A1 (fr) * | 1980-11-14 | 1982-05-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Dispositif pour assurer la sécurité contre le vol ou l'usage frauduleux d'appareils électriques |
US4584570A (en) * | 1983-12-12 | 1986-04-22 | Eamon Solan | Electrical appliance plug removal alarm |
US4654640A (en) * | 1985-12-03 | 1987-03-31 | United Technologies Corporation | Digital PBX integrated workstation security system |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1999003081A1 (fr) * | 1997-07-05 | 1999-01-21 | Mayburn Ltd. | Equipement de surveillance |
WO1999052088A1 (fr) * | 1998-04-06 | 1999-10-14 | Safety Cable As | Cable d'alarme |
US6337633B1 (en) | 1998-04-06 | 2002-01-08 | Safety Cable As | Alarm cable |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IT1243304B (it) | 1994-05-26 |
EP0470058A3 (en) | 1992-11-04 |
IT9083629A1 (it) | 1992-02-03 |
IT9083629A0 (it) | 1990-08-03 |
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