GB2560992A

GB2560992A - Intruder alarm installation and components

Info

Publication number: GB2560992A
Application number: GB1705244.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: De Wet De Villiers Marius
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-31
Filing date: 2017-03-31
Publication date: 2018-10-03
Also published as: GB201705244D0; WO2018178953A1; ZA201906436B

Abstract

An intruder alarm installation comprises at least one automatic intruder sensor 2 for activating a first audible signal generated by a first sound emitting device 25 (i.e. siren), and a manually operable trigger (i.e. fixed or mobile panic switch, mobile telephone) 8-10 for activating either the first or a second sound emitting device 27 (i.e. loudspeaker) to emit a second audible signal, wherein the first and second audible signals are distinguishable from one another, and the second conveys that a situation or location requires urgent attention. The second audible signal may be emitted in sequential bursts interposed between sequential bursts of the first, and/or include synthesised or recorded words regarding the location of the alarm, the person who has activated the trigger 8-10 and/or the reason why the trigger 8-10 has been activated. The input from the manually operable trigger 8-10 and output which activates the second alarm signal may be built into an intruder alarm control unit, or may be in the form of a separate accessory unit 21 retrofitted to an existing unit 22 internally or externally. The installation may also provide communicate alarm triggering information to a remote mobile telephone or other communications device.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Intruder alarm installation and components

Abstract Title: Intruder alarm with panic button and different respective alarms (57) An intruder alarm installation comprises at least one automatic intruder sensor 2 for activating a first audible signal generated by a first sound emitting device 25 (i.e. siren), and a manually operable trigger (i.e. fixed or mobile panic switch, mobile telephone) 8-10 for activating either the first or a second sound emitting device 27 (i.e. loudspeaker) to emit a second audible signal, wherein the first and second audible signals are distinguishable from one another, and the second conveys that a situation or location requires urgent attention. The second audible signal may be emitted in sequential bursts interposed between sequential bursts of the first, and/or include synthesised or recorded words regarding the location of the alarm, the person who has activated the trigger 8-10 and/or the reason why the trigger 8-10 has been activated. The input from the manually operable trigger 8-10 and output which activates the second alarm signal may be built into an intruder alarm control unit, or may be in the form of a separate accessory unit 21 retrofitted to an existing unit 22 internally or externally. The installation may also provide communicate alarm triggering information to a remote mobile telephone or other communications device.

Figure 2 /2

Figure 1

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Application No. GB1705244.0

RTM

Date :2 May 2017

Intellectual

Property

Office

The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

“Wi-Fi” - page 5 line 36

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

INTRUDER ALARM INSTALLATION AND COMPONENTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an intruder alarm installation and components thereof that can enable a change the output characteristics and behavior of the alarm according to the types of warning inputs and especially plural inputs of different types.

The invention also relates to an intruder alarm installation that can be embodied in new alarms or that may be configured as an accessory to be retrofitted to existing alarms. The device can typically provide warnings in audible, visual or electronic signal format although it is not limited to such formats. The invention is therefore concerned with alarms that include audible alarms including synthesized and real voice recordings; visible alarms including flashing lights and light pattern pulses; as well as electronic signaling to remote fixed installations or to mobile devices carried by individuals.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Burglar alarms are typically audible and follow a general standard in the form of a single warble type of sound commonly in use world-wide with only a few exceptions.

Commercially available sirens or other sound based warning devices are normally only available in a single tone or repeating series of tones according to the application such as intruder alarms, ambulances. If a siren is linked to an alarm at a fixed installation then it will only sound that same single or repeated series of tones for a duration dictated by a pre-programmed timer.

Existing warning technologies include the common functions of delayed local alarm siren warning after a trigger event, variable sound duration, continuous or pulsed local flashing or strobe lights and electronic signals transmitted to a remote monitoring center or mobile receiver. None of the methods mentioned above of which applicant is aware offer an intelligent device that can vary the warning signal or combination of output signals to indicate to users or others in the coverage area or in communication with a scenario that exists that it is different from that ordinarily indicated by the standard alarm. Electronic signaling to a monitoring center in existing systems only provides additional information as regards the site of the alarm such as information as to a specific circuit that was triggered,

The standard practice is to link one standard type of outdoor alarm siren to any alarm system, with the option of adding a sound bomb, which is just another high-pitched siren for indoor use and in a commercial installation it may be a motorized siren. Current systems and individual components available do not present the option to the user or installer for customizing the alarm to change the output dynamically during any security or safety event.

The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in the art as at the priority date of the application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of this invention there is provided an intruder alarm installation comprising at least one automatic intruder sensor, an intruder alarm control unit adapted to detect when an automatic intruder sensor of the at least one automatic intruder sensor has been triggered and provide a first output for activating a first audible signal generated by a first sound emitting device, and a manually operable trigger for providing a second input to the intruder alarm control unit based on personal observation that is configured to cause the alarm control unit to provide a second output for activating the first or a second sound emitting device to emit a second audible signal that is distinguishable from the first audible signal and is configured to have at least one characteristic that conveys that a situation or location is requiring urgent attention.

Further features of the first aspect of the invention provide for the second audible signal to be configured to be emitted in sequential bursts interposed between sequential bursts of the first audible signal; for the second audible signal to include information as to a characteristic associated with the cause for activating the manually operable trigger with the audible signal optionally including synthesized or recorded words that either draw attention to the location of the intruder alarm installation or person activating the manually operable trigger or as to the cause of the manually operable trigger having been activated, or both; for a second sound emitting device to be a loudspeaker; for the first sound emitting device to be a conventional siren; for the second input and second output to be either built into the intruder alarm control unit or to be associated with a separate accessory unit retrofitted to an existing intruder alarm control unit either internally of that unit or externally thereof in which instance it will typically have its own housing; for communication between the automatic intruder sensors and the intruder alarm control unit to be either hard wired or wireless; and for communication between the manually operable trigger and the intruder alarm control unit or accessory, as the case may be, to be either hard wired or wireless.

Still further features of the first aspect of the invention provide for the intruder alarm control unit or accessory, as the case may be, to include additional communications facilities including a mobile telephone communications facility for communicating information regarding triggering of the intruder alarm installation as defined above to a remote mobile telephone or other communications device that may be either landline based or wireless; and for the invention to be integrated into any appropriate more extensive security or control system or installation.

In accordance with a second aspect of this invention there is provided an accessory for an intruder alarm installation comprising an electronic circuit having a first input for receiving an output from an intruder alarm installation in which at least one automatic intruder sensor is connected to an intruder alarm control unit adapted to detect when an automatic intruder sensor has been triggered, a second input for receiving a second input from a manually operable trigger, at least a first output from the accessory for controlling a first sound emitting device for generating a first audible signal when it receives a signal from the intruder alarm installation corresponding to an output generated in response to an automatic intruder sensor having been triggered, and a second output for driving either the first or a second sound emitting device for generating a second audible signal corresponding to receipt of a signal in the second input in response to the manually operable trigger having been activated, wherein the second audible signal has at least one characteristic that conveys that a situation requiring urgent attention exists.

Further features of the second aspect of the invention provide for the accessory to be either configured for installation into an existing intruder alarm control unit in which instance the accessory does not necessarily have its own housing or, in the alternative, for the accessory to be configured as a plug-in separate unit in which case it will generally be provided with its own housing.

Still further features of the second aspect of the invention will be based on those of the first aspect of the invention as will be quite apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. It will, however, be appreciated that the accessory may be adapted to be partially integrated with the intruder alarm control unit and associated components so that the overall effect is achieved although the actual drivers of each of the sound emitting devices may be in either or both of the units, depending on the design thereof.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood different embodiments of the two aspects thereof will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of intruder alarm installation according to the invention that is integrated into a single unit; and,

Figure 2 is a similar block diagram of an embodiment of the invention in which an accessory is added to an existing intruder alarm installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, an integrated intruder alarm installation (1) comprises a series of automatic intruder sensors (2) that may be of any type connected to an input signals interface (3) and thence to an intruder alarm control unit central processing unit (4) adapted to detect when an automatic intruder sensor of the at least one automatic intruder sensor has been triggered. The central processing unit is adapted to provide a first output for activating, by way of output device drivers (5), a first audible signal generated by a first sound emitting device (6).

There are only three sensors (2) indicated in Figure 1, but there could obviously be very many of different types and functions as is the case with existing intruder alarm installations. The nature of the sensors is irrelevant to the invention but could be of any sort such as hermetically sealed reed switches; passive infrared detectors; ultrasonic detectors; microwave detectors; motion sensors; compact surveillance radar; photo-electric beams; glass break detectors; smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide detectors; driveway alarms; vibration or inertia sensors; passive magnetic field detectors; microwave barriers; microphone based systems; taut wire fence systems; and security electric fences.

As provided by this invention, there are, in addition, in this instance two different manually operable triggers one of which is in the form of a mobile remote panic switch (8) and the other of which is a fixed panic switch (9) for providing second inputs to the intruder alarm control unit based on personal observation of a person actually present in the environment that is being protected. Of course, any number of such manually operable triggers could be used and could form part of the intruder alarm installation of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the mobile remote panic switch could be replaced by, or used in addition to, a mobile telephone 4 (10) having a suitable software application that renders it usable as a manually operable trigger in exactly the same way as the stand alone remote panic switch.

The alarm installation is configured to cause the alarm control unit to provide a second output for activating the first or a second sound emitting device (11) that preferably has the characteristics of a loudspeaker, to emit a second audible signal that is distinguishable from the first audible signal and is configured to have at least one characteristic that conveys information to the effect that a situation is requiring urgent attention. The second sound emitting device is preferably configured to emit sound in sequential bursts interposed between sequential bursts of the first audible signal.

Whilst the first audible signal can conveniently be a conventional alarm siren, the second audible signal preferably, at least for residential areas, includes audible information as to a characteristic associated with the location or cause for activating the manually operable trigger to activate the second audible signal. Such a second audible signal may include synthesized or recorded words that either draw attention to the location of the intruder alarm installation or at least the location of a person activating the manually operable trigger.

Thus, the second audible signal could include an address identifying the locality of the alarm and thus, for example, it could include the words No 10 Barrymore or similar information. Alternatively, or in addition, words could be used to indicate the cause of the manually operable trigger having been activated. Preferably, a composite message could be emitted by the second sound emitting device such as “Intruder in No 10”.

It will be appreciated that the automatic intruder sensors and the intruder alarm control unit may be either hard wired or wireless and the communication between the manually operable trigger and the intruder alarm control unit be either hard wired or wireless.

As indicated above, the installation may include additional communications facilities including a transmitter (12) for communicating with a mobile telephone (13) so as to be capable of communicating information regarding triggering of the intruder alarm installation as described above. Such a communication would be wireless in the case of a mobile telephone such as a cellphone.

Communications could be by way of a telephone line (PSTN), ADSL line, Long-Range Alarm Radio, GPRS Alarm Radio, Wi-Fi or any suitable Internet connection interface. The connection format may be of direct level activated logical triggers, serial communication including contactID format or any other suitable format required by the transmission equipment.

Implementation of this invention enables inputs as received from existing alarm and emergency equipment to be processed according to a pre-determined pattern and logic whereby the output drivers will then activate the warning devices appropriately.

The input connections to the existing alarm or other safety or security monitoring equipment are thus monitored and would typically be digital with the logical on/off or high/low status only. However, these inputs may also operate in an analogue fashion to accept variable status inputs from the likes of temperature, position indication or other equipment with an analogue output representing true status values instead of logical status.

The output device drivers include a visual indicator (15) that may be a light, strobe or other suitable visual indicator. This indicator may be used for the purpose of giving a visual warning to users, tenants, bystanders or response personnel.

Normally the alarm will sound if any detection zone is activated in the armed state or any panic button is pressed at any time. The siren will sound with the standard fixed alarm tone and stop after the pre-programmed time. However, as provided by this invention there may be a change if a user at the relevant premises visually or otherwise verifies that an intruder is indeed present, the manually operated trigger can be activated in the manner of a panic button. This additional activation will then escalate the level inside the intruder alarm central processing unit (4) to a burglary and panic condition and the output would be changed accordingly. The central processing unit will then start to sound the alarm tone and interrupt it periodically, say every 2 to 10 seconds or any other suitable time with a pre-recorded and programmed voice message for example which in this case may be would confirm the presence of an Intruder. This alarm signal, followed by the voice message will be repeated until the pre-programmed maximum siren time is reached.

To comply with any local municipal or other regulatory laws or requirements, this alarm siren time will follow the alarm panel pre-programmed time as programmed by the alarm installer at the time of installation.

All voice messages may be pre-recorded or synthesized and stored in digitized format in a solid state memory section (18) of the installation. The messages may be triggered by any predetermined sequence of input events and recalled from the memory, processed and converted to signals which are then sent to a loudspeaker driver. The loudspeaker driver may consist of an audio amplifier and output stage suitable to drive a high-powered outdoor loudspeaker. All logical sequences, actions and processing logic required to make the installation work may be permanently programmed into the central processing unit (4) at the time of manufacture.

As indicated above, and with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, a separate accessory unit (21) may be retrofitted to an existing intruder alarm installation (22) either internally of that unit or externally thereof in which instance it will typically have its own housing. The accessory includes an electronic processing circuit (23) having a first input for receiving an output from the intruder alarm installation in which at least one automatic intruder sensor (2) is connected to an intruder alarm control unit (4) adapted to detect when an automatic intruder sensor of the at least one automatic intruder sensor has been triggered.

A second input interface (24) for receiving an input from a manually operable trigger, that could be selected form the same as those described above, namely a a mobile remote panic switch (8); a fixed panic switch (9) and a a mobile telephone (10). A first output from the accessory controls a first sound emitting device (25) for generating a first audible signal when it receives a signal from the intruder alarm installation corresponding to an output generated in response to an automatic intruder sensor having been triggered. A second output is fed to a second output device driver (26) from the accessory drives either the first or a second sound emitting device (27) for generating the second audible signal in response to the manually operable trigger having been activated.

While the present invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, in both summarized and detailed forms, it is not intended that these descriptions in any way limit its scope to any such embodiments and applications, and it will be understood that many substitutions, changes and variations in the described embodiments, applications and details of the method and system illustrated herein and of their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Throughout the specification and claims unless the contents requires otherwise the word ‘comprise’ or variations such as ‘comprises’ or ‘comprising’ will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An intruder alarm installation comprising at least one automatic intruder sensor, an intruder alarm control unit adapted to detect when an automatic intruder sensor of the at least one automatic intruder sensor has been triggered and provide a first output for activating a first audible signal generated by a first sound emitting device, and a manually operable trigger for providing a second input to the intruder alarm control unit based on personal observation that is configured to cause the alarm control unit to provide a second output for activating the first or a second sound emitting device to emit a second audible signal that is distinguishable from the first audible signal and is configured to have at least one characteristic that conveys that a situation or location is requiring urgent attention.

2. An intruder alarm installation as claimed in claim 1 in which the second audible signal is configured to be emitted in sequential bursts interposed between sequential bursts of the first audible signal.

3. An intruder alarm installation as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the second audible signal includes information as to a characteristic associated with the cause for activating the manually operable trigger.

4. An intruder alarm installation as claimed in claim 3 in which the second audible signal includes synthesized or recorded words that draw attention to any one of the location of the intruder alarm installation; a person activating the manually operable trigger; and the cause of the manually operable trigger having been activated, and any combination thereof.

5. An intruder alarm installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the second sound emitting device is a loudspeaker.

6. An intruder alarm installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first sound emitting device is a conventional siren.

7. An intruder alarm installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the second input and second output are either built into the intruder alarm control unit or are in the form of a separate accessory unit retrofitted to an existing intruder alarm control unit either internally of that unit or externally thereof.

8. An intruder alarm installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which communication from the manually operable trigger is either hard wired or wireless.

9. An intruder alarm installation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the

5 installation includes additional communications facilities including a mobile telephone communications facility for communicating information regarding triggering of the intruder alarm installation to a remote mobile telephone or other communications device

10. An accessory for an intruder alarm installation comprising an electronic circuit having a

10 first input for receiving an output from an intruder alarm installation in which at least one automatic intruder sensor is connected to an intruder alarm control unit adapted to detect when an automatic intruder sensor has been triggered, a second input for receiving a second input from a manually operable trigger, at least a first output from the accessory for controlling a first sound emitting device for generating a first audible signal

15 when it receives a signal from the intruder alarm installation corresponding to an output generated in response to an automatic intruder sensor having been triggered, and a second output for driving either the first or a second sound emitting device for generating a second audible signal corresponding to receipt of a signal in the second input in response to the manually operable trigger having been activated, wherein the second

20 audible signal has at least one characteristic that conveys that a situation requiring urgent attention exists.

11. An accessory for an intruder alarm installation as claimed in claim 10 in which the accessory is configured for installation into an existing intruder alarm control unit in

25 which instance the accessory does not necessarily have its own housing.

12. An accessory for an intruder alarm installation as claimed in claim 10 in which the accessory is configured as a plug-in separate unit.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1705244.0 Examiner: Miss Samantha Henry