SE530291C2 - Detector and alarm system for monitoring of moving objects - Google Patents

Description

20 25 30 530 29'l 2 Furthermore, in other contexts it is well known to follow and measure positions of objects with the aid of light, optics and image and photosensors. This is used, for example, in CD / DVD players / burners, when scanning documents, in printers and copiers. It is also used in systems and methods used in optical input / output devices for computers, so-called optical mice. Common to these applications is the constant distance between light source and detector or between the current surface and detector.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide detectors suitable for detecting movements of objects.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a detector which may be suitable for use in a monitoring and / or alarm system or a monitoring and / or alarm system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an exemplary monitoring and / or alarm system or an exemplary monitoring and / or landfill system.

In order to be able to easily detect movements and / or to be able to monitor the position of an individual object, such as a door, a window, a painting and the like, at least one suitable detector can be mounted on or next to the object. With the aid of such a detector comprising a special sensor which can detect movements and movements, the current position / the current orientation of an object such as a door, a window or a painting can then be determined. The objects' positions can be used in alarm applications and / or for buildings with automated functions. An optical sensor can be used in the detector and can then function, for example, as a miniaturized imaging system. However, other detectors can also be used when appropriate or required for various applications, such as simple photosensors, magnetic sensors or sensors that detect gravity or the earth's magnetic field.

Thus, a detector for monitoring a moving object may generally include a sensor mounted on or adjacent to the moving, monitored object. The sensor continuously shields its position in relation to a section of a surface of a solid object next to the monitored moving object resp. on the monitored moving object. The detector emits a signal or message only when it has determined that the sensor has been moved in relation to the mentioned section to a position outside the preset limits.

An advantage of a method and a system that includes detection of movements and movements is that, for example, balcony doors, windows, etc. can be kept open in optional positions or of course also kept closed while their positions are always known.

A further advantage is that persons can reside within the shell protection provided by such a method and such a system and move freely there.

If the monitored object then moves outside given limits, which can be set dynamically, for example when activating an alarm system, the system can call for this, for example by activating an alarm or control signal.

Another advantage is that an alarm system with detection / monitoring as above can always be active and that it can easily be reactivated to a new reference state that corresponds to the current state of all objects' positions and orientations, ie positions in angular direction.

A further advantage is that such a system can give an alarm signal if a window or a door has been forgotten to be open / open when leaving a building or a room.

An advantage of an optical sensor is that it is insensitive to external electric and magnetic fields.

Electronic and optoelectronic components tend to be smaller and cheaper, as are radio circuits, microcomputers and embedded systems. Thus, an entire sensor system including circuits and devices for wireless transmission and power supply and control can be integrated on a very small surface of a substrate, for example on a micro-electronic chip, for example as in SIM cards for mobile phones, which today contain a complete microcomputer with memory.

If the detectors are equipped with small solar cells and associated energy accumulator, such as an electrochemical microbattery or a capacitor made in the microelectronic circuit, they can operate for very long operating times, in principle for their entire life, as they can be charged from external daylight and also from internal lighting. . They can also be fitted with mirrors that reflect more light into the light-receiving surface. Thus, thin ol lm solar cells can be integrated in a detector.

The charge controller function can be built into the control circuit in a detector.

The detectors can be made so small that they can be glued directly to many types of objects such as windows, doors and paintings, ie with a suitable design it can be very easy to install and mount the detectors. As they do not need to contain any moving parts with a suitable design, they can be very reliable.

Software in each detector system can, for example, be updated using wireless communication.

A system, units and a method as above can also be used by automatic control systems in so-called intelligent buildings for controlling various devices, for example by devices for ventilation, ventilation, sun and rain protection.

An optical sensor in a detector may generally comprise at least one light sensor or generally a light detector circuit such as for example an image sensor and may also comprise at least one illumination element or light source and if required some optical system comprising at least one lens / a prism / aperture for collecting / directing an appropriate amount of light towards the light detector circuit.

The detector may also comprise a microprocessor for processing information as well as a radio part for wireless transmission of information and means for energy supply. Furthermore, a specially designed reflecting part can be used to facilitate the determination of distance or position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in the form of non-limiting exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 is an overview view of a detector system, - Figs. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a detector, - Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a central unit for a detector system, - Figs. of a detector, - Fig. 6a is a schematic view from the side of a detector, - Fig. 6b is a schematic perspective view of the detector according to fi g. 6a, - Figs. 7a - 7h are images of different embodiments of a part with a surface specially designed for detection, - Figs. 8 is a schematic view illustrating how the width / length of the part according to fi g. 7a - 7h or a field arranged on the surface of this part changes size when imaged in different directions, and - Figs. 9a - 9d are schematic images showing how a detector mounted on a hinge can detect the movement of a door or a window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Detectors must first be described here, see the block diagram in fi g. 2, which are intended to be attached to objects suitable for monitoring. Examples of mounting the detectors are shown in fi g. Sa - Sd and 9a - 9d. Such an object, such as a window, see fi g. Sa - Sb, a door, see fi g. Sc, or a board, see fi g. Sd, is generally a body that can move, move, ie change its geographical location, and / or change its orientation, ie its direction or its angular position. Change of position resp. orientation can generally take place in one to three dimensions. Through the change, which of course also undergoes the detector attached to an object or in any case is shielded in some way, is produced in a sensor 1 included in a detector 3, see fi g. 2, one or more output signals. I fi g. 9a - 9d show a hinge for a window or a door, where the arrows in angular direction show the rotation of the window / door and the straight bidirectional arrows symbolize the path of light when illuminating the surface resp. after re- fl reaction to this. The detectors 3 may contain optical sensors. A surface 5 of any object 7 near such a sensor 1 can then be illuminated, see fi g. 6a and 6b, for example from a light source 9 included in the sensor, and received by an optical sensor element 11 included in the sensor. The reflected light can pass through an optical system, symbolically represented by the lens 13, to be projected and / or deflected in the direction of the light-sensitive surface of the sensor element. This depicts a pattern resulting from variations in the texture / structure of the surface 5, such as a small surface section on a door or window frame, wall, etc. on the light-sensitive surface and is disposed of. The sensor 1, ie the sensor element ll itself and the light source 9, can be på xxerated on the object to be monitored, preferably near the center of movement of this object if one exists. The distance between the sensor and the reflecting surface 5 can advantageously be relatively small and should not vary too much when the object is moved. Preferably, as stated above, the sensor 1 may move together with the monitored object and the reflecting surface be stationary or geographically fixed, but also the reverse arrangement may be suitable in some cases, see fi g. 5a - Sd and 9a - 9d.

For example, the location of the sensor 1 on a door can advantageously be close to the hinge of the door taken in radial direction from the axis of rotation of the door, ie near the center of the rotational movement, and close to a surface, eg the floor, taken in axial direction relative to the same axis of rotation. placement could be likened to a monitoring of the hinge itself and movements of its rotatable part. The placement can be facilitated by using mounting wedges and spacers, not shown, for the sensor 1, so that the reflecting surface 5 falls within the depth of field for the image on the active surface of the sensor element 11. Höm and other edges can be good candidates as part of a reaction surface.

The characteristic pattern in the sensed image is analyzed by a sensor processor 15 in the detector, see fig. 2, (in the illumination-optic imaging subsystem) and movements and / or deviations from known position / permitted boundaries can be signaled to the rest of a monitoring or alarm system as will be described below.

The lighting device 9 can advantageously contribute to the intensity of the light being reflected towards the surface 5 and then hitting the sensor element 11 becoming constant and in any case independent of external light conditions and may in an embodiment be, for example, a light emitting diode (LED). It is an advantage for the pattern recognition, if the lighting gives rise to a pattern with good contrast, e.g. patterns on floors, wallpaper, etc., and is facilitated even if the light falls at an angle different from 90 degrees to the reflecting surface 5.

In another embodiment, in cases where the contrast can be assumed to be low, a laser diode can be used as a light source 9, especially if the surface 5 being illuminated has fi n or little texture, i.e. if the texture has a characteristic dimension which is relatively small, say in the order of 1 - 10 μm, such as for example monochromatic surfaces, and / or if the distance to the surface is relatively large, for example of the order of cm instead of in the order of mm, which may be the normal or the desired case, or if the light source emits light perpendicular to the surface, over substantially the entire motion detected, ie when sufficiently good shadows occur so that the pattern in the surface 5 can be imaged and detected with respect to the resolution of the sensor element II . The coherent light from a laser, which is in phase and has a small scattering in wavelength, gives rise to the fact that the smallest irregularities can form detectable patterns for different distances between the surface and the sensor element.

The light emitted by the light source 9 can have wavelengths within the visible spectrum, but also infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) light can be used.

The detector 3 may be designed for dynamic tracking similar to that used in optical mice for computers. The sensor element ll can in this case take pictures at regularly recurring times and analyze each picture taken in comparison with previously taken pictures to determine whether a movement has taken place and to give any indication of the distance to the reflecting surface, which can be expressed as the consequence of captured images being analyzed with respect to their "optical fate". Determination of constant optical fate from an image sensor can, in order to be able to follow movements fi of an image sensor, be performed according to Berthold K. P. Horn, "Determining Constant Optical Flow".

In general, a first image or reference image can be correlated with a new image or images.

It is also possible for the reflecting surface 5 to consist of the surface of a part 7 specially designed and arranged for this purpose. Such a part may be a strip or plate, which may be flexible and is suitable for attachment to the desired location. It can be, for example, a piece of self-adhesive tape or a sticker. The part 7 can then have a pattern or structure on its surface, which can be easily sensed by the optical sensor 1 and then also can advantageously directly code for different positions of the object to be monitored, in relation to the part 7, see fi g. 7a - 7h and 8. I fi g. 8 indicates the angle v of the imaging direction in relation to the north of the reflecting surface of the part 7. The pattern or structure may then suitably be three-dimensional. The surface structure must of course be able to reflect the light emitted by the light source 9, such as that it is sensitive to IR light, for example.

With the aid of such a specially designed pattern / such a specially designed structure or surface structure, it can be easier for the sensor 1 to reshape a position, since this can then be given directly by a static snapshot. With such a pattern or structure it can be achieved that a dynamic tracking of movements as above of the movement does not have to be performed, since a part of the pattern / structure, which is proportional to the magnitude of the movement of the object, is directly imaged on the image sensor, and with suitable image analysis algorithm it can be directly decoded and calculated how much or what part of the pattern / structure is detected by the image sensor and hence the position of the object 10 15 20 25 30 530 291 can be easily obtained.

I fi g. 7a shows a special part 7, which on its surface has a field 51 with a color or pattern deviating from a background 53. The field can be wedge-shaped as shown. If then the imaging system 13 is set so that only a limited area 55 is imaged on the sensor element 11, this area only covers a part of the wedge-shaped field and during a movement the area is moved in the longitudinal direction of the wedge, the width / length of the imaged part of the wedge can easily obtained and provides a measure of movement. This may assume that the area 55 has a width as small compared to the length of the wedge.

The wedge-shaped field may be curved as shown in fi g. 7c.

A number of fields with different colors or patterns can also be used as shown in fi g. 7b and 7d - 7h. A variable number of dots or dots can be detected by means of the structures in Figs. 7b and 7f. Rake or curved lines of different lengths can be detected using the structures in fi g. 7d, 7e, 7g and 7f The detected number resp. the detected length can in these cases directly provide information about the position of the monitored object.

The special part 7 may in another embodiment, not shown, have substantially uniform reflecting ability over its surface, ie have a completely smooth and single-colored surface, but instead have an outer shape which can be used for distance determination or determination of the position after a movement of the monitored object. An external such form can, for example, be like a wedge.

In a simple case it may also be sufficient that the special part 7 as described above is strip-shaped or rectangular and generally has a constant width but has reflective properties, such as a color or a structure, on its surface 5 as deviated from the substrate on which part 7 is intended to be attached. With suitable mounting, the part 7 is imaged with different widths depending on the angle at which it is imaged on the sensor element 11, see fi g. 8. This width can directly provide information about the position of the sensor element relative to the part 7 and thus about the position of the monitored object.

The system can learn permissible limits for movements and counter-movements and the limits can be variable. For example, an artificial neural network can be modeled to perform the pattern recognition.

The sensor element 11, which in this embodiment is an image detector, may for example be a CMOS or CCD detector, may be considerably smaller and in particular have a significantly lower resolution than such image detectors which are used, for example, in ordinary cameras for photographic imaging. For example, it can have a resolution as low as 30x30 pixels (pixels). The resolution must always be chosen so that it is sufficient to be able to distinguish the variations and irregularities that will be visible when the reflecting surface 5 is illuminated or to be able to distinguish between the lengths of fields with different reflective properties, such as color, structure or pattern.

For example, certain parts of the architecture of the integrated components Avago (Agilent) 10 15 20 25 30 530 291 8 ADNS-26l0, ADNB-7051-EV or PixArt PANl0lB CMOS Navigation Sensor can be used as sensor element 11. Even such miniature cameras used in mobile devices such as mobile phones can be used.

In its simplest embodiment, the sensor element ll is a photosensor which is used only to measure the intensity of or the amount of received reflected light without any image being taken on an image sensor. Changes in the signature of the intensity / quantity may correspond to changes in position. A special pattern as above can be used to facilitate a controlled reaction.

With an image sensor, it can be sufficient for alarm applications to detect changes in positions and then, in the simplest case, changes in two consecutive images can be used.

The sensitivity can be adjusted, for example, by allowing a certain number of pixels to vary without giving an alarm. Another method is to iron out the distribution of the light intensities in all pixels in two consecutive images and to sound an alarm signal when a predetermined threshold has been exceeded. Such a threshold may mean that the light intensity distribution does not differ too much from, measured by any suitable algorithm, a predetermined or an initial, at a calibration procedure determined, distribution. For applications in the field of automation, some method is preferably used by means of which movements of objects can be followed, since in this case one is usually interested in movements and positions.

The optical 13, lenses / priSmN, dimming devices, etc., are advantageously configured to provide a large depth of field when imaging the reflecting surface 5 on the image sensor 11, so that captured images have sufficient sharpness for different distances to the surface. The distance between the sensor element II and the reflecting system which may comprise one or more surfaces also affects the size of the image in the image sensor for a given optical sister 13. Good sharpness / good contrast in the image on the active surface of the image sensor can be sought at all positions of the monitored object.

The optical system 13 can be adapted with respect to magnification - reduction, focal length / focal lengths, so that the best performance for detecting patterns on the image sensor 11 is achieved.

The light and the reactions can also be divided and made to change direction by means of mirrors, prisms and other optical elements, not shown, in order to keep the distance between the image sensor and the reflecting surface 5 within reasonable limits.

In the optical part 13 of the sensor 1, as mentioned above, your optical elements such as lenses, prisms, light dividers, mirrors can be used. These can be arranged in the traditional way in series with each other as in a camera / binoculars. Alternatively or in addition, your parallel optical elements, for example lenses with different focal lengths, can be used to image your simultaneous images on different parts of the image sensor 11. Alternatively, the optical part 13 can be easily exchanged with different focal length / focal lengths / deflection, etc. to adjust the distance between the detector 3 and the illuminated, reflecting surface 5 and the size of the image and the image angle.

The depth of the notch is also affected by the glare, ie by how much light is allowed to reach the active surface of the sensor element 11 and by the angles at which light rays are allowed to fall towards the active surface, ie the space angle of the light opening.

Furthermore, the depth of field is also affected by the intensity of the illumination and the time of exposure, which are parameters that can be adjusted automatically by appropriate software in the detector's microprocessor 15.

In case laser light is used, the Philips PLN2020 twin-eye laser sensor can serve as an example of a useful component for.

There is also new technology that can be used to increase the depth of field in an optical system by about 5 -10 times, so-called Wavefront Coding, see E. R. Dowski, W. T. Cathey, "Extended Depth of Field Through Wavefront Coding". An optical element which is not spherical is used to refract the light rays in a controlled manner, which generates a blurred, "smeared" image on the active surface of the image sensor 11. By digital post-processing, in eg the detector control unit 15, of such a smeared image, a sharp image with a large depth of field can be obtained.

To get good sharpness, "autofocus" as in miniature corners can also be used. Such autofocusing can be performed using piezoceramic miniature motors. This solution is used, for example, in cameras for mobile phones.

The entire detector 3 is advantageously encapsulated / protected in a housing, see fi g. 6b.

I fi g. 2 shows a possible design of the detector 3. As shown, the detector may contain a sensor part 17, which contains the sensor itself 1. The sensor can generally emit one or fl your output signals. The signal or signals are received by an interface 19 in the control unit or processor 15 in the sensor part 17, processed and evaluated therein and possibly then, depending on the result of the processing and evaluation, a signal or a message is emitted from the detector 3, which in general may mean that set limits for the operation have been exceeded. For this purpose, the detector 3 may contain a radio unit 21 connected to the control unit 15, included in the sensor part, with an associated antenna, which may be arranged only for transmission or also for both transmission and reception. A temperature sensor 23 can be found in the sensor part S and is then suitably connected to the control unit in order to emit to it a signal representing the current temperature.

The detector 3 further comprises in the embodiment shown an energy supply unit 25, which as shown may in turn contain a solar cell 27, a battery such as an electrochemical cell or an accumulator 29 and a regulator circuit or unit 31, connected to both the solar cell and the battery. 15 20 25 30 530 291 10 riet / accumulator for regulating the charging of the accumulator 29. During installation, the detector is placed so that enough light, external or internal, can fall on the active surface of the solar cell 27 to supply energy to the detector.

All electronic and optical components included in the detector 3 can be integrated on one; or your silicon wafers, so-called "System on chip" (SoC).

The signal (s) from the sensor 1 have, as discussed above, generally special signatures, i.e. have different special shapes and different special characteristics depending on the sensed movements.

The signal resp. the signals are subjected to calculations and analysis in the control unit 15, which may be, for example, a miniaturized microcomputer comprising a processor integrated with a memory. Results from the calculations and analysis can, as mentioned above, be used to give some form of signal or message, which indicates that certain set limit values or limit characteristics have been passed, ie exceeded or undershot or which indicates measures of the sensed movement fi the sensed position which can be obtained in proportional decoding and in the use of reflective surfaces of the type shown in fi g. 7a - 7h.

Each output sigral with its characteristic signatures can thus be analyzed by means of statistical methods or so-called signature analysis, which is a form of pattern recognition. An artificial neural network can thus be modeled to perform such a pattern recognition.

In a calibration state, the system can learn permissible limits for movements and furthermore the limits can be variable.

If desired, temperature control of the detector housing or encapsulating housing can be easily implemented using the temperature sensor 23.

The electronic and optical components included in the detector 3 are driven in the embodiment shown in the figure by means of the solar cell 27, which charges an energy buffer, the accumulator 29, for example a micro-battery or a so-called supercapacitor, intended to emit the necessary electric current when the solar cell is unable to emit sufficient current, such as when it is too dark in the detector's environment. In a suitable electronic circuit such as the regulator circuit 31, the charge dry run can be controlled.

In particular, the charging current can be evaluated at different times of the day, so that it can be determined whether the charging processes are normal and thus no component in the energy supply part 25, especially not the active surface of the solar cell, has been subjected to sabotage attempts. The controller circuit 31 can also control the charging processes with different charging characteristics at different times of the year, ie for different lights and temperature conditions in the environment.

The components of the detector 3 can alternatively be driven only by an ordinary electrochemical battery or an ordinary electrochemical cell 29 intended / intended to emit small electric currents for a relatively long time. 10 15 20 25 30 530 291 ll A further alternative is to transfer energy to the detector 3 with electromagnetic waves of radio frequency and / or with microwaves.

To further save energy, the control circuit 15 included in the detector 3 can be designed or programmed to work as energy-efficiently as possible, for example by replacing function calls in the program code with copies of code, so-called alignment.

The detector and in particular its control unit 15 can be designed so that most of the components of the detector are in a dormant state for most of the time, in which they draw very little energy or no energy at all. The length of the activity intervals during which the detector is in full operation can be adjusted as needed, such as when detecting events.

The control unit 15 in the detector can be arranged so that on periodic repeated occasions, "cyclically", it requests an image from the optical sensor 1 to then make an analysis of the sensed image with a narrower limit value / narrower set limit values than the for which alarms are to be generated. The analysis itself may then also be done with lower accuracy. In the meantime, most of the detector 3 can be in the idle state. If the narrower limit values have been passed, the entire detector is then awakened to perform a possibly more complete analysis and analyze your images.

Of course, the detector 3 can be sensitive to operating phenomena of various kinds, in particular time operation, ie aging of constituent components, and temperature variations. Operation of components can, however, be calibrated away.

The temperature operation can primarily be an offset / bias (DC -) component, as in the case of the simplest type of optical sensor, but can also be a sensitivity component. These signal components are relatively linear and can be easily compensated in the detector control unit 15 by means of table beating and the signal from the temperature sensor 23.

Time operation can be calibrated on a regular basis, eg each time detector 3 is reactivated to a new reference state.

In the case of the simplest type of optical sensor with only sensing the amount / intensity of light received, the bandwidth of the signal emitted from the sensor can be adjusted by means of bandpass filtering, so that the noise contribution is reduced to a favorable signal-to-noise ratio for sufficient accuracy, and so that immunity to rapid movements, such as wind movements, can be obtained. Through, for example, continuous or continuous averaging, the detector's performance in such a case can be further increased. Slow variations can be due to ternperatiirdri fi and therefore too slow and too fast movements can be filtered out.

The above-mentioned work steps and methods will now be described in connection with fl fate schedules in fi g. 4a ~ 4f.

Each detector 3 is started for the first time, see step 101 in fi g. 4a, for example by removing a plastic cover from the battery 29 in the same way as for small battery toys, which means that electrical energy is now supplied to the other components of the detector and in particular the Control Unit 15, which begins to execute the instructions in a stored in its memory, appropriately designed program. Thereafter, the detector enters a calibration state, in which the components of the detector undergo a series of irritation and configuration steps, the following being performed: - The detector 3 is connected wirelessly to the central unit 33, see fi g. 1 and 3, by activating the radio unit 21, see step 103. The radio unit is thus commanded to transmit a suitable identifying signal. Upon receiving this signal, the monitoring of the connection with the detector is started in the central unit 33. As long as the detector 3 is active, a suitable message is then transmitted from its radio unit 21 at regular intervals, for example of the same type as the first transmitted identifying message. The central unit 33 can give system alarms, unless messages are received from the detector at expected times.

The control unit 15 activates the controller circuit 31 to start the control of the battery charge, see step 105. The control will then last for the entire life of the detector. The energy regulation state can be active relatively rarely to save energy, say every five minutes, ie the regulator 31 is only awakened at periodically recurring times to then make an adjustment of suitable parameters for the battery charge.

- The control unit 15 performs, via the radio unit 21 in collaboration with the central interface 33 of the central unit 33, ie the terminal 35 and its screen and keyboard, see fi g. 3, a "motion calibration" in step 107, in which the object monitored by the detector 3 is moved to its end positions.

This can be done at different speeds fl your times to be able to give characteristic signatures for how the object can move and for the maximum limits for the object's movement to be determined. These limits are then stored in the memory of the control unit 15.

The control unit 15 exchanges via the radio unit 21 information with the central unit 33 and other detectors included in the system, ie detectors connected to the same central unit, about routing for sending messages, etc. and stores addresses and other necessary data in its memory, see step 109. Routing and multi-hop algorithms without any suitable operating system, such as the TinyOS sensor operating system, can be used.

- In one step 111, the control unit 15 brings the detector 3 into a calibration step, at which limit values for the signals from the sensor 1 are determined depending on operation in temperature and time, ie aging.

After these initialization and configuration steps, the detector 3 returns to its normal function, its reference state, for monitoring and controlling the movements of the monitored object, see step 113, is fed by the detector receiving the appropriate command from the central unit 33, as can be of its user interface, or from a remote control unit 37 arranged for this purpose, see fi g. l.

Temporary deactivations / reactivations of the detector's 3 monitoring and control function required when a monitored object is to be fl moved, eg to open a window, can be done using the wireless remote control unit 37. Other alternatives are to do it from the central unit 33 or from the detector itself, which makes it practical and easy to be able to open / surface monitored objects. The person who is competent can prove his competence in an appropriate way.

In addition to the remote control unit 37, this can be done, for example, with a PIN code / signature on a simple keypad, not shown, integrated with the detector 3.

It is also conceivable that the person authorized has a radio transmitter, "ld-code beacon" 39, see fi g. l, with a limited range on it, which may be separate or arranged, for example, in the remote control unit 37, which when the authorized person comes close enough to the detector 3, without special command or special input, may be that the person is authorized to change the monitor kade the position of the object.

The detector 3 can also be configured, so that in the event that the object, which is monitored by the detector, is a window, a door or the like, closing of the object is always permitted, i.e. deactivation and reactivation of the detector only needs to be performed when opening a such monitored object.

When any of the monitored objects, such as a window, is to be moved, the detector 3 which monitors this object can be blocked so that the detector's sensor function and thus the transmission of an alarm signal or alarm message is inhibited for a certain time, or during the time when a " The LED code beacon "39 is located near the detector. After blocking, the detector is reactivated and enters a new reference state.

Sensor 1 in the detector 3 can, as indicated above, be active for only a fraction of the total time. How often it should be active and for how long it should be active at each activation event is determined by how fast movements of the monitored object are desired to be detected. This can be configurable in each detector.

The detectors 3, which have access to only a limited amount of energy, are as mentioned above for most of the total time at rest. What is always in operation is a time circuit, not shown, in the sensor atom 15, which draws very little energy, and at a predetermined but configurable time limit, ie after the sampling interval, a time trigger occurs, at which a check is made of a movement has occured. As mentioned above, the detectors can be event-controlled, see fi g. 4b. An event of a first kind consists in deactivating a detector, see step ll5, in order for a competent person to be able to change the position of the monitored object. When the detector 3 is then reactivated, it can return to the calibration state described above for going through the initialization and configuration steps, see fi g. 4a.

When a movement above a certain predetermined basic level is detected, as described above, the detector control unit 15 can be awakened to register more of the movement. Calculation and analysis of the movement is then performed in one step 117 and compared in another step 119 with how much it may deviate from set limits. If the deviation is within the set limits, the detector 3 transitions to an energy control state, see fi g. 4th. If the deviation is outside the limits, which is obtained if an unauthorized person moves the monitored object, the detector switches to sharp land state LIS, see fi g. 4d, in order to activate an audible or visible sharp alarm signal in a step 121, such as by notifying the central unit 33 which immediately upon receipt of the corresponding message activates its alarm means, see fi g. 3. The alarm signal can thus generally activate audio and / or visual alarm or attention means, but it can also be forwarded, see step 123, so that messages about the alarm reach other systems and terminals, such as e-mail clients, computers, mobile phones and other alarm systems. .

The system then switches to a waiting state in which only a qualified person can reset the alarm.

A further event that can occur is that the monitored area with the aid of the detectors 31, 32 is left unattended, for example that a house becomes empty of people and is locked. A signal is then given to the system, for example from the central unit 33 or a wireless remote control unit 37.

If a monitored object then falls outside its initial reference state, which can be set when configuring the system in the central unit 33, for example that all windows and doors are closed, the system will emit a reminder alarm, ie an alarm of a different kind that can be distinguished from the alarm described above, with another audible or visual signal, so that appropriate action can be taken, eg to close or to accept the position as the I fi g. 1 shows a sister of detectors 31, 32, ..., which communicate wirelessly with each other and with a central unit 33 and, if desired, can wirelessly receive information from a remote control unit 37 and also from a beacon unit 39. The communication can e.g. be done by using a so-called peer-to-peer / mesh network, in which all nodes, i.e. here essentially the detectors 3, participate in the delivery of a message between a single detector and the central unit 33, i.e. a "multi-hop" method can be used for transmitting messages. This can also help reduce energy consumption in the detectors. The messages can also be made to take one of your alternative routes ("routes") between a detector and the central unit.

The wireless standard IEEE 802.154 and / or ZigBee can, for example, be used to transmit the information in a so-called wireless detector network, "Wireless Sensor Network" (WSN). These standards are intended for small amounts of data and the detectors / nodes work energy-efficiently. 5 10 15 20 25 30 539 291 1 5 Ultra Wide Band GJ WB) can also be used for radio communication.

In the system, ports, "GateWays", not shown, can also be added to other systems in order to easily integrate the detector system with other existing systems.

In the system there is, as mentioned above, a node, the central unit 33, with central functionality for connection to other systems.

In the simplest embodiment of the system, messages can only be transmitted from the detectors 31, 32, to the central unit 33. In another embodiment, all units can send and receive messages, ie all have all transceiver functionality. The radio connections between each detector and the central unit can, as mentioned above, be monitored regularly and the alarm can be given if not all detectors 31, 31 send messages at regular intervals, so-called watch-dog function. The system and in particular the detectors 31, 32, can also be controlled, at least with respect to certain functions, by means of the wireless remote control unit 37 as described above, for example during activation / reactivation. It may also be possible to interact with the system using a wireless remote control unit 37, for example during activation / reactivation.

The central unit 33 may be supplied with energy from the public electrical distribution network and may also suitably have a reserve energy supply by means of a battery, not shown, for safety reasons. When the central unit is installed and activated / started, it can perform an initialization and is then prepared to wait for detectors to connect to it.

The central unit 33 may have or be connected to or when desired be connected to a user interface, comprising for example a keypad / keyboard and / or a monitor and a suitable graph shown thereon, see fi g. 3. The interface means may be integrated in the central unit 33 or directly connected thereto. The central unit 33 may alternatively be connected to a personal computer or terminal 35, the interface means being the computer keyboard and monitor. Information can be displayed on the screen using, for example, a web browser ("browser"). In particular, the central unit 33 may also contain a so-called web server, not shown, such as Apache, from which the said information displayed by means of the browser can be retrieved. The central unit 33 may also be connected to a local area network (LAN), which in turn may be connected to the Internet. As a result, the information can be displayed on a terminal 41 connected to the Internet and the system is controlled from this.

With the help of the user interface, the condition of the current system installation can be presented graphically and easily. The sister installation can also be initialized and configured from the user interface to suit the monitored area / monitored property / monitored object.

Also in the central unit 33, as mentioned above, ports "GateWays", not shown, can be accessed to other systems in order to be able to easily integrate the sensor system with other systems, for example mobile data networks 10 such as GSM.

Typical application examples: Detectors as above can be used in alarm systems for shell protection, ie burglary / intrusion protection in properties. The detectors are then suitably mounted on or near windows and doors, see fi g.

Sa - 5c and 9a - 9d, in the property. The detectors are connected and configured to a system / network according to Fig. 1, with a central unit 33 by means of the user interface of the system.

For detectors 3 with solar cell operation, if possible, the active surface of the solar cell 27 can be turned outwards, away from the property, if the object monitored by the detector is a window and more light falls in from outside than from the interior lighting. For objects such as solid doors and dark / mirrored windows, the active surface of the solar cell can be turned to face inwards to draw energy from the interior lighting. Detector 3 with its solar cell can also be placed outdoors if desired.

When an unauthorized person moves (opens) an (or fl era) monitored object outside the given limits, an alarm is given as described above.

A detector / detectors 3 as above can also be used in alarm systems for anti-theft protection.

Detectors can be attached to computers, art, such as paintings, and other valuable objects, see fi g. Sd. In museums, for example, strong illumination of objects is common, and for a detector powered by a solar cell 27, the solar cell can then absorb energy from the illuminating, artificial light.

The detector system works in principle in the same way as the shell protection above, ie when someone unauthorized fl moves a monitored object outside the given limits, an alarm is given.

The detector system described here can furthermore be used for monitoring poles etc. for electricity lines, telephone lines and lighting. In the event of severe weather, accidents, etc., loads, movements, orientations, etc. on such poles and similar devices are monitored.

The detectors can then, by transmitting messages through a multi-hop algorithm as described above, send status information very long distances in a very energy-efficient way. As the detectors are self-sufficient in terms of energy and communication channel (radio), they can, even in the event that, for example, a line stops working, for example due to an interruption, signal alarms.

The detector system described here can also be used by automatic control systems in so-called intelligent buildings for, for example, control and monitoring of ventilation, ventilation, sun and rain protection. Then one of the detector's functions can be used, such as the temperature sensor which gives the temperature and the solar cell's charge level which can give a measure of, for example, the brightness.

The detector system can also be used to monitor oscillations and vibrations in buildings and bridges. Even in all these different cases, the detectors, by being able to transmit messages through a multi-hop algorithm, can send status information, eg control information, without cables, for example in real estate. Redundancy obtained with the help of fl your nearby detectors provides increased security as well as the detectors being self-sufficient in terms of energy and communication channel (radio), and the system can, even in the event of a breakdown, signal information.

Claims (21)

10 15 20 25 30 530 291 is PATENTKRAV Detector (3) for monitoring a moving object, characterized in - that the detector comprises a sensor (1) mounted on or next to the moving, monitored object for continuous screening of its position in relation to a section (5) of a surface on a fixed object next to the monitored moving object resp. on the monitored moving object, and - that the detector (3) is arranged to send a signal or a message only when it determines that the sensor (1) has been moved in relation to said section (5) to a position outside preset borders. Detector according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (1) is an optical sensor comprising a light source (9) for emitting light towards said section (5) and a light detector circuit (1 1) for receiving light emitted by the light source and reflected by the mentioned section. Detector according to claim 2, characterized in that the detector comprises a reflecting part (7), the surface of which constitutes the said section (5) and which is intended to be mounted on a solid object next to the movable, monitored object resp. on the movable, monitored object, the reflecting part (7) being adapted to allow the light detector circuit (II) to be able to determine the position of the light detector circuit in relation to the said surface section (5). Detector according to claim 3, characterized in that the reflecting part (7) has a shape adapted to enable the said position determination. Detector according to claim 3, characterized in that the reflecting part (7) has a surface with a specially designed pattern or a specially designed structure adapted / adapted to enable said position determination. Detector according to claim 3, characterized in that the reflecting part (7) has a surface which, in order to enable said position determination, has reflecting properties which differ from reflecting properties of a surface on which the reflecting part is intended to be fixed. - is done. Detector according to one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the light detector circuit (11) comprises an image sensor with a plurality of different image components. Detector according to any one of claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the sensor (1) is arranged to detect its position in relation to said surface section (5) in a periodically repeated manner at times with a first time interval therebetween and thereby at each such time determining whether the sensed position is outside a first predetermined limit and that in the event that the sensed position is determined to be outside the first predetermined limit, then at times with a second time interval therebetween sensing the position of the detector relative to said section, the second time interval being less than the first time interval. 10 15 20 25 30 530 251 íÜi Detector according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in: in that the detector comprises a control circuit (15) coupled to the sensor (1) for receiving signals represented by sensed movements, the control circuit being arranged to evaluate the signals by means of pattern recognition. Method for monitoring a moving object, wherein a sensor (1) mounted on and / or next to the moving, monitored object, characterized in - that the position of the sensor (1) relative to a section (5) of a surface on it monitored moving object w »'resp. on a fixed object placed next to the moving, monitored object is continuously sensed, and - that a signal or a message is emitted only when the sensor (1) detects that its position in relation to said section is outside preset limits. 11. ll. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that in the step of sensing the position of the sensor (1), the position is sensed optically by analysis of light which has been reflected towards said section (5) - Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that in the step of sensing the position of the sensor (1), the position of the sensor is sensed in a periodically repeated manner at times with a first time interval therebetween and it is determined at each such time whether the sensed position is outside a first predetermined limit and that in the event that the sensed position is determined to be outside the first predetermined limit, it is then sensed at times with a second time interval therebetween the position of the detector, the second time interval being less than the first time interval. System for monitoring at least one moving object comprising a central unit (33) and a detector (3) mounted on or next to the at least one moving object, characterized in that the detector (3) comprises a sensor (1) for continuously sensing its position in relation to a section (5) of a surface of the monitored moving object resp. on a fixed object placed next to the moving, monitored object and that the detector (5) is arranged to deliver a signal or a message to the central unit (33) with information about its current position. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the detector (3) is arranged to emit the signal or message at periodically repeated times, upon receipt of special command from the central unit (33) or when the sensor (1) senses that it has been moved to position in in relation to the said surface section (5), which is outside predetermined limits. System according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the detector (3) comprises a control unit (15) and that in order to set the boundaries, the central unit (33) and the detector (3) are arranged to be able to assume a setting state, in which it at least one moving, monitored object is moved within both a permitted area and an unauthorized area, the sensor emitting signals to the control unit, which are evaluated by it for recognition of whether the moving, monitored object is within the permitted or unauthorized area. 10 15 20 25 530 29'l Detector (3) for monitoring a moving object, characterized by - a. light detector circuit (11) mounted on the moving, monitored object or on a fixed object next to the moving, monitored object, - a light source (9), and - a reflecting part (7) mounted on a fixed object next to the moving, monitored object resp. . * on the movable, monitored object and comprising a surface (5) for receiving light from the light source - and reflecting it to the light detector circuit, and - the reflecting part (7) is adapted to allow the light detector circuit to determine the position for the light detector circuit (11) in relation to said surface (5) on the reflecting part (7). Detector according to claim 16, characterized in that the reflecting part (7) has a shape adapted to enable said position determination. Detector according to claim 16, characterized in that the reflecting part (7) has a surface with a specially designed pattern or a specially designed structure adapted / adapted to enable said position determination. Detector according to claim 16, characterized in that the reflecting part (7) has a surface which, in order to enable said position determination, has reflecting properties which differ from reflecting properties of a surface on which the reflecting part is intended to be attached. . Detector according to one of Claims 16 to 19, characterized in that it is arranged to emit an alarm signal or an alarm message only when the detector senses that the light detector circuit (11) has been moved relative to the approximate surface (5) of the reflecting part (7). ) to a position outside pre-set limits. Detector according to one of Claims 16 to 20, characterized in that the light detector circuit (11) comprises an image sensor with a plurality of different car elements.