U.S. patent number 3,868,669 [Application Number 05/351,019] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-25 for reduction of false alarms in electronic theft detection systems.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Knogo Corporation. Invention is credited to Arthur J. Minasy.
United States Patent |
3,868,669 |
Minasy |
February 25, 1975 |
REDUCTION OF FALSE ALARMS IN ELECTRONIC THEFT DETECTION SYSTEMS
Abstract
Electronic theft detection systems are disclosed which have a
particular frequency within which protected articles cause
electronic response. False alarms are reduced by detecting similar
electronic responses outside the frequency range and temporarily
deactivating the system when such responses are detected. In a
swept frequency system deactivation signals are produced during the
portion of the frequency sweep outside the particular frequency and
the deactivation remains during the remaining portion of the
frequency sweep past the particular frequency.
Inventors: |
Minasy; Arthur J. (Woodbury,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Knogo Corporation (Westbury,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23379246 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/351,019 |
Filed: |
April 13, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/572.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
13/2414 (20130101); G08B 13/2471 (20130101); G08B
13/2474 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
13/24 (20060101); G08b 013/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/258C,280,258A
;343/5PD,6.8R ;325/478,35 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Swann, III; Glen R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper &
Scinto
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for reducing the occurrence of false alarms in an
electronic theft detection system of the type wherein an
interrogation signal is varied in frequency and wherein
predetermined changes in the electromagnetic field in the vicinity
of a checkpoint are produced by the passage therethrough of
protected articles carrying special electronic circuits whenever
said interrogation signal passes through a given frequency range,
and wherein an alarm indication is produced in response to said
predetermined changes, said method comprising the steps of
monitoring the interrogation signal frequency and preventing alarm
indications when said interrogation signal frequency is outside
said given range.
2. A method for reducing the occurrence of false alarms in an
electronic theft detection system of the type wherein an
interrogation signal is varied in frequency and wherein
predetermined changes in the electromagnetic field in the vicinity
of a checkpoint are produced by the passage therethrough of
protected articles carrying special electronic circuits whenever
said interrogation signal passes through a given frequency range,
and wherein an alarm indication is produced in response to said
predetermined changes, said method comprising the steps of
monitoring for similar changes in the electromagnetic field in the
vicinity of said checkpoint which occur while said interrogation
signal is outside said given range and preventing alarm indications
in response to detection of said similar changes when said
interrogation signal subsequently passes through said given
range.
3. A system for detecting the unauthorized passage of articles
through a checkpoint, said system comprising a transmitter
operative to transmit an interrogation signal which varies in
frequency, responder circuits mounted on articles whose
unauthorized passage is to be detected, said responder circuits
being operative to produce a predetermined change in the
electromagnetic field conditions in the vicinity of said checkpoint
in response to the incidence on said circuits of said interrogation
signal within a given frequency range, receiver means operative in
response to said predetermined change to produce an alarm actuating
signal, alarm means responsive to said actuating signal to produce
an alarm indication and means operative to prevent alarm actuation
while said interrogation signal is outside said given frequency
range.
4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said responder circuits
include energy absorbing resonant circuits and wherein said
receiver means is connected to respond to energy level changes in
the vicinity of said checkpoint caused by the absorption of power
in a responder circuit passing through the checkpoint.
5. A system according to claim 3 wherein said means operative to
prevent alarm actuation comprises a gate circuit associated with
said receiver and arranged in the path of said alarm actuating
signal, a frequency sensitive switch connected to receive
transmitted interrogation signals and to produce switching signals
to open said gate circuit when said interrogation signals are
within said given frequency range and to close said gate circuit
where said interrogation signals are outside said given frequency
range.
6. A system for detecting the unauthorized passage of articles
through a checkpoint, said system comprising a transmitter
operative to transmit an interrogation signal which varies in
frequency, responder circuits mounted on articles whose
unauthorized passage is to be detected, said responder circuits
being operative to produce a predetermined change in the
electromagnetic field conditions in the vicinity of said checkpoint
in response to the incidence on said circuits of said interrogation
signal within a given frequency range, receiver means operative in
response to said predetermined change to produce an alarm actuating
signal, alarm means responsive to said actuating signal to produce
an alarm indication and means associated with said receiver means
for producing alarm inhibit signals in response to said
predetermined change which occurs while said interrogation signal
is outside said given frequency range and means responsive to the
occurance of said alarm inhibit signals for inhibiting alarm
indications when said interrogation signal subsequently passes
through said given frequency range.
7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said responder circuits
include energy absorbing resonant circuits and wherein said
receiver means is connected to respond to energy level changes in
the vicinity of said checkpoint caused by the absorption of power
in a responder circuit passing through the checkpoint.
8. A system according to claim 6 wherein said means associated with
said receiver means comprises first and second gate circuits each
connected to receive signals from said receiver means, one of said
gate circuits being connected to permit signals passing
therethrough to produce an alarm indication, the other gate circuit
being connected to permit signals passing therethrough to override
any opening of said one gate circuit for a predetermined length of
time and a frequency sensitive switch connected to receive
transmitted interrogation signals and to produce switching signals
to open said one gate when said interrogation signals are within
said given frequency range and to open said other gate when said
interrogation signals are outside said given frequency range.
9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said frequency sensitive
switch includes a multivibrator having two output terminals which
are alternately energized and which are connected, respectively, to
control terminals of said first and second gate circuits.
10. A system according to claim 8 wherein a signal sustaining
circuit is connected to the output of said other gate circuit.
11. A system according to claim 10 wherein said transmitter is
operative to vary the frequency of said interrogation signal
cyclically at a given rate and wherein said signal sustaining
circuit has a duration in excess of the cyclic period of frequency
variation of said interrogation signal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the control of theft detection systems
and more particularly it concerns arrangements for reducing the
occurrence of false alarms from such systems due to extraneous and
sporadic electrical effects, such as may result from the operation
of electrical machinery near the system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The present invention is especially suitable for use in conjunction
with electronic theft detection systems of the type described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,493,955 and 3,500,373. In both systems, each of
the articles to be protected from theft has a electronic responder
circuit attached to it. This circuit may be concealed in a wafer
like element which may also serve as a price label or the like for
the protected article. The articles are maintained in an enclosure
having limited egress and checkpoints are set up at each egress. A
transmitter is provided at the checkpoint to transmit an
interrogation signal and receiver means are provided to note any
response produced by the interaction of a wafer responder circuit
with the transmitted signal field in the vicinity of the
checkpoint. In the case of the systems described in U.S. Pat. No.
3,493,955, the wafer responder circuits respond to the transmitted
interrogation signal, which is at a first frequency, to produce a
response signal at a second frequency. The receiver means are tuned
to detect this second frequency.
In the case of the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,373, the
wafer responder circuits are resonant circuits tuned to resonate at
the transmitted interrogation frequency. When these wafer responder
circuits are brought into the transmitted interrogation signal
field they absorb some of the transmitted energy. The receiver
means monitors the transmitted signal, which changes in amplitude
due to this absorbtion. In order to maximize sensitivity the
transmitter of this system produces an output frequency which
sweeps cyclically over a given range which includes the resonant
frequency of the wafer responder circuits. This causes a series of
responses in the form of impulses which occur at a repetition rate
corresponding to the frequency sweep rate.
While in both of the above described systems the wafer circuit
serves to produce a unique electrical response to the interrogation
signal, the possibility exists that similar responses may be
produced by nearby electrical equipment such as switches, motors,
relays etc., or by other extraneous or sporadic electrical effects;
and in such case a false alarm signal may result.
In another U.S. Pat., No. 3,696,379, there is described one means
for counteracting the effects of nearly electrical equipment and
extraneous or sporadic electrical effects. According to this
patent, a separate receiving system is provided near, but not at,
the checkpoint. This receiving system, because of its location,
will not respond to the effects of wafer responder circuits passing
through the checkpoint. However, it does respond to the signals of
nearby electrical machinery, etc., which might produce false
alarms. Whenever such signals are detected by the separate
receiving system, it operates to deactivate the main receiving
system so that the false alarm cannot be produced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an alternative way to reduce the
occurrence of false alarm signals. According to the present
invention a separate receiving means is provided; but instead of
being responsive to the same frequency signals as the main
receiving system but at a different location, the separate
receiving system of the present invention responds to different
frequency signals at the same location as the main receiving
system.
According to one embodiment of the present invention the separate
receiving means comprises a receiving channel tuned to respond to
electrical effects which occur only within a frequency range which
does not include the response signal frequencies. Should those
effects exceed a predetermined magnitude, the separate receiving
channel produces an output which is utilized to deactivate the
alarm.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the transmitter
and the wafer responder circuits are arranged so that the wafer
responder circuit produces a series of spaced responses. A gating
system is set up in a manner which on one hand permits the main
receiving system to function only at the times the spaced responses
would occur and which on the other hand permits the separate
receiving system to function during the intervening times. Should
the output of the main receiving system exceed a predetermined
level, it will activate an alarm. However, should the output of the
separate receiving system exceed a predetermined amount it will
override the effect of the first receiving system and deactivate
the alarm.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention a transmitting system
is arranged to transmit an interrogation signal at a frequency
which is swept back and forth at a given rate and over a range
which includes a predetermined wafer responder circuit response
frequency. The wafer responder circuits on the protected articles
resonate at the response frequency and change the impedance in the
vicinity of the transmitting system during the times that the
transmitted frequency sweeps past the response frequency. Thus when
a wafer responder circuit passes through a check-point in the
transmitter antenna field, it causes a series of responses to be
produced at a repetition rate corresponding to the transmitter
frequency sweep rate. In order to protect the system from possible
false alarms a frequency selective switch is provided. This
frequency selective switch is arranged to direct the receiver
response into a first or a second channel referred to respectively
as a noise channel and a signal channel. The frequency selective
switch is tuned to span the wafer responder circuit resonant
frequency range and is arranged to open the signal channel when the
transmitter frequency passes through that range. Whenever the
response level exceeds a predetermined threshold in the signal
channel an alarm is activated. The filter switch also opens the
noise channel during the remaining portions of each transmitter
frequency sweep. Whenever the signal level in the noise channel
exceeds a given threshold a deactivation signal is produced which
deactivates the alarm for a given length of time.
There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of
the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based
may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other
structures and methods for carrying out the several purposes of the
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions and methods as do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Specific embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes
of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying
drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a checkpoint
for article theft detection in which the present invention is
embodies;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a theft detection system including a
false alarm prevention arrangement according to one embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another theft detection system also
including a false alarm prevention arrangement according to a
further embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a time, frequency and amplitude plot useful in
understanding the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIG. 1 there is shown a doorway 10 separating an enclosure 12
from an exterior region 14. The doorway 10 constitutes one of a
limited number of egress passageways from the enclosure 12; and
accordingly it serves as a checkpoint for ascertaining any
unauthorized removal of articles from the enclosure. The doorway 10
is provided with several antenna windings 16, 18 and 20 arranged
such that when the windings are energized from a transmitter 22,
they establish electromagnetic fields in the region of the doorway
10. These electromagnetic fields serve as a monitoring means since
any object passing through the doorway 10 must also pass through
the electromagnetic field. All articles to be protected are
provided with a wafer 24 (shown in dotted outline) which
encapsulates an electronic responder circuit. When the wafer is
brought through the doorway 10, its circuit reacts with the
electromagnetic field. This response is detected by a receiving
system (not shown) which activates an alarm. If an article has been
purchased special means may be employed for removal or deactivation
of the wafer circuit so that it may pass through the
electromagnetic field without causing an alarm actuating
disturbance.
FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram form, the application of the
present invention to a rebroadcaster type electronic theft
detection system such as that shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.
3,493,955. As can be seen in FIG. 2, there is provided a
transmitter 26 which energizes a transmitter antenna 28 so that the
transmitter antenna continuously emits an electromagnetic field at
a monitoring frequency of, for example, 27.2 megahertz (MHZ). The
transmitter antenna 28 may comprise one or more of the windings 16,
18 and 20 (FIG. 1) so that the electromagnetic field fills the
region of the doorway 10. A responder circuit 30, which may be
encapsulated in the wafer 24 of FIG. 1, is configured to respond to
the 27.2 MHZ field and to emit a response signal at a frequency of
between 5.1 and 5.9 MHZ, for example.
The responder circuit output signals are intercepted by a receiver
antenna 32; and they are detected and amplified in a receiver 34.
The receiver antenna 34 may also comprise a winding at the doorway
10 (FIG. 1). The output of the receiver 34 passes through a broad
band amplifier 36; and from there the detected signals pass along
two channels. The first channel includes a signal filter 38 which
is relatively sharply tuned to the output frequency of the
responder circuit 30. The output of the signal filter 38 passes to
a threshold detector 40 which, upon receipt of a signal of a
predetermined magnitude, generates an alarm actuation signal. The
alarm actuation signal from the threshold detector passes through a
normally open gate circuit 42 to actuate an alarm 44. The alarm 44
may be any audio or visual type indicator means well known in the
art.
The second channel of the receiver system includes a noise filter
46 which is tuned to pass signals whose frequency components do not
lie within the selected signal range, i.e., between 5.1 and 5.9
MHZ. The output of the noise filter is applied to a threshold
detector 38. The threshold detector is set to respond to a
predetermined noise level and, upon the occurrence of such noise
level, to apply a signal to an inhibit terminal 50 of the normally
open gate circuit 42.
In operation of the system of FIG. 2, articles to be protected are
provided with wafers 24 (FIG. 1) which contain responder circuits
30 capable of emitting an electromagnetic signal of between 5.1 and
5.9 MHZ when energized by an electromagnetic field at 27.2 MHZ.
Thus, whenever a protected article containing an operative
responder circuit 30 passes through the doorway 10 (FIG. 1) and
through the field of the transmitter antenna 28, it responds to the
continuously transmitted electromagnetic field in the doorway and
in turn energizes the receiver antenna 32. Signals from the
receiver antenna 32 are detected by the receiver 34 and are passed
through the broad band amplifier 36, the filter 38, the threshold
detector 40, and the normally open gate circuit 42, to activate the
alarm 34.
Should there occur any sporadic or extraneous electrical
disturbances capable of causing premature or improper actuation of
the alarm 44, such disturbances would, according to the present
invention, be detected and utilized in a novel way to protect
against any premature or improper alarm actuation. The present
invention is based in part on the discovery that sporadic and
extraneous electrical disturbances occur over a rather broad
frequency band substantially greater than the selected response
signal frequency. Thus, in the present case, while sporadic
electrical disturbances may produce electromagnetic fields in the
vicinity of the doorway 10, within the 5.1 to 5.9 MHZ response
frequency range, those same disturbances will also produce other
electromagnetic fulls at frequencies both above and below the
response frequency range. These other electromagnetic fields are
detected by the receiver 34; and while the receiver signals they
produce do not pass through the signal filter 38, they do pass
through the noise filter 46. These signals pass through the
threshold detector 48 and appear at the inhibit terminal of the
gate circuit 42. This closes the gate circuit 42 and prevents the
sporadic electrical disturbance induced signals in the signal
channel from passing through the channel to activate the alarm 44.
When the electrical disturbance ceases, the signals in the noise
channel terminate, and the inhibit terminal 50 of the gate circuit
42 is deactivated, thus allowing the gate circuit to revert to its
normally open condition. Thus, any responder circuit induced
signals which are not accompanied by signals outside the selected
response frequency range may then pass through the signal channel
and through the gate 42 to activate the alarm 44. The noise filter
46 must, of course, also be tuned to prevent passage of signals at
the transmitted frequency in order to prevent continuous
indications of false alarm from energy received directly from the
transmitter.
FIG. 3 shows in block diagram form, a modified version of the
present invention as applied to an electronic theft detection
system of the type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,373.
As shown in FIG. 3, the theft detection system includes sweep
generator 60 capable of producing a repetitive output sweep, for
example a sine wave voltage whose amplitude varies at a frequency
of 300 cycles per second. The sweep generator output is applied to
a tunable transmitter oscillator 62 which, in response to the
signals from the sweep generator 60, produces an output frequency
which shifts, for example, from 1.95 to 2.05 MHZ at a 300 cycle per
second rate. This varying frequency output is applied to a
transmitter amplifier 64 where it is amplified and then applied to
a transmitter antenna 66. This transmitter antenna may comprise one
or more of the windings 16, 18 and 20 arranged in the doorway 10 of
FIG. 1. The antenna 66 produces an electromagnetic field in the
vicinity of the doorway 10 which varies in frequency between 1.95
and 2.05 MHZ at a 300 cycle per second rate. A responder 68, which
may be encapsulated within the wafer 24 of FIG. 1, comprises a
resonant circuit, such as shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.
3,500,373. This circuit is tuned to resonante at some fixed
frequency between 1,95 and 2.05 MHZ. More specifically, in the
present embodiment, the responder circuit is tuned to resonate at
2.00 MHZ.
A receiver 70 is connected to a point between the transmitter
amplifier 64 and the antenna 66. The output of the receiver 70 is
applied to a threshold detector 72, and its output in turn is
connected in parallel to a noise gate circuit 74 and to a signal
gate circuit 76. The output of the signal gate circuit 76 is
connected through a time constant circuit 78 to an alarm 80.
The circuit of FIG. 3, as thus far described, operates to detect
the presence of the responder circuit 68 in the field of the
antenna 66, i.e., in the vicinity of the doorway 10 (FIG. 1), in
the manner described in aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,373.
Thus, the vicinity of the doorway is filled with a high frequency
electromagnetic field whose frequency is swept continuously at a
300 cycle per second rate back and forth over a frequency range
which includes the resonant frequency of the responder circuit 68.
This frequency sweep is illustrated by a curve (a) in FIG. 4. The
resonant frequency of the responder circuits 68, which is indicated
by a cross hatched strip (b), is chosen to be near the middle of
the frequency range. The width of the strip (b) depends upon the Q
of the resonant circuits 68, that is, upon the sharpness with which
they can be tuned.
Each time the antenna field frequency sweeps across the resonant
frequency of a resonant circuit 68 which is in its field, i.e.,
which is present in the doorway 10 of FIG. 1, the impedance
presented to the antenna 66 decreases and a greater amount of
energy flows out the antenna. Because of this, the amount of
transmitter energy presented to the receiver 70 decreases. This
phenomenon is experienced twice during each cycle of transmitter
frequency sweep, i.e., at 600 times per second. The receiver
circuits are designed, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,373, to
respond to the occurrence of energy decreases incident on the
receiver at 600 times per second, and to supply a signal to the
threshold detector 72 when this occurs. Signals from the threshold
detector 72 pass through the signal gate circuit 76, the time
constant circuit 78 and activate the alarm 80.
The remainder of the system of FIG. 3 is designed to disable the
actuation of the alarm 80 whenever spurious electromagnetic or
electrical disturbances occur, which otherwise might be interpreted
by the receiver 70 and the threshold detector 72 as a responder
circuit 68 passing through the field of the antenna 66. The
disabling portion of the system of FIG. 3 includes a sharply tuned
oscillator 82 which is tuned to a frequency of 1.5 MHZ. The output
of this oscillator is applied to a mixer 84 along with output
signals from the tunable transmitter oscillator 62. These signals,
when mixed in the mixer 84, produce an output signal which varies
between 450 and 550 KHZ (kilohertz) at a 300 cycles per second
rate. The mixer output is applied to a switching filter 86. The
switching filter is tuned to pass signals whose frequency
corresponds to transmitter frequencies over a band which is
slightly greater than and which envelopes the frequency to which
the responder circuits 68 are tuned. The range of transmitter
frequencies which cause the switching filter 86 to produce outputs
is indicated at (c) in FIG. 4, the output of the switching filter
86 is applied to a monostable multivibrator 88.
The monostable multivibrator 88 has a signal gate actuation output
terminal 90 and a noise gate actuation output terminal 92 which are
alternately energized. Normally, the noise gate actuation output
terminal 92 of the monostable multivibrator 88 is energized.
However, whenever the output of the mixer 84 reaches a frequency
approaching a frequency corresponding to that of the responder
circuit 68, the switching filter 86 produces an output causing the
monostable multivibrator 88 to deenergize the noise gate actuation
terminal 92 and to energize the signal gate actuation terminal 90.
Since the switching filter 86 is tuned to have an equivalent band
pass range (c) which is slightly greater than the responder circuit
response frequency range (b), the switching filter 86 will operate
to trigger the monostable multivibrator whenever the antenna
frequency approaches the responder circuit resonant frequency in
both directions of the antenna frequency sweep, irrespective of
whether the antenna frequency is increasing or decreasing. The
monostable multivibrator 88 reverts back to its normal state, i.e.,
with the noise gate actuation output terminal 92 energized and the
signal gate actuation output terminal 90 deenergized, after a
predetermined length of time following each output from the
switching filter 86. This predetermined length of time is slightly
longer than the length of time required for the antenna frequency
sweep to sweep across the resonant frequency of the responder
circuit 68. That is, the monostable multivibrator 88 remains
energized over a period of time which straddles the period during
which the antenna frequency sweeps across the resonant frequency of
the responder circuits 68. This energization of the monostable
multivibrator 88 is illustrated by a curve (d) in FIG. 4.
It will be noted from FIG. 4 that the monostable multivibrator 88
is switched to its non-stable state at different transmitter
frequencies depending upon whether the transmitter frequency is
increasing or decreasing. This is made possible by the tuning of
the switch filter 86. This tuning is broader than that of the
responder circuits 68; and it produces a switching signal at the
multivibrator 88 just before the antenna frequency reaches the
resonant frequency of the responder circuits 68.
The signal gate actuation output terminal 90 of the monostable
multivibrator 88 is connected to the signal gate circuit 76 while
the noise gate actuation output terminal 92 is connected to the
noise gate circuit 74. Whenever the noise gate circuit 74 or the
signal gate circuit 76 receives a signal from a corresponding one
of the gate actuation output terminals 90 or 92, that gate circuit
is opened to allow passage of signals from the threshold detector
72. The output from the noise gate circuit 74 is connected through
a signal sustaining circuit 94 to an inhibit terminal 96 of the
signal gate circuit 76. The signal sustaining circuit 94 is
constructed to cause outputs from the noise gate circuit 74 to
remain on the inhibit terminal 96 of the signal gate circuit 76 for
a predetermined length of time (e.g., 0.1 seconds), which is
substantially in excess of the frequency sweep period of the
transmitter. This allows time for any spurious interference to
terminate before the system reverts to normal operation.
The operation of the system of FIG. 3 will now be described. The
tunable transmitter oscillator 62 energizes the antenna 66 so that
an electromagnetic field is emitted from the antenna 66 into the
vicinity of the doorway 10 (FIG. 1). The frequency of this
electromagnetic field is continuously varied by the action of the
sweep generator 60 so that the antenna field undergoes successive
frequency sweeps between 1.95 and 2.05 MHZ at a 300 cycles per
second rate. Whenever a responder circuit 68 passes through the
doorway 10 (FIG. 1) and encounters the field of the antenna 66, the
responder circuit will resonate each time the frequency of the
antenna field passes through 2.00 MHZ. Since this happens twice
during each frequency sweep, a resonant response is generated at
the rate of 600 responses per second. As indicated previously, the
nature of these resonant responses is such that they produce a
decrease in antenna output impedance and a corresponding reduction
of energy applied to the receiver 70. These decreases in energy are
detected by the receiver 70; and its filter configuration is such
as to select those energy decreases which occur at the 600
responses per second rate. When this occurs, the receiver 70
produces an output which is applied to the threshold detector 72
and its output in turn is applied to the noise gate circuit and the
signal gate circuit 74 and 76 respectively. In the event that the
output from the receiver 70 occurs while the anetnna 66 is emitting
a frequency within the range (c) of FIG. 4, i.e., corresponding
substantially to the resonant range (b) of the responder circuits
68; then the switching filter 86 will have caused the monostable
multivibrator 88 to energize its signal gate actuation output
terminal 90 to open the signal gate circuit 76 and allow the output
from the threshold detector 72 to pass through the time constant
circuit 78 to energize the alarm 80 for predetermined length of
time.
On the other hand, if the receiver 70 causes an output to pass
through the threshold detector 72, when the antenna 66 is
transmitting outside the range (c) of FIG. 4, then the switching
filter 80 will not have caused the monostable multivibrator 88 to
energize its signal gate actuation output terminal 90. Instead, the
noise gate actuation output terminal 92 of the monstable
multivibrator 88 remains energized. Accordingly, the signal gate 76
remains closed; and the receiver output, which passes through the
threshold detector 72, is stopped at the signal gate circuit 76 and
does not actuate the alarm 80. Thus, even though a resonant circuit
may be present in the antenna field, it will not cause a false
alarm if it produces any resonant response outside the preselected
resonant frequency range of the responder circuits 68.
The system of FIG. 3 provides additional protection in that it uses
information obtained during the portion of the frequency sweep
outside the preselected responder circuit resonant frequency range
to control its operation when the transmitter frequency
subsequently reaches the preselected resonant frequency of the
responder circuits. Thus, should responses be detected outside the
responder circuit resonant frequency range, the system will, for a
predetermined length of time, prevent any alarm actuation even from
subsequent responses which do occur within the resonant frequency
range. This protects against false alarms from objects which pass
through the antenna field and which have an assortment of
electrical characteristics producing resonant responses in several
frequency ranges including the resonant range of the responder
circuits 68.
The manner in which this subsequent alarm deactivation occurs can
be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Should any output from the threshold
detector 72 occur during the time that the antenna frequency is
outside the range (c), the detector output will pass through the
noise gate circuit 74. This is because the normal energization of
the noise gate actuation output terminal 92 maintains the noise
gate circuit 74 in an open condition. As a result of this, the
noise gate circuit 74 applies a signal through the signal
sustaining circuit 94 to the inhibit terminal 96 of the signal gate
circuit 76. Accordingly, as the antenna frequency continues to
sweep and ultimately passes through the response ranges (b) and (c)
the resulting switching of the monostable multivibrator 88 which
opens the signal gate circuit 76 is rendered ineffective because of
the continued presence of an inhibit signal at the inhibit
terminals 96 of the gate circuit 76. This maintains the signal gate
circuit 76 is closed for a predetermined length of time (e.g., 0.1
seconds), which is well is excess of the transmitter frequency
sweep period. In most instances the sporadic electrical disturbance
will have terminated. On the other hand, if the sporadic electrical
disturbance should continue, the noise gate circuit 74 will be
allowed to produce an inhibit signal gate circuit 76 on the next
subsequent transmitter sweep.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present
invention provides protection from false alarms based upon active
detection in frequency ranges outside the frequency range of the
various responder devices.
Having thus described the invention with particular reference to
the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in
the art to which the invention pertains, after understanding the
invention, that various changes and modifications may be made
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention, as defined by the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *