U.S. patent number 3,898,639 [Application Number 05/283,542] was granted by the patent office on 1975-08-05 for security surveillance laser system.
Invention is credited to Hrand M. Muncheryan.
United States Patent |
3,898,639 |
Muncheryan |
August 5, 1975 |
Security surveillance laser system
Abstract
A security surveillance laser system is described, covering
applications for securing restricted areas, institutional
buildings, land boundaries, military and civilian installations,
penitentiaries, rehabilitation centers and the like against
vandalism, arson, theft or property, escape or intrusion of
unauthorized persons over the walls or fences guarding these areas.
Four concealed and invisible continuous beams of laser radiation
are projected over the top and sides of the walls or fences
surrounding the guarded areas, and the interruption of any one of
the beams by a human body initiates visual displays in the central
station wherein the laser equipment is located and sounds an alarm
announcing whether the unauthorized person is escaping or entering
the grounds, or causing any damage to the property for entrance
into or escaping from the grounds. The system discriminates against
interruption by birds, dogs, cats, rabbits, or other creatures.
Inventors: |
Muncheryan; Hrand M. (Orange,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23086525 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/283,542 |
Filed: |
August 24, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/529; 340/692;
340/557; 359/629 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
13/184 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
13/184 (20060101); G08B 13/18 (20060101); G08b
013/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/258R,258B,227R,276,279,52D,416,221 ;350/172,171 ;356/3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Curtis; Marshall M.
Claims
I claim:
1. A security surveillance laser system for surveying and detecting
unauthorized entry or exit of a person at the inclosure of a
restricted area, said system comprising: a housing having therein
means for producing and projecting a single laser beam, means
disposed within said housing for splitting said single laser beam
into an array of equal-energy laser beams with the sum of the
energies thereof equal to the energy of said single laser beam,
radiation-sensing elements corresponding to the number of split
laser beams disposed in said housing adjacent to said means for
producing and projecting a single laser beam, rows of laser
radiation-diverting means positioned laterally and adjacent the top
and near-ground level on each side of said inclosure, along the
entire length thereof, each of said rows of radiation-diverting
means receiving a split laser beam to deploy successively said
laser beam from one radiation-diverting means to another along said
inclosure to a corresponding radiation-sensing element in said
housing, each of said radiation-sensing elements having a first
means to amplify the photosignal from the respective row of
radiation-diverting means and a second means electrically coupled
to said first means and adapted to sustain a quiescent operational
state of said system during absence of occurrence of an event
therein; means for producing acoustic signals provided thereon with
multiple acoustic tracks, each of which being electrically coupled
to one of said second means and activated thereby; said second
means being further adapted to sense through said first means an
interruption in the respective laser beam upon being crossed by a
person and to determine the direction of crossing thereof, thereby
transforming the quiescent operational state of that section of the
system comprising the respective radiation-sensing element, the
first and second means, and the respective track of said means for
producing acoustic signals into an active operational state; means
electrically coupled to said means for producing acoustic signals
to receive an acoustic signal therefrom and to modulate and amplify
said signal for transmission to an annunciator located remotely
from said housing to alert authorized personnel of the type of
event occurring at the inclosure of the restricted area; and,
display means electrically coupled to each of said
radiation-sensing elements through the corresponding second means
thereof for simultaneously receiving therefrom a display signal
resultant from the type of interruption of the respective laser
beam sensed by the respective radiation-sensing element; said
display means including a control means for the control of said
security surveillance laser system.
2. A security surveillance laser system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said means for splitting said laser beam comprises a
plurality of semireflective radiation-transmitting means.
3. A security surveillance laser system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said rows of radiation-diverting means positioned laterally
to the inclosure of a restricted area along the entire length of
said inclosure comprises a plurality of position-adjustable,
discrete, and radiation-reflective components capable of directing
the incident laser radiation beams along the configuration of said
inclosure and back to the respective radiation-sensing elements in
said housing.
4. A security surveillance laser system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said radiation-sensing elements having a second means are
devices capable of converting the incident photonic energy
thereupon from the split laser beams into electrical energy to
perform mechanical operation in said second means.
5. A security surveillance laser system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said second means electrically coupled to said first means
and adapted to sustain a quiescent operational state in said
security surveillance laser system is a combination of electrical
relays and switches responsive to the electrical energy resultant
from said first means.
6. A security surveillance laser system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said means for producing acoustic signals electrically
coupled to said second means and activated thereby upon
interruption of a split laser beam is an endless, motor-driven,
magnetic memory means having a plurality of discrete tracks with
spoken words prerecorded thereon, each track being responsive to
and operable by said first means receiving electrical signals from
the respective radiation-sensing element contained in said housing
of the security surveillance laser system.
7. The means for producing acoustic signals as described in claim 1
further comprises a microphone with means adapted to make
electrical connection to a loudspeaker remotely located therefrom
and simultaneously disconnect said means for producing acoustic
signals from said loudspeaker.
8. A security surveillance laser system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said display means comprises an entry- and exit-signal
display console having a delay means in the electrical circuit
thereof and positioned between said signal display console circuit
and said second means of said radiation-sensing elements, said
delay means affording discrimination, by delaying the signals
therethrough, between a signal produced by a human being and those
produced by other than a human being interrupting a laser beams
projected by said laser system.
9. A security surveillance laser system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said display means is an electrical console comprising an
instrument panel with indicating means thereon receiving signal
information from the second means of said radiation-sensing
elements to selectively display on said display means the location
and direction of event occurring at the inclosure of the restricted
area.
10. A security surveillance laser system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said laser system has a loudspeaker remotely located
therefrom, and wherein said display means is provided thereon with
an instrument panel having a microphone connection means with a
microphone connected thereto and an acoustic signal-control means
adapted to selectively transmit an acoustic signal to said
loudspeaker either from the means for producing acoustic signals or
from said microphone.
11. A security surveillance laser system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said laser system comprises four sets of operational
circuit channels, each channel comprising, in the order given: a
laser beam split from a single laser radiation beam produced by
said laser system, a plurality of optical means aligned
successively in a row along a predetermined expanse of the
inclosure of the restricted area and adapted to receive and deploy
said laser beam split from a single laser radiation beam, a
radiation-sensing element disposed in said laser system to detect
said laser beam split from a single laser radiation beam and any
interruption thereof at one of said optical means and to develop a
photosignal therein from the energy of the laser beam detected
thereby, an amplifier connected to said radiation-sensing element
to amplify said photosignal, a current channeling means to receive
the amplified photosignal current from said amplifier for
activation of said current-channeling means and to initiate
therethrough an activation current received from an external
current source, an acoustic signal-producing means including means
with verbal message defining the character of laser beam
interruption prerecorded thereon being connected to said current
channeling means to receive said activation current therefrom for
activation of said acoustic signal-producing means to produce
acoustic signals from the verbal message prerecorded thereon, an
acoustic signal modulating and amplifying means connected to said
acoustic signal-producing means to receive an acoustic signal
therefrom and to modulate and amplify said acoustic signal, an
annunciator connected to said acoustic signal modulating and
amplifying means to receive therefrom a modulated and amplified
acoustic signal characterized by said prerecorded verbal message in
said means of said acoustic signal-producing means for annunciating
said verbal message to the personnel in the restricted area bounded
by said inclosure, and a display console having thereon
event-indicating means receiving photosignal information from said
radiation-sensing element through said current channeling means for
activation of said event-indicating means on said display console.
Description
The present invention relates to security surveillance systems and
more particularly to a system of the character utilizing laser
beams for surveillance and detection of a crime or the like
committed by a person during intrusion into a restricted area, in
escaping from a confinement center, or causing any damage to the
surroundings of such locations.
From times immemorial, stealing, committing arson, escaping from a
prison or concentration camp, illegal immigration at border areas
from one country to another, and the like have been with the poeple
of all countries throughout the world. Various contrivances have
been devised and installed at strategic points in many of these
grounds or areas with some success but the crime wave has not been
curtailed; instead it has been in the growth from day to day. For
instance, mechanical traps have been devised to catch the culprit
in person, infrared devices have been innovated and placed at
various points of strategy whereby any change in the events at any
area would be sensed and an alarm system such as a siren would
sound. Television cameras have also been used, by placing a dozen
or more of the cameras in various points of concern so that the
area can be monitored visually every minute of the day and night by
an observer at the central monitoring station. Furthermore,
microwave devices and radio or radar equipment have also been used,
each with some degree of success. However, all of these devices
have had some form of disadvantages, for instance, in failing to
perform the function intended, being bulky, costly, and a large
number of them would be necessary to cover a given area
successfully. Another serious disadvantage with all of these
methods has been the tripping of the systems by dogs, cats,
rabbits, cows, or even birds. Accordingly these devices and
equipments have not been very popular for application successfully
and economically.
The present invention, therefore, is made to transcend the
functions and applications of the earlier devices and systems used
for security surveillance purposes, because the invention uses a
relatively simple and effective method at low cost; in addition it
overcomes the problems encountered in the earlier methods, as
aforementioned. The system consists of a laser unit projecting a
single laser beam which prior to distribution in the area monitored
is split into four laser beams of equal intensities to cover the
entire surrounding walls, fences, or embankments so that when any
one of the beams is interrupted momentarily by a person entering
into the grounds or escaping from the grounds, a "talking" alarm
mechanism is instantly actuated which sounds continuously to be
heard in the monitoring station, in the buildings, as well as in
the outside grounds, whereby corrective measures could be taken
immediately in meeting the situation. Both a display of written
words such as "ENTER" or "EXIT" is exhibited in a console attached
to a wall in the central station and the word "Entering" or
"Exitting" is repeated over the intercommunication loud speaker
until the situation has been corrected, whereupon the system is
reset for the next event.
Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is the provision
of a laser-beam array covering the top and the sides of the walls
or the fence surrounding the area secured, any of which beams when
interrupted can actuate the visual display and the talking alarm.
By a talking alarm, it is meant an alarm which sounds words rather
than sounding a siren.
A further object of the invention is to provide the alarm system
with a repeating announcement, such as Entering, when an
unauthorized person attempts to enter the grounds, and in doing so
interrupts the outside beam of the laser radiation; when a person
is escaping from the grounds, then the inside laser beam is
interrupted, which action displays the word EXIT on the display
console and at the same time turns on the alarm system which
repeats the word Exitting or any other word or words giving the
same meaning.
Another object of the invention is to provide two outside laser
beams and two inside laser beams; an outside and an inside laser
beam are located near the top of the wall or fence and an outside
and an inside laser beam are located near ground level, for
instance, about two feet from the ground.
A still further object of the invention is to provide each laser
beam with its own amplifying, relaying, and sound modulating
channel, so that there are four sets of such channels for the four
laser beams to function independently of each other.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a set of relays
in each of the four sets of channels; the respective relays in each
channel operates only that channel while maintaining the other
three channels in a quiescent state.
One other object of the invention is the provision of a microphone
located on the display console whereby instructions or
announcements can be given throughout the grounds either during the
time the event is occurring or at any other time.
A further object of the invention is to provide an array of laser
beams which is in the invisible spectral range, thereby concealing
the laser beam array from suspected intruders or escapees from the
grounds.
A further object of the invention is to provide a constructional
design which affords a compact, low cost, and easily installable
system.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more
apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference
designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the
invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a general restricted area to be
secured, showing the top of the wall surrounding the area with two
accompanying laser beams with reflectors.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the entire security surveillance
system.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the display console, showing the details
of parts included therein.
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the wall surrounding a
secured area, showing the relative locations of the laser-beam
reflectors.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the wall in perspective view, showing
the approximate locations of the four laser beams.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a laser beam reflector.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the reflector.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the reflector.
FIG. 9 is a partial simplified schematic and block diagram of the
electrical circuit of the system, showing the relaying channels in
detail.
FIG. 10 is a simplified schematic and block diagram of the signal
modulating and amplifying circuits located within the display
console, and
FIG. 11 is a general schematic view of the reset switch, which sets
the system relays in a normal (quiescent) operating state, ready
for an event* to occur.
Referring now to the drawings, numeral 1 represents the security
surveillance laser system, which is usually located at a monitoring
station. The monitoring station is strategically located in a
restricted area being secured. The laser beams a and b positioned
adjacent to the top of the wall or fence 2 are reflected by highly
polished metal reflectors or mirrors 3 through 8, which project the
beams back to the system for processing thereby. Prisms may also be
used for laser-beam reflectors. Numeral 9 designates a laser-beam
generating unit located in said security surveillance laser system
1, projecting a laser beam 10 from its radiation exit port 11. The
laser-beam generator may be a solid-state-type, a liquid-type, or a
gas-type continuous laser-beam generator. The laser beam 10 falls
on a semi-transmissive mirror 12 constructed so that it will
transmit 50 percent of the laser beam and reflect the other 50
percent. The reflected beam from mirror 12 is again reflected from
a second mirror 13 unto a third mirror 14 which reflects 50 percent
of the radiation received unto another mirror 15 and transmits the
remaining 50 percent of the radiation as b unto a mirror 16. The
reflected laser beam from mirror 15 projects as beam a unto a
mirror 17, if desired. The beams may be collimated by a cylindrical
lens to ribbon-like beams.
The 50 percent transmitted laser beam from mirror 12 falls on a
mirror 18, which transmits 50 percent of the incident radiation as
c unto a mirror 19 and reflects the 50 percent of the radiation
unto a mirror 20, from which the beam projects as d to mirror 21.
In this manner, the laser beams a, b, c, and d will each have an
equal intensity of 25 percent of the laser beam 10 issuing from the
laser generator 9.
The laser beams a, b, c, and d reflected from the respective
mirrors 17, 16, 19, and 21 become incident unto mirrors 22, 23, 24,
and 25, respectively, and thereafter further become reflected to
the respective photosensors 26, 27, 28, and 29. The photosensors
may be of the type sensitive to wavelengths from visible spectrum
of 6000 angstroms to infrared spectrum up to 15,000 angstroms; or,
they can be made to respond to the beam wavelengths from 2000
angstroms to 6000 angstroms, especially when liquid lasers are
used. The detectors may be installed so that they are
interchangeable and the one most suitable to the wavelengths
required may be used; of these, silicon detectors may be used both
in the visible and infrared spectral regions, and other detectors,
such as lead sulphide, lead selenide, lead antimonide, gallium
arsenide, antimony sulfide, and the like are suitable for invisible
or infrared laser beams from carbon dioxide, neodymium glass, or
neodymium YAG. Lead sulfide and indium arsenide, including a number
of others, may be used with liquid lasers in the ultraviolet.
The security surveillance laser system comprises four channels in
which the respective photosignals from the array of four laser
beams are processed and transmitted to the loudspeaker to announce
the event occurring in any region of the inclosure surveyed by any
one of the laser beams in the laser beam array. Each channel
includes a photosensor, a photosignal amplifier, a signal relaying
section, an acoustic signal-producing section common to all four
channels with four sound-recording tracks thereon, one track for
each channel, a signal display section in a common display console,
and an acoustic signal modulating and amplifying section from which
the finally processed acoustic signals are transmitted to a
loudspeaker located remotely from the signal display console, and
the laser system. One channel operates at a time while the other
three channels are in an inoperative or quiescent state.
The photosignals from the detectors or photosensors 26, 27, 28, and
29 are amplified by amplifiers 30, 31, 32, and 33, respectively,
and the amplified electrical signals are fed into the respective
relaying sections 34, 35, 36, and 37, from which the individual
signals are transmitted to the respective modulating and amplifying
sections 38, 39, 40, and 41. A signal display console 42 receives
photosignal information from each of the relaying sections and
displays thereon the respective information as shown in FIG. 3. A
loudspeaker 43 receives a modulated and amplified acoustic signal
from any one of the section 38, 39, 40, and 41 and annunciates it
to the authorized personnel in the restricted area secured by the
security surveillance laser system.
As stated above, one channel operates at a time, and the other
channels remain in a quiescent operational state. For instance,
when a signal from photosensor 26 actuates the amplifier 30, the
relaying section 34 and the modulating and amplifying section 38
are energized and a signal is displayed on the pertinent section 44
of the display console 42, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; this action also
energizes the acoustic signal-producing section comprising the
electric motor 103 driving the recorded tape 102, on which the
respective sound track transmits the prerecorded spoken words
through the transducer or pickup 104 and the modulating and
amplifying section 38 to the loudspeaker 43. By way of explanation,
the reference to a photosensor actuating an amplifier means that
the laser beam at the respective photosensor has been interrupted
by the interception of the laser beam by a human being; a reference
to a channel being in a quiescent state means that the particular
channel has not been activated to operation by its respective
signal-relaying section (because the laser beam has not been
interrupted).
The instrument panel of the display console 42, schematically shown
in FIG. 2, contains the ENTER and EXIT sections for the top part of
the wall or fence 2 of the restricted area, designated by "WALL"
with the respective red signal indicators 44 and 45; for the
near-ground section of the wall or fence 2, the panel also has
ENTER and EXIT words under the designation "GROUND", which is
provided with the respective red signal indicators 46 and 47. The
laser beam-interruption detection signal from any one of the four
channels is directed to the loudspeaker 43 through the respective
signal-processing sections and cable 48.
A detailed structural arrangement of the components on the panel of
the display console 42 is shown in FIG. 3, wherein the WALL section
49 is provided with written displays ENTER and EXIT, which
respectively indicate whether a person is entering the restricted
area over the wall or exitting (escaping) therefrom; either the
ENTER section red light 44 or the EXIT section red light 45 will
light up, depending on the type of event. An event as referred to
herein includes a laser-beam interruption and the consequent
sounding of an alarm (by spoken words) at the loudspeaker 43.
Numeral 50 represents the near-ground section indicators and
displays in like manner as section 49 the words ENTER and EXIT,
with the respective signal red lights 46 and 47. An inlet socket 51
receives the energizing power from an external source of
single-phase, 115-volt alternating current (a-c). The pushbutton 52
is a microphone switch and when depressed it cuts in the microphone
53 which is plugged into the socket 54 on the instrument panel of
the signal display section 42. When the loudspeaker 43 is on, the
panel light 57 lights up; this action occurs whenever any part of
section 49 or 50 is energized (see FIG. 10).
FIG. 4 shows the vertical sectional view of the wall or fence 2,
which is provided with two upper laser-beam reflectors, for
instance reflecting devices 3 and 4, and lower reflecting devices
3' and 4'. The two reflecting devices 3' and 4' may be positioned
at any desired level from the ground, such as 11/2 to 3 feet from
the ground. FIG. 5 is a partial view of the wall or fence 2,
showing the laser beams a, b, c, and d and their relative
positions. FIG. 6 shows the perspective view of a laser-beam
reflector housing 66 with a front-end flap 67 which extends about 1
to 11/2 inches outwardly at its widest section. A laser-beam
reflecting member 68, preferably made of a highly polished metal
surface, a mirror, or a prism, is positioned within the housing 66,
as shown, to reflect the laser beam at any desired position whereat
the laser beam has to be bent in order to follow the configuration
of the wall or fence 2. The housing 66 is secured to a part of the
wall 2 by an adjustable attaching means 69 with adjustment
apertures 62 and 63. The adjustable attaching means 69 can be
displaced vertically, horizontally, or sideways for adjustment by
the use of screws or bolts passing through apertures 62 and 63,
during the installation of the reflecting device on the wall or
fence 2.
FIG. 9 is a partial schematic-block diagram of the system circuit.
Since all the four channels of the system operate in the same
manner, only two channels comprising sections (30, 34, 38) and (31,
35, 39), activated respectively by the laser beams a and b, shown
in FIG. 2, will be discussed herein. The system is energized from a
115-volt 20 ampere a-c power source fed to the system through
socket 51. In quiescent (no-event) operation of the system, the
laser beam, for instance beam a, activates the photosensor 26,
causing a small voltage to be developed in the sensor. This voltage
is fed from the photosensor 26 to a preamplifier 30 and then to an
amplifier 30', whose output energizes the relay 70, The relay 70
then opens the normally closed switch 71; thus no current can run
through the remaining section of the circuit in this channel.
Similarly, the laser beam b continuously incident on photosensor 27
creates a small voltage in the photosensor 27; this voltage then is
amplified by the preamplifier 31 and amplifier 31' and fed to relay
72, energizing the relay 72, which opens the normally closed switch
73. Thus, no current flows through the remaining part of the
circuit in this channel. The other two channels operate in a
similar manner as the ones already described. Thus, when no event
occurs, i.e., when no laser beam interruption occurs, all four
channels are in a quiescent operative state.
During the occurrence of an event, the laser beam, for instance the
laser beam b, is interrupted (broken) by a person escaping from the
grounds; the preamplifier 31 and the amplifier 31' do not receive
any photosignal from the photosensor 27 and therefore the relay 72
becomes de-energized. This condition causes the switch 73 to close
by the action of the spring member 74; this action further closes
the springless switch 75 by the downward action of lever 76. An
insulator 77 electrically isolates the switch 75 from switch 73. In
this position of the relay switches 73 and 75, a current runs from
the 115-Vac source through cable 78, cable 79, M-M' relay 96 (FIG.
10), and delay line DL-1 to cable 80, which transmits the current
through the normally closed switch 81 of relay 82 to relay 83 and
back to the 115-Vac current source, opening the normally closed
relay switch 84 and thereby cutting off the channel that processes
photosignal a.
A portion of the amplified photosignal current from amplifier 31'
(laser beam b) passes through the display section 49, lighting the
red signal lamp 45 at the EXIT block, with no effect on section 50.
Since the EXIT portion of the wall section 49 of the display panel
of display console 42 is now in the activated channel, only the
EXIT portion with its respective red light lamp 45 lights up and
simultaneously the loudspeaker 43 is energized, announcing
repeatedly the word, for instance, EXITTING or ESCAPING; this
announcement may be a single word, a phrase, or clause depending on
what words the user of the system desires to have prerecorded on
the magnetic tape or magnetic drum 102, from which the loud speaker
receives its processed message (signals). With the loudspeaker 43
in operation, the panel light 57 lights up, indicating that the
loudspeaker 43 is in operation. Further description of the
loudspeaker 43 operation and its circuit connections to the system
will be described in an accompanying paragraph herein.
When the laser beam a is interrupted, a similar action as for the
laser beam b takes place, in which case the photosignal a is cut
off from the photosensor 26, preamplifier 30, and amplifier 30';
this action de-energizes the relay 70 and as a result the normally
open relay switch 71 closes because of the spring action by spring
85. Simultaneously, the springless switch 86 closes by the movement
of lever 86', whereupon a current runs from 115-Vac source through
cable 87, R-R' relay 106', delay line DL-2, the switch 71 and
switch 86, and cable 88 into relay 82 and back to 115-Vac source.
This condition causes the energization of relay 82 which then opens
the relay switch 81, disconnecting the current from the EXIT
portion of section 49, and connecting the ENTER portion of section
49. After once being closed, the switch 86 remains closed (the same
as switch 75) until the reset button 60 is manually depressed to
open it subsequent to an event. Thus it will be seen that when one
channel, for instance the ENTER channel of section 49 is operating,
the EXIT channel of section 49 is not operating; also the other two
channels (not discussed herein) are not operating. This last
statement can be confirmed by using the same scheme of current
tracing as for the two channels described hereinabove.
The adjustable time-delay mechanisms DL-1 and DL-2 are well known
commercial devices for use in delaying signals in an electronic
circuit. In the present system, they are used to delay the signal
current to the display sections 49 and 49 respectively. The delay
time may be varied from one-half to several seconds as desired and
set for. The delay time is necessary in the system in order to
discriminate against interruption of the laser beam by a transient
object or animal, such a flying bird or butterfly, or any other
projectile that may cut off the laser beam momentarily.
FIG. 10 represents generally the acoustic-signal-producing section,
modulation-amplification sections of the two system channels, and
the annunciator or loudspeaker 43. Again, let it be assumed that
the laser beam b is interrupted and the display section 49 channel
is activated at EXIT portion, because this is the channel which
indicates the exitting or escaping of a person from the restricted
area. The output section M-M' from FIG. 9 feeds a current into the
relay 96, which closes the normally open relay switch 97. This
operation causes a current to run from 98, 98' of the transformer
T-1 into the modulation-amplification section 39 through the
rectifying diodes 100 and 101. The modulation circuit in the
modulation-amplification section 39 may be either an
amplitude-modulation or frequency-modulation type; the acoustic
signal in either case is amplified by any one of the well-known
amplification circuits. The electrical (acoustic) signal to the
modulation-amplification section 39 is fed from the sound-recorded
endless (continuous) magnetic tape 102 having four-channel sound
tracks thereon and driven by a motor 103, the sound track in each
channel corresponding to one of the four signal displays on the
display console 42 panel, shown in FIG. 3.
For the channel under discussion presently, the signal presented on
the panel of the display console 42 will be EXIT and, therefore,
the magnetic type 102 will repeat the word EXIT or EXITTING (or,
any other word or phase), or the word "ESCAPING" every 1 to 11/2
seconds. If desired, the repeating interval may be set to two or
three seconds; this interval can be controlled during recording on
the magnetic tape 102 or by other means, such as by intermittent
energization of the drive motor 103. The magnetic tape 102 or its
substitute (drum) is rotated by means of the motor 103, whose speed
of rotation can also be controlled by any commercially available
means. The sound on the prerecorded tape 102 is sensed by
transducer 104 and the acoustic signal then is fed to the
modultion-amplification section 39 The modulated and amplified
acoustic signal for the modulation-amplification section 39 is led
to the loudspeaker 43 through the common cable 48; the loudspeaker
43 then repeats the word EXIT or the like at the rate of repetition
set for.
In the meantime, if an announcement is to be made over the
loudspeaker 43 from the central station where the display console
42 and the laser beam generator are located, the switch 52 is
depressed (see FIG. 3 and 10) which action closes the circuit to
the microphone 53 and opens the switch 106, stopping the motor 103
action and the movement of the magnetic tape 102, so that the
loudspeaker line now is clear for broadcasting any speech or
instruction through the microphone 53 to authorized personnel in
the restricted area, either following the occurrence of an event or
during the event. While the modulation-amplification section 39 is
operating, the EXIT indicating light 45 is on (see also FIG. 10);
while the microphone 53 is being used.
When the laser beam a is interrupted, the amplifier 30, 30' becomes
quiescent and the circuit comprising the sections 34 and 38 (FIG.
2) becomes energized; the electrical signal by the means already
described as for laser beam b is fed into the circuit shown in FIG.
10 through the connection points R-R' as well as to the display
section 49, lighting up the signal indicator 44. This action
energizes the relay 106', closing the normally open relay switch
107 and switching a current from sections 108 and 109 of
transformer T-2 through the diodes 110 and 111 into the
modulation-amplification section 38. The four-track sound tape (or
magnetic drum) 102 automatically shifts to the next track, which
produces the signal ENTER or similar information, such as ENTERING
or "INTRUSION", repeating the word every 1 to 11/2 second or so, as
desired and set for. The sound-track shifting mechanism is a
commercial sound-track shifting device and thus is not shown in the
schematic diagram. The sound signal is modulated and amplified by
section 38 and fed to the loudspeaker 43, which repeats exactly
whatever acoustic signal that the magnetic tape 102 feeds into the
section 38. When desired, the microphone 53 circuit can be cut in
by depressing the usual button 52, which action cuts off the
magnetic tape 102 from the loudspeaker 43 by opening the switch 106
and stopping the electric motor 103 action.
FIG. 11 illustrates the manner of operation of the reset switch 60.
When either one of the springless relay switches 86 or 75 is
closed, as stated earlier it remains closed until the reset switch
60 is depressed to open it. The reset switch also resets the
microphone switch 52. The reset switch 60 is manually depressed
after each event that has been concluded; when the system thus is
reset the microphone 53 is cut off and the loudspeaker 43 is
connected automatically and is ready for the next event.
Thus it is seen that the present invention can be used for security
surveillance as well as an annunciator. Its applications cover a
great many fields, from border surveillance between two countries
or states to smaller restricted areas such as hospitals, ammunition
dumps, military installations, and similar restricted areas.
* * * * *