Deterrent device

A water sprinkler based deterrent system is used to deter entry into landscaped areas by undesirable intruders. The system incorporates an infrared detector combined with a control circuit that is adapted to be powered from a wide range of power supplies. In this manner, the system can be easily integrated into a variety of landscape environments, including those that may or may not include a preexisting sprinkler controls system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to deterrent systems used to inhibit unauthorized intrusions into protected areas. The invention has particular applicability to applications where it is desirable to protect a landscaped area from disturbance from animal intruders.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The interested area of invention pertains and relates to those specific apparatus's that deter the admittance of an un-authorized being of any form in a given designated perimeter. More specifically; the intrusion or trespassing of a private area.

A large area of the current population exhibit a need to protect their private dwellings from damage by animals and vandals. More particularly, the population exhibits a need to protect yards and expensive landscaping. Often the landscaping has a specified appearance that not only protects against the costly effects of natural erosion to soils, but also maintains and improves the marketability of the effected area. The intrusion by un-authorized beings can severely damage the appearance and structure of an individuals landscaping.

The only way to protect landscaping from such damage at present is to remain in the parameter of the affected area to provide protection, simply wait for damage to occur to the area, or use sensors that incorporate the use of some type of sprinkler controlling device. The first protection is timing. In today's society, the feasibility of remaining at a dwelling for the purpose of landscape protection simply does not exist. The second method of after the fact correction has already allowed costly and unsightly damage to occur. Lastly, the third method of landscape protection can be costly to the consumer.

The design of the current invention allows for individuals to maintain a protection of landscaping on a constant non-stop time frame with the use of a water producing apparatus that meets the required specifications, even when the dwelling is not being inhabited.

INVENTION SUMMARY

The design of the current invention is such to allow compatibility with any water irrigation device that incorporates the concept of sprinkling water in a specified area at a specified voltage of operation. The design of the current invention does not require the use of a sprinkler controlling apparatus or the use of a 110 volt power supply. The design of the current invention includes a perimeter violation sensing apparatus that is installed at strategic locations throughout the desired area at a standard level of elevation with respect to the ground. When the protected area has been violated, the sensor activates the electronic circuitry of the system which in turn will activate the water producing irrigation system of the protected area. Once the intruder notices the application of water upon itself, it will promptly exit the protected area and cause no damage to the existing landscape.

The primary objective of the current invention is to incorporate the use of a new or existing irrigation system to deter the entrance of any intruder that may cause costly damage to an individuals private landscaping.

An additional objective of the current invention is to allow the use of any irrigation device that incorporates the use of sprinkling water in specified area. The design of the current invention, in addition, disallows easy detection by would-be intruders.

Another objective of the current invention is to allow protection of landscaping at a relatively low cost to the interested consumer. The current invention allows such an objective by incorporating simple methods of operation, installation, and not requiring an expensive irrigation method of control such as an irrigation sprinkler controlling apparatus making use of a 110V power supply.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a private dwelling consisting of landscaping 10 , which is normally composed of, but not limited to, soil, grass, and trees. Within the protected area, sprinklers 11 have been distributed, with the necessary plumbing, in strategic locations that forbid entry. The perimeter violation sensing apparatus's 12 have been placed within FIG. 1 to disallow detection and to provide adequate protection of the desired area. FIG. 1 indicates that when the protected area has experienced a violation of its specified perimeter 13 the sprinklers 11 are immediately activated by the electrical circuit of FIG. 3 to provoke the intruder to promptly exit the protected landscape. The sprinklers 11 that have been depicted in figure one are understood to not be a direct feature of the current invention, but rather a related component that is readily available to the interested consumer. It is understood that the sprinklers depicted in FIG. 1 meet the electrical requirements of the current invention which have been indicated in FIG. 3 .

Illustrated in FIG. 2 is the external housing, including dimensions of the current invention. More specifically, FIG. 2 is an illustration of the electrical circuit housing unit that oversees protection of the desired area. The infrared detector 14 has the responsibility of detecting movement in the protected area and uses a range of 110 degrees by 80 feet. The three control wires of the current invention 15 are connected further to the desired power supply and sprinkler system. The location in FIG. 2 of protected area 16 can be protected in any lighting conditions, day or night. The complete housing is connected to any sufficient stable mount 17 such as the ground.

Figure three is a schematic of the controlling circuit for the current invention. The current invention is designed to have an operating voltage between 9 and 26 AC or DC volts with a minimum sensor power consumption of 4 Watts.

Assume for the moment that heat is detected in the current invention in section 18 ( FIG. 3 ) of the device. A chain reaction is initiated within the components of the circuit when this occurs. More specifically, a voltage is supplied to the base of Q 3 and also fed through R 1 to the collector of Q 1 through resistor R 4 . Q 1 then consequently flows current through the emitter and into the impedance formed by the combination of R 7 and C 4 . An externally available potentiometer, VR 1 , is then used to affect increase values of voltage obtained in the inverting voltage controlled IC 2 at the output terminal of IC 2 . A 1 and A 2 operational amplifiers are configured in such a way as to provide a method of timing for the circuit that is triggered when Q 1 is triggered. The signals are then distributed through two forward biases diodes D 1 and D 2 that combine at R 13 . D 1 and D 2 provide a DC level at R 13 that sends signal variations to the collector of Q 4 . The base of Q 4 can be controlled by an externally available potentiometer VR 2 that in turn controls the operating characteristics of the current invention associated with the load though 78 L 08 , D 12 , and R 20 . The output of R 13 then cycles through another forward biased diode, D 3 . This causes the switching of Q 2 in relation to the timing. A 3 is also effected by an externally available potentiometer at its non-inverting terminal. A 3 is configured in a non-inverting feedback configuration for gain that supplies voltage to switch the relay RE 1 through resistor R 19 and transistor Q 3 . The diode D 5 then uses 78 L 12 to utilize the power supply and a series of reversed biased diodes including D 6 ,D 12 , and D 9 . When the necessary voltage level is attained, the solenoid for the sprinklers 19 that are incorporated into the system begin to supply water from the water supply 20 , the overall output of the system is at location 21 consisting of the application of water to the protected area.