Laser security fence apparatus

A laser security fence apparatus is disclosed for providing a warning signal in response to an intrusion by an intruder of a restricted area. The apparatus includes a laser generator for generating a laser beam and a first mirror aligned with the laser beam for reflecting the beam. A second mirror is aligned with the first mirror for reflecting the beam reflected by the first mirror and a collector is aligned with the second mirror for collecting the beam reflected by the second mirror. A microprocessor is associated with the collector and the generator for sensing when the beam is broken by the intruder so that the beam is not received by the collector. An alarm is connected to the microprocessor for actuation by the microprocessor when the microprocessor senses that the beam is broken so that the alarm provides the warning signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to a laser security fence apparatus. More
 specifically, the present invention relates to a laser security fence
 apparatus for providing a warning signal in response to an intrusion by an
 intruder of a restricted area.
 2. Background Information
 Each year many fatal accidents occur due to children drowning after
 entering unattended into pool areas. Although several fence arrangements
 have been proposed for restricting access to a pool area, there is always
 a possibility that a gate may be left unlocked so that a child or toddler
 can enter the pool area and fall into the pool without the parents being
 aware of the situation.
 Furthermore, traditional fences and gates usually detract from the
 aesthetics of the pool and surrounding pool area. The present invention
 provides a laser fence apparatus that immediately alerts the pool owner
 that someone has entered the restricted area. In this way, if a toddler or
 baby crawls past the laser fence, the parents are immediately alerted
 about the potential danger before the child is able to reach the actual
 pool.
 Therefore, it is a primary feature of the present invention to provide a
 laser security fence apparatus that overcomes the problems associated with
 the prior art fence arrangements and which provides a significant
 contribution to the art of pool safety.
 Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a laser
 security fence for surrounding any restricted area such as a camp ground
 or the like.
 Other features and advantages of the laser security fence apparatus
 according to the present invention will be readily apparent to those
 skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description
 contained herein of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to a laser security fence apparatus for
 providing a warning signal in response to an intrusion by an intruder of a
 restricted area. The apparatus includes a laser generator for generating a
 laser beam and a first mirror aligned with the laser beam for reflecting
 the beam. A second mirror is aligned with the first mirror for reflecting
 the beam reflected by the first mirror and a collector is aligned with the
 second mirror for collecting the beam reflected by the second mirror. A
 microprocessor is associated with the collector and the generator for
 sensing when the beam is broken by the intruder, that is when the beam is
 not received by the collector. An alarm is connected to the microprocessor
 for actuation by the microprocessor when the microprocessor senses that
 the beam is broken so that the alarm provides the warning signal.
 In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, the laser generator
 includes a 9 volt D.C. source of electrical energy and the laser generator
 is a laser diode light.
 The laser generator also includes a focal lens for focusing the laser beam,
 the focal lens including a capacitor for adjusting a sensitivity and
 intensity of the beam. More particularly, the capacitor is a variable
 capacitor.
 Moreover, the first mirror is a plane mirror, the first mirror being set
 angularly relative to the beam. The second mirror is also a plane mirror
 which is disposed angularly relative to the first mirror. The first and
 second mirrors are spaced relative to each other so that the beam
 travelling between the mirrors can travel a distance of over 100 yards.
 Also, the collector includes a collecting lens for collecting the beam and
 an electronic circuit for generating an electrical signal in response to
 the beam received by the collecting lens. A transmitter is used for
 transmitting the electrical signal from the microprocessor. The
 transmitter is a radio transmitter for transmitting a R.F. wave from the
 microprocessor, the microprocessor being disposed in the vicinity of the
 collector. The R.F. waves are received by a device located inside the
 house for providing an audible warning that the laser beam has been
 broken.
 Preferably, the apparatus is a security fence placed around a swimming pool
 to provide a warning if a child enters a pool area which would present a
 potentially life threatening situation for the child if the child were to
 enter into the pool.
 Many variations and modifications of the present invention will be readily
 apparent to those skilled in the art by a careful consideration of the
 detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention
 contained herein in conjunction with the annexed drawings. However, such
 modifications and variations fall within the spirit and scope of the
 present invention as defined by the appended claims.
 Included in such modifications would be the provision of means for
 switching on a lighting system when the alarm signal is given so that for
 example, in the use of the laser fence around a pool area, when the
 potential danger of an intruder is sensed, the lights are switched on thus
 facilitating a rescue from the pool in the event of a child having fallen
 into the pool.
 Also, the present invention envisages not only a waning speaker disposed
 adjacent to the collector for providing a warning in the pool area itself
 but also means for transmitting to a remote receiver so that a person
 disposed remote from the pool is alerted to the potential problem of an
 intruder.
 Additionally, the apparatus according to the present invention is able to
 be energized from a D.C. source or from the mains supply via a voltage
 drop A C./D.C. transformer or the like.
 Furthermore, the apparatus may include a timer device for allowing the
 laser fence to be reset automatically after the warning alarm has been
 activated. More specifically, the alarm can be set to sound for 30-60
 seconds thus not allowing the battery power on the laser unit to be
 drained for an extended period of time. The delay device could include two
 buttons. The first button would control the wireless delay switch. When
 activated by depressing the first button, a signal is sent to the laser
 unit thus allowing the owner to pass without setting off the alarm.
 Subsequently, the unit would be automatically re-set to turn itself back
 on.
 A second button is an on/off button on the portable remote receiver alarm.
 The second button would control the on/off switch remotely without having
 to leave the house or car to physically go to the laser unit to turn the
 unit on.
 The present invention can also be used to secure a hunting camp, a car
 port, a fence line, an interior or exterior of a home, for securing a
 store, child care facility or an R.V. The present invention could also be
 used to warn of the intrusion of a cat within a babies crib or to warn a
 parent about a sleep walker.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various
 views of the drawings.
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
 FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a laser security fence apparatus generally
 designated 10 according to the present invention for providing a warning
 signal in response to an intrusion by an intruder 11 of a restricted area
 12.
 As shown in FIG. 1, a laser generator generally designated 14 generates a
 laser beam 16 and a first mirror 18 aligned with the laser beam 16
 reflects the beam 16. A second mirror 20 is aligned with the first mirror
 18 for reflecting the beam 16 reflected by the first mirror 18. Several
 other mirrors such as 19 may be used if necessary to enclose and secure
 the restricted area 12. Furthermore, a collector 22 is aligned with the
 second mirror 20 for collecting the beam 16 reflected by the second mirror
 20.
 FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing details of the apparatus shown in FIG.
 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 10 includes a microprocessor 24 which
 is associated with the collector 22 and the generator 14 for sensing when
 the beam 16 is broken by the intruder 11 so that the beam 16 is not
 received by the collector 22.
 FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing further details of the apparatus shown
 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, an alarm 26 is connected by R.F. frequency
 waves to the microprocessor 24 so that the alarm 26 such as a buzzer is
 actuated remotely by the microprocessor 24 when the microprocessor 24
 senses that the beam 16 is broken so that the alarm 26 provides the
 warning signal.
 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing details of the laser generator 14 for
 the apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the laser generator
 14 includes a 9 volt D.C. source of electrical energy 28 and the laser
 generator 14 includes a laser diode light 30.
 FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the generator 14 and collector 22
 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the laser generator 14 also includes
 a focal lens 32 for focusing the laser beam 16.
 FIG. 5a is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 5 but shows the opposite
 side of the generator and collector. FIG. 5a shows an external power jack
 plug 33.
 FIG. 5b is a side elevational view of a tripod 35 used for supporting the
 generator14 and colletor 22. However, the generator 14 and collector could
 be secured by screws to a wall or the like.
 FIG. 5c is a side elevational view of a spike 37 used for supporting each
 of the mirrors.
 FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing details of a further microprocessor 50
 of a remote receiver disposed within a house remote from the restricted
 area 12. As shown in FIG. 6, the further microprocessor 50 is associated
 with a variable resistor 34.
 Moreover, the first mirror 18 is a plane mirror, the first mirror 18 being
 set angularly relative to the beam 16. The second mirror 20 is also a
 plane mirror which is disposed angularly relative to the first mirror 18.
 The first and second mirrors 18 and 20 respectively are spaced relative to
 each other so that the beam 16 travelling between the mirrors 18 and 20
 can travel a distance of 100 yards or more as shown in FIG. 1. The
 distance travelled by the beam is a sum of a first distance D1 from the
 generator 14 to the first mirror 18, a second distance D2 from the first
 mirror 18 to the mirror 19, a third distance D3 from the mirror 19 to the
 second mirror 20 and a fourth distance D4 from the second mirror 20 to the
 collector 22.
 As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the collector 22 includes a collecting
 lens 36 for collecting the beam 16 and an electronic circuit generally
 designated 38 for generating an electric signal in response to the beam 16
 received by the collecting lens 36. A transmitter generally designated 40
 is used for transmitting an electric signal from the microprocessor 24
 when the beam 16 is broken. More specifically, the transmitter 40 is a
 radio transmitter for transmitting a R.F. wave from the microprocessor 24,
 the microprocessor 24 being disposed within a housing 41 together with the
 collector 22 as shown in FIG. 5.
 Preferably, the apparatus 10 is used as a security fence placed around a
 swimming pool 42, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide a warning if a child 11
 enters a pool area 12 which would present a potentially life threatening
 situation for the child 11 if the child 11 were to enter into the pool 42.
 FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the collecting lens 36 and the
 transmitter 40.
 FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an alternative application of the apparatus
 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the apparatus 10a
 is also used to provide a fence around a camp site or the like including a
 picnic hut 44, table 46 and tree 48. In other respects, the apparatus 10a
 is identical to that shown in FIG. 1 and includes a generator 14a, a beam
 16a and mirrors 18a and 20a.
 In operation of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, when an intruder such as
 a child 11 attempts to enter a pool 42 in a restricted area 12, the beam
 16 is broken so that the microprocessor 24 generates and permits the
 transmission of a warning signal that would alert the parents disposed
 remote from the restricted area about the potential life threatening
 situation.