Presence-detecting system comprising electronic transmitter-receiver devices, actuators intercommunicating by carrier waves and connectable through an incorporated plug

Abstract: A system for detecting presences comprising devices equipped with electronic circuits for the transmission and reception of binary messages according to the technique of conveyor waves passing through the normal domestic electric network. Said devices, connected to the electric network by an incorporated plug are in addition equipped with actuators for the control (command) of the electric power equipment in order to intercommunicate at an equivalent rank level. This system consisting of an ensemble of several devices of the above-mentioned kind associated with devices having presence-detecting characteristics is capable of carrying out the function of an anti-intrusion alarm installation.

Description: The present invention relates to a presence-detecting system comprising numerous electronic transmitter/receiver devices intercommunicating according to the technique of conveyor waves. The possibility to use the normal electric network existing in buildings as a channel for the transmission of electric signals is known; a high-frequency sinusoidal carrier wave upon which the signal itself is modulated is used with systems of the modulation type FSK (Frequency Shift Keying), i.e. "with frequency shift". This system comes to be generally identified as "technique of conveyor waves". It is also known for instance in data management of local networks (LAN), although pertaining particularly to the method of access of the transmission means, to use either techniques of the deterministic type (whereby the access can take place only at predetermined instances), or techniques of the nondeterministic type (based on algorithms which allow the access on a probabilistic basis). To the first category belong the methods named "token passing", with register insertion and "time slot" with time intervals.; to the second category belong the methods known as "CSMA" (multiple access with carrier detection) and "CSMA/CD" (multiple access with carrier detection/collision detection). Another known technique is the use of sensors of various types for the detection of one or several presences. The patents DE-A-3221452, FR-A-2588682 and EP-A-0197815 disclose an alarm system which does detect intrusion and therefore can have a "module" represented as text which is capable of detecting such intrusion, but these modules are not functionally interchangeable, that is a module that was formally a presence detecting module, can not be used as the control center module and vice versa. It is the object of the present invention to create a Presence-detecting system to be used as an anti-intrusion alarm based on the use of numerous devices equipped with sensors (for instance infrared or microwave) and which, once connected to the existing electric network by means of an incorporated plug, can communicate among them by using the technique of conveyor waves. One such device, being provided with an actuator for the command of the electric power equipment, actuates an acoustic signal when a presence is detected by any of the detecting devices. The main aim of the present invention is that there are a plurality of intrusion detection modules, that all of these modules are identical to one another and can be plugged any place in outlets of the power network of a building or the like, that means is provided for carrier current transmission between the modules and between the detection module and the central module, and specifically that each housing has the plug built right onto it so that the plug can mount the housing on the outlet. The main advantage of the system consits in the fact that it can use an already existing connection network (the common electric network) without having first to provide complex and costly specific installations, as well as using a great number of detectors, which can also be increased subsequently to the first installation. There are also other objectives which will be subsequently closer described and which will all be attained by the system of the present invention, characterized by the fact that it comprises a combination of remote presence detectors (such devices can also be equipped with gas or fume detectors, achieving this way a complete alarm network), one or more device having the functions of control and actuation, a radio transmitter provided with a keyboard with a programmable activation/deactivation combination of the same system. Other objectives and advantages will appear more clearly from the following description and the attached drawing which illustrates in a schematic view by example of the block diagram of a possible practical embodiment of the invention. With reference to said drawing: Fig. 1 shows a block diagram with the main elements constituting the system Fig. 2 illustrates schematically a remote presence detector Fig. 3 shows the control center Fig. 4 shows the transmitter equipped with the keyboard for the programmable combination. The anti-intrusion network having the purpose to detect and signal a human presence inside a domestic environment, as well as other situations such as gas or fume presence, can be described schematically by its following principal elements: one or more detectors 1 for sensing remote presences; a center 2 for the control of the entire network, equipped in addition with a presence-detecting sensor therefore behaving also as a remote detector; a transmitter 3 provided with a keyboard with a programmable combination for the command via radio for the engagement/disengagement of the alarm system. The connection between the remote detectors 1 and the central unit 2 takes place through the electric network of 220V-50Hz which performs the double function of current supply and transmission support for the information (conveyor waves). All elements of the anti-intrusion alarm network are equipped with maintenance-free, rechargeable batteries which continue to insure the operation for short periods of time even when there is an interruption of the 220V current. The activation/deactivation of the anti-intrusion alarm system is controlled by means of the opposite portable transmitter 3 provided with a keyboard with a combination which communicates with the center 2 for the actuation of the network by means of radio waves. The remote presence detector consists essentially of a printed electronic circuit 4 connected with a sensor 5 for detecting the infrared radiation emitted by the human body, or able to sense the presence of gas or fumes. The signal is generated and transmitted to the center 2 via the electric network 21, becoming also visible due to the lighting of a LED 6 with red light, while the impossibility to communicate with the center 2 is made visible by the lighting of a LED 7 with yellow light. This elements together with the batteries 15 for independent supply, are enclosed in a box provided with plug 8 for the insertion in the electric network of 220V. The control center consists essentially of a printed electronic circuit 9 capable to receive signals emitted by the remote sensors (detectors) and to inform the outside world by means depending on the state of said center (alarms for triggering or release). The center 2 is equipped with a sensor 5' for detecting infrared radiation or other types analogous to the remote detectors; a series of pilot lights red 10, yellow 11, green 12, stable or flashing; a acoustic signal 13 (buzzer) to indicate the operations of engaging and disengaging of the alarm system; a siren 14 for signalling an alarm in progress; the supply batteries 15'. All these elements are enclosed in a box provided with a plug 8' for insertion in the electric network of 220V. The transmitter provided with a keyboard with programmable combination consists essentially of a printed electronic circuit 16 capable to convert to radio impulses the access code to the anti-intrusion system, processed on the keyboard 17 according to a digital code selected by the user. All signalling related to the programming on keyboard 17 will be made evident by the acoustic signal 13 (buzzer) inserted in center 2. These elements are also enclosed in a box provided with an electric battery 15'' for independent supply. The anti-intrusion alarm system consisting of the above-described elements operates in the following manner. The remote presence detector can be in the following situations: a/ operating without the alarm: in this situation the detector informs the center 2 periodically (i.e. every 4 minutes) about its own state; b/ operating with the alarm: the remote detector send immediately a signal to the center 2 and to the terminal of the transmission, the device sets itself in a blackout, which means that for two minutes it does not send any message; c/ signalling of communication problems: due to the periodic communications about the state of the remote sensor it is possible to check the validity of the connection between the remote detector and the center 2, and whenever the above-mentioned communication does not elicit a response, the sensor signals this situation by turning on its own LED 7 with the yellow flashing light. d/ alarm signals: The signalling of alarm conditions on the local visual display device (red LED 6) is related to the state of the center 2 and the presence of the voltage of the 220V network, while then in the presence of such voltage if the alarm system is disengaged, the detector 1 repeats on its own LED the alarming conditions signalled by its own sensor; in all other situations the LED remains turned off, particularly when the 220V network is out, which makes possible to extend the independent supply afforded by the internal battery 15. The control center can be in the following situations: a/ operating in the absence of alarm: in the absence of alarm signals coming from the remote detectors 1 and from the local sensor 5 of the center 2, the LED of an appropriate color of the latter can indicate a disengaged alarm system (continuous red light 10) or an engaged alarm system (continuous green light 12), or an alarm system in the process of being engaged (flashing green light 12); (in the transition from a disengaged system to an engaged system a waiting period (e.g. two minutes) is imposed to the operating regions, in order to allow the user to engage the alarm and exit the house without causing the intervention of the system) or it can indicate a communication error between the center 2 and a remote detector 1 (flashing yellow light 11); b/ operating in the presence of an alarm with disengaged system: the LED passes from the fixed red light 10 to the flashing red light, in order to signal that the alarm is given by the sensor 5, internal to the center 2, the signal remains for the duration of the alarm condition, wile in order to signal that the alarm was given by the remote detector 1, the signal lasts for instance from 4 to 8 minutes; c/ operating in the presence of alarm and engaged system: the siren 14 of center 2 is activated and the visual LED passes from a green fixed light to a flashing red light, the acoustic activation persists for instance from 4 to 8 minutes, after the alarm conditions have ceased; d/ acoustic signals of system engagement: the buzzer 13 of the center 2 emits three sound pulses interrupted by a second of silence, at the same time the green LED starts to flash; e/ acoustic signal of system disengagement: the buzzer 13 of the center 2 emits a continuous sound for the duration of three seconds and the red LED becomes fixed. On the keyboard with programmable combination of the transmitter 3 the following operations can be set: a/ in order to engage the alarm system it is necessary to digitize correctly the current activation code and in the end to press the "ON" key 18 of the keyboard; b/ in order to disengage the alarm system it is necessary to digitize correctly the current activation code and in the end to press the "OFF" key 19 of the keyboard. c/ in order to program a new code: the center 2 is set in the programming mode, digitizing the old code and pressing at the same time the two opposite keys 20 marked "PROG" on the keyboard; the center 2 in response has to signal that it entered the programming phase by means of five seconds of intermittent acoustic signals of buzzer 13. Subsequently the new code is digitized and the operation is concluded by pressing simultaneously the two opposite keys 20 of the keyboard marked with the inscription "PROG"; if the center 2 produces another five seconds of intermittent acoustic signal, the new code has been accepted, while the center 2 exits the programming phase automatically if it does not receive the new code within 30 seconds. The operations which can be performed on the remote control are as follows: a/ engagement and disengagement of the system through command keys which set the alarm system in a state of activation or deactivation; b/ in order to establish a personalized access code: the old personalized code is digitized on the keyboard and two opposite programming keys on the keyboard marked "PROG" are pressed; the center 2 signals that it is entering the programming phase with an acoustic signal (intermittent sound of the buzzer for five seconds). Subsequently the new program code is digitized on the keyboard and again the operation is concluded by pressing programming keys on the keyboard marked "PROG"; if the center 2 emits another five seconds of intermittent acoustic signal, the new code has been accepted, while the center 2 exits the programming phase automatically if it does not receive the new code within thirty seconds. In the actuation practice the components of the system, center and remote detectors, can be either elements with the function of detectors and/or actuators, operating at the same rank level, thereby being functionally interchangeable. The described anti-intrusion system can coexist on the same 220V electric line with other various systems and networks, without creating disturbances or interferences; all this is possible because this system is equipped with its own elements for signal filtering, analyzing and decoding. In fact the microprocessor is capable to manage via software the message collision in the network. The present invention, illustrated and described schematically by way of example of a possible practical embodiment can be extended to those variants of equivalent accessories, shape, materials which for this reason can encompassed by the scope of the following claims.

Claims: A presence-detecting system, comprising: a multiplicity of identical presence-detecting modules (1) each having a housing, a sensor (5) on said housing responsive to the intrusion of a person in a region of said sensor, a plug (8) directly projecting from said housing, configured to be inserted into a standard outlet of an electrical power network (21) having a multiplicity of standard outlets, and mounting the housing on one of said outlets, and a circuitry (4) connected to said sensor and said plug and provided with means (3) for delivering first signals being transmitted by a carrier current of information along said electrical power network to a control center module (2) and means for response to second signals being transmitted by said carrier current from said control center module to one of said presence-detecting modules for informing said control center module of its own state, each of said presence-detecting modules being selectively mounta ble on said one of the multiplicity of outlets of said network; wherein said control center module has a housing, a plug on said housing of said control center module configured to be inserted into said one of the standard outlets of said electrical power network, and a control circuitry connected to said plug and provided with means for response to said first signals being transmitted from said presence-detecting module and for transmitting said second signals to each of said presence-detecting modules by said carrier current, of the second signals by said control center module interrogating said presence-detecting modules for monitoring the status of said presence-detecting modules; and a remote control unit for said control center module in wireless radio communication therewith and formed with a keyboard enabling programming and control of said control center module, said control center module and all of said presence-detecting modules being functionally interchangeable and mountable at any of said outlets of said network. System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said remote presence detector comprises a printed electronic circuit, a detector for infrared radiation (or gas/fumes), a couple of colored pilot lights, a battery as an independent supply source for emergencies, an incorporated electric plug. System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said control and processing center comprises a printed electronic circuit, a detector for infrared radiation (or gas/fumes), a plurality of colored pilot lights, a buzzer, a siren, a battery as an independent supply source for emergencies, an incorporated electric plug. System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said portable radio transmitter comprises a printed electronic circuit, a keyboard with programmable combination and a plurality of command keys and a device for signal emission via radio. System according to the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the components of the system. center and detectors, contain the same electronic elements which makes them functionally interchangeable in performing the functions of communication and actuation. System according to the preceding claims characterized by the fact that all signals are sent through the electric network of 220V, according to the technique of conveyor waves.

Inventors: BEGHELLI GIAN PIETRO, BEGHELLI, GIAN PIETRO
Applicants: BEGHELLI SRL, BEGHELLI S.R.L.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G08B25
IPC codes: G08B25