Patent Publication Number: US-2013235207-A1

Title: Door alarm system and alarming method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to alarm systems, and particularly to a door alarming system and an alarming method for alarming a user to close a door. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     People may forget to close the door of their house when they go out or come back, which may cause safety issue. Therefore, what is needed is a means to solve the above mentioned problem. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure should be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The units in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding portions throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a door alarm system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the door alarm system of  FIG. 1  applied in a door system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an alarming method, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , an embodiment of a door alarm system  100  applied in a door system  200  is illustrated. The door system  200  includes a wall  201 , a door frame  202  mounted in the wall  201 , and a panel door  203  hinged to the door frame  202 . The alarm system  100  is used to detect whether the panel door  203  is closed after determining that a user has passed through the door  203 , and prompt the user to close the door  203  if the door  203  is opened. 
     The alarm system  100  includes an image capturing unit  10 , a processing unit  20 , and a detecting unit  30 . 
     The image capturing unit  10  is used to capture images around the panel door  203 . In the embodiment, the image capturing unit  10  is a camera fixed on the door frame  202  or the wall  201 , and the image capturing unit  10  captures images around the door  203  continuously. In an alternative embodiment, the image capturing unit  10  further includes a sensor  101 , such as an infrared sensor, to detect whether a user has walked into a predetermined area; if so, the image capturing unit  10  captures images around the door  203 . 
     The processing unit  20  obtains the images captured by the image capturing unit  10 , and determines whether a user has passed through the door  203  by analyzing the obtained images using known technology. In detail, if a figure image appears in several sequential images, and the size of the figure image gradually increases or decreases, and then the figure image disappears from subsequent images, the processing unit  20  determines that a user has passed through the door  203 . 
     After the processing unit  20  determines that the user has passed through the door  203 , the processing unit  20  controls the detecting unit  30  to detect whether the door  203  is closed. In the embodiment, the detecting unit  30  includes an infrared emitter  301  and an infrared receiver  302 . One of the infrared emitter  301  and the infrared receiver  302  are arranged on the door frame  202 , and another one of the infrared emitter  301  and the infrared receiver  302  are arranged on the door  203 . The infrared receiver  302  is arranged aligned with the infrared emitter  301 . When the door  203  is closed, the infrared receiver  302  can receive the infrared ray emitted by the infrared emitter  301 . If the infrared receiver  302  receives the infrared ray, the processing unit  20  determines that the door  203  is closed. Otherwise, the processing unit  20  determines that the door  203  is opened. 
     After the processing unit  20  determines that a user has passed through the door  203 , and the door  203  is opened, the processing unit  20  executes an alarm operation to alarm the user to close the door  203 . In the embodiment, the alarm system  100  further includes an alarm  40  mounted on the door system  200 , such as a loudspeaker, a light, or the like. The processing unit  20  executes the alarm operation by controlling the alarm  40  to output alarm signal, for example, controlling the loudspeaker to output audible sound, or controlling the light to emit light. In an alternative embodiment, the processing unit  20  executes the alarm operation by sending a message to a preset communication account to alarm the user to close the door. The communication account may be a phone number of a mobile phone, an email account, or the like. In the embodiment, the processing unit  20  may execute the alarm operation after a predetermined time interval after determining that the user pass through the door  203  and does not close the door  203 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an alarming method, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     In step S 301 , the image capturing unit  10  captures images around the door  203 . 
     In step S 302 , the processing unit  20  obtains the images captured by the image capturing unit  10  and determines whether a user has passed through the door  203  by analyzing the obtained images using known technology. 
     In step S 303 , the processing unit  20  controls the detecting unit  30  to detect whether the door  203  is closed after the processing unit  20  determines that the user has passed through the door  203 . 
     In step S 304 , the processing unit  20  executes an alarm operation to alarm the user to close the door  203  after the processing unit  20  determines that the user has passed through the door  203  and the door  203  is opened. 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.