Patent Publication Number: US-2011050419-A1

Title: Remote Intrusion Signaling Security System

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method, device, apparatus, and system for detecting intrusion and/or unlocking without authorization, and in response, informing a user of the intrusion and/or unauthorized unlocking. 
     Forced entries to residences, commercial premises, vehicles, etc. are a common problem in both cities and suburban areas. Conventional security systems attempt to address this problem by interlinking entries or security locks of a space intended to be protected with an alarm station; upon detection of any tampering with the entries or locks, sensors therein will activate an audible or visible alarm designed to deter intruders. This conventional technology has been implemented in SkyLink® AA-433 Audio Alarm, for instance. 
     Such security systems, though posing on the spot deterrence to the intruders, nevertheless suffer from the disadvantage of failing to immediately alert the user when he or she is not in close proximity to the protected space. Also, such systems are less effective in more remote areas. If the alarm station is installed in a readily visible location outside of the protected area, savvy intruders can often sabotage or disarm the alarm system before attempting to enter. 
     Furthermore, most typical security systems automatically reset the alarm to an original state after the alarm goes off for a period of time. Absent any indication of intrusion record, that approach fails to inform the user when or even whether an intrusion has taken place, let alone which entry of the protected place was tampered with. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Given the above deficiencies of the conventional techniques there exists a need for an improved security system that will promptly alert a remotely located user of tampering in a protected area. The alerted user can then take timely necessary measures to prevent actual intrusion and even more serious crimes. For instance, the user may promptly report to the law enforcement or security guards to stop or trace the suspect upon notification by the system. The user can also avoid returning to the intruded-to premise without any heads-up of potential danger, thus endangering her own safety. It is also an object for an improved system to inform the user of an exact entry that was tampered with, provided a plurality of entries or locks are involved in the system. 
     According to one embodiment, the present invention comprises a system having a lock mechanism to secure entries of a protected area. The system includes a sensor module that detects unlocking or tampering and in response sends out a signal to a central unit. The central unit then communicates to a remote device that indicates intrusion upon receiving the signal. The central unit and the remote device can be incorporated into one unitary system. Alternatively, the central unit can be integrated within the lock mechanism. 
     The innovative system may also provide a plurality of lock mechanisms and respective sensor modules for detecting attempted entries; upon signaling by any of the sensor modules, the central unit is capable of identifying which lock mechanism is unlocked and informing the remote device of such. 
     Preferably, the lock mechanism of the inventive system includes a padlock. The padlock typically encompasses a padlock body and a shackle with two integral leg portions slidably receivable through a first and a second bores of the padlock body. In the course of shackle sliding, a latch member slidably mounted in a horizontal passage within the padlock body secures and releases the shackle&#39;s first leg portion. In correspondence, a spring member disposed to abut the second leg portion is compressed and decompressed. The sensor module in such embodiment is connected to the spring member and capable of detecting pressure variance transferred from the spring member. 
     In a first aspect, the sensor module used in the inventive system includes one of the following sensors: motion sensor, break-beam optical sensor, and pressure sensor. 
     In another aspect, the central unit disclosed herein comprises a receiver interface, a transmitter interface, and an antenna coupled thereto for receiving and transmitting signals. The central unit further comprises a microcontroller for processing the received signals based on rules and data retained in a memory. The microcontroller in can be a microprocessor. A rechargeable battery can be provided to charge the foregoing components of the central unit. 
     In yet another aspect, the remote device comprises an input device, a speaker, a LCD module, a radio module in connection with an antenna, and a microcontroller. The LCD module displays information to the user, and can include a touch-sensitive panel for receiving user input. The microcontroller may be replaced with a microcomputer. In addition, the remote device can be incorporated into pagers or cellular phones. The remote device may include control functions, such as activating power of the central unit. 
     The inventive system according to one embodiment further comprises a speaker module to intimidate the intruder. The speaker module includes a wireless receiver for receiving a signal from the central unit, an amplifier to magnify the signal for producing sound, and a loudspeaker to produce the sound. 
     These and other features and advantages of this invention will become further apparent from the detailed description and accompanying figures that follow. In the figures and description, numerals indicate the various features of the invention, and like numerals refer to like features throughout both the drawings and the description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an intrusion signaling system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  provide sectional views of a padlock in locked, unlocked and broken states, respectively. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the sensor module used within the padlock. 
         FIG. 4  provides a block diagram illustrating a central unit in accordance with the inventive system. 
         FIG. 5  depicts an internal architecture of a remote device in block diagram form. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an intrusion signaling system  100  in accordance with the present invention disclosed herein. The intrusion signaling system  100  can be installed in residences, commercial premises, vehicles, etc. for verifying the secured location&#39;s integrity. 
     The intrusion signaling system  100  is comprised of one or more lock mechanisms  110 , a sensor module  120 , a central unit  130 , a remote device  140 , and a speaker module  150 . The sensor module  120  is disposed in proximity to the lock mechanism  110  and capable of detecting unauthorized unlocking and/or breaking of the lock mechanism  110 . Upon such detection, a signal is transmitted by the sensor module  120  to the central unit  130 , which in turn processes the received signal and communicates with the remote device  140 . The remote device  140  alerts its user of possible intrusion with an alarm or a visual indication. The central unit  130  can also send a signal to the speaker module  150  preferably nearby the secured place, resulting in noise to intimidate the intruder. 
     The lock mechanism  110  may be any conventional lock, including a padlock, door lock, car lock, lockbox, and the like. A preferred lockbox&#39;s structure is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,912, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     When the lock mechanism  110  is unlocked or tampered with, the sensor module  120  is triggered to generate a signal for transmitting to the central unit  130 . The sensor module  120  is arranged in proximity to the lock mechanism  110 , and preferably encased in the lock mechanism  110  such that the sensor module  120  can immediately and correctly discover attempted breaking of the lock mechanism  110 . One advantage of incorporating the sensor module  120  into the lock mechanism  110  is to prevent intruder&#39;s sabotaging or disarming the sensor module  120  to circumvent sensor tripping. 
     Sensors suitable for use within the system  100  include motion sensors, break-beam optical sensors, pressure sensors and the like. 
     Upon receiving the signal from the sensor module  120 , the central unit  130  processes the signal and then signifies the remote device  140 . The central unit  130  can be arranged in a distance to the sensor  120  and lock mechanism  110 . In some embodiments, the central unit  130  is integrated into the lock mechanism  110  or the remote device  140 . 
     Preferably, the intrusion signaling system  100  has a plurality of lock mechanisms as shown in  FIG. 1  (collectively identified by reference numeral  115 ) and respective sensor modules (collectively identified by reference numeral  125 ), each having a dedicated address registered with the central unit  130 . The central unit  130  identifies the lock mechanism and associated sensor module by using the sensor module&#39;s address. 
     The remote device  140  is designed to be carried by the user of the system  100  and preferably is equipped with a liquid crystal display (hereinafter “LCD”)  145  for presenting information to the user. The information is derived from analysis of data signals received from the central unit  130 . 
     The speaker module  150  can be placed in vicinity, e.g., 2 meters, to the protected space and configured to launch when receiving the signal transmitted by the central unit  130 . The speaker module  150  includes a wireless receiver to receive the signal, an amplifier to increase the magnitude of the signal, and a loudspeaker to produce sound by use of the amplified signal. Preferably, the loudspeaker is able to generate alarm or siren approximating  120  to  125  decibels. The speaker module  150  can also be installed in the remote device  140  to alert the user at first time. 
     The signals that are communicated among the aforementioned components of the system  100  are advantageously carried over radio waves. A cellular phone system, paging system, and other like RF (radio frequency) carriers can be used for implementing the intrusion signaling system  100 . In those embodiments the remote device  140  is incorporated into cellular phones and pagers. 
       FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate sectional views of a padlock  200  in locked, unlocked and broken states, respectively. Note that the use of terminology such as “vertical” and “horizontal,” “up” and “down,” or variants thereof throughout the specification or claims serves for illustrating the icons&#39; relative positions only and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the padlock  200  includes a padlock body  220  which has two openings  222  and  224  on its top extending inwardly to form two bores  226  and  228 . The openings  222  and  224  and bores  226  and  228  are configured to removably receive two integral leg portions  230   a  and  230   b  of a shackle  230 . The shackle  230  is shaped, e.g., in an inverted U-shape. The two leg portions  230   a  and  230   b  can be cylinder-shaped for rotatably mounting into the two bores within the padlock body  220 . One leg portion  230   b  may be longer than the other leg portion  230   a  to ensure the padlock body  220  retains part of the leg portion  230   b  in an unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 2B . A weatherproof outer sleeve  250  covers and protects the shackle  230 . The outer sleeve  250  is preferably made of plastic, resin, or like resilient materials. 
     The bore  226  communicates with a horizontal passage  210  in which a latch  240  is mounted. The latch  240  can be substantially rectangular-shaped with a chamfered head portion  246 , which, under a locked condition, engages in a recess  232  formed within the shackle leg portion  230   a . A latch spring  244  is disposed to abut a latch end  249  of the latch  240  in longitudinal alignment, thereby operating to bias the latch  240  outward to engage the recess  232 . 
     A notch  248  is formed in a lower side of the latch  240  to receive an inner end  252  within the body  220  which prevents the latch  240  from sliding off the horizontal passage  228 . The inner end  252  is substantially rectangular in over-all configuration. The notch  248  normally has a larger dimension than the inner end  252  in order to allow the latch  240  to move in sideward directions into locking engagement. 
     When the shackle  230  is in the locked position as illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the leg portion  230   b  is forced further deep in the bore  228  thereby pressing down a vertical spring  260  disposed under the leg portion  230   b . The lower end of the leg portion  230   b  is reduced in diameters as indicated at  242  to form a shoulder against which an upper end of the vertical spring  260  abuts in longitudinal alignment. The reduced end  242  of the leg portion  230   b  is adapted to securely sit inside of the vertical spring  260 . Upon disengaging the leg portion  230   a  by the latch  240  the vertical spring  260  operates to drive the leg portion  230   b  upwardly to the unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the sensor module  120  is disposed under the vertical spring  260  such that when the leg portion  230   b  is in the locked position and compresses the vertical spring  260 , a greater pressure is transferred to the sensor module  120 . When the vertical spring  260  is released in the unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 2B , the pressure imposed on the sensor module  120  will be detectably reduced, thereby causing the sensor module  120  to generate a signal in response. Likewise, attempted breaking of the padlock  210  such as cutting the shackle  230  as illustrated in  FIG. 2C  will also release the vertical spring  260  to the unlocked position, thereby triggering the sensor module  120 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the sensor module  120  used within the padlock  200 . The sensor module  120  includes a sensor  310  that is capable of generating a signal as a function of the pressure imposed thereupon. A transmitter  315  is operatively interconnected with the sensor  310  and adapted to receive the signal therefrom. When noticeable pressure reduction is sensed, the transmitter  315  will relay a RF signal that can travel to the central unit  130 . 
     A battery  320  powers the sensor  310  and transmitter  315 , and is preferably formed in disk-shape to better fit itself within the compact sensor module  120 . The voltage data of the battery  320  may be sent out by the transmitter  315  to the central unit  130  for determining how much electricity remains in the battery  320 . A spring  330  is arranged under the battery  320  and the sensor  310  so as to more sensitively transfer variant force to the sensor  310 . 
     As the padlock  200  and the sensor module  120  therein are often located outdoors to secure the protected property, a solid outer cover or shell  340  that can shield the sensor  120  from collision or humidity is provided to better protect the sensor module  120 . The solid shell  340  can be made of plastic, metal or the like. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram  400  illustrating the central unit  130  in accordance with the present invention disclosed herein. The central unit  130  is comprised of at least the following components: a receiver interface  410 , a transmitter interface  420 , a microcontroller  430 , a memory  440 , and a power supply  450 . 
     The receiver interface  410  is equipped in the central unit  130  to receive signals from either the sensor module  120  or the remote device  140 . The transmitter interface  420  is designed to relay to the remote device  140  signals from the central unit  130 . A two-way antenna  415 , which converts electromagnetic waves to electrical currents and vice versa, may be shared by both the receiver interface  410  and transmitter interface  420 . 
     The microcontroller  430  processes the signal received from the receiver interface  410  and determines, for example, which sensor module of the multiple lock mechanisms produced such signal. As noted above, the sensor modules  125  have their designated addresses registered with the central unit  130 . In various embodiments, each of the sensor modules  125  may be tuned to a fixed frequency range, and thus the microcontroller  430  can identify the signaling sensor module by matching the frequency of the received signal with the designated addresses. Those addresses and frequency ranges are retained in a memory  440  comprising a non-volatile memory component such as ROM (read-only-memory) or flash memory. The memory  440  also stores other data and/or rules for retrieval by the microcontroller  430 . 
     In some implementations, the receiver interface  410  is capable of receiving signals carrying requests from the remote device  140  and the microcontroller  430  determines what to respond based on the requests using the data and rules stored in the memory  440 . For instance, the remote device  140  can be operated to turn on or off the central unit  130 . The microcontroller  430  upon receiving such a signal matches the request to a series of instructions in the memory  440  to provide electricity or shut off the power supply  450 . In a similar manner, the microcontroller  430  may also be commanded, for example, to mute the speaker module  150 . In correspondence, the microcontroller  430  ceases transmitting signals to launch the speaker module  150 . 
     The power supply  450  provides suitable operating power for the components and can be a rechargeable battery or an adapter connector configured for AC or DC power sources. For example, the power supply  450  may be plugged into a car cigarette lighter receptacle where the central unit is installed in a vehicle. 
     In some embodiments the central unit  130  is integrated within the lock mechanism  110 . As such the sensor module  120  and the central unit may be interconnected by bus, thus eliminating the need to provide the transmitter  315  in the sensor module  120 . In other embodiments the central unit  130  is incorporated into the remote device  140 , and therefore the transmitter interface  420  can be reduced. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an internal architecture  500  of the remote device  140  in block diagram form. The remote device  140  in some embodiments can be integrated in an existing pager or cellular phone model. 
     A keypad  510  can be actuated by the user to control basic functions of the remote device  140 , e.g., powering on and off of the remote device  140 , disabling the central unit  130 , muting the speaker module  150 , etc. A speaker  520  and a microphone  522  may be added to the remote device  140  for producing and receiving audible sound. A LCD module  530  provides a presentation of information such as the lock mechanism&#39;s state and the remaining battery percentage of the sensor  310 . The LCD module  530  may also comprise a touch-sensitive panel for receiving user input. 
     A radio module  540  contains components receiving, transmitting, and handling radio frequency signals, and is generally used with an external antenna  545 . The external antenna  545  serves to convert the radio frequency signals to electrical currents and vice versa. A microcontroller  550 , which may be replaced by a microprocessor and related interfaces in a more complicated structure, serves to process the incoming signals and operates functions associated with the various components shown in  FIG. 5 . A power supply  560  is attached to the remote device  140  for providing it sufficiently operable power and can be a rechargeable battery pack which requires periodic charging. 
     Having now described the invention in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will understand how to make changes and modifications in the present invention to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.