Range and capability extending device for perimeter intrusion detection
A solar powered, self-contained DFOS extender that includes a wide-angle camera and a microphone. The DFOS extender monitors the perimeter constantly or at predetermined time intervals both visually and acoustically. It analyses these signals and if an alarming event is detected (such as an animal, a human, a car, or a truck seen or heard), then the DFOS extender generates a coded vibration via its in-built acoustic modem. These coded vibrations are detected by the fiber and an event log is generated. Consequently, a trespasser or false alarms (animals) are detected before they are within detectable distance of the underground DFOS optical sensor fiber. Advantageously, our DFOS extender can be placed in critical locations along a border where an increased detection range is desired and may later be relocated/reinstalled at other locations as well.
1 . A range and capability extender for perimeter intrusion detection comprising:
a solar-powered, self-contained device configured to be placed in an area outside a detectable range of a buried optical sensor fiber of a distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) system;
the device comprising:
one or more sensors for detecting trespassers within the area, wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of a wide-angle camera and a microphone;
a built-in acoustic modem configured to generate mechanical vibrations into a ground area; and
circuitry configured to:
analyze signals from the one or more sensors to detect an alarming event; and
in response to detecting the alarming event, activate the built-in acoustic modem to generate a coded vibration that is detected by the buried optical sensor fiber.
2 . The range and capability extender for perimeter intrusion detection of claim 1 , wherein the self-contained device is configured to be solar/battery powered and is configured to generate and store electrical power for operating the one or more sensors and the built-in acoustic modem.
3 . The range and capability extender for perimeter intrusion detection of claim 1 , wherein the alarming event is a detected vehicle, human, group of humans, or animal.
4 . The range and capability extender for perimeter intrusion detection of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit different coded vibrations based on the detected alarming event.
5 . The range and capability extender for perimeter intrusion detection of claim 1 , wherein the coded vibrations are representative of at least a portion of raw sensor data generated by the one or more sensors.
6 . The range and capability extender for perimeter intrusion detection of claim 1 , wherein the alarming event is detected by the extender before the trespasser is within a detectable distance of the DFOS system's optical sensor fiber.
7 . The range and capability extender for intrusion detection of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit a portion of raw sensor data along with analysis results via the coded vibrations.
8 . The range and capability extender for perimeter intrusion detection of claim 1 , wherein the trespasser is a vehicle, a human, or an animal.