Field disturbance sensor utilizing leaky or radiating coaxial cable for a conformable antenna pattern
View Patent ↗A system, device, and method for monitoring an uncontrolled area around a mobile object uses a distributed antenna, which can be a leaky coaxial cable, enclosing its perimeter. A field disturbance sensor, such as a microwave sensor, detects an intruder entering a protected area defined by field of the antenna. An alarm signal is sent to a wireless transceiver for transmission of an alarm event to a remote station. A biometric sensor, such as a passive infrared heat detector, can be used in conjunction with the field disturbance sensor to reduce possible false alarms. Identification of a legitimate alarm may alternatively be verified with video images obtained near an area of interest in proximity to the mobile object, which may be forwarded by the wireless transceiver to a remote station for analysis.
1. A system for providing security for a mobile object in an uncontrolled environment, comprising:
a wireless transceiver;
at least one biometric sensor responsive to detection of parameters within a predetermined threshold level;
a field disturbance sensor operatively connected to the wireless transceiver and the at least one biometric sensor, wherein the field disturbance sensor receives input from the at least one biometric sensor; and
a distributed leaky coaxial cable that is coupled to the mobile object, adapted to act as an antenna connected to said field disturbance sensor, and substantially disposed around a perimeter of the mobile object, wherein
the wireless transceiver transmits an alert warning to a remote station in connection with biometric sensor detection of at least one of the parameters within the predetermined threshold level together with detection of an intruder by the field disturbance sensor.
2. A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said object is a trailer.
3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said object is a tractor together with a trailer.
4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said field disturbance sensor is a microwave sensor.
5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless transceiver is responsive to an alarm indication issued from said field disturbance sensor in connection with an intruder entering a protected area.
6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless transceiver is operable to receive satellite signals.
7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless transceiver is operable to provide communication with a communications system consisting of an analog cellular telephone system, a digital cellular telephone system or a wireless data communications network.
8. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said biometric sensor is an infrared heat detection sensor.
9. A system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a digital video recorder and camera responsive to detection of an intruder by said field disturbance sensor, said digital video recorder being operable to record camera images in a vicinity of the mobile object.
10. A security device for a vehicle comprising:
a field disturbance sensor operatively connected to a wireless transceiver;
a distributed leaky coaxial cable that is coupled to the vehicle, adapted to act as an antenna connected to said field disturbance sensors and substantially disposed around a perimeter of a substantial portion of said vehicle; and
at least one biometric sensor responsive to detection of parameters within a predetermined threshold level,
wherein the field disturbance sensor receives input from the at least one biometric sensor, and the wireless transceiver transmits an alert warning to a remote station in connection with biometric sensor detection of a parameter within the predetermined threshold level together with detection of an intruder by the field disturbance sensor.
11. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein said vehicle is a trailer.
12. A device as recited in claim 10 wherein said vehicle is a tractor together with a trailer.
13. A device as recited in claim 10 wherein said field disturbance sensor is a microwave sensor.
14. A method for security monitoring of an area around a mobile object, comprising:
detecting motion by sensing field disturbances around the mobile object in connection with receiving signals, at least in part, from a distributed leaky coaxial cable coupled to the mobile object and adapted to act as an antenna circumscribing a perimeter of the mobile object;
analyzing a biometric signal in conjunction with detecting motion; and
recording images of an area under surveillance after detecting motion and analyzing the biometric signal to determine human presence in the area under surveillance based on movement changes in the images within a time period.
15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said images are wirelessly forwarded to a remote location.
16. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the recorded images are analyzed for determination of human intrusion into the area under surveillance.
17. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said biometric signal is a biometric heat detection signal.
18. An apparatus for security monitoring of an area around a mobile object, comprising:
means for detecting motion, at least in part, by sensing field disturbances around the mobile object in connection with receiving signals from a distributed leaky coaxial cable coupled to the mobile object and adapted to act as an antenna circumscribing a perimeter of the mobile object;
means for analyzing a biometric signal in conjunction with detecting motion; and
means for recording images of an area under surveillance after detecting motion and analyzing the biometric signal to determine human presence in the area under surveillance based on movement changes in the images within a time period.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:
means for wirelessly forwarding said images to a remote location.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:
means for analyzing the recorded images for determination of human intrusion into the area under surveillance.
21. A device as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
a digital video recorder and camera for recording camera images in a vicinity of the object in response to detection of the intruder by the field disturbance sensor.
22. A device as recited in claim 21 , wherein the wireless transceiver transmits the camera images to the remote station.
23. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the wireless transceiver receives satellite signals.
24. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the wireless transceiver provides communication with an analog cellular telephone system, a digital cellular telephone system, or a wireless data communications network.
25. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the at least one biometric sensor includes an infrared heat detection sensor.