Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-06
2001-08-28
Tong, Nina (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S539230, C340S541000, C340S565000, C340S573100, C340S691100, C340S621000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281792
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to sonic detection systems and methods, and, in particular, to firearmi shot detection systems and methods.
2. Related Art
The following description of the background of the invention is intended to aid in the understanding of the invention, but is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the invention.
In the past, when a crime was committed, the police would often show up at the scene of the crime without knowing whether the perpetrator of the crime was still in the area of crime scene, and, if so, whether the perpetrator was carrying a lethal weapon such as a firearm that had been discharged. If the police knew one or more shots of a firearm had occurred at a crime scene such as by the perpetrator or by a victim in defense, the police would know that investigating the crime may be dangerous, and that possibly someone at the scene may be severely injured. The police could prepare accordingly and alert the appropriate medical agencies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, an aspect of the present invention involves the recognition that a need exists for a firearm shot detection system and method that is capable of detecting and reporting a firearm shot as it occurs.
An additional aspect of the present invention involves a method of detecting a firearm shot. The method includes sonically detecting the firearm shot using one or more sonic sensors, and initiating an alarm indicating that the firearm shot took place.
Implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above may include one or more of the following. Sonically detecting the firearm shot includes sonically detecting a shot of one or more different firearms. Sonically detecting the firearm shot includes sonicaliy detecting the firearm shot with a sensor selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric sensor, a dynamic sensor, an electret sensor, a carbon sensor, a bolometer sensor, an optical reflection sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sound sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor. Sonically detecting the firearm shot includes detecting a sound spectrum pattern of the firearm shot. Sonically detecting the firearm shot includes sonically detecting the firearm shot with one or more sonic sensors mounted to a fixed object. Sonically detecting the firearm shot includes sonically detecting the firearm shot with one or more sonic sensors mounted to a movable object. The method further includes determining the location of the firearm shot using an automatic location identification device and communicating the location of the firearm shot to the police. Sonically detecting includes filtering sound spectral characteristics of sound from the firearm shot. Sonically detecting includes filtering using a technique from the group consisting of duration and time coding of the sound, digital code quantitization, digitized algorithm analysis, and Fourier Transform analysis. The alarm is a member from the group consisting of a bell, a light, a horn, a speaker, a marking means, a camera to record the activity, a camera to monitor the activity, a photo process, a phone device, a wireless communication device, a cage, a trap, an automatic locking door, and a disabling means. Initiating an alarm includes communicating to one or more entities that a firearm shot occurred. Communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to a police dispatcher. Communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to one or more police officers in an area near where the firearm shot occurred. Communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to a security system center. Communicating to one or more entities includes dialing one or more predetermined phone numbers. The method further includes communicating one or more of the following to the one or more entities: a firearm shot has been detected, the location of the firearm shot, the type of firearm shot, and the time of the firearm shot. Detecting a firearm shot includes detecting a firearm shot using one or more sensors and a base unit powered by a battery, the method further including communicating to one or more entities that the battery is low and needs to be replaced. The one or more sensors communicate wirclessly with a base unit, and detecting a firearm shot includes transmitting a signal representative of the firearm shot to the base unit for processing of the signal. Detecting the firearm shot includes detecting one or more different types of firearm shots with one or more different types of sonic sensors. Confirming that a firearm shot took place with one or more additional sensors. One or more additional sensors are a member from the group consisting of a motion sensor and a heat sensor. Detecting a firearm shot includes determining whether a sound spectrum pattern of a firearm shot matches a sound spectrum pattern of one or more a predetermined stored fire arm shot sound spectrum patterns. The method further includes amplifying a signal from the at least one sonic sensor to a distinguishable level, combining the signal with a predetermined signature signal, reducing signal noise, and determining whether the resulting signal represents one or more predetermined types of firearm shots for a predetermined period of time.
Another aspect of the invention includes a firearm shot detection system for detecting a firearm shot. The firearm shot detection system includes one or more sonic sensors adapted to sonically sense the firearm shot and transmit a signal representative of the sound of the firearm shot, and a base unit including electronics adapted to receive the signal and process the signal to determine if the signal represents one or more predetermined firearm shots, and a communication device coupled to the electronics and adapted communicate to one or more entities that a firearm shot has been detected.
Implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above may include one or more of the following. The system further includes a motion detecting sensor adapted to sense movement of a shooter of the firearm shot for confirming that a firearm shot took place. The system further includes a heat detecting sensor adapted to sense body heat of a shooter of the firearm shot for confirming that a firearm shot took place. The electronics include a pre-amplifier adapted to amplify the signal from the at least one sensor to a distinguishable level, a mixer adapted to combine the signal with a predetermined signature signal, a low-pass filter and a precision rectifier adapted to reduce signal noise, and a time domain characterization mechanism adapted to determine whether the resulting signal represents one or more different types of firearm shots for a predetermined period of time. The time domain characterization mechanism includes a charge pump. The time domain characterization mechanism includes a quantitative characterization device, quantitative characterization device including a microprocessor to determine whether the resulting signal includes a spectrum pattern matching a predetermined spectrum pattern of one or more firearm shots for a predetermined period of time. The communication device is adapted to communicate with a police dispatcher. The communication device is adapted to communicate with one or more police officers near an area of the firearm fire shot. The communication device is adapted to communicate with a security system center. The communication device is adapted to dial one or more predetermined phone numbers. The base unit is adapted to be powered by a battery, and the communication device is adapted to communicate to one or more entities that the battery is low and needs to be replaced. The one or more sensors are adapted to communicate wirelessly with the base unit. The one or more sensors are adapted to communicate with the base unit through wired means. The one or more sensors are integral with the base unit. The one or more sensors include one or more different types of sensors adapted to sense one or m
Devine Arthur J.
Johnson Randy E.
Lerg George H.
Roberts Donald L.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Tong Nina
LandOfFree
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