Wireless detector for an intruder alarm system

Abstract

A battery powered wireless movement detector 10 is provided for protecting a vehicle or other moveable object which may be left outside a building. The detector 10 is paired with a burglar alarm syste

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless detector for use with an intruder alarm system in a building, particularly to a movement detector suitable for protecting a vehicle or other object outside the building. 5 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Intruder alarm systems are well-known for protecting property. A wide range of different types of detector are available, and an effective intruder alarm system will typically utilise a number of them. For example, reed switches can be used to detect when doors are opened, passive infra-red (PIR) detectors can be used to detect movement inside 10 a protected premises, and so on. The object is generally to detect actions which might indicate that an intrusion is happening (e.g. a door being opened or a window being broken) and to detect the presence of intruders in protected places (i.e. detecting a person inside a room which is supposed to be locked and alarmed). 15 20 25 30 It is known to place detectors on particularly high-value and / or vulnerable items which need to be specifically protected from theft. Typically, a movement detector (which may contain for example an accelerometer and / or a tilt switch) can be attached in some way to the item being protected. The item may be for example an expensive painting or antique which is kept indoors, but it is also useful to protect items which might be kept outdoors, and / or outside of the alarmed premises. For example, farm machinery is often a target for thieves. Cars can also be protected in this way, and although all modern cars have their own alarms, a detector linked to an alarm in a building is particularly advantageous since the owner of the car may well be at home when an intruder is detected. The earliest possible alert to an intrusion provides the best opportunity to prevent theft or damage, and if not then at least an increased chance of tracing and apprehending the criminal. However, intruder alarm systems for buildings are generally designed on the premise that all detectors which are part of the system will be present at all times (or if not, then there is a fault, known as a supervision error). This is all very well for example to protect a painting or antique which will usually stay in a building, but items such as farm machinery for example may well be taken out of range of the system in normal use. Cars will obviously be driven away, and it is inconvenient to have to remove the detector from the vehicle and leave it in the building in order to avoid a supervision error. 10 15 20 25 30 35 An alarm system in a building will typically be armed when the building is unoccupied, and may be part-armed (e.g. so that only door sensors are armed, or only sensors downstairs are armed) when the occupants are asleep at night time. On a typical intruder alarm system, detectors are grouped into “zones” (and in a wireless alarm system, there will typically be one detector per zone). An “area” is then a subset of all the zones, so an “area” can be defined for example to include all zones which are downstairs. A selected area can be armed, for example to protect the downstairs while the occupants are upstairs, or to protect an outbuilding when the occupants are in the house. Accordingly a separate area can be set up for a detector on, for example, a vehicle, so that it can be armed and disarmed separately from the detectors in the building. However, alarm systems are generally limited to a relatively small number of “areas”, and this can present a problem where there are multiple external objects to be protected, for example a fleet of cars, or multiple items of machinery on a farm. The detectors protecting vehicles can be grouped together into a single area, but in that case no vehicles will be protected while a single vehicle is in use. Alarm systems can generally be controlled by a keypad, remote keyfob, proximity fob, or increasingly an app on a mobile phone. To control an area associated with a vehicle being protected, a remote keyfob would in principle be very convenient, since it could be attached to the car key. On the other hand, car theft is often facilitated by theft of car keys, and so using a remote keyfob attached to the car key would not prevent this type of theft, since the thief could just disarm the alarm the same as a legitimate user. Arming I disarming via a mobile app may be a good solution, since the user will normally have his mobile phone with him, but it will not necessarily be kept together with car keys and in any case can be protected with a PIN or other authentication method. However, the extra step required to unlock the phone, access the relevant app and arm the system may mean that in practice users do not always do so. A system which is not often armed will not be effective to prevent theft. A wireless detector will be battery powered, and typically batteries are replaced annually on servicing a wireless alarm system. On the basis that a battery replacement might be accidentally omitted in an annual service, or a particular battery may turn out to have less charge than it should, it is sensible to design detectors on the basis that the batteries should normally last at least two years, to avoid unexpected problems. Key to ensuring a long battery life is to ensure that detectors only operate the radio when necessary. Unnecessary processor use is also avoided, and wireless detectors are typically designed to “sleep” in between short but fairly frequent periods of activity when they “wake” up, read information from sensors and determine whether there is activity. Some detectors may work on the basis that they “sleep” all the time and wake up in response to an interrupt from a sensor. 5 For this reason, a detector will not generally receive any feedback from the alarm system. The detector behaves in the same way whether or not its associated area is armed or disarmed - indeed it does not know whether the system is armed or disarmed. This is because the radio is only turned on when the detector needs to turn it on - it is not able to receive signals from the alarm control panel at any arbitrary time. 10 Therefore it is not generally possible for detectors to display the armed state of an associated alarm system. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved detector which reduces some of these problems. STATEMENT OF INVENTION xt CM 15 CM According to the present invention, there is provided a battery-powered wireless detector for use with an intruder alarm system in a building or other fixed location, the O) detector comprising: a movement sensor, the movement sensor being adapted to detect movement 20 of the detector; a wireless transceiver, the transceiver being adapted to transmit an alarm condition to the intruder alarm system when movement indicative of an intrusion is detected; an output means; and 25 a user input means, the user input means being adapted to switch the detector between two modes, the output means in a first mode being adapted to display an indication of the armed state of the intruder alarm system in response to a signal received by the transceiver from the intruder alarm system, and the output means in a second mode being adapted to indicate an armed state irrespective of any signal 30 received from the intruder alarm system. As described above, the transceiver may be adapted to activate and listen for a signal from the intruder alarm system in response to an input on the (or another) user input means. For example, the user input means could be a pushbutton. In the first mode, a single momentary press of the pushbutton could activate the transceiver to listen for a 5 signal from the intruder alarm system, and then indicate the armed state accordingly on the output means. However, a prolonged press of the pushbutton (for example, for three seconds or longer) could move the system to the second mode, in which the output means indicates an armed state irrespective of any signal from the intruder alarm system. 10 The output means may be for example a pair of flashing LEDs. As described above, the detector is preferably used with an intruder alarm system in a building, and when the vehicle is parked close to the building the detector can communicate with the intruder alarm system in the building and cause an alarm when the detector detects a possible intrusion. However, the vehicle may also be taken away from the building and 15 left for example parked outside another building. The detector will then be out of range of its associated alarm system and will not be functional in the sense that it cannot £\J transmit an alarm signal to its associated alarm system. However, it may be desirable for the user to activate the output means I flashing LEDs, to act as a deterrent while the vehicle is left parked. O) 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I- For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a vehicle protector device according to the invention; and 25 Figure 2 shows an intruder alarm system together with the vehicle protector device of Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring firstly to Figure 1, a vehicle protector device is indicated generally a 10. The vehicle protector device is designed to be attached to an object to be protected. For 30 example, it can be attached to a vehicle by using strap 12 to secure it around the steering wheel rim. The device, and similar devices, can be fixed to other objects in a variety of ways, for example by screws, glue, brackets, and so on. The vehicle protector device 10 includes a user input means in the form of a single pushbutton 14, and output means in the form of a pair of LEDs 16. A further status LED 18 is also provided, which in this embodiment is a tri-colour LED which can be used to display a signal strength (e.g. green for good signal, yellow for weak but reliable 5 signal, red for unreliable or no signal). The device can be used together with an intruder alarm system associated with a building or fixed location, which will now be described with reference to Figure 2. An intruder alarm system is indicated at 100. The intruder alarm system is a wireless alarm system and is of the type typically used to protect buildings. In particular, the 10 system is provided with a plurality of detectors (just one detector, a PIR indicated at 102, is shown in Figure 2, but in a real system there will likely be many detectors). In this example, the intruder alarm is provided with an external bellbox 104 which includes a siren and strobe which will sound and flash when the intruder alarm system 100 detects an intrusion. 15 The various detectors (e.g. PIR 104) may communicate wirelessly with the intruder C\l alarm system 100. Some intruder alarm systems are “hybrid” in the sense that both wired and wireless detectors can be connected. Importantly, the intruder alarm system T"— 100 is a wireless or hybrid system meaning that it is possible to connect at least one detector wirelessly. The bellbox 104 may be connected to the alarm system 100 either T"— 20 wirelessly or by wire. The intruder alarm system 100 can be operated by a user in a range of ways to arm (set) and disarm (unset) the system. Typically, a user will arm the system when they leave the protected building, and disarm the system when they return. The most common way of doing this is by a combination entered on a keypad (and the alarm 25 system 100 of Figure 2 includes a built-in keypad). However, remote keyfobs and proximity fobs can also be used, and increasingly alarm systems can be controlled via an app on a mobile phone 106, i.e the system 100 can be armed or disarmed by using the mobile phone 106. The intruder alarm system 100 is associated with (most commonly) a building, but may 30 be installed to protect any fixed location, for example a farmyard or builder’s yard. Detectors can be provided to detect, e.g. a door or gate being opened, a person or vehicle crossing a boundary and breaking a beam in a break-beam detector, a person in a room, etc. External bellboxes 104 and other sounders and output devices can be provided. In addition, notifications of an alarm condition can be sent to an alarm receiving centre (who can under certain circumstances notify the police), and / or sent to building owners / managers directly, for example via the mobile phone app 106. The vehicle protector device 10 is paired with the intruder alarm system 100 in a similar 5 way to any other wireless detector (e.g. PIR102). Preferably, the intruder alarm system 100 is configured with the vehicle protector device 10 on a novel zone type which allows the vehicle protector device 10 to be armed and disarmed separately from the rest of the system, and also configures the system 100 to respond to supervision signals from the vehicle protector device 10 with an armed state of the system 100 (or 10 rather, an armed state of the particular zone associated with the vehicle protector device 10). In use, the vehicle protector device 10 may be fitted to a car or other vehicle, for example by attaching it to the steering wheel using strap 12. Preferably, on parking the vehicle near the building associated with the alarm system 100, the driver attaches the 15 vehicle protector device 10 to the steering wheel and pushes the pushbutton 14. C\l In a first example, pushing the pushbutton 14 causes the vehicle protector device 10 to start transmitting supervision signals to the alarm system 100. In response to each T"— supervision signal, the alarm system responds with the armed state of the zone associated with the vehicle protector device 10. The user, when they have removed 20 luggage and locked up the vehicle, can arm the zone using (for example) the mobile app 106 or the keypad on the alarm panel 100. After that, next time the vehicle protector device 10 transmits a supervision signal to the alarm panel 100, the alarm 100 will respond with a message indicating that the zone is armed. This will cause the LEDs 16 to start flashing alternately. Each time the alarm panel responds to a 25 supervision signal, it responds with the armed state of the system. In another example, pushing the pushbutton 15 may cause the vehicle protector device 10 to transmit an “arm” command to the alarm system 100. This may be appropriate where the vehicle protector device 10 is used to protect, for example, a motorcycle or quad bike. A rider can get off, and then push the pushbutton 14 on the vehicle protector 30 device 10. This will cause an “arm” command to be sent to the alarm system 100, which immediately arms the relevant zone. The alarm system 100 responds to the “arm” command with a confirmation, and the LEDs 16 immediately start to alternately flash. When the relevant zone is armed, any movement indicative of an intrusion which is detected by the motion sensor in the vehicle protector device 10 will cause the siren 104 to sound, and will notify the user via the mobile app 106. In another example, pressing the pushbutton 14 may cause a delayed arm. This may 5 be achieved either by immediately transmitting a command to the intruder alarm system, which is then configured to arm the relevant zone after a predetermined delay, or alternatively by starting a timer in the vehicle protector device 10 itself after expiry of which an “arm” command will be transmitted as described above. In another example, a user may park the vehicle in a place which is out of range of the 10 intruder alarm system 100. On pushing the pushbutton 14, a status LED 18 will flash red, indicating no usable connection to the intruder alarm system 100. The user will not therefore be able to arm the relevant zone of the intruder alarm system. However, a long press of the pushbutton 14 (for example, holding down the pushbutton 14 for more than three seconds) causes the LEDs 16 to alternately flash, as if the intruder 15 alarm system 100 were armed. This can act as a visual deterrent to a would-be thief, who has no way of knowing that there is no external alarm system connected to the X XI . vehicle. CM T"— In another example, the vehicle protector device 10 includes a microphone and processing means for detecting the sound of a vehicle’s existing alarm. When the T"— 20 sound of the vehicle’s existing alarm is detected, an alarm signal may be transmitted by the vehicle protector device 10 to the intruder alarm system 100, and depending on the configuration the intruder alarm system may sound the siren 104 and / or send a notification to the mobile app 106 irrespective of the armed state of the relevant zone. The vehicle protector device according to the invention can detect and hopefully 25 prevent vehicle theft by providing an early warning of intrusion into the vehicle. In particular, use of the vehicle protector device is likely to be more effective than use of the vehicle’s existing alarm alone. Occupants of a building may not notice that a car alarm is going off in the street outside, or, if they do, it could be any one of hundreds of cars in the area. On the other hand, a notification on the building’s alarm system 30 and sounding of the siren on the building is likely to result in much faster action by the vehicle’s owner. This may prevent the theft or make it more likely that the thief is identified and the vehicle recovered. The vehicle protector device is also suitable for protecting motorcycles, quad bikes, farm machinery, trailers, lawnmowers, and other movable items which may be left outside, but in the vicinity of, a building associated with the alarm system. The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without 5 departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 19 1224

Claims

1. A battery-powered wireless detector for use with an intruder alarm system at a fixed location, the detector comprising:a movement sensor, the movement sensor being adapted to detect5 movement of the detector;a wireless transceiver, the transceiver being adapted to transmit an alarm condition to the intruder alarm system when movement indicative of an intrusion is detected;an output means; and10 a user input means, the user input means being adapted to switch thedetector between two modes, the output means in a first mode being adapted to display an indication of the armed state of the intruder alarm system in response to a signal received by the transceiver from the intruder alarm system, and the output means in a second mode being15 adapted to indicate an armed state irrespective of any signal receivedfrom the intruder alarm system.

2. A wireless detector as claimed in claim 1, in which the user input means is a momentary pushbutton.

3. A wireless detector as claimed in claim 2, in which pushing the pushbutton for20 more than a predetermined period of time switches the detector between thefirst mode and the second mode.

4. A wireless detector as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, in which pushing the pushbutton for less than a predetermined period of time activates the transceiver to listen for a signal from the intruder alarm system, and then 25 indicates the armed state accordingly on the output means.

5. A wireless detector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the outputmeans includes one or more LEDs.

Images