Alarm Sensor with Periodic Microphone Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Alarm installations face challenges with battery life of nodes and false alarms, necessitating frequent site visits and administrative costs, and distinguishing between real and false alarms is difficult.
Innovation Solution
An alarm sensor for windows or doors equipped with a magnetic detector, shock/movement detector, and microphone to capture audio signals, along with a tamper detector, to provide contextual information and reduce false alarms, using low-energy devices like piezo shock/vibration detectors and accelerometers, and a method to activate the microphone only when suspicious activity is detected, with audio signal classification and transmission to a central unit or remote monitoring centre.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the microphone is continuously activated to capture audio signals for distinguishing true alarms from false alarms, then the ability to reduce false alarms improves, but the battery life deteriorates due to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The microphone is activated periodically only when triggered by the magnetic detector or shock/movement detector, rather than continuously. This periodic activation based on trigger events reduces power consumption while maintaining the ability to capture relevant audio context for false alarm identification
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm sensor system activates the microphone autonomously based on its own trigger signals from the magnetic or shock/movement detectors. The system serves itself by using its detection capabilities to determine when audio recording is necessary, eliminating the need for continuous external monitoring
2Reliability
If multiple detection devices (magnetic detector, shock/movement detector, microphone) are integrated into the alarm sensor, then the ability to distinguish true alarms from false alarms improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple detection devices (magnetic detector, shock/movement detector, and microphone) are merged into a single integrated alarm sensor unit. This consolidation allows the system to capture magnetic field changes, physical shock/movement, and audio signals simultaneously from the same location, improving reliability while managing complexity through unified design
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm sensor is designed as a multi-functional device that performs multiple detection functions (magnetic field sensing, shock detection, audio recording) within a single unit. This universal design allows one device to serve multiple purposes in identifying and characterizing alarm events
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances battery life by minimizing unnecessary audio recording, reduces false alarms through contextual information, and allows operators to assess incidents accurately, thereby reducing administrative costs and improving security.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic detector adapted to detect opening and closing of the door or window
Implementation Method 2
the shock/movement detector of the alarm sensor comprises at least one of a piezo shock/vibration detector and an accelerometer
Implementation Method 3
the shock/movement detector of the alarm sensor comprises at least one of a piezo shock/vibration detector and an accelerometer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an alarm sensor for a window or a door, comprising a magnetic detector, a shock/movement detector, and a microphone. The invention further relates to a method of operating a sensor as defined in any one of the preceding claims in an alarm installation, the alarm installation comprising a central unit, the method comprising the step of activating the microphone in response to a trigger signal.