Leaky Coaxial Antenna for Conformable Perimeter Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional field disturbance sensors using patch antennas create spherical coverage areas, making it difficult to provide effective security monitoring for odd or oblong shapes like commercial trucks and trailers, leading to gaps in coverage and high false alarm rates in uncontrolled environments.
Innovation Solution
A microwave sensor system with a distributed leaky coaxial antenna that circumscribes the perimeter of guarded objects, utilizing the Doppler Effect and biometric sensors to detect intruders, and a wireless communication system for alerts, while reducing false alarms through video analysis and tamper detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a patch antenna creating a spherical coverage area is used, then the sensor can detect intruders in all directions, but it cannot provide effective security monitoring for odd or oblong shapes like commercial trucks and trailers, resulting in coverage gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coverage area into multiple zones using multiple sensors positioned around the protected object. Each sensor covers a specific zone, and together they provide complete coverage of the irregular shape. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to odd or oblong shapes like trucks and trailers by strategically placing sensors to eliminate coverage gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single spherical coverage area to a multi-dimensional coverage pattern by positioning sensors at different locations and orientations. This creates a three-dimensional security envelope that conforms to the irregular shape of the protected object, allowing effective monitoring of all surfaces including odd or oblong geometries.
2Reliability
If multiple field disturbance sensors are installed to cover field gaps created by metal objects, then security coverage improves, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors with adjustable and reconfigurable detection patterns that can be dynamically tuned to account for metal objects and structural interference. This allows a smaller number of sensors to achieve complete coverage by adapting their detection zones to avoid blind spots created by metal structures, rather than requiring additional fixed sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensor detections to dynamically adjust coverage zones and alert priorities. When metal objects or structural elements are detected, the system learns their positions and adjusts sensor patterns to maintain complete coverage, reducing the need for additional sensors while maintaining reliability.
3Area of stationary object
If a circular light pattern is used to illuminate a street, then all areas around the street are lit, but unwanted areas such as houses and yards are also illuminated and unlit spots on the street remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating customized coverage zones for each sensor that match the specific geometry of the protected area. Instead of uniform circular patterns, each sensor's detection zone is shaped and oriented to cover only the necessary areas (such as streets or perimeters) while excluding unwanted areas (such as houses or yards), achieving precise local control over coverage.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If conventional field disturbance sensors are used for electromagnetic field disturbance intruder detection, then intruder detection is achieved, but false alarms occur in uncontrolled environments and coverage of large objects is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces multiple sensors as intermediaries that work together to verify intruder detections. Instead of relying on a single sensor, the system uses spatial correlation across multiple sensors to distinguish true intruders from false alarm sources, significantly reducing false alarm rates in uncontrolled environments while maintaining intruder detection capability.
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
Provides comprehensive security coverage for large, irregularly shaped objects with reduced false alarms by accurately detecting human intruders and alerting authorities, ensuring advanced warning and protection with a combination of microwave and biometric sensors.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing the Doppler Effect and biometric sensors to detect intruders
Data Source
AI summary
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.