Security Device

Abstract

A security device is disclosed comprising a main housing, a power supply housing releasable from the main housing and a release arrangement configured to provide a release process in which the power supply housing is moveable from an installed configuration to a released configuration via a partially released configuration. A power connection is provided for supply of power to the security device when the power supply housing is in the partially released configuration. Processing circuitry is configured to obtain power via the power connection and receive an indication that the power supply housing has moved from the installed configuration and/or to the partially released configuration.

Claims

1. A security device comprising: a main housing; and a power supply housing for holding at least one power cell for supplying power to the security device, wherein the power supply housing is releasable from the main housing; and a release arrangement configured to provide a release process in which the power supply housing is moveable from an installed configuration to a released configuration via a partially released configuration; wherein a power connection is provided for supply of power to the security device when the power supply housing is in the partially released configuration; and further comprising processing circuitry configured to: obtain power via the power connection; and receive an indication that the power supply housing has moved from the installed configuration and/or to the partially released configuration.

2. The security device of claim 1, wherein the release process comprises a first step in which the power supply housing is moveable from the installed configuration to a position within the partially released configuration and a second step in which the power supply housing is moveable from said position to the released configuration.

3. The security device of claim 2, wherein the release arrangement comprises a stop, which defines the position of the power supply housing at an end of the first step.

4. The security device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: on receipt of said indication, instruct a transmitter to transmit a notification to another device, the notification indicating that the power supply housing is being removed.

5. The security device of claim 1 further comprising an electrical circuit configured to send the indication to the processing circuitry when at least one of: the power supply housing is moved from the installed position; or the power supply housing is moved into the partially released configuration.

6. The security device of claim 5 wherein the security device comprises a switch for providing said indication, wherein the switch has at least one switch contact on the main housing; optionally, wherein the said indication is based on the at least one switch contact changing a connection state with a power supply on the power supply housing.

7. (canceled)

8. The security device of claim 1 wherein the power connection is arranged to provide continuous supply of power to the security device when the power supply housing is in the installed configuration and during transit of the power supply housing to and/or in the partially released configuration.

9. The security device of claim 8 wherein the power connection comprises a railing on at least one of the power supply housing and the main housing and a corresponding contact for the railing on at least the other of the power supply housing and the main housing.

10. The security device of claim 9 wherein the railing comprises a first conductive strip for a first terminal polarity configured for connection with a first power contact and a second conductive strip for a second terminal polarity configured for connection with a second power contact; optionally, wherein the first conductive strip and the second conductive strip are on a same one of the power supply housing and the main housing.

11. (canceled)

12. The security device of claim 2 wherein upon an initiation of the first step the power supply housing is configured to fall from the installed configuration to the partially released configuration by force of gravity.

13. The security device of claim 2 comprising a first actuator operable to initiate the first stage of release and/or comprising a second actuator operable to initiate the second stage of release.

14. (canceled)

15. The security device of claim 13, wherein the release arrangement is configured so that the second actuator is inaccessible when the power supply housing is in the installed configuration and is accessible when the power supply housing is in the partially released configuration.

16. The security device of claim 1, wherein the release arrangement is disposed at or towards an end of the security device.

17. The security device of claim 1, comprising at least one sensor arrangement that has a field of view for sensing electromagnetic waves from an environment.

18. The security device of claim 17, wherein the field of view of the at least one sensor arrangement is directed more towards one end of the security device than another opposite end of the security device and wherein the release arrangement is provided at or towards said one end.

19. The security device of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor arrangement comprises at least one of: a sensor arrangement for a motion detector; and a sensor arrangement for a camera.

20. The security device of claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor arrangement comprises one or more of: a radar sensor arrangement, a sonar sensor arrangement and a lidar sensor arrangement.

21. The security device of claim 19, comprising a passive infrared motion detector having a lens mounted in proximity to the release arrangement.

22. A method of detecting removal of a power supply housing from the security device of any preceding claim, the method comprising: receiving an indication that the power supply housing has moved from the installed configuration and/or to the partially released configuration; and on receipt of said indication, instructing a transmitter to transmit a notification to another device, the notification indicating that the power supply housing is being removed.

23. (canceled)

24. A security device comprising: a main housing; and a power supply housing for holding at least one power cell for supplying power to the security device, wherein the power supply housing is releasable from the main housing; and a release arrangement configured to provide a two stage release process; wherein, in a first stage of release, the power supply housing is moveable from an installed configuration to a partially released configuration, from which a second stage of release is required.

25. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0110] Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0111] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a security device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0112] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the security device of FIG. 1;

[0113] FIG. 3 is an end perspective view of the security device of FIG. 1 with a power supply housing installed;

[0114] FIG. 4 is an end perspective view of the security device of FIG. 1 with the power supply housing fully extracted;

[0115] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the power supply housing when fully removed from a main housing;

[0116] FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the power supply housing;

[0117] FIG. 7 shows an interior perspective view of a rear component of the main housing of the security device of FIG. 1;

[0118] FIG. 8 shows an exterior view of the component of FIG. 7;

[0119] FIG. 9 shows a middle front to rear cross-sectional view of the security device of FIG. 1 with the power supply housing in the installed configuration;

[0120] FIG. 10 shows a side front to rear cross-sectional view of the security device of FIG. 1 with the power supply housing in the partially released configuration;

[0121] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the section shown FIG. 10;

[0122] FIG. 12A shows a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 11 but showing the entire security device in the partially released configuration;

[0123] FIG. 12B shows a front perspective view of a lower portion of the security device as shown in FIG. 12A;

[0124] FIG. 13 shows a middle front to rear cross-sectional view of the security device of FIG. 9 with the power supply housing in the partially released configuration;

[0125] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the power supply, electric trigger circuit, processing circuitry and transmitter of the security device of FIG. 1;

[0126] FIG. 15 illustrates a method of detecting removal of a power supply housing from the security device in accordance with embodiments of the invention; and

[0127] FIG. 16 illustrates a method of removing a power supply housing from a security device in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0128] FIGS. 1 and 2 show, respectively, front and rear views of a security device 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The security device 100 comprises a main housing 102 and a removable power supply housing 104. The main housing 102 incorporates processing circuitry (not shown) and a sensor arrangement 106. At a rear of the main housing 102 is a mounting arrangement 108 for mounting the security device 100 to a wall or the like. The sensor arrangement 106 may comprise one or more sensors and the/each sensor may be internal to the security device 100 and may receive information via optics (e.g. one or more lenses) on the housing. An example of such a sensor is an image sensor.

[0129] In some embodiments, the sensor arrangement 106 may additionally or alternatively comprise a motion sensor (e.g. a PIR sensor) which may be provided beneath a bottom lens 107. As shown in FIG. 3, a lower end of the security device 100 has an actuator 110, which can be pulled to remove the power supply housing 104 from the main housing 102 as shown in FIG. 4. An interior of the power supply housing 104 is configured for receipt of one or more power cells. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, two batteries B may be inserted into a rear side of the power supply housing 104 for supply of power to the processing circuitry and sensor arrangement 106 in the main housing 102. A further four batteries may be inserted into a front side of the power supply housing (as shown in FIG. 5). In other embodiments, other numbers of batteries or other power cells may be employed.

[0130] Also shown in FIG. 4, are two parallel power supply contacts 112 provided within the main housing 102, for contact with railing on the power supply housing 104 in the form of conductive strips that carry respective positive and negative power supply voltages, as will be described in more detail below. The positive and negative power supply voltages may also be referred to as voltage rails or power rails. In addition, a switch contact 114 is provided within the main housing 102 to trigger a notification to the processing circuitry to indicate that the power supply housing 104 has moved from the installed configuration and/or to the partially released configuration, as will be described in more detail below.

[0131] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the power supply housing 104 (numbered 204 in FIGS. 5 and 6) when fully removed from a main housing of a security device such as that of FIG. 1. These figures show the four front-side battery compartments 202 connected to a positive terminal conductive strip 212 and a negative terminal conductive strip 210. A push button (second) actuator 206 is provided towards a lower end of the power supply housing 204 such that it may be accessible by an operator when the power supply housing 204 is in a partially released configuration. The second actuator 206 is connected to a catch 208 that is configured to pivot around a pivot point (not shown) to release the power supply housing 204 from a corresponding catch on the main housing as will be described below.

[0132] FIGS. 7 and 8 show, respectively, interior and exterior views of a rear component 300 of the main housing 102 of the security device 100 of FIG. 1. The rear component 300 has a depending leg 302 at one side. The depending leg 302 terminates in a projection 304 configured to catch onto a similar projection on the catch 208 on the power supply housing 204 to stop the power supply housing from falling completely out of the main housing 102 during its release. Accordingly, the projection 304 and catch 208 constitute inter-engaging parts arranged to retain the power supply housing 204 in a partially released configuration with respect to the main housing 102.

[0133] FIG. 9 shows a middle front to rear cross-sectional view of the security device 100 of FIG. 1 with the power supply housing 104 in the installed configuration with respect to the main housing 102. This Figure shows one of the power supply contacts 112 in contact with the positive terminal conductive strip 212. It will be understood that the other of the power supply contacts 112 is similarly in contact with the negative terminal conductive strip 210 (not shown). Thus, with the power supply housing 104 in the installed configuration, power is supplied via the power supply contacts 112 to the processing circuitry and sensor arrangement (not shown).

[0134] FIG. 9 also shows a first actuator 400 at a bottom end of the security device 100. The first actuator 400 is in the form of a lever which when pivoted around pin 402 releases a catch 404 from a ledge 406 on the main housing 102 thereby allowing the power supply housing 104 to fall, or be pulled, from the installed configuration in the main housing 204 into a partially released configuration.

[0135] FIGS. 10 and 11 show side front to rear cross-sectional views of the security device 100 of FIG. 1 with the power supply housing 102 in a partially released configuration. These Figures show the catch 208 of the power supply housing 104 being caught on the projection 304 on the depending leg 302 of the rear component 300 of the main housing 102 to stop the fall or extraction of the power supply housing 104 at the end of a first stage of release. In order to allow further release of the power supply housing 104 the second actuator 206, which is now accessible to an operator, can be pressed to cause the catch 208 to elastically bend at its base, due to a reaction force by pin 500, causing the catch 208 to pivot to release the projection on catch 208 from the projection 304 on the depending leg 302. This permits a second stage of release whereby the power supply housing 104 can be fully extracted from the main housing 102.

[0136] Notably, in some embodiments, a second stage of release may not be required. In which case, the catch 208 and projection 304 may not be provided. Instead, friction between the power supply housing 104 and the main housing 102 may serve to delay the extraction of the power supply housing 104 to permit power to be maintained, at least for long enough to allow notification that the power supply housing 104 has moved from the installed configuration and/or to the partially released configuration.

[0137] FIGS. 12A and 12B show views similar to that of FIG. 11 but showing an exterior of the security device 100 in the partially released configuration. Thus, the second actuator 206 is clearly visible as well as the catch 208 and the projection 304.

[0138] FIG. 13 shows a middle front to rear cross-sectional view of the security device 100 of FIG. 9 with the power supply housing 104 in the partially released configuration with respect to the main housing 102. This Figure shows that the power supply contact 112 is still in contact with the positive terminal conductive strip 212 in the partially released configuration. Similarly, the other power supply contact 112 is still in contact with the negative terminal conductive strip 210 (not shown). Accordingly, power is still being supplied to the processing circuitry and sensor arrangement when the power supply housing 104 is in the partially released configuration.

[0139] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a power supply 600 connected to an electric trigger circuit 602, processing circuitry 604 and a transmitter 606 of the security device 100 of FIG. 1. Note, these electrical components are not shown in the above figures for clarity. However, it will be understood that the power supply 600 corresponds to power supplied by the batteries provided in the power supply housing 104.

[0140] During normal operation of the security device 100, the power supply housing 104 is installed in the main housing 102 and the power supply 600 is connected to the processing circuitry 604 to control operation of the security device 100. Thus, the processing circuitry 604 controls the sensor arrangement 106 to monitor an environment. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the sensor arrangement 106 comprises a PIR sensor 610 and an image sensor 612. Although not shown in FIG. 14, the PIR sensor 610 and the image sensor 612 are also connected to the power supply 600.

Also during normal operation, the switch contact 114, which forms part of the electric trigger circuit 602, is in contact with the conductive strip 210. However, when the first actuator 400 is actuated, the power supply housing 104 is allowed to fall downwards under the force of gravity until the catch 208 is stopped by the projection 304 to retain the power supply housing 104 in the partially released configuration. This movement of the power supply housing 104 relative to the main housing 102 causes the switch contact 114 to slide off the bottom 220 (FIG. 6) of the conductive strip 210 by the time the power supply housing 104 reaches the stopped position, and therefore break its connection with the conductive strip 210. However, at the stopped position the power supply contacts 112 on the main housing 102 are still in contact with their corresponding conductive strips 110 and 112. In other embodiments, an insulator may be provided on the power supply housing 104 such that it interrupts the connection between the switch contact 114 and a conductive strip 210 or 212 by the time the power supply housing 104 reaches the stopped position. In other embodiments, the switch contact 114 may initially be separated from a conductive strip 210 or 210 and movement of the power supply housing 104 into the partially released configuration may cause the switch contact 114 to make an electrical connection with the conductive strip. In either case, the device will be configured such that a change in state of the switch contact 114 will trigger the electrical trigger circuit 602 to send a notification to the processing circuitry 604 to indicate that the power supply housing 104 has moved from the installed configuration and/or to the partially released configuration.

[0141] On receipt of this notification, the processing circuitry 604 will instruct the transmitter 606 to send a wireless alert to a control panel to indicate that the power supply housing 104 is being removed. Optionally, an authorization check may be performed and action may then be taken at the control panel to check whether the removal of the power supply housing 104 is authorised or not.

[0142] As also shown in FIG. 14, a memory 608 is provided in communication with the processing circuitry 604. The memory 608 may comprise a non-transient computer readable medium comprising instructions operable by the processing circuitry 604 to carry out at least as a method as described below in relation to FIG. 15.

[0143] The processing circuitry 604 may comprise one or more processing chips and/or components. For example, the processing circuitry may comprise: control circuitry; and/or processor circuitry; and/or at least one application specific integrated circuit (ASIC); and/or at least one field programmable gate array (FPGA); and/or single or multi-processor architectures; and/or sequential/parallel architectures; and/or at least one programmable logic controllers (PLCs); and/or at least one microprocessor; and/or at least one microcontroller; and/or a central processing unit (CPU); and/or a graphics processing unit (GPU).

[0144] A transceiver that includes the transmitter 606 may be distinct from the processor circuitry, but in some embodiments at least part of the processing aspects of the transceiver may have hardware in common with a processor component of the processing circuitry.

[0145] The memory 608 may be separate from the processing circuitry and/or partly or wholly integrated onto a common chip(s) with the processing circuitry. The memory may store code that, when read by the processing circuitry, causes performance of any of the methods described herein, and/or as illustrated in the drawings. For example, the memory may comprise: volatile memory, for example, one or more dynamic random access (DRAM) modules and/or static random access memory (SRAM) modules; and/or non-volatile memory, for example, one or more read only memory (ROM) modules, which for example may comprise a Flash memory and/or other electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device. The code may for example be software, firmware, or hardware description language (HDL) or may be any combination of these or any other form of code for one or more processors that is known by a person skilled in the art.

[0146] Further, in other embodiments, the memory component of the device may instead or at least in part be provided by a memory device(s) that may in some embodiments be separate or removable from the device. Such devices may comprise magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and removable flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive). Further the memory components may be distributed. For example a distributed server may store code which may be downloaded to the device for execution by the processing circuitry described herein, to perform any method described herein that is executable by the processing circuitry. In some embodiments the downloaded code may be stored on local memory of the device before execution by the processing circuitry.

[0147] FIG. 15 illustrates generally a method of detecting removal of a power supply housing from a security device in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Thus, there is a step 700 of receiving an indication that the power supply housing has moved from the installed configuration and/or to the partially released configuration. On receipt of said notification, there is a step 702 of instructing a transmitter to transmit a notification to another device, the notification indicating that the power supply housing is being removed. The notification may be an alert.

[0148] FIG. 16 illustrates generally a method of removing a power supply housing from a security device in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Thus, there is a step 800 of disengaging a first retaining mechanism to enable a first stage of release in which the power supply housing is movable from an installed configuration to a partially released configuration. This is followed by a step 802 of disengaging a second retaining mechanism to enable a second stage of release in which the power supply housing is movable from the partially released configuration to a fully released configuration.

[0149] The first retaining mechanism may be disengaged by the first actuator described above and the second retaining mechanism may be disengaged by the second actuator described above.

[0150] It will be understood that embodiments of the invention require a lengthy extraction process in order to ensure that power is maintained for a period long enough for an alert to be transmitted to indicate that the power supply housing is being removed.

[0151] Whilst the foregoing description has described exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many variations of the embodiments can be made within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Moreover, features of one or more embodiments may be mixed and matched with features of one or more other embodiments.

[0152] In addition, any priority document(s) of this application is/are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its/their entirety.