Intrusion sensor for monitoring an entrance to a building to be monitored, and method

Abstract

An intrusion sensor for monitoring an entrance to a building to be monitored, the intrusion sensor being situated at the entrance on the inside of the building, includes an acceleration sensor which is configured to detect motions of the intrusion sensor in at least one spatial axis, and in the case of a motion in the at least one axis, to output an acceleration signal, including a surroundings sensor which is configured to detect at least one value of at least one physical variable in the surroundings of the intrusion sensor, and including a plausibility check device, which is configured to carry out a plausibility check of the acceleration signal using the detected value of the physical variable, and to output an intrusion signal if the result of the plausibility check is negative. Also described is a corresponding method and an alarm system including an intrusion sensor.

Claims

1. An intrusion sensor for monitoring an entrance to a building to be monitored, the intrusion sensor being adapted to be situated at the entrance inside of the building, comprising: an acceleration sensor configured to detect a motion in the surroundings of the entrance to the building in at least one spatial axis, and based on the detected motion, configured to output a motion signal; a surroundings sensor configured to detect at least one physical variable in the surroundings of the intrusion sensor; and a plausibility check device configured to perform a plausibility check of the motion signal based on at least one value of the detected at least one physical variable, and configured to output an intrusion signal if a result of the plausibility check is negative, wherein the plausibility check device includes a memory and is configured to store the at least one value of the detected at least one physical variable at predefined intervals and is configured to calculate an average of the at least one value of the detected at least one physical variable.

2. The intrusion sensor of claim 1, wherein the surroundings sensor includes at least one of a temperature sensor which detects the temperature in the surroundings of the intrusion sensor and a humidity sensor to detect the humidity in the surroundings of the intrusion sensor.

3. The intrusion sensor of claim 1, wherein the plausibility check device is configured to perform at least one of: (i) determining a long-term average of all values of the detected at least one physical variable; or (ii) determining a sliding average of a predefined number of values of the detected at least one physical variable.

4. The intrusion sensor of claim 1, wherein, when the motion signal is output by the acceleration sensor, the plausibility check device is configured to: request an instantaneous value of the detected at least one physical variable from the surroundings sensor and compare it with the average, provide a positive result of the plausibility check of the motion signal if the instantaneous value of the detected at least one physical variable differs from the average value by more than a predefined threshold value, and provide a negative result of the plausibility check of the motion signal if the instantaneous value of the detected at least one physical variable differs from the average by less than the predefined threshold value.

5. The intrusion sensor of claim 1, wherein the motion signal is an acceleration signal.

6. A method for monitoring an entrance to a building to be monitored, the method comprising: detecting a motion of the entrance to the building in at least one spatial axis and outputting a motion signal based on the detection; detecting at least one physical variable in the surroundings of the entrance to the building; performing a plausibility check of the motion signal based on at least one value of the detected at least one physical variable; and outputting an intrusion signal if a result of the plausibility check is negative, wherein the plausibility check provides for storing the at least one value of the detected at least one physical variable at predefined intervals and calculating an average of the at least one value of the detected at least one physical variable.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the temperature or the humidity is detected when detecting the at least one physical variable.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the following is performed: (i) determining a long-term average of all values of the detected at least one physical variable when calculating the average; and (ii) determining a sliding average of a predefined number of values of the detected at least one physical variable when calculating the average.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein, when performing a plausibility check, an instantaneous value of the detected at least one physical variable is detected and compared with the average, wherein the result of the plausibility check is negative if the instantaneous value of the detected at least one physical variable differs from the average by less than a predefined threshold value, and wherein the result of the plausibility check is positive if the instantaneous value of the detected at least one physical variable differs from the average by more than the predefined threshold value.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the motion signal is an acceleration signal.

11. An alarm system, comprising: an alarm generator configured to output an alarm; and at least one intrusion sensor configured to transmit an intrusion signal to the alarm generator, wherein the intrusion sensor is configured to monitor an entrance to a building to be monitored, wherein the intrusion sensor includes: an acceleration sensor configured to detect a motion in the surroundings of the to the building in at least one spatial axis, and based on the detected motion, configured to output a motion signal; a surroundings sensor configured to detect at least one physical variable in the surroundings of the intrusion sensor; and a plausibility check device configured to perform a plausibility check of the motion signal based on at least one value of the detected at least one physical variable, and configured to output an intrusion signal if a result of the plausibility check is negative, wherein the plausibility check device includes a memory and is configured to store the at least one value of the detected at least one physical variable at predefined intervals and is configured to calculate an average of the at least one value of the detected at least one physical variable.

12. The alarm system of claim 11, wherein the motion signal is an acceleration signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one specific embodiment of an intrusion sensor according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of one specific embodiment of the method according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an additional specific embodiment of an intrusion sensor according to the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an additional specific embodiment of a method according to the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a building including one specific embodiment of an intrusion sensor according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one specific embodiment of an intrusion sensor 1 according to the present invention.

(7) Intrusion sensor 1 in FIG. 1 is situated at a door 2 and includes an acceleration sensor 4 which is coupled to a plausibility check device 9. Furthermore, intrusion sensor 1 in FIG. 1 includes a surroundings sensor 6 which is also coupled to plausibility check device 9.

(8) The intrusion sensor of FIG. 1 is used for monitoring door 2, which constitutes an entrance to a building to be monitored. Thus, intrusion sensor 1 is situated at door 2 on the inside of the building.

(9) Acceleration sensor 4 is used to detect motions of intrusion sensor 1 in at least one spatial axis. This is always the case if door 2 is moved or, for example, an intruder tampers with door 2. In the case of a motion of door 2, acceleration sensor 4 outputs an acceleration signal 5 to plausibility check device 9.

(10) Surroundings sensor 6 detects a value 7 of temperature 8 in the surroundings of intrusion sensor 1. In one specific embodiment, surroundings sensor 6 may also be configured, additionally or alternatively, to detect other physical variables 8, for example, humidity 8. Surroundings sensor 6 provides the detected value of temperature 8 to plausibility check device 9. In other specific embodiments, surroundings sensor 6 may be configured as any arbitrary sensor which is suitable for detecting the presence or absence of a person or another living being. This may, for example, be an infrared sensor.

(11) Finally, plausibility check device 9 carries out a plausibility check of acceleration signal 5 with the aid of the detected values 7 of temperature 8. If the result of the plausibility check is negative, plausibility check device 9 outputs an intrusion signal 10. If surroundings sensor 6 is configured, in addition or alternatively, to detect other physical variables 8, for example, humidity 8, these detected values may also be used during the plausibility check.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of one specific embodiment of a method according to the present invention.

(13) In a first step S1, the method according to the present invention provides for detecting motions of entrance 2, 3 in at least one spatial axis, and in a second step S2, outputting an acceleration signal 5 in the case of a motion in the at least one axis.

(14) In a third step S3, at least one value 7 of at least one physical variable 8 is detected in the surroundings of entrance 2, 3 on the inside of building 14.

(15) Furthermore, the method provides for checking the plausibility S4 of acceleration signal 5 using detected value 7 of physical variable 8 and outputting S5 an intrusion signal 10 if the result of the plausibility check is negative.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of another specific embodiment of an intrusion sensor 1 according to the present invention.

(17) Intrusion sensor 1 of FIG. 3 is based on intrusion sensor 1 of FIG. 1 and differs from it in such a way that plausibility check device 9 includes a memory 11 and is configured to store a detected value 7 of physical variable 8 at predefined intervals and to calculate an average 12 of detected values 7 of physical variable 8.

(18) Plausibility check device 9 thus forms a long-term average 12 of all detected values 7 of physical variable 8. In one specific embodiment, plausibility check device 9 may also calculate a sliding average 12 of a predefined number of detected values 7 of physical variable 8.

(19) When an acceleration signal 5 is output by acceleration sensor 4, plausibility check device 9 of FIG. 3 is furthermore configured to request an instantaneous value 7 of physical variable 8 from surroundings sensor 6 and to compare it with average 12.

(20) If instantaneous value 7 of physical variable 8 differs from average 12 by more than a predefined threshold value 13, plausibility check device 9 provides a positive result of a plausibility check of acceleration signal 5, and no intrusion signal 10 is output.

(21) If instantaneous value 7 of physical variable 8 differs from average 12 by less than predefined threshold value 13, plausibility check device 9 provides a negative result of a plausibility check of acceleration signal 5, and an alarm is triggered or an intrusion signal 10 is output.

(22) In one specific embodiment, surroundings sensor 6 is configured as a sensor 6 which is provided to simultaneously detect multiple physical variables 8 in the surroundings of intrusion sensor 1. For example, sensor 6 may detect the temperature and the humidity.

(23) In one specific embodiment, intrusion sensor 1 includes a data interface which is configured to communicate with an air conditioning system of building 14 and to request the instantaneous building temperature from it. The requested building temperature may also be used for a comparison with the detected value of physical variable 8.

(24) FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of another specific embodiment of a method according to the present invention.

(25) The method of FIG. 4 is based on the method of FIG. 2 and differs from it in such a way that the step of carrying out a plausibility check S4 provides for storing S6 a detected value 7 of physical variable 8 at predefined intervals and calculating S7 an average 12 of detected values 7 of physical variable 8.

(26) Thus, when calculating S7 average 12, a long-term average 12 may be calculated for all detected values 7 of physical variable 8. In addition or alternatively, when calculating S7 average 12, a sliding average 12 may be calculated of a predefined number of detected values 7 of physical variable 8.

(27) Furthermore, when carrying out a plausibility check S4, the method provides that when an acceleration signal 5 is output by acceleration sensor 4, an instantaneous value 7 of physical variable 8 is detected S8 and compared S9 with average 12.

(28) Thus, the result of the plausibility check of acceleration signal 5 is positive if instantaneous value 7 of physical variable 8 differs from average 12 by more than a predefined threshold value 13. Furthermore, the result of the plausibility check of acceleration signal 5 is negative if instantaneous value 7 of physical variable 8 differs from average 12 by less than predefined threshold value 13.

(29) FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an alarm system 16 having one specific embodiment of an intrusion sensor 1 according to the present invention.

(30) Alarm system 16 is situated in a building 14. Building 14 of FIG. 5 is only schematically represented by two wall sections 14 which have an opening in which a window 3 is situated, at which an intrusion sensor 1 according to the present invention is situated.

(31) In FIG. 5, the opening direction of window 3 is indicated by a curved arrow.

(32) The opening direction in FIG. 5 is only depicted by way of example and does not necessarily have to be limited to the vertical spatial axis shown in FIG. 5. For example, should the door/window be damaged through the use of great force, a rotational tilting motion may also result which is not exclusively described by the vertical spatial axis.

(33) Alarm system 16 includes an alarm generator 15 which is coupled to intrusion sensor 1.

(34) Intrusion sensor 1 is configured to transmit an intrusion signal 10 to alarm generator 15, which subsequently outputs an alarm.

(35) Although the present invention has been described above based on the exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but may be modified in a variety of ways. In particular, the present invention may be changed or modified in manifold ways without departing from the core of the present invention.