Method and system for passive tracking of moving objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9726544-B2
Application number	US-201514813263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2015
Priority date	Jul 30, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area, including a first passive motion detection sensor operable for passively detecting motion in any of a first multiplicity of detection zones and, responsive thereto, for providing a first detection output signal including an indication of a first detection zone in which the motion was detected, a second passive motion detection sensor operable for passively detecting motion in any of a second multiplicity of detection zones, each of the second multiplicity of detection zones at least partially overlapping each of the first multiplicity of detection zones, and, responsive thereto, for providing a second detection output signal including an indication of a second detection zone in which the motion was detected, and a processor operable for receiving the first and second detection output signals and, responsive thereto, for providing an indication of a location of the motion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area, said system comprising:
a first passive motion detection sensor, mounted on a ceiling of said given area, operable for passively detecting motion in any of a first multiplicity of detection zones, each of said first multiplicity of detection zones being arranged along a corresponding one of a first multiplicity of mutually parallel axis, and, responsive to said passively detecting motion in at least one of said first multiplicity of detection zones, for providing a first detection output signal comprising an indication of a first detection zone of said first multiplicity of detection zones in which said motion was detected;
a second passive motion detection sensor, mounted on said ceiling of said given area, operable for passively detecting motion in any of a second multiplicity of detection zones, each of said second multiplicity of detection zones at least partially overlapping each of said first multiplicity of detection zones, each of said second multiplicity of detection zones being arranged along a corresponding one of a second multiplicity of mutually parallel axes, each of said second multiplicity of mutually parallel axes being orthogonal to each of said first multiplicity of mutually parallel axis, and, responsive to said passively detecting motion in at least one of said second multiplicity of detection zones, for providing a second detection output signal comprising an indication of a second detection zone of said second multiplicity of detection zones in which said motion was detected; and
a processor operable for receiving said first and second detection output signals comprising corresponding indications of said first and second detection zones arranged along said mutually orthogonal axis from said at least first and second passive motion detection sensors and, responsive thereto, for providing an indication of an overlapping region of said first and second detection zones in which said motion was detected, obviating the need for employing a passive triangulation method of calculation to calculate said overlapping region of said first and second detection zones in which said motion was detected.

2. A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 1 and wherein at least one of said first and second passive motion detection sensors is a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.

3. A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 1 and wherein said motion is of an infrared emitting entity.

4. A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 3 and wherein said infrared emitting entity is a human.

5. A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 1 and wherein said first and second passive motion detection sensors are located at a fixed distance therebetween.

6. A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 5 and wherein each of said first multiplicity of detection zones extends from said first passive motion detection sensor into a unique angular sector of said given area, and each of said second multiplicity of detection zones extends from said second passive motion detection sensor into a unique angular sector of said given area.

7. A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 6 and wherein said processor is operable for providing said indication of said location of said motion by employing a passive triangulation method of calculation to calculate an overlapping region of said first and second detection zones in which said motion was detected, said calculation being based at least on:
said first detection zone in which said motion was detected and a unique angle subtended by said unique angular sector of said given area into which said first detection zone extends from said first passive motion detection sensor;
said second detection zone in which said motion was detected and a unique angle subtended by said unique angular sector of said given area into which said second detection zone extends from said second passive motion detection sensor; and
said fixed distance between said first and second passive motion detection sensors.

8. A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 1 and wherein said processor is also operable for recording said location of said detected motion over time, thereby being operable for tracking a path of said motion over time.

9. A method for detecting and tracking motion in a given area, said method comprising:
passively detecting motion in any of a first multiplicity of detection zones, each of said first multiplicity of detection zones being arranged along a corresponding one of a first multiplicity of mutually parallel axis, by employing a first passive motion detection sensor mounted on a ceiling of said given area and, responsive thereto, providing a first detection output signal comprising an indication of a first detection zone of said first multiplicity of detection zones in which said motion was detected;
passively detecting motion in any of a second multiplicity of detection zones by employing a second passive motion detection sensor mounted on said ceiling of said given area, each of said second multiplicity of detection zones at least partially overlapping each of said first multiplicity of detection zones, each of said second multiplicity of detection zones being arranged along a corresponding one of a second multiplicity of mutually parallel axes, each of said second multiplicity of mutually parallel axes being orthogonal to each of said first multiplicity of mutually parallel axis, and, responsive thereto, providing a second detection output signal comprising an indication of a second detection zone of said second multiplicity of detection zones in which said motion was detected; and
receiving said first and second detection output signals comprising corresponding indications of said first and second detection zones arranged along said mutually orthogonal axis and, responsive thereto, providing an indication of an overlapping region of said first and second detection zones in which said motion was detected, obviating the need for employing a passive triangulation method of calculation to calculate said overlapping region of said first and second detection zones in which said motion was detected.

10. A method for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 9 and wherein at least one of said first and second passive motion detection sensors is a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.

11. A method for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 9 and wherein said motion is of an infrared emitting entity.

12. A method for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 11 and wherein said infrared emitting entity is a human.

13. A method for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 9 and wherein said first and second passive motion detection sensors are located at a fixed distance therebetween.

14. A method for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 13 and wherein each of said first multiplicity of detection zones extends from said first passive motion detection sensor into a unique angular sector of said given area, and each of said second multiplicity of detection zones extends from said second passive motion detection sensor into a unique angular sector of said given area.

15. A method for detecting and tracking motion in a given area according to claim 14 and wherein said p

Assignees

• Tyco Fire & Security Gmbh

Inventors

• Zhevelev Boris

Classifications

• G08B13/19 Primary

  using infrared-radiation detection systems {(G08B13/194 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01S5/16

  using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• G01J5/0025 Primary

  Living bodies (ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00) · CPC title