Interactive tracking device

Abstract

An automatic passive interactive tracking device is disclosed which provides for the detection of intruders with a single quadruplex stationary passive infrared sensor covering a relatively wide field of view. Alternatively, two dual sensors may be incorporated. The stationary sensor or sensors provides a signal to a microcontroller, which drives a stepper motor to rotate additional sensors with narrower fields of view to more precisely determine the exact bearing of the intruder. By incorporating appropriate analog to digital conversion and algorithms in the microcontroller, approximate range may also be determined. When the intruder has been verified by all of the sensors, a camera and/or light is activated to record the intruder. A number of the tracking devices may be linked together to cover a larger area, and may provide signals to a remotely located monitor and/or security post. As each device requires only a single camera and no human operator, great savings may be achieved in the costs involved in such security. Alternative embodiments provide for a sonic emitter, directional laser or strobe light to frighten intruders such as animals in agricultural areas, and provision may be made for a portable unit for police surveillance and/or traffic monitoring.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.