System for detecting gunshots

An apparatus for detecting and analyzing acoustic noises to determine when a gun has been fired, comprising;

• an input device for converting acoustic noises into output signals and for amplifying the output signals;
• a first threshold detector connected to the input device for providing a threshold detector output signal when the value of the amplified output signal exceeds a predetermined value;
• a pulse width detector connected to the first threshold detector for producing an output signal when the width of the threshold detector output signal is within a predetermined range of values during a sampling period;
• a pulse count detector connected to the first threshold detector for producing an output signal when the number of amplified output signals that exceed a threshold level are less than a predetermined number during a sampling period;
• and
• an output device connected to the pulse width detector, and the pulse count detector for providing an output signal indicating that a gun has been fired when output signals have been received from both the pulse width detector and the pulse count detector.

A method for detecting the firing of a gun, comprising the steps of:

• detecting acoustic signals with a microphone device and converting the acoustic signals into output signals;
• determining if the amplitude of the output signals exceed a predetermined threshold value;
• sampling the output signals that exceed the predetermined threshold value for a predetermined period of time;
• detecting the pulse count of the number of sampled output signals detected during the predetermined period of time that have amplitudes which exceed a predetermined level;
• detecting the pulse width of the output signals detected during the predetermined period of time;
• and
• determining that a possible gunshot event has occurred when the pulse widths of a sampled output signal during the predetermined period of time is within a particular range of values and the pulse count of the sampled output signals during the predetermined period of time is below a particular number.