Motion detection system and methodology for accomplishing the same

A motion detection system adapted for use in detecting movement of an object through a threshold in a selected movement direction, comprising:

• (a) a first transmitter operative to produce a first broadcast signal and to transmit the first broadcast signal across the threshold along a first transmission path;
• (b) a second transmitter operative to produce a second broadcast signal and to transmit the second broadcast signal across the threshold along a second transmission path that is different from said first transmission path;
• (c) receiver circuitry adapted to receive the first and second broadcast signals and operative to generate either a receiver circuitry reference output corresponding to an absence of interruption of said first and second broadcast signals, or a receiver circuitry interrupted output corresponding to a sequential interruption of both said first and second broadcast signals that results from movement of the object, respectively, through the first and second transmission paths;
• (d) processing circuitry operative to monitor said receiver circuitry and operative in response to detection of said receiver circuitry interrupted output, corresponding to movement of the object through the threshold in one of a first and second movement direction, to produce a plurality of event detection signals;
• and
• (e) a plurality of output circuits each operative to receive a respective one of said event detection signals and to generate a selected output in response thereto;
• and
• (f) switching circuitry including a plurality of switch elements each having a first switch mode wherein a respective one of said output circuits is activated and a second switch mode wherein a respective one of said output circuits is inactivated.

A motion detection system adapted for use in detecting movement of an object through a threshold in a selected movement direction, comprising:

• (a) means for transmitting a first broadcast signal across the threshold along a first transmission path, said first broadcast signal being at a first phase;
• (b) means for transmitting a second broadcast signal across the threshold along a second transmission path, said second broadcast signal being at a second phase that is different than said first phase;
• (c) means for monitoring receipt of said first and second broadcast signals and for producing an event detection signal upon sequential interruption of said first and second broadcast signals within a selected period of time resulting from movement of the object through the first and second transmission paths, said event detection signal corresponding to movement of the object through the threshold in one of a first and second movement direction;
• and
• (d) means for receiving said event detection signal and for generating a selected output in response thereto.

A method of detecting movement of an object through a threshold in a selected movement direction, comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting a first broadcast signal at a first phase across the threshold and along a first transmission path;
• (b) transmitting a second broadcast signal at a second phase different than the first phase across the threshold and along a second transmission path;
• (c) generating an event detection signal upon sequential interruption of said first and second broadcast signals within a selected period of time resulting from movement of the object through the first and second transmission paths, with said event detection signal corresponding to movement of the object through the threshold in one of a first and second movement direction;
• and
• (d) generating a selected output in response to said event detection signal.