System and method for determining position and velocity of an intruder from an array of sensors

Claim 5

The system according to claim 2 including means for automatically scanning said one row in a direction opposite the corresponding target movement direction and identifying the first cell having a count not less than a predetermined value whereby the location of the column containing said first cell relative to other columns in the matrix provides an indication of the position of the target relative to said plurality of sensors.

Claim 6

The system according to claim 3 in which said last named means includes means for identifying additional cells having counts not less than said predetermined number whereby the number of such additional cells indicates the profile of said target.

Claim 7

Apparatus for determining the velocity, direction of movement and position of a moving object, comprising an array of spaced sensors adapted to periodically generate output signals in response to relative movement of said object within detection range of the sensors, a memory matrix comprising a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of adjacent columns and in a plurality of stacked rows extending generally transversely of said columns, the width of said columns corresponding to a portion of the length of said array, each of said cells comprising a counter having a predetermined count storage capacity, means for operatively connecting the outputs of said sensors to the cells in an equal number of certain columns, respectively, in said matrix, the inter-columnar spacing of adjacent ones of said certain columns corresponding to intersensor spacing of adjacent sensors in said array, means for adding one count to all cells in each of said certain columns having an associated sensor and producing an output during each reporting period of the sensor in response to a detected object, means for subtracting one count from all cells in each of said certain columns having an associated sensor not producing an output during each reporting period of the sensor, timing means having output signals with different repetition rates connected to the cells in different rows, respectively, of a first set of rows, the cells in said first set of rows being responsive to said output signals to shift in a first direction the count in each cell in said first set of rows to the adjacent cell in the adjacent column whereby the receiving cell cumulates said counts, timing means having output signals with different repetition rates connected to the cells in different rows, respectively, of a second set of rows, the cells in said second set of cells being responsive to said output signals to shift in a second direction opposite said first direction the count in each cell in said second set of rows to the adjacent cell in the adjacent column whereby the receiving cell cumulates said counts, first circuit means connected to said rows of cells and automatically adding the counts in the cells in said rows and identifying the one row having the maximum count whereby the shift rate and row set associated with said one row indicate the velocity and direction of movement of the object, means for determining the count in the cell in said one row having the maximum value (max count) relative to other cells in said one row, means for dividing said max count by 2 to determine the half-max number, second circuit means for automatically examining the cells in said one row in a direction opposite from the direction of shift of counts in said one row and identifying the first cell having a count not less than said half-max number whereby the relative position in the matrix of the column containing said first cell identifies the relative position of the object in the array of sensors, and display apparatus connected to said first and second circuit means to indicate the velocity and direction of movement and position of said object.

Claim 8

Apparatus for determining the velocity, direction of movement and position of a moving object, comprising an array of spaced sensors adapted to periodically generate output signals in response to relative movement of said object within detection range of the sensors, a memory matrix comprising a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of adjacent columns and in a plurality of stacked rows extending generally transversely of said columns, the width of said columns corresponding to a portion of the length of said array, each of said cells comprising a counter having a predetermined count storage capacity, means for operatively connecting the outputs of said sensors to the cells in an equal number of certain columns, respectively, in said matrix, the inter-columnar spacing of adjacent ones of said certain columns corresponding to intersensor spacing of adjacent sensors in said array, means for adding one count to all cells in each of said certain columns having an associated sensor and producing an output during each reporting period of the sensor in response to a detected object, means for subtracting one count from all cells in each of said certain columns having an associated sensor not producing an output during each reporting period of the sensor, timing means having output signals with different repetition rates connected to the cells in different rows, respectively, of a first set of rows, the cells in said first set of rows being responsive to said output signals to shift in a first direction the count in each cell in said first set of rows to the adjacent cell in the adjacent column whereby the receiving cell cumulates said counts, timing means having output signals with different repetition rates connected to the cells in different rows, respectively, of a second set of rows, the cells in said second set of cells being responsive to said output signals to shift in a second direction opposite said first direction the count in each cell in said second set of rows to the adjacent cell in the adjacent column whereby the receiving cell cumulates said counts, first circuit means connected to said rows of cells and automatically adding the counts in the cells in said rows and identifying the one row having the maximum count whereby the shift rate and row set associated with said one row indicate the velocity and direction of movement of the object, means for determining the count in the cell in said one row having the maximum value (max count) relative to other cells in said one row, means for dividing said max count by 2 to determine the half-max number, second circuit means for automatically examining the cells in said one row in a direction opposite from the direction of shift of counts in said one row and identifying the first cell having a count not less than said half-max number whereby the relative position in the matrix of the column containing said first cell identifies the relative position of the object in the array of sensors, and display apparatus connected to said first and second circuit means to indicate the velocity and direction of movement and position of said object.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said second circuit means is responsive to the counts in each of other cells in said one row following said first cell having a count not less than said half-max number for relating the number and location of said other cells relative to said first cell to indicate the profile of said object.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 7 in which said predetermined number is a half-max number calculated by determining the maximum single cell count (max count) in said velocity row and dividing said max count by 2 whereby the resultant is the half-max number, the value of said half-max number being indicative of the degree of reliability of the derived object information.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 11 including the steps of further searching said velocity row and identifying each column after said first column having cells in said velocity row with counts not less than said half-max number whereby to establish that the object comprises a group and to determine the length of the object group, and utilizing data representing the length of said object group.