Fraunhofer's new security device turns your window into a motion detector
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Mar 11th 2009 9:18AM
posted Mar 11th 2009 9:18AM
The brain geniuses at Fraunhofer are back on the scene with a security device that takes the window alarm to the next level. The Vigilant window sees the ol' glass panel coated with a nanoparticle material which converts light into fluorescent radiation. When the system is switched on, a UV lamp is aimed at the window, which is outfitted with sensors along its edges. As long as the lamp is unobstructed, everything is goldie. However, if a cat burglar should come by in his trademark all-black out fit and obstruct the beam, the alarm is activated -- sending your elite security team into action. If you don't have an elite security team, perhaps you can send your T-34 to snare him in its net. Either way, it's clear they messed with the wrong folks this time. A prototype already exists, no word yet on when this will become available.
[Via Oh Gizmo!]
[Via Oh Gizmo!]
Isn't a mini-laser ans sensor module sufficient and self-contained?
Bounce the laser off window (listen to other side via vibrations?) and, if broken, alarm?
..."if a cat burglar should come by in his trademark all-black out fit".... My AR-15 with will blow a big hole in him.
and when my cat walks by in her trademark all-black fur?
Set up a few guns and lasers and you'll have dinner.
How about the fact that you can't have any blinds/curtains on the window.
That's exactly what I was thinking...
Easy.
The cat burglar merely needs to don a nanoparticle material which converts light into fluorescent radiation suit, and everything will be goodie. For him/her.
If you have a cat, you don't need burglar alarms. Everyone is afraid of strange cats.
Or just pack his own UV lamp? So long as it wasn't in the frequency range that makes it germicidal it should be cool.
LOL, I appreciate the equal opportunity burglar (his/her)
It needs electricity to power the lamp and the Sensors on the window. a black out or cuting the Mains from the pole will disable this, Unless, the house has a backup generator.
i dont see any benefit over the good old fashion laser technique
Low cost, no coatings/sensors/etc. Seems like a expensive high tec solution for a low tec problem.
Die already.
This sounds overly elaborate, which isn't always bad, but it also sounds impractical (again, not always bad), but finally it just sounds stupid (always bad). I'll stick to my facial recognition embedded coffee pot / weather station which continually updates a list of known terrorists from the FSB database in Russia. If it senses anything amiss the next time a terrorist burglar tries to make coffee or check the weather, it's all over ... he'll get luke warm tea instead with a forecast of disappointment.
I don't know if this anthony-guy works for that place or not, but I contacted them through their contact-form, with bogus info of course, and asked them to stop spamming. It really makes their business look like a 419!
That's interesting.
What the hell is "fluorescent radiation"?
You could also set one of those robot sentries on them [ http://www.eggheaven.com/gadgets/robots/1949-remote-security-sentry ] when the intruder is detected. Pity the device doesn't emit a Tesla death-ray beam on them though.