1. An alarm filter for filtering out nuisance alarms in a security system including a plurality of sensors to monitor an environment and detect alarm events, the alarm filter comprising:
sensor inputs for receiving sensor signals from the plurality of sensors;
means for selectively modifying the sensor signals to produce verified sensor signals; and
sensor outputs for communicating the verified sensor signals to an alarm panel.
2. The alarm filter of claim 1, and further comprising:
a verification input for receiving verification sensor signals from a verification sensor, wherein the sensors signals are selectively modified as a function of the verification sensor signals and the sensor signals to produce the verified sensor signals.
3. The alarm filter of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively modifying the sensor signals produces opinions about the sensor signals as a function of the sensor signals and produces the verified sensor signals as a function of the opinions.
4. The alarm filter of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively modifying the sensor signals to produce verified sensor signals comprises a data processor in communication with the sensor inputs and outputs.
5. The alarm filter of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively modifying the sensor signals to produce the verified sensor signals comprises a data processor using an algorithm to generate the verified sensor signals.
6. The alarm filter of claim 4, wherein the algorithm forms opinions about the sensor signals and selectively modifies the sensor signals as a function of the opinions to produce the verified sensor signals.
7. An alarm system for monitoring an environment to detect alarm events and communicate alarms based on the alarm events to a remote monitoring center, the alarm system comprising:
a plurality of sensors for monitoring conditions associated with the environment and producing sensor signals in response to alarm events;
a verification sensor for monitoring conditions associated with the environment and producing verification sensor signals representative of the conditions; and
an alarm filter in communication with the plurality of sensors to produce an opinion output as a function of the sensor signals and the verification sensor signals.
8. The alarm system of claim 7, wherein verified sensor signals are produced as a function of the opinion output.
9. The alarm system of claims 7, and further comprising:
an alarm panel in communication with the alarm filter.
10. The alarm system of claim 7, wherein the verification sensor comprises a video sensor.
11. The alarm system of claim 10, wherein the alarm system includes a video content analyzer for receiving raw sensor data from the video sensor and generating the verification sensor signals as a function of the raw sensor data.
12. The alarm system of claim 7, wherein the verification sensor senses a different parameter than the plurality of sensors to monitor conditions associated with the environment.
13. A method for reducing the occurrence of nuisance alarms generated by an alarm system including a plurality of sensors for monitoring conditions associated with an environment, the method comprising:
receiving sensor signals from the plurality of sensors representing conditions associated with the environment;
processing the sensor signals to produce an opinion output as a function of the sensor signals, wherein the opinion output represents a relative indication about a truth of an alarm event; and
selectively modifying the sensor signals as a function of the opinion output to produce verified sensor signals.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the opinion output is generated as a function of a plurality of intermediate opinions.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the opinion output comprises a belief indication about the truth of an alarm event.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the opinion output comprises a disbelief indication about the truth of an alarm event.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the opinion output comprises an uncertainty indication about the truth of an alarm event.
18. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:
comparing a magnitude of the opinion output to a threshold value, wherein the sensor signals are selectively modified as a function of the comparison.
19. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:
communicating the verified sensor signals to an alarm panel.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensor signals include at least one verification sensor signal generated by a verification sensor that uses a different sensing technology than other sensors of the plurality of sensors.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A thin-film capacitor comprising a first thin-film electrode, a second thin-film electrode, and a thin dielectric film arranged therebetween and formed of a tantalum oxide layer and an aluminum oxide layer neighboring thereto.
2. A thin-film capacitor according to claim 1 wherein said aluminum oxide layer is included only between said tantalum oxide layer and one of said thin electrode films.
3. A thin-film capacitor according to claim 1 wherein said aluminum oxide layer is contacted to one of said thin electrode films through an aluminum film.
4. A thin-film capacitor according to claim 1 wherein said aluminum oxide layer is formed by anodically treating an aluminum layer on one of said thin electrode layers.
5. A thin-film capacitor according to claim 1 wherein said thin-film capacitor is incorporated in a circuit board.
6. A thin-film capacitor according to claim 1 wherein said first and second thin electrode films are made of copper.
7. A method of producing a thin-film capacitor comprising a first thin-film electrode, a second thin-film electrode, and a thin dielectric film arranged therebetween and formed of a tantalum oxide layer and an aluminum oxide layer neighboring thereto, the method comprising forming a first thin electrode layer, successively forming an aluminum layer and a tantalum layer or a tantalum nitride layer thereon, anodically treating the tantalum layer or the tantalum nitride layer and the aluminum layer to form a thin dielectric film comprising a tantalum oxide layer and an aluminum oxide layer, and forming a second thin electrode layer on the tantalum oxide layer.