"For over 50 years TAKEX has provided active infrared detection devices for industrial, commercial and domestic installation. In this time they have developed a patented combination of technologies to provide the most reliable point-to-point active infrared detection units available..."
As the challenges and demands of an external environment are so much greater than an internal environment, different products and technologies need to be considered and employed. External detectors need to provide peace of mind that an intruder will always be detected before gaining access to the premises, and that unexplained activations are kept to a minimum.
The fundamentals of an active infrared beam are simple; a transmitter emits a signal, a receiver recognises that signal, and a break in the signal causes the receiver to report an alarm. The stability of this signal is paramount to the reliability and effectiveness of the system.
Most light sources emit a wide spectrum of light -not just the visible white light we can see- including infrared. This means that manufacturers of active infrared beams must apply a modulation or pulse in order to discriminate their transmitted signal from other light sources. TAKEX were the first company to develop a double modulated signal –one that does not occur naturally or by chance- making the job of discrimination for the receiver much easier and more reliable.
Before the received signal is analysed, the receiver uses a filtration circuit to remove unwanted background noise and clean up the signal for processing. Each TAKEX receiver carries an imprint of the unique double modulated signal to verify that the received signal is in fact genuine, whilst Phase-Locked Loop circuitry continually monitors the signal levels and optimises the system for maximum performance in changing environmental conditions.
Step-up features including Auto-Gain Lock on the flagship HF series enable the receiver to constantly monitor and react to the signal strength it receives - if the signal drops below a certain threshold the receiver can increase its sensitivity by up to 300% to maintain the protection integrity. If the signal continues to deteriorate at a consistent level, the receiver has an output to warn the system that the environmental conditions may cause the unit to drop into alarm condition. With all TAKEX beams the signal can degrade by over 99% before the receiver will report an alarm, meaning that at only 1% visibility the reliability is still assured.
In a world filled with competing sources of infrared light, including car head lamps, security illuminators and of course the sun, it can be difficult enough for an infrared receiver to distinguish between the intended transmitted signal and the myriad of alternative signals. It has also to cope with any variety of environmental conditions, such as rain, snow, fog and sunlight. TAKEX have taken all of these considerations into account and combined technologies and features to overcome these conditions and provide a stable, reliable product designed to give years of trouble free service.