Monitoring system

• US 20050035858A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yi-Chuan Liu
• Original Assignee: Yi-Chuan Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Yi-Chuan
• Application Number:
  US10/638,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035858A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream

Abstract

A monitoring system includes a digital image-taking apparatus and a sensing unit. The sensing unit detects any moving object within a monitored area and sends an image-taking signal to a processing unit of the digital image-taking apparatus for the same to take or record pictures of the monitored area. A timing unit adds time indications to the pictures taken or recorded by the digital image-taking apparatus before a memory unit stores digital image signals of the taken or recorded pictures. With the above arrangements, setup cost for the monitoring system and space for storing the images may be largely reduced, and unnecessary waste of useless recording may be avoided.

Claims

1. A monitoring system, comprising:

a digital image-taking apparatus adapted to output video signals to an externally connected monitor for monitoring purpose;

said digital image-taking apparatus including a processing unit, to which at least a control unit, a memory unit, an image-taking unit, and a timing unit are electrically connected; and

a sensing unit being electrically connected to said processing unit of said digital image-taking apparatus for detecting any moving object within an area to be monitored, and sending an image-taking signal to said processing unit for said digital image-taking apparatus to take or record picture or pictures of said moving object; and

said timing unit being adapted to add a time indication to said pictures having been taken or recorded, and said memory unit being adapted to store digital image signals of said pictures taken or recorded by said digital image-taking apparatus.

2. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digital image-taking apparatus further includes a display electrically connected to said processing unit for displaying control pictures.

3. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said memory unit includes a register and a flash memory.

4. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said register is a random access memory.

5. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said flash memory is a flash card.

6. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensing unit includes a passive infrared sensor and an operation amplifier.

7. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit is an operational interface including a plurality of control keys.

8. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said monitor is a TV screen.

9. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said monitor is a monitor connected to a mainframe of a computer system.

10. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing unit is externally connected to a computer system for storing digital image signals to a storage medium of said computer system.

11. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said storage medium is a hard disk.