Surveillance device

• US 20070109407A1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WQS Limited
• Original Assignee: WQS Limited
• Inventors: Thompson, Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 7,952,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19643 wherein the cameras play different roles, e.g. different resolution, different camera type, master-slave camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

A surveillance device has a support secured to a structure, a first image collection device secured to the support, a second image collection device and a servo motor, the second image collection device being moveable with respect to the support by the servo motor, the second image collection device having an optical axis whereby the servo motor is constructed and arranged to regulate the direction of the optical axis of the second image collection device. Inherent intelligence in the device or in a remote computer is used to direct the servo motor in accordance with algorithms recognising and analysing motion in the area being monitored by first image collection device.

Claims

1. A surveillance device comprising a support constructed and arranged to be secured to a structure, a first image collection device secured to the support, a second image collection device and a servo motor, the second image collection device being moveable with respect to the support by the servo motor, the second image collection device having an optical axis whereby the servo motor is constructed and arranged to regulate the direction of the optical axis of the second image collection device.

20. The surveillance device of claim 1, wherein the first image collection device comprises plural camera devices, disposed to provide a substantially uninterrupted field of view.

21. The surveillance device of claim 1, wherein the first image collection device is fixed to the support in use and is constructed and arranged permanently to monitor a scene.

22. The surveillance device of claim 20, wherein the first image collection device is fixed to the support in use and is constructed and arranged permanently to monitor a scene.

23. The surveillance device of claim 1, wherein data collected from the first image collection device are processed to automatically detect an event such as motion, and the result of such detection used to automatically control the servo motor when an event is detected.

24. The surveillance device of claim 1, comprising a processor having a first port connected to receive data representatives of images collected by the first and second image collection devices, the second port connected to the servo motor for control thereof and a third port connected to a data input/output interface device.

25. The surveillance device of claim 1, wherein the first and second image collection devices each include respective embedded processing circuitry, each embedded processing circuitry being connected to communicate with the first port of the processor device.

26. The surveillance device of claim 25, wherein the processor device is operable to monitor data received from the embedded processing device of the first image collection device and, in respect thereto, to supply commands to the servo motor via the second port.

27. The surveillance device of claim 1, wherein the processor device converts data from the first and second image collection devices using a communications protocol into a pulse stream for output at the third port.

28. The surveillance device of claim 1, wherein the second image collection device has a zoom input, and a field of view is variable in dependence on a control signal at the zoom input.

29. The surveillance device of claim 1, wherein the second image collection device has a tilt input and a field of view is variable in dependence on a control signal at the tilt input.

34. The surveillance device of claim 1, wherein a processor runs a predictive control algorithm whereby previous locations of motion of an object of interest are used to determine where to aim a movable camera.

38. The surveillance device of claim 1, having an “

auto-ignore”

feature to account for movement of features such as trees and plants, so that a moving camera is not sent to examine areas of no interest.

2-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A surveillance device having plural spatially fixed camera devices, each spatially fixed camera device having a fixed field of view, at least one further camera device, the at least one further camera device having a field of view movable in space, and processing circuitry operable in response to signals from at least one of said plural spatially fixed camera devices to cause the field of view of the at least one further camera device to include a given area.

36. The surveillance device of claim 15, wherein a processor runs a predictive control algorithm whereby previous locations of motion of an object of interest are used to determine where to aim a movable camera.

40. The surveillance device of claim 15, having an “

auto-ignore”

feature to account for movement of features such as trees and plants, so that a moving camera is not sent to examine areas of no interest.

16. A surveillance structure comprising a support having plural socket devices secured thereto each for receiving a respective camera and at least one further socket device for receiving a first camera, the or each further socket device being coupled to the support via a motor drive constructed and arranged to move the further socket device in rotation about the support, the surveillance device further comprising a respective electrical connector device for each socket device and further socket device, a further electrical connection device for receiving a device for communicating with said socket devices and further socket devices, and communication network circuitry interconnecting said electrical connector devices.

33. The surveillance structure of claim 16, wherein the device for communicating with said socket devices and further socket devices comprises an intelligent hub device.

37. The surveillance structure of claim 16, wherein a processor runs a predictive control algorithm whereby previous locations of motion of an object of interest are used to determine where to aim a movable camera.

41. The surveillance structure of claim 16, having an “

auto-ignore”

feature to account for movement of features such as trees and plants, so that a moving camera is not sent to examine areas of no interest.

17-19. -19. (canceled)

30. A surveillance system comprising a surveillance device in combination with a computer remote from the surveillance device, the system further comprising a communications device interconnecting the surveillance device and the remote computer, and wherein:

the surveillance device comprises a support constructed and arranged to be secured to a structure, a first image collection device secured to the support, a second image collection device and a servo motor, the second image collection device being moveable with respect to the support by the servo motor, the second image collection device having an optical axis whereby the servo motor is constructed and arranged to regulate the direction of the optical axis of the second image collection device.

31. The surveillance system of claim 30, wherein the communications device comprises one or more of an Ethernet cable and a wireless communication system.

32. The surveillance system of claim 30, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system comprising at least one of comprises a radio channel and a wireless LAN or “

WiFi”

.

35. The surveillance system of claim 30, wherein a processor runs a predictive control algorithm whereby previous locations of motion of an object of interest are used to determine where to aim a movable camera.

39. The surveillance system of claim 30, having an “

auto-ignore”

feature to account for movement of features such as trees and plants, so that a moving camera is not sent to examine areas of no interest.