Photographing Device in Particular For Video Surveillance and Working Methods of Same

• US 20080181600A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mardel Image
• Original Assignee: Mardel Image
• Inventors: Martos, Francois
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/427
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor

Abstract

The invention concerns a device (D) for managing and starting at least one photographing means (100), characterized in that it consists of a housing (200) which, forming a protective chamber around at least one photographing means (100), is mounted mobile in rotation along a first axis (X) relative to at least one arm (310a) integral with a plate (300) which itself is mounted mobile in rotation along a second axis (Y) perpendicular to the first relative to a fixed base (400), the two rotational movements being performed over three-hundred-and sixty degrees without stop, the arrangement and the dimensions of the photographing means (100) relative to the arrangement and the dimensions of the plate (300) and of the base (400), defining a field of vision of at least two-hundred-and-seventy degrees. The invention also concerns methods for operating such a device. The invention is applicable to detection, control, process monitoring, automated surveillance and/or photograph recording and the like.

Claims

1. Device providing the control and movement of a photographing means, characterised in that it is constituted by a housing that, forming a protective chamber around the photographing means, is mounted mobile in rotation along a first axis with respect to an arm integrated with a plate that is itself mounted mobile in rotation along a second axis perpendicular to the first, with respect to a stationary base, wherein the two rotation movements occur over three hundred and sixty degrees without stopping, with the arrangement and size of the photographing means with respect to the arrangement and the size of the plate and the base, defining a field of visibility of at least two hundred and seventy degrees.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing receives a plurality of photographing means of different technologies.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing receives a plurality of photographing means.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing receives a plurality of photographing means and is equipped with a plurality of windows in front of which the objective of the photographing means is installed, which windows are closed by a plate of material suitable for the type of photographing means.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing receives a sensor associated with the photographing means.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the plate supporting the arms is preformed with bevelled edges so as to minimise the visual obstacle that it may constitute.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotation movements are provided for each axis by a stepper motor.

8. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotation movements are monitored for each axis by an encoder.

9. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing includes a window in front of which the objective of the photographing means is installed, which window is closed by a plate of transparent material.

10. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the controls, the supply and the input and output data are transmitted at the level of hinges by means of rotating joints.

11. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said plate includes two arms between which said protective housing rotates.

12. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said plate includes, at the level of the base of the arm, a cleaning means.

13. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said plate is equipped at the base of the arm with projecting elements coming into contact with said rotating housing and forming with the external surface of the latter an enclosed volume.

14. Method for operating the device according to claim 12, characterised in that it includes of causing the protective housing to rotate so as to bring the protected window to the level of the cleaning means in order to perform the cleaning of the latter.

15. Method for operating the device according to claim 13, characterised in that it includes of rotating the housing so as to bring the viewing window into said enclosed volume so as to protect it.

16. Method for operating the device according to claim 1, characterised in that it includes of integrating a legal locking and unlocking function for image hiding, which can be processed either locally (recorder on-board the device), or by a processing device on request by the courts.

17. Device providing the control and movement of a camera, characterised in that it comprises a housing that, forming a protective chamber around the camera, is mounted mobile in rotation along a first axis with respect to an arm integrated with a plate that is itself mounted mobile in rotation along a second axis perpendicular to the first, with respect to a stationary base, wherein the two rotation movements occur over three hundred and sixty degrees without stopping, with the arrangement and size of the camera with respect to the arrangement and the size of the plate and the base, defining a field of visibility of at least two hundred and seventy degrees.

18. Device according to claim 17, characterised in that the protective housing receives a plurality of camera and is equipped with a plurality of windows in front of which the objective of the camera is installed.