VIDEO OVER ETHERNET

• US 20100007750A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hansson, Jon, Lundberg, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,208,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.300
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

The present invention relates to a network enabled digital video camera arranged to be connected to a digital network. The network enabled digital video camera includes a digital network module arranged to transmit and receive digital signals, an input/output port being an electrical connector and being connected to the digital network module, and an analog video generator arranged to output an analog video signal. The input/output port connected to the digital network module is also connected to the analog video generator. The present invention also relates to an adaptor used to connect the network enabled digital video camera to an off-the-shelf video preview device.

Claims

1. A network enabled digital video camera arranged to be connected to a digital network, the network enabled digital video camera comprising:

a digital network module arranged to transmit and receive digital signals;

an input/output port being an electrical connector and being connected to the digital network module; and

an analog video generator arranged to output an analog video signal;

wherein the input/output port connected to the digital network module is also being connected to the analog video generator.

2. The network enabled digital video camera according to claim 1, wherein the analog video generator is arranged to generate a basic analog video signal which is not additionally modulated by a carrying wave, and send this basic analog video signal not being additionally modulated by a carrying wave via the input/output port.

3. The network enabled digital video camera according to claim 1, wherein the input/output port is connected to an electrical power receiving unit being arranged to receive power via the input/output port, and being arranged to power the network enabled digital video camera.

4. The network enabled digital video camera according to claim 1, wherein an input and/or output line from the digital network module is connected to an output line from the analog video generator, thereby an analog video signal and a digital signal are transmitted on the same signaling wire.

5. The network enabled digital video camera according to claim 1, further comprising an enable/disable unit arranged to enable/disable the sending of the signal from the analog video generator.

6. The network enabled digital video camera according to claim 5, wherein the enable/disable unit automatically disables the analog video generator when digital signals are transmitted through the input/output port.

7. The network enabled digital video camera according to claim 5, wherein the enable/disable unit automatically enables the analog video generator when no digital signals are transmitted through the input/output port.

8. The network enabled digital video camera according to claim 5, wherein the enable/disable unit is arranged to be enabled/disabled in response to signals received via the digital network.

9. The network enabled digital video camera according to claim 1, wherein the input/output port is a network port.

10. The network enabled digital video camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital network module is arranged to transmit and receive basic digital signals via the input/output port without being additionally modulated by a carrying wave.

11. An adaptor, comprising:

a first input/output port arranged to carry digital network traffic and to carry analog video signals;

a second input/output port connected to the first input/output port and arranged to carry digital network traffic to and from the first input/output port; and

a third output port connected to the first input/output port, and arranged to carry analog video signals from the first input/output port.

12. The adaptor according to claim 11, further comprising a separation unit, wherein the first input/output port is connected to the third output port via the separation unit, and the separation unit is arranged to separate the digital network traffic from the analog video signal.

13. The adaptor according to claim 11, wherein the third output port is an analog video output port that includes at least one of a BNC connector, an RCA connector and a mini-DIN connector.

14. The adapter according to claim 11, further comprising a battery connected to the first input/output port and arranged to deliver power though said first input/output port.