AREA SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM

• US 3,686,434 A
• Filed: 06/17/1970
• Issued: 08/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1957
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Refac International Limited
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US05/047,023
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 178/6.6A,6.6DD,6.8,6,DIG.1,DIG.33,DIG.38
• US Class Current: 360/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/004 using portable personal devices hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellent gases or chemicals F41H9/10
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/125 by using a video camera to detect fire or smoke

Abstract

A system for continuously scanning an area for surveillance purposes with one or more television cameras by the controlled movement of the scanning means, and recording the resultant video signals for future analysis or monitoring. The scanning may be effected at video motion picture frequency or at a slow scan rate continuously or intermittently at predetermined time intervals. Provision is made for the automatic analysis of the scanning signals and the generation of alarm signals when unusual phenomena occur and change same. In one form of system, a plurality of television cameras are each operative to scan a different image field which may include one or more phenomena such as a spacial volume such as a land or air area, warehouse, factory or store location, face of a cathode ray tube receiving signals generated by radar, sonar or other form of instrumentation. The outputs of these cameras or scanners are multiplexed and are sequentially recorded in a magnetic recorder such as one containing a multiple-channel magnetic tape. Each camera may be operated to complete a full frame sweep of its read-beam in sequence with the full frame sweeps of the other cameras. The invention is also concerned with the automatic and remote control of an area scanner such as a television camera in accordance with the characteristics of signals generated by said camera and analyzed at a remote location.

Claims

1. Scanning apparatus for monitoring changing events comprising:

first means for scanning an image field which changes in content with time, said first means including a video scanner having a read beam, and deflection control means for said read beam, second means for controlling said deflection control means for causing said read beam of said video scanner to full frame scan its scanning field, trigger input means for initiating operation of said second means to cause said beam to full frame scan the field presented to said video scanner in a single scanning cycle and to effect the generation of a single full-frame composite video picture signal and the output of said video scanner each time said trigger input means is activated, a monitor station located remote from said first means and having a video receiver including a monitor screen and means for generating image representations on said screen of the image phenomena scanned by said first means, means for establishing a communication link between the output of said video scanner and said monitor station, means for generating scanning control signals and transmitting same to energize said trigger input means to initiate a scanning cycle, and means for retaining the image generated by said single full frame composite video picture signal on the screen of said mOnitor station video receiver for an extended period of time whereby the image phenomenon may be visually monitored.

2. Scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, whereby said means retaining the image on the screen of said monitor station video receiver comprises a recorder for video picture signals received from said video scanner.

3. Scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, whereby said recorder is operative to receive and record all of the video picture signals generated by said video scanner and means for selectively reproducing video picture signals from said recorder and transmitting said signals to said video receiver to generate different still images on its screen.

4. Scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, including means for analyzing the video picture signals generated by said video scanner and detection means for generating alarm signals when detectable changes occur in the characteristics of said video signals which changes are indicative of distinct changes in the content of the phenomenon of the field scanned, and means at said monitor station responsive to said alarm signals for indicating the occurrence of a discrete change in the image field being scanned.

5. Scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 4, whereby said means responsive to said alarm signals includes means for effecting the reproduction of those video picture signals which have been recorded by said recorder and containing said changes in said signals.

6. Scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 4, including means for causing said video scanning means to sequentially scan different image fields, and means operative in response to the generation of an alarm signal for controlling said scanning means to repeatedly scan an image field in which a detectable change occurs which causes the generation of said alarm signal whereby the changing events occurring in said image field may be monitored over an extended time interval.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, said scanning means including a television camera, means for rotatably supporting said television camera, means for power rotating said camera, means for controlling rotation of said camera to position it to scan different selected image fields, and means responsive to the generation of said alarm signal for retaining said camera so located on its support as to permit it to repeatedly scan the image field in which said distinct change occurs whereby said change may be monitored at said monitor station as it develops.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, including a plurality of television cameras defining said monitor means, and a plurality of communication channels extending from said cameras to said monitor station, multiplexing means for sequentially connecting the output of each camera with the input to said monitor station and means for controlling said multiplexing means and the scanning means of each camera whereby a scanning cycle for each camera is initiated after the camera output is operatively connected to said monitor station and the multiplexing means is activated to connect the next camera with the input to the monitor station after the completion of a scanning cycle by the previous camera activated in sequence therewith.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, whereby said recorder is a magnetic recorder having a video pick-up head for reproducing single frame video picture signals recorded as received from said television cameras, the input to said video receiver of said monitor station being operatively connectable to said video pick-up head to permit the reproduction and monitoring of video signals recorded by said recorder.