SOLID STATE CAMERA TUBE EMBODYING A FIXED IRIS

• US 3,816,654 A
• Filed: 05/02/1972
• Issued: 06/11/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics Telephone Systems Center Inc.
• Original Assignee: Barrie Brightman
• Inventors: Brightman, Barrie
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US05/249,594
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 178/7.2,DIG.8,DIG.27,6.8,7.85,7.86,7.87,DIG.38,DIG.29 250/71.5S,83.3H,83.3HP 313/122,101,65 356/51 350/1,311 179/2TV
• US Class Current: 348/156
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1004 using two-dimensional electrical scanning, e.g. cathode-ray tubes using two-dimensional arrays H04N1/195
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A solid state camera tube is provided with an optical filter which acts as a fixed iris. A solid state photoconducting target activated by the infrared light is provided in the camera tube. A light source comprising an array of infrared light emitting diodes is employed with the camera tube to illuminate the image. The camera tube and the light source is combined to provide apparatus for surveillance, or in combination with a display, for suitable use in an audio-video telephone system.

Claims

1. A camera system for use in a communication system comprising:

a television camera tube including a solid state photoconductive target disposed therein for receiving radiation from objects viewed by the camera tube, said target having an active surface for activation by a wide range of wavelengths of radiation applied thereto;

a filter functioning as a fixed iris which transmits only infrared light of the range of wavelengths of about 0.8 to 0.9 microns for activating the solid state photoconductive target;

radiation source means for producing infrared radiation;

optical means for transmitting infrared radiation from said source in a direction to irradiate objects viewed by said camera tube, and circuit means for periodically scanning said target and transmitting electrical signals corresponding to the objects viewed by said camera tube and irradiated by said infrared radiation.

2. Apparatus for viewing images illuminated by infrared light comprising:

radiation source means for producing infrared radiation;

optical means for transmitting infrared radiation from said radiation source in a direction to irradiate objects to be viewed by a television camera tube;

a solid state television camera tube comprising a housing, a solid state photoconductive target disposed in said housing and having an active surface for activation by a wide range of wavelength of light;

a filter disposed in an end portion of said housing and arranged to transmit only infrared radiation of the range of wavelengths of from 0.8 to 0.9 microns to the active surface of the target to activate the target, and circuit means for periodically scanning the target and transmitting electrical signals corresponding to the irradiated objects viewed by said camera.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 including:

a second housing for enclosing therein said radiation source means, said optical means and said solid state camera tube;

an adjustable visor means affixed to said second housing and associated with said radiation source means and said solid state camera tube, said adjustable visor having walls defining a plurality of apertures extending entirely through the thickness of the visor to permit the transmission therethrough of rays of light associated with said light source and said camera tube, and a plurality of mirrors affixed to said adjustable visor whereby each of said mirrors is associated with a particular camera tube and a light source and is repositioned with respect to said second housing so that when the transmission of rays of light through the aperture associated with the camera tube or light source ceases, the rays of light are redirected by the mirror.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 including:

a display screen disposed in said housing for displaying objects viewed by another remote television camera tube.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said radiation source means comprises at least one array of infrared light emitting diodes.