Video and audio security system

• US 4,524,384 A
• Filed: 04/21/1983
• Issued: 06/18/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GBC Closed Circuit TV Corporation
• Original Assignee: GBC Closed Circuit TV Corporation
• Inventors: Lefkowitz, Stephen, Benenati, Salvatore, Ickowski, Edward S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US06/487,135
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 358/108, 358/229
• US Class Current: 348/156
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A video and audio system for monitoring an area, particularly an area adjacent a door, is disclosed. The system includes a video and audio assembly adapted to be mounted to a door and a video and audio console spaced from the door. Opening of the door is controlled by an electric door strike operated from the console. The assembly is quite compact which facilitates mounting of the assembly to the door. The video camera includes a right angle optical system which contributes to the compactness of the assembly. Both the console and the assembly include audio elements which permit simultaneous two-way communication. A limited number of conductors none of which carry high voltage couple the assembly and the console.

Claims

1. A video and audio security system for monitoring an area, passage beyond which is controlled by a remotely actuable device, the system comprising:

(1) a video and audio assembly including a video camera, a first speaker and a first microphone, said assembly being disposed to monitor said area and including means for mounting said assembly to a structure such as a door, a wall and the like near said area, said structure having an exterior side and an interior side, said means for mounting including (i) a first plate-like element having an interior and an exterior side, the interior side of said first plate-like element facing said structure when mounted thereto, said first microphone and said first speaker being mounted on the interior side of said first plate-like element, said first plate-like element further including means therein adjacent said first microphone and first speaker to permit sound to pass through said element, and a first light-transmitting aperture, and (ii) a second element adapted to be mounted to a side of said structure opposite the side to which said first plate-like element is mounted, said second element having an interior side facing said structure when mounted thereto and including a second light-transmitting aperture, (iii) a sleeve means extending through said structure between said first and second apertures when said assembly is mounted for use, said video camera being mounted to said second element and having a lens extending through said aperture into said sleeve; and

(iv) fixing means for attaching said first plate-like element and said second element to said structure, said system further comprising

(2) a video and audio console spaced from said video and audio assembly, said console including a video display coupled with said video camera to display images received therefrom, a second speaker coupled with said first microphone, a second microphone coupled with said first speaker, and an actuating means operatively coupled with said remotely actuable device;

(3) electric circuitry means including electric circuits coupled with said first and second microphones and said first and second speakers to provide independent two-way sound transmission between said area and said console; and

(4) means for coupling said console to a source of power for supplying power to said console and said assembly.

2. The security system according to claim 1 and including an actuator adapted to be mounted on or adjacent a door which controls passage from said area, the remotely actuable device controlling locking and unlocking of the door, the console including a signalling device, the actuator being operable with a low voltage which is supplied by the means for supplying power to control energization of the signalling device, and means coupling the actuator and the signalling device.

3. The security system according to claim 1 wherein the console includes a handset in which are mounted the second speaker and the second microphone.

4. The security system according to claim 1 and including the remotely actuable device which comprises a door strike and means which are electrically actuated for controlling operation of the door strike, the door strike being adapted to be mounted on or adjacent the door for locking and unlocking it, the door controlling passage from said area.

5. The security system according to claim 4 wherein the means for controlling is operable with a low voltage which is supplied by the means for supplying power, and including means coupling the low voltage from the means for supplying in the console to the means for controlling.

6. The security system according to claim 1 wherein the means for supplying power includes a low-voltage output, the system including means coupling the low-voltage output to the assembly for supplying all of the power utilized by the assembly.

7. The security system according to claim 6 and including drive circuitry for the video camera disposed at the assembly including means for converting the low voltage from the console to one or more higher voltages supplied to at least one of the drive circuitry and the video camera.

8. The security system according to claim 6 and including video amplifying and processing circuitry disposed at the assembly coupled to an output of the video camera and to the video display.

9. The security system according to claim 6 wherein the electric circuitry coupled to the microphones and speakers is disposed at the assembly and is coupled to receive in the assembly the low voltage output from the means for supplying.

10. A video and audio assembly for a video and audio monitoring system adapted to be mounted to a structure such as a door, comprising:

a first plate-like element adapted to be mounted to one side of the structure and having an exterior side and an interior side, the interior side facing the structure when the first plate-like element is mounted thereto, a first speaker mounted to the interior side of the first plate-like element which adjacent the first speaker is structured to permit sound to be transmitted from the first speaker through the first plate-like element to the exterior side thereof, a first microphone mounted to the interior side of the first plate-like element which adjacent the first microphone is structured to permit sound to pass from the exterior side of the first plate-like element therethrough to the first microphone, the first plate-like element having a first light-transmitting aperture;

a second element adapted to be mounted to another, opposite side of the structure and having an interior side facing the structure when the second element is mounted thereto, the second element having a second light-transmitting aperture;

a sleeve adapted to extend through the mounting structure between the first and second apertures when the video camera is mounted to the second element and when the second element is mounted to the structure, and having a lens extending through the second aperture into the sleeve; and

means for attaching the first plate-like element and the second element to the structure.

11. The assembly according to claim 10 wherein the second element comprises a second plate-like element having an interior side and an exterior side, a housing for the camera, and means for attaching the housing to the second plate-like element with the housing facing the exterior side of the second plate-like element, the means for attaching the second element to the structure attaching the second plate-like element to the structure.

12. The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the sleeve is attached to the first plate-like element, and comprising another sleeve attached to the second plate-like element adjacent the second aperture extending from the interior side of the second plate-like element, the two sleeves being of slightly different dimensions so as to permit telescoping of the sleeves when the assembly is mounted.

13. The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the means for attaching the first and second plate-like elements to the structure comprise fasteners engaging the two plate-like elements and extending through the structure when the assembly is mounted, the fasteners drawing the two plate-like elements together, sandwiching the structure therebetween.

14. The assembly according to claim 11 and including audio amplifying circuitry disposed in the housing coupled to the first microphone and the first speaker, the amplifying circuitry permitting simultaneous, independent use of both the microphone and the speaker.

15. The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the video camera includes a right angle optical system terminating in said lens, the right angle optical system being supported by the housing.

16. The assembly according to claim 11 and comprising circuitry disposed in the housing for operating the video camera, the circuitry including voltage conversion means for converting a low voltage to a high voltage.

17. The assembly according to claim 16 and comprising video processing and amplifying circuitry disposed in the housing coupled to the output of the video camera.

18. A video assembly, for a video monitoring system, adapted to be mounted to a thin-walled structure such as a door, comprising:

a video camera including an optical system having a lens;

a first plate-like element adapted to be mounted to a side of said structure and having an exterior side and an interior side which faces said structure when said first plate-like element is mounted thereto, said first plate-like element having a first light-transmitting aperture;

a subassembly to which said video camera is mounted, said subassembly including means for mounting it to one side of said structure with said lens extending into an opening in said structure to receive images present on an opposite side of said structure, said subassembly having an interior side which faces said structure when said subassembly is mounted thereto, and a second light-transmitting aperture; and

sleeve means extending through said mounting means between said first and second aperture when said video camera is mounted to said subassembly and said subassembly is mounted to said structure, wherein said lens extends through said second aperture into said sleeve.

19. The assembly according to claim 18 wherein the video camera includes a right angle optical system terminating in said lens, the right angle optical system being mounted to said subassembly.

20. The assembly according to claim 18 wherein the subassembly comprises a second plate-like element having an interior side and an exterior side, a housing for the camera, and means for attaching the housing to the second plate-like element with the housing facing the exterior side of the second plate-like element.

21. The assembly according to claim 20 wherein the sleeve is attached to the first plate-like element, and comprising another sleeve attached to the second plate-like element adjacent the second aperture extending from the interior side of the second plate-like element, the two sleeves being of slightly different dimensions so as to permit telescoping of the sleeves when the assembly is mounted.