Imaging assembly and mounting for surveillance viewing under remote control

• US 4,901,146 A
• Filed: 07/11/1989
• Issued: 02/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BTG International Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Applied Engineering Products Co.
• Inventors: Struhs, Patrick L., Struhs, Kenneth E., Struhs, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US07/378,166
• Time in Patent Office: 217 Days
• Field of Search: 358/229, 358/108, 358/87, 358/100, 358/99, 354/81, 74/479, 901/47
• US Class Current: 348/151
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19626 optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20207 Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element

Abstract

An integrated, miniaturized, imaging assembly, comprising microscope sized and arranged video camera lenses having the objective lens thereof in a mount that is preferably a blackened sphere and that is pivotally mounted in a supporting structure rearwardly of the objective lens, so at least the forward end of the lens mount can be placed within a concave viewing dome of unusually small and shallow size, with the supporting structure substantially wholly outside of and behind the, concavity of such viewing dome and so that the imaging assembly can be tilted and panned to sweep over a broad viewing area with minimum intrusion of the viewing dome thereinto. The imaging assembly includes an electronic image-acquisition device in line with the optical axis of the lenses, and can include electronic camera circuitry. The supporting structure preferably comprises an easily movable, tripod type of mounting for the imaging assembly and is adapted to rest on ceiling or other structure having a concealing expanse in which the viewing dome is mounted.

Claims

1. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor particularly for surveillance viewing under remote control from a closed circuit television system, said imaging assembly comprising an optical lens arrangement including, among other lenses, an objective lens, a mount for said objective lens, and an electronic, charge-coupled, image-acquisition device optically aligned with said lens arrangement for receiving images therefrom;

mounting means for said imaging assembly;

means pivotally mounting said objective lens mount in said mounting means rearwardly of but adjacent to said objective lens, so said objective lens can be tilted and panned within the concavity of a concave viewing dome of unusually small and shallow size to sweep over a broad viewing area with limited protrusion thereinto and with said mounting means being substantially wholly outside of and behind said concavity of the viewing dome;

remotely controlled means for tilting and panning said objective lens mount;

remotely controlled means for adjusting the positions of lenses in said lens arrangement; and

electronic video camera means with which said charge-coupled, image-acquisition device is electrically connected.

2. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 1, wherein the objective lens and the other lenses of the lens arrangement are of microscope type that are miniature relative to the lenses of a standard video surveillance system.

3. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 2, wherein the remotely controlled means for adjusting the positions of lenses in the lens arrangement comprises remotely controlled, miniature, electric motors for respective lenses;

and drive means between said motors and the respective lenses.

4. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 1, the mount for the objective lens being spherical in shape and pivoted on an axis extending transversely of and normal to the optical axis of said objective lens.

5. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 4, wherein the spherical mount for the objective lens has a black, outer, spherical surface.

6. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 4, wherein the remotely controlled means for tilting the objective lens mount comprises a sector gear fastened to said mount internally of its spherical shape;

a drive pinion in mesh with said sector gear; and

a miniature, reversible, electric motor for rotating said drive pinion in opposite directions.

7. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 1, the imaging assembly mounting means comprises a turntable;

mounting means for said turntable; and

a pair of arms depending from said turntable, the objective lens mount being pivotally mounted in and between the lower ends of the arms of said pair;

the remotely controlled means for panning the objective lens mount comprising a remotely controlled, miniature, electric motor; and

drive means between said electric motor and said turntable.

8. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 7, wherein the components of the imaging assembly are physically aligned longitudinally of and between the arms of the pair and are rigidly interconnected so as to tilt with the objective lens mount relative to said arms.

9. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 8, wherein the electronic camera means is mounted on one of the arms of the pair;

wherein electric cable means adapted for connection into a closed circuit television system passes into the imaging assembly through the turntable and is connected with the electronic camera means and the motor means; and

wherein means are provided adjacent to said turntable for preventing said cable from undue twisting.

10. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 9, wherein the means provided to prevent undue twisting of the cable is a slip ring device.

11. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 7, wherein the mounting means for the turntable comprises a platform in which the turntable is mounted, and a plurality of legs depending from said platform to terminations in feet adapted to rest on a supporting surface about at the pivoting level of the objective lens mount.

12. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 11, wherein the feet are height adjustably attached to the lower ends of the legs.

13. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 12, wherein the positions of the legs are laterally adjustable relative to the platform.

14. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 7, including electrically-operated parking brake means for holding the objective lens mount and the turntable, respectively, in position upon de-energization of their motor means.

15. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 7, wherein the objective lens and the other lenses of the lens arrangement are of microscope type that are miniature relative to the lenses of a standard video surveillance camera.

16. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 15, wherein the remotely controlled means for adjusting the positions of lenses in the lens arrangement comprises remotely controlled, miniature, electric motors for respective lenses;

and drive means between said motors and the respective lenses.

17. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 15, wherein the mount for the objective lens is spherical in shape and is pivoted on an axis extending transversely of and normal to the optical axis of said objective lens.

18. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 17, wherein the spherical mount for the objective lens has a black, outer, spherical surface.

19. An integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor according to claim 17, wherein the remotely controlled means for tilting the objective lens mount comprises a sector gear fastened to said mount internally of its spherical shape;

a drive pinion in mesh with said sector gear; and

a miniature, reversible, electric motor for rotating said drive pinion in opposite directions.

20. An inconspicuous but broad sweep surveillance video viewing installation, comprising a concave viewing dome of unusually small size and shallow depth positioned in a concealing structural expanse for broad sweep viewing with its concavity facing upwardly;

an integrated imaging assembly and mounting therefor adapted for interconnection with a closed circuit television system, said imaging assembly comprising an optical lens arrangement including, among other lenses, an objective lens, a mount for said objective lens, and an electronic, charge-coupled, image-acquisition device optically aligned with said lens arrangement for receiving images therefrom;

mounting means for said imaging assembly positioned above and substantially wholly outside the concavity of said dome;

means pivotally mounting said objective lens mount in said mounting means rearwardly of but adjacent to said objective lens so said objective lens can be tilted and panned to sweep over a broad viewing area with limited protrusion thereinto;

remotely controlled means for tilting said objective lens mount;

remotely controlled means for panning said objective lens mount;

remotely controlled means for adjusting the positions of lenses in said lens arrangement; and

electronic video camera means with which said image-acquisition, charge-coupled device is electrically connected, said imaging assembly and mounting therefor and said means pivotally mounting said objective lens mount being independent of and unattached to said viewing dome.

21. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 20, wherein the objective lens and the other lenses of the lens arrangement are of microscope type that are miniature relative to the lenses of a standard video surveillance system.

22. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 21, wherein the remotely controlled means for adjusting the positions of lenses in the lens arrangement comprises remotely controlled, miniature, electric motors for respective lenses;

and drive means between said motors and the respective lenses.

23. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 20, wherein the mount for the objective lens is spherical in shape and pivoted on an axis extending transversely of and normal to the optical axis of said objective lens.

24. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 23, wherein the spherical mount for the object lens has a black, outer, spherical surface.

25. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 23, wherein the remotely controlled means for tilting the objective lens mount comprises a sector gear fastened to said mount internally of its spherical shape;

a drive pinion in mesh with said sector gear; and

a miniature, reversible, electric motor for rotating said drive pinion in opposite directions.

26. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 20, wherein the imaging assembly mounting means comprises a turntable;

mounting means for said turntable; and

a pair of arms depending form said turntable, the objective lens mount being pivotally mounted in and between the lower ends of the arms of said pair;

the remotely controlled means for panning the objective lens mount comprising a remotely controlled, miniature, electric motor; and

drive means between said electric motor and said turntable.

27. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 26, wherein the components of the imaging assembly are physically aligned longitudinally of and between the arms of the pair and are rigidly interconnected so as to tile with the object lens mount relative to said arms.

28. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 27, wherein the electronic camera means is mounted on one of the arms of the pair;

wherein electric cable means adapted for connection into a closed circuit television system passes into the imaging assembly through the turntable and is connected with the electronic camera means and the motor means; and

wherein means are provided adjacent to said turntable for preventing said cable from undue twisting.

29. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 28, wherein the means provided to prevent undue twisting of the cable is a slip ring device.

30. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 26, wherein the mounting means for the turntable comprises a platform in which the turntable is mounted, and a plurality of legs depending from said platform to terminations in feet adapted to rest on the concealing structural expanse.

31. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 30, wherein the feet are height adjustably attached to the lower ends of the legs.

32. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 31, wherein the positions of the legs are laterally adjustable relative to the platform.

33. A surveillance video viewing installation according to the claim 20, wherein part or all of the imaging assembly located beyond the objective lens and its mount is positioned within the concavity of the viewing dome.

34. A surveillance video viewing installation according to claim 33, wherein the means pivotally mounting said objective lens mount extends somewhat below the level of the opening of the concavity of the dome, so the imaging assembly is entirely within the viewing dome.