Track mounted surveillance system having multiple use conductors

• US 5,241,380 A
• Filed: 05/31/1991
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Video Sentry Corp. (Sentry Technology Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Video Sentry Corp. (Sentry Technology Corp.)
• Inventors: Benson, Andrew L., Carlson, Dennis A., Laveen, Eric W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Application Number:
  US07/708,516
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 358/100, 358/108, 358/109, 358/210, 358/229, 104/290, 104/295, 104/296, 104/297, 104/138.1, 246/167 R, 246/34 R, 246/63 R, 246/28 R, 246/8
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19623 Arrangements allowing camera linear motion, e.g. camera moving along a rail cable or track
• 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 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A surveillance system includes a track positioned along a selected path and a moveable carriage supported by the track. A pair of electrical conductors mounted adjacent and parallel to the track provide power to a drive assembly mounted on the carriage. Video cameras are mounted to the carriage for monitoring selected regions adjacent to the path. Output signals from the cameras are transmitted on the conductors to a remote monitoring location. In the preferred embodiment, control signals for controlling placement of the carriage along the track are also transmitted on the conductors.

Claims

1. A surveillance security system comprising:

a carriage track positioned along a path, the carriage track having a first end and a second end;

a pair of electrical conductors mounted along the path parallel to the track from the first end to the second end;

a carriage adapted to be supported by and moveable on the track;

drive means mounted on the carriage for positioning the carriage along the track, the drive means contacting the pair of electrical conductors to receive a power signal, the power signal providing sufficient electrical power to move the carriage;

camera means mounted on the carriage to monitor regions along and adjacent the path and provide an output signal representative of the monitored regions;

modulation means connected to the camera means receiving the output signal and modulating a carrier signal with the output signal, the modulation means contacting the pair of electrical conductors to transmit the modulated carrier signal on the pair of electrical conductors to a remote monitoring station connected to the pair of electrical conductors; and

termination means connected to the pair of electrical conductors remote from the modulation means for minimizing reflections of signals transmitted on the pair of electrical conductors.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising control means connected to the pair of electrical conductors, the control means generating a first control signal for controlling operation of the drive means, the first control signal transmitted to the drive means on at least a portion of the pair of electrical conductors and having a frequency different than the power signal.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first control signal selectively controls direction of carriage motion;

and the control means further generates a second control signal transmitted to the drive means on at least a portion of the pair of electrical conductors, the second control signal selectively controlling the speed of carriage travel.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first control signal comprises a first frequency and the second control signal comprises a second frequency.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the electrical power provided to the drive means is pulse width modulated to selectively control the speed of carriage travel.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and a proximity sensor positioned adjacent the track, the proximity sensor providing an output signal when the carriage is positioned adjacent the sensor.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the proximity sensor is positioned at the end of the track, and a second proximity sensor is positioned at the opposite end of the track.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and display means located at the remote location and electrically connected to the pair of conductors, the display means receiving the electrical output signal and displaying a representative video output.

9. A surveillance security system comprising:

a carriage track positioned along a path, the carriage track having a first end and a second end;

a pair of electrical conductors mounted along the path parallel to the track from the first end to the second end;

a carriage adapted to be supported by and moveable on the track;

drive means mounted on the carriage for positioning the carriage along the track, the drive means contacting the pair of electrical conductors to receive a power signal, the power signal providing sufficient electrical power to move the carriage;

camera means mounted on the carriage to monitor regions along the path and provide an output signal representative of the monitored regions;

modulation means connected to the camera means receiving the output signal and modulating a carrier signal with the output signal, the modulation means contacting the pair of electrical conductors to transmit the modulated carrier signal on the pair of electrical conductors to a remote monitoring station connected to the pair of electrical conductors; and

termination means connected to the pair of electrical conductors remote from the modulation means for minimizing reflections of signals transmitted on the pair of electrical conductors; and

control means mounted on the carriage receiving a control signal to selectively control the drive means to position the carriage, the control signal being transmitted on the pair of electrical conductors and having a frequency different than the power signal.

10. A surveillance security system comprising:

a carriage track positioned along a path, the carriage track having a first end and a second end;

a pair of electrical conductors mounted along the path parallel to the track from the first end to the second end;

a carriage adapted to be supported by and moveable on the track;

drive means mounted on the carriage for positioning the carriage along the track, the drive means contacting the pair of electrical conductors to receive a power signal, the power signal providing sufficient electrical power to move the carriage;

a remote receiving station connected to the pair of electrical conductors;

surveillance means mounted on the carriage to monitor regions along the path and provide an output signal representative of the monitored regions; and

modulation means connected to the surveillance means receiving the output signal and modulating a carrier signal with the output signal, the modulation means contacting the pair of electrical conductors to transmit the modulated carrier signal on the pair of electrical conductors to the remote monitoring station; and

termination means remote from the modulation means connected to the pair of electrical conductors for minimizing reflections of signals transmitted on the pair of electrical conductors.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said surveillance means comprises a camera for monitoring regions along and adjacent the path, the camera providing an output signal representative of the monitored regions.

12. The system as set forth in claim 10 and control means connected to the pair of electrical conductors, the control means generating a first control signal for controlling operation of the drive means, the first control signal transmitted to the drive means on at least a portion of the pair of electrical conductors and having a frequency different than the power signal.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first control signal selectively controls direction of the carriage;

and the control means further generates a second control signal transmitted to the drive means on at least a portion of the pair of electrical conductors, the second control signal selectively controlling a further function of the carriage.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first control signal comprises a first frequency and the second control signal comprises a second frequency.

15. A surveillance security system comprising:

a housing having an elongated surveillance opening positioned along a longitudinal path;

a carriage track positioned in the housing along the path, the carriage track comprising a first guide member substantially parallel to the path, and a second guide member mounted below, laterally spaced from and substantially parallel to the first guide member, the carriage track having a first end and a second end;

a pair of electrical conductors mounted along the path parallel to the track from the first end to the second end;

a carriage adapted to be supported by and moveable on the first guide member and the second guide member;

drive means mounted on the carriage for positioning the carriage along the carriage track, the drive means contacting the pair of electrical conductors to obtain sufficient electrical power to move the carriage;

surveillance means mounted on the carriage substantially between the first and second guide members and below the first guide member, the surveillance means monitoring regions along and adjacent the path through the surveillance opening and providing an output signal representative of the monitored regions;

modulation means connected to the surveillance means receiving the output signal and modulating a carriage signal with the output signal, the modulation means contacting the pair of electrical conductors to transmit the modulated carrier signal on the pair of electrical conductors to a remote monitoring station connected to the pair of electrical conductors; and

termination means connected to the pair of electrical conductors remote from the modulation means for minimizing reflections of signals transmitted on the pair of electrical conductors.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the first guide member comprises a guide ledge connected to the housing above the surveillance opening, and wherein the second guide member comprises a second guide ledge connected to the housing.

17. The system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the carriage includes a first wheel for rolling on the first guide ledge and a second wheel for rolling on the second guide ledge.

18. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the housing includes a wall opposite the surveillance opening and the second guide ledge is connected to the wall.

19. The system as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising lateral means for maintaining lateral position of the carriage for movement along the carriage track.

20. The system as set forth in claim 19 wherein the lateral means comprises a lateral guide surface substantially perpendicular to a guide surface of the second guide member.

21. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the drive means comprises a drive wheel contacting the second guide member.

22. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the surveillance means comprises a camera.