Image splitter for security cameras

• US 5,293,243 A
• Filed: 04/21/1992
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry Lee Stone
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Degnan, Howard A. Schaad
• Inventors: Schaad, Howard A., Degnan, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/871,440
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 358/226, 358/225, 358/229, 352/65, 352/69, 354/225, 354/115, 354/117, 354/122, 354/95, 359/855, 359/471, 359/477
• US Class Current: 348/369
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19626 optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2624 for obtaining an image which is composed of whole input images, e.g. splitscreen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for providing a pair of images to a fixed security camera, the apparatus comprising an angled mirror assembly comprising a left mirror and a right mirror joined at an edge therebetween and disposed at an angle between approximately 60° and 120°, preferably 90°, to each other. The mirrors are mounted on the angled mirror assembly such that images transmitted through each of a pair of windows of a housing are reflected by the mirrors towards a camera assembly, and the mirrors are bevelled at a joining edge such that no image is generated from the area within and between the respective surfaces thereof. As a result, a left image incident upon the left mirror is reflected thereby towards the camera, and a right image incident upon the right mirror is reflected thereby towards the camera, and the resultant image captured by said camera is composed of a split image of the left image and the right image.

Claims

1. An image splitting optical system an image splitting optical system comprising:

(a) a platform;

(b) optical means secured to said platform and disposed thereon to provide simultaneously to a camera a plurality of images; and

(c) means for securing a camera to said platform and further comprising a housing for enclosing said platform, said housing comprising a pair of windows disposed to enable transmission of images therethrough; and

wherein said optical means comprises a pair of mirrors joined at an edge and disposed at an angle between approximately 60° and

120°

to each other, said mirrors mounted on a mirror mounting means such that images transmitted through each of said windows of said housing are reflected by said mirrors towards said camera;

and wherein said mirrors are bevelled at said joining edges and fitted together at said joining edge such that no image is generated from the area within and between the respective surfaces thereof and wherein said mirror mounting means comprises a hinged mounting assembly attached to said mirrors, a pin inserted through said hinged mounting assembly and into one of a plurality of alignment holes on said platform, such that said mirror mounting means can be secured to any of a number of fixed positions on said platform and the position thereof can be adjusted as desired.

2. The image splitting optical system of claim 1 wherein said means for securing a camera to a platform comprise a ring threaded on a first side for coupling to the mount of a camera and threaded on a second side for coupling to a lens, and means for attaching said ring to said securing means.

3. The image splitting optical system of claim 2 further comprising a camera and a lens attached to said means for securing a camera.

4. An apparatus for providing a pair of images to a fixed security camera, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing comprising a pair of windows situated on opposite sides thereof;

(b) a platform slidably engaged within said housing;

(c) a camera assembly comprising a camera mounting block, a camera and a lens, said camera mounting block comprising a ring threaded on a first side for coupling to the mount of the camera and threaded on a second side for coupling to the lens, and a plurality of tabs for attaching said ring to said mounting block, wherein said camera assembly is slidably mounted along a groove of said platform; and

(d) an angled mirror assembly comprising a pair of mirrors comprising a left mirror and a right mirror joined at an edge therebetween and disposed at approximately 90°

to each other, said mirrors mounted on said angled mirror assembly such that images transmitted through each of said windows of said housing are reflected by said mirrors towards said camera, said mirrors bevelled at a joining edge such that no image is generated from the area within and between the respective surfaces thereof;

whereby a left image incident upon the left mirror is reflected thereby at approximately a 90°

angle towards said camera, and a right image incident upon the right mirror is reflected thereby at approximately a 90°

angle towards said camera, and the resultant image captured by said camera is composed of a split image of the left image and the right image.