Movable security camera apparatus

• US 5,327,233 A
• Filed: 09/16/1991
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Choi, Seung L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/760,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 358/108, 358/93, 358/103
• US Class Current: 348/152
• 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 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A movable security camera apparatus for providing visual security with minimal human effort, error and equipment expense, includes a MICOM, a path input section, a sensing section, a sensor detecting section, a camera video tape recording section, and a main driving section. The MICOM controls the whole system, including the motion of a watch camera on the basis of control programs in accordance with inputted path information. The sensing section provides the data for the moving direction of the camera, the data being obtained when sensors of a rail are controlled by the path commands of the MICOM.

Claims

1. A movable watch camera apparatus comprising:

a MICOM for controlling the whole system and for controlling the motion of a watch camera on the basis of control programs in accordance with inputted moving path information;

a path input section for inputting into said MICOM the moving path information for said watch camera;

a sensing section for providing the data for the moving direction of said camera, after sensors on a rail are controlled by path commands of said MICOM;

a sensor detecting section for detecting the moving path of said watch camera by sensing the states of said sensors of said sensing section;

a camera video cassette tape recording section including said watch camera and a video cassette tape recorder;

said watch camera being for taking photographs over the area to be guarded by moving along said rail; and

said video cassette tape recorder, being for recording the photographed data of said watch camera intermittently or continuously in accordance with the controls of said MICOM; and

a main driving section for supplying driving power to said camera video cassette tape recording section, and for driving said watch camera or changing the moving direction of said watch camera according to the output of said sensor detecting section.

2. The movable watch camera apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control program of said MICOM comprises the steps of:

discriminating as to whether an input for the moving path of said watch camera is inputted;

returning to a preset normal state in the absence of the path input;

setting the operations of said sensors of said sensing section, and driving a motor and said watch camera in the presence of the path input;

carrying out a recording mode to record photographed data of said watch camera;

discriminating as to whether said watch camera is positioned at the end of said rail after carrying out the recording mode;

reversing the moving direction of said watch camera if said watch camera is positioned at the end of said rail; and

discriminating as to whether said watch camera is positioned at the end of the path after reversing the moving direction.

3. The movable watch camera apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said recording mode comprises the steps of:

setting recording-on and recording-off times;

checking the elapse during the recording-on time after turning on the recording mode; and

turning off the recording mode when the recording-on time, elapsed and turning on the recording mode to repeat after the recording-off time elapsed.

4. The movable watch camera apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera video cassette tape recording section comprises sensor detection means, and camera moving means including a driving gear, said driving gear being installed on the lower part of a mounting pole for mounting said watch camera.

5. The movable watch camera apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said camera moving means comprises a spur gear disposed on said rail to be meshed with said driving gear of said mounting pole.

6. The movable watch camera apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said rail is provided with a plurality of sensors in a predetermined interval on the inner bottom thereof.

7. The movable watch camera apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sensor detecting means utilizes a F/V converter.

8. The movable watch camera apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sensor detecting means comprises of a proximity switch.

9. A movable security camera apparatus, comprising:

path input means for providing path data of a security camera moving along a path on a rail;

sensing means for providing sensing data of a plurality of sensors located on the rail in conjunction with the movement of the security camera along the rail;

sensor detecting means for detecting the path in accordance with the sensing data;

microcomputing means for controlling the apparatus in accordance with the path data, sensing data, and detected path;

video means for video monitoring and video recording an area determined by the movement of the security camera; and

driving means for driving said video means and driving a motor for moving said security camera along the path.

10. The movable security camera apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein a control program of said microcomputing means comprises the steps of:

discriminating whether path data is available;

returning to a preset normal state in the absence of path data;

setting sensor states and driving said security camera in the presence of path data;

selectively monitoring and recording video data;

determining whether said security camera is positioned at an end of said rail;

reversing a moving direction of said security camera when said security camera is positioned at the end of the rail;

deciding whether said security camera is positioned at an end of the path;

if said video camera is at the end of the path, terminating the method; and

if said video camera is not at the end of the path, returning to the determining step.

11. The movable security camera apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said selectively monitoring and recording step comprises the steps of:

setting a recording-on and a recording-off time;

starting recording at the recording-on time;

checking the time elapsed from the recording-on time; and

ending recording according to the elapsed time.

12. The movable security camera apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said security camera further comprises a driving gear mounted on a lower part of a pole securing the security camera.

13. The movable security camera apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a spur gear mounted on the rail to be meshed with the driving gear.

14. The movable security camera apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprised of said plurality of sensors being located on an inner bottom of the rail at predetermined intervals.

15. The movable security camera apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said sensor detecting means further comprises a frequency to voltage converter.

16. The movable security camera apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said sensor detecting means further comprises a proximity switch.

17. A movable security camera system comprising:

a video camera mounted on one end of a mounting piece engaged with a rail, said video camera being movable on the rail along a predetermined path, and said video camera comprising video monitoring means for monitoring photographed data of an area adjacent to the rail;

sensing means, attached to another end of the mounting piece, for providing sensing data in response to the movement of the video camera on the rail;

driving means for driving the video camera, and for providing said movement of the video camera, mounting piece and sensing means; and

microcomputing means for controlling and monitoring the system in accordance with said sensing data and a software program.

18. The movable security camera system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the video camera further comprises video recording means for recording said photographed data of the area.

19. A movable video security system comprising:

monitoring means for monitoring video data of an area adjacent to a rail;

sensing means, connected to said monitoring means via a mounting section, for sensing movement of the monitoring means by sensing a positional sensor on the rail; and

means for controlling the monitoring means in response to said sensed positional sensor.

20. The movable video security system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the means for controlling comprises a microcomputer.

21. The movable video security system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the monitoring means further comprises means for recording video data.

22. The movable video security system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the means for recording further comprises a video cassette recorder.

23. A method of a security system comprising the steps of:

monitoring video data of an area adjacent to a rail using a video camera;

sensing a positional sensor on the rail corresponding to a position of the video camera; and

moving said video camera along the rail in response to said positional sensor being sensed.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of recording said monitored video data.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of controlling a predetermined movement path of the video camera in response to a program in a controller.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said program comprises the steps of:

discriminating whether path data is available, corresponding to a path of the movement of the video camera along the rail;

returning to a preset normal state in the absence of said path data;

setting a state of the positional sensor and driving said video camera in the presence of said path data;

selectively monitoring and recording video data;

determining whether said video camera is positioned at an end of said rail;

reversing a moving direction of said video camera when said video camera is positioned at the end of the rail;

deciding whether said video camera is positioned at an end of the path;

if said video camera is at the end of the path, terminating the method; and

if said video camera is not at the end of the path, returning to the determining step.

27. The movable security camera apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said selectively monitoring and recording step comprises, in a recording mode, the steps of:

setting a recording-on and a recording-off time;

starting recording at the recording-on time;

checking the time elapsed from the recording-on time; and

ending recording according to the elapsed time.