Interactive surveillance device

• US 5,473,368 A
• Filed: 03/23/1994
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank J. Hart
• Original Assignee: Frank J. Hart
• Inventors: Hart, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, AMELIA MEGAN
• Application Number:
  US08/216,293
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/169, 348/151, 348/164, 348/163, 348/143, 348/214, 340/541, 340/565, 340/567
• US Class Current: 348/155
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• 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 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/08 Dolls, faces, or other representations of living forms with moving parts in the nature of toys A63H
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2019/086 Dolls
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

An automated interactive surveillance device provides passive infrared surveillance of a predetermined area to determine if an intruder enters the area. When the passive infrared detectors detect such an intruder, the device acts to aim a camera and ultrasonic rangefinder in the appropriate direction. The rangefinder determines the precise distance from the device to the intruder, whereupon the camera is accurately focused, the focal length adjusted for a relatively narrow field of view providing good resolution at the selected distance, and the angular elevation of the camera is adjusted appropriately. The passive infrared detectors may cooperate with a program to determine an approximate size for the detected intruder, based upon the amount of heat detected and the range determined by the ultrasonic rangefinder, to thus determine whether or not a human threat exists. The device may be elevated, with programming considering camera height, range to the intruder, and amount of heat detected to determine the approximate height of the intruder and aim the camera accordingly for a high resolution facial shot. One or more devices as needed may be connected to a remote monitoring site.

Claims

1. An automatically activated and operated interactive surveillance device for the detection and continual surveillance of an intruder, comprising:

a stationary portion having a plurality of passive detectors capable of continually scanning an area and providing for the detection of radiation emission by an intruder, and said stationary portion further including a stepper motor disposed therein and having a substantially vertical shaft extending upward therefrom;

a rotatable platform secured to said shaft of said stepper motor, with said rotatable platform including camera means pivotally mounted thereon to allow arcuate movement in a horizontal plane, and camera tilt means mounted between said rotatable platform and said camera means to control arcuate movement of said camera means in a vertical plane;

said rotatable platform further including active rangefinding means mounted thereon, with said active rangefinding means being aligned with said camera means, and;

control means including circuitry for the determination of the azimuth of the intruder by said passive detectors, operation of said stepper motor to cause said rotatable platform to rotate to align said camera means and said active rangefinding means with the intruder, activation of said active rangefinding means to determine the range from said surveillance device to the intruder, control of said camera tilt means to adjust the vertical elevation of said camera means to aim said camera means at the intruder according to the range determined by said active rangefinding means, and activation of said camera means, whereby;

said interactive surveillance device continually scans a predetermined area by means of said plurality of passive detectors, rotates said rotatable platform to align said active rangefinding means and said camera means with the intruder when the intruder is detected by said passive detectors and activates said active rangefinding means, operates said camera tilt means according to the range determined by said active rangefinding means, and activates said camera means to provide high resolution views of the intruder.

2. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 wherein:

said interactive surveillance device is adapted to a fixed and immovable installation on a permanent structure.

3. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 including:

means connecting at least one said interactive surveillance device with a remote security post, and providing communication therewith.

4. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 wherein:

said camera means includes a lens having adjustable focal length thereof, and said control means includes circuitry providing for the adjustment of said adjustable focal length of said lens according to the range determined by said active rangefinding means, whereby;

said focal length of said lens of said camera means is adjusted to provide an angular field of view according to the range determined by said active rangefinding means, thereby further providing high resolution views of the intruder.

5. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 wherein:

said control means further includes means for the determination of signal strength provided by said passive detectors and determination of an approximate size of the intruder producing such signal strength, whereby;

said camera tilt means aims said camera means to adapt to the approximate height of the intruder according to said means for the determination of signal strength, thereby further providing high resolution views of the intruder.

6. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 wherein:

said passive detectors provide continuous surveillance of at least 180 degrees.

7. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 wherein:

said passive detectors are passive infrared detectors.

8. The interactive surveillance device of claim 7 wherein:

said passive infrared detectors are disposed behind a single fresnel lens with each of said detectors subtending equal azimuthal fields of view, with said equal azimuthal fields of view totaling 180 degrees of azimuth.

9. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 wherein:

said active rangefinding means comprises an ultrasonic transceiver.

10. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 wherein:

said camera means comprises a video camera.

11. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 wherein:

said camera means comprises a camera adapted to receive infrared light, whereby;

said interactive surveillance device is capable of providing views of an intruder in conditions devoid of visible light.

12. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 including:

light means secured to said rotatable platform and aligned with said camera means, and said control means includes circuitry activating said light means when said camera means is activated, whereby;

said light means provides illumination of an intruder when said camera means is aimed at the intruder and activated.

13. The interactive surveillance device of claim 1 including:

a weather shield disposed over at least said rotatable platform, said camera means, and said active rangefinding means.