Varied intensity and/or infrared auxiliary illumination of surveillance area

• US 5,739,847 A
• Filed: 03/20/1995
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Ronald B., Lang, Paul D., Tranchita, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRITTON, HOWARD W
• Application Number:
  US08/406,423
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 348/370, 348/371, 348/143, 348/148, 348/149, 348/150, 348/151, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/156, 348/157, 348/158, 348/159, 348/362, 354/75, 354/76, 354/81, 354/126, 354/145.1, 354/413, 354/416, 354/417, 354/412, 352/49, 352/198, 352/200
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Infrared radiation from a light source such as a laser diode illuminates the field of view of a surveillance camera. The amount of illumination is varied in intervals, which may for example, be about 3/4 of a second, by varying the power applied to the light source. The radiation may emanate from optical fibers surrounding a camera lens, or through other ports. The power to the laser diode may be altered in response to background light sensed by a photo cell.

Claims

1. A method of recording successive frames of images of subjects in a surveillance field of view by means of a surveillance camera which method includes illuminating said field of view with a source of illumination, and varying the intensity of said illumination as a function of time at a rate with respect to the timing of said successive frames of recorded images to assure each subject being recorded in said successive frames at varying levels of intensity of illumination of the subject.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising illuminating said field of view with a source of infrared illumination.

3. A method according to claim 1 comprising illuminating said field of view with a source which comprises a laser diode.

4. A method according to claim 1 comprising illuminating said field of view with a source which comprises a light emitting diode.