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High-resolution panoramic television surveillance system with synoptic wide-angle field of view

  • US 5,790,183 A
  • Filed: 04/05/1996
  • Issued: 08/04/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A high-resolution panoramic television surveillance system having a wide-angle synoptic field of view and comprising an image-sensing station, wherein said image-sensing station comprisesa) imaging-sensor means for collecting a "live" television-like synoptic panoramic surveillance image, having a line-format field of view,b) means for effecting rotation of said imaging-sensor means about an azimuthal scan-rotation axis at a predetermined angular rate whereby image data is continuously collected from a synoptic wide-angle unobstructed panoramic field, andc) image-data delivery means for continuously delivering said image data from said image-sensing station,wherein said data delivery means comprisesd) rotary-joint data-transmission means for effecting data transmission between a rotatable portion of said image-sensing station and a non-rotatable portion of said image-sensing station, wherein said rotary-joint data-transmission means comprises a rotary-joint data link selected from among the group consisting of:

  • i) an optical-waveband electromagnetic-radiation-beam rotary-joint data link which comprises a single linear physical channel path, substantially parallel to said azimuthal scan-rotation axis of said image-sensing means and substantially coincident with said azimuthal scan-rotation axis of said image-sensing means, for transporting said image data to said non-rotatable portion and which comprises;

    an optical-waveband signal transmitter and beam-forming optics mounted to said rotatable portion of said image-sensing station, said optical-waveband signal transmitter for transmitting a single optical-waveband beam of light which contains an optical-waveband signal which contains said image data andsaid beam-forming optics being responsive to said optical-waveband beam for propagating said optical-waveband signal; and

    an optical-waveband receiver comprising beam-collecting optics mounted to said non-rotatable portion of said image-sensing station for receiving said optical-waveband beam of light which contains said optical signal;

    ii) an optical-fiber electromagnetic-radiation-beam rotary-joint data link which comprises a single linear physical channel path, substantially parallel to said azimuthal scan-rotation axis of said image-sensing means and substantially coincident with said azimuthal scan-rotation axis of said image-sensing means, for transporting said image data to said non-rotatable portion and which comprises a single linear optical-fiber structure comprising two co-aligned lengths of fiber-optic cable whereby;

    an optical-waveband signal transmitter and said first length of fiber-optic cable coupled to said optical-waveband signal transmitter and mounted to said rotatable portion of said image-sensing station transmits a single optical-waveband beam of light which contains an optical-waveband signal which contains said image data through said first length of fiber-optic cable; and

    an optical-waveband receiver and said second length of fiber-optic cable optically coupled to said optical-waveband receiver andmounted to said non-rotatable portion of said image-sensing station receives said optical-waveband signal;

    iii) a radio-frequency electromagnetic-radiation-beam rotary-joint data link which comprises a single linear physical channel path, substantially parallel to said azimuthal scan-rotation axis of said image-sensing means and substantially coincident with said azimuthal scan-rotation axis of said image-sensing means, for transporting said image data to said non-rotatable portion and which comprises;

    a radio-frequency signal transmitter and a beam-forming antenna mounted to said rotatable portion of said image-sensing station, said radio-frequency signal transmitter transmits a single radio-frequency electromagnetic power beam which contains a radio-frequency signal which contains said image data and said beam-forming antenna being responsive to said radio-frequency electromagnetic power propagates said radio-frequency electromagnetic power; and

    a radio-frequency receiver comprising a beam-collecting antenna mounted to said non-rotatable portion of said image-sensing station for receiving said transmitted radio-frequency electromagnetic power beam which contains said radio-frequency signal;

    iv) an electrically conducting rotary-joint data link which comprises a single linear electrical-conductor path, substantially parallel to said azimuthal scan-rotation axis of said image-sensing means and substantially coincident with said azimuthal scan-rotation axis of said image-sensing means, for transporting said image data to said non-rotatable portion and which comprises a coaxial electrical cable comprising two co-aligned lengths whereby said first length of electrical coaxial cable mounted to said rotatable portion of said image-sensing station transmits a wideband electrical signal which contains said image data;

    concentric contained volumes of high-electrical-conductivity fluid in electrical contact with said first length of electrical coaxial cable and responsive to said wideband electrical signal propagate said wideband electrical signal; and

    a second length of electrical coaxial cable mounted to said non-rotatable portion of said image-sensing station and in electrical contact with said concentric contained volumes of high-electrical-conductivity fluid receives said wideband electrical signal.

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