Multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus

• US 5,898,459 A
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lectrolarm Custom Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lectrolarm Custom Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, William V., Alperin, Alfred M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Vu
• Application Number:
  US08/992,854
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 348/15-16, 348/159, 348/211-213, 348/218-220, 348/357-358, 348/114, 348/208, 348/214, 348/219, 348/169, 348/143, 348/153, 382/103
• US Class Current: 348/219.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus comprising a base and a camera mechanism having a first camera and a second camera, with the second camera including a zoom mechanism for varying the zoom magnification of the second camera. The apparatus further has a pan-and-tilt mechanism for moving the cameras with respect to the base, and a video switch receiving the video outputs of the cameras and selecting one for view. The first camera is viewed while the camera mechanism is moved from one scene to another and the second camera is viewed while the camera mechanism is not moving and is paused for observation of a scene. A programmable controller controls the camera mechanism and the pan-and-tilt mechanism, and, while the camera mechanism is moving from one scene to another and the output of the first camera is being viewed, causes the zoom magnification and focus of the second camera to become set to the desired zoom magnification and focus for the next scene position. The second camera may also have a motion sensor alarm for detecting viewed motion while the camera mechanism is paused at a given scene, and the detection of such motion can cause the camera mechanism to pause an additional time at the given scene and to alert the operator. A microphone may detect motion noise of the pan and tilt and cause the viewed video to switch from camera to camera in response to the motion noise.

Claims

1. A multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a camera mechanism, said camera mechanism comprising;

i. a first camera having a first video output; and

ii. a second camera having a second video output and having a zoom magnification;

said second camera including zoom means for varying the zoom magnification of said second camera;

(c) pan-and-tilt means for moving said camera mechanism with respect to said base so that both said first said second cameras move in tandem;

(d) video switching means, receiving said first and said second video outputs, for selectively choosing one of said first and said second video outputs for output as a third video output;

said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said first video output while said pan-and-tilt means is moving said camera mechanism, and said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said second video output while said pan-and-tilt means is not moving said camera mechanism; and

(e) programmable control means for controlling said camera mechanism and said pan-and-tilt means;

said control means having a plurality of programmably pre-set selected view positions;

said zoom means being responsive to said control means.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which each one of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions has a pre-set selected zoom magnification setting of said zoom means associated therewith;

and, as said camera mechanism is moving from a first view position of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions to a second view position of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions, said control means causes said zoom means to change from a first zoom magnification setting associated with said first view position to a second zoom magnification setting associated with said second view position.

3. A multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a camera mechanism, said camera mechanism comprising;

i. a first camera having a first video output; and

ii. a second camera having a second video output and having a zoom magnification;

said second camera including zoom means for varying the zoom magnification of said second camera;

said second camera including motion sensor alarm means for asserting a motion alarm signal when motion is detected in a scene viewed by said second camera;

(c) alarm gating means for asserting a gated alarm signal only when both said motion alarm signal is asserted and said camera mechanism is not moving;

(d) pan-and-tilt means for moving said camera mechanism with respect to said base;

(e) video switching means, receiving said first and said second video outputs, for selectively choosing one of said first and said second video outputs for output as a third video output;

said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said first video output while said pan-and-tilt means is moving said camera mechanism, and said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said second video output while said pan-and-tilt means is not moving said camera mechanism; and

(f) programmable control means for controlling said camera mechanism and said pan-and-tilt means;

said control means having a plurality of programmably pre-set selected view positions each one of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions having a pre-set selected zoom magnification setting of said zoom means associated therewith; and

, as said camera mechanism is moving from a first view position of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions to a second view position of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions, said control means causes said zoom means to change from a first zoom magnification setting associated with said first view position to a second zoom magnification setting associated with said second view position;

said zoom means being responsive to said control means.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which each one of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions has a pre-set selected view delay period associated therewith during which said control means causes said pan-and-tilt means to pause at each respective said one of said pre-set selected view positions;

and, if said gated alarm signal is asserted during said pre-set selected view delay period, then said control means causes said pan-and-tilt means to pause at its current view position for an additional viewing delay period.

5. A multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a camera mechanism, said camera mechanism comprising;

i. a first camera having a first video output; and

ii. a second camera having a second video output and having a zoom magnification;

said second camera including zoom means for varying the zoom magnification of said second camera;

said second camera including motion sensor alarm means for asserting a motion alarm signal when motion is detected in a scene viewed by said second camera;

(c) alarm gating means for asserting a gated alarm signal only when both said motion alarm signal is asserted and said camera mechanism is not moving;

(d) pan-and-tilt means for moving said camera mechanism with respect to said base;

(e) video switching means, receiving said first and said second video outputs, for selectively choosing one of said first and said second video outputs for output as a third video output;

said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said first video output while said pan-and-tilt means is moving said camera mechanism, and said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said second video output while said pan-and-tilt means is not moving said camera mechanism; and

(f) programmable control means for controlling said camera mechanism and said pan-and-tilt means;

said control means having a plurality of programmably pre-set selected view positions;

said zoom means being responsive to said control means.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which each one of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions has a pre-set selected view delay period associated therewith during which said control means causes said pan-and-tilt means to pause at each respective said one of said pre-set selected view positions;

and, if said gated alarm signal is asserted during said pre-set selected view delay period, then said control means causes said pan-and-tilt means to pause at its current view position for an additional viewing delay period.

7. In combination,

(A) a plurality of multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus, each said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a camera mechanism, said camera mechanism comprising;

i. a first camera having a first video output; and

ii. a second camera having a second video output and having a zoom magnification;

said second camera including zoom means for varying the zoom magnification of said second camera;

said second camera further including motion sensor alarm means for asserting a motion alarm signal when motion is detected in a scene viewed by said second camera;

(c) pan-and-tilt means for moving said camera mechanism with respect to said base;

(d) video switching means, receiving said first and said second video outputs, for selectively choosing one of said first and said second video outputs for output as a third video output;

said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said first video output while said pan-and-tilt means is moving said camera mechanism, and said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said second video output while said pan-and-tilt means is not moving said camera mechanism; and

(e) programmable control means for controlling said camera mechanism and said pan-and-tilt means;

said control means having a plurality of programmably pre-set selected view positions;

said zoom means being responsive to said control means; and

(f) alarm gating means for asserting a gated alarm signal only when both said motion alarm signal is asserted and said camera mechanism is not moving; and

(B) alarm switching means, receiving said third video output and said gated alarm signal from each said apparatus off said plurality of multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus and responsive to said received gated alarm signals, for selectively choosing one of said received third video outputs to be a fourth video output upon assertion of one of said received gated alarm signals, said fourth video output being selected by said alarm switching means to be said third video output from the same apparatus as from which said asserted one of said received gated alarm signals is received.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7 in which, for each apparatus of said plurality of multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus:

each one of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions has a pre-set selected zoom magnification setting of said zoom means associated therewith; and

, as said camera mechanism is moving from a first view position of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions to a second view position of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions, said control means causes said zoom means to change from a first zoom magnification setting associated with said first view position to a second zoom magnification setting associated with said second view position.

9. The combination as recited in claim 8 in which, for each apparatus of said plurality of multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus:

each one of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions has a pre-set selected view delay period associated therewith during which said control means causes said pan-and-tilt means to pause at each respective said one of said pre-set selected view positions; and

, if said gated alarm signal is asserted during said pre-set selected view delay period, then said control means causes said pan-and-tilt means to pause at its current view position for an additional viewing delay period.

10. The combination as recited in claim 7 in which, for each apparatus of said plurality of multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus:

each one of said plurality of pre-set selected view positions has a pre-set selected view delay period associated therewith during which said control means causes said pan-and-tilt means to pause at each respective said one of said pre-set selected view positions; and

, if said gated alarm signal is asserted during said pre-set selected view delay period, then said control means causes said pan-and-tilt means to pause at its current view position for an additional viewing delay period.

11. A multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a camera mechanism, said camera mechanism comprising;

i. a first camera having a first video output; and

ii. a second camera having a second video output and having a zoom magnification;

said second camera including zoom means for varying the zoom magnification of said second camera;

(c) pan-and-tilt means for moving said camera mechanism with respect to said base;

(d) video switching means, receiving said first and said second video outputs, for selectively choosing one of said first and said second video outputs for output as a third video output;

said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said first video output while said pan-and-tilt means is moving said camera mechanism, and said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said second video output while said pan-and-tilt means is not moving said camera mechanism; and

(e) programmable control means for controlling said camera mechanism and said pan-and-tilt means;

said control means having a plurality of programmably pre-set selected view positions;

said zoom means being responsive to said control means;

said pan and tilt means emitting a certain noise only while said pan and tilt means is moving said camera mechanism, and said video switching means including microphone means, responsive to said certain noise, for detecting said certain noise and generating an electrical signal representative thereof;

said electrical signal operably causing said video switching means to be said first video output while said certain noise is detected by said microphone means, and said electrical signal causing said video switching means to be said second video output while said certain noise is not detected by said microphone means.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said video switching means further comprises bandpass filtering means for bandpass filtering from said electrical signal noises that are dissimilar from said certain noise.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said video switching means further comprises delay means for causing said video switching means to be said first video output while said certain noise is detected by said microphone means and for a certain delay period thereafter.

14. A multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a camera mechanism, said camera mechanism comprising;

i. a first camera having a first video output; and

ii. a second camera having a second video output and having a zoom magnification;

said second camera including zoom means for varying the zoom magnification of said second camera;

(c) pan-and-tilt means for moving said camera mechanism with respect to said base;

(d) video switching means, receiving said first and said second video outputs, for selectively choosing one of said first and said second video outputs for output as a third video output;

said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said first video output while said pan-and-tilt means is moving said camera mechanism, and said third video output being selected by said video switching means to be said second video output while said pan-and-tilt means is not moving said camera mechanism; and

(e) programmable control means for controlling said camera mechanism and said pan-and-tilt means;

said control means having a plurality of programmably pre-set selected view positions;

said zoom means being responsive to said control means;

said pan and tilt means emitting a certain noise only while said pan and tilt means is moving said camera mechanism, and said video switching means including microphone means, responsive to said certain noise, for detecting said certain noise and generating an electrical signal representative thereof;

said electrical signal operably causing said video switching means to be said first video output while said certain noise is detected by said microphone means, and said electrical signal causing said video switching means to be said second video output while said certain noise is not detected by said microphone means; and

said video switching means further comprises delay means for causing said video switching means to be said first video output while said certain noise is detected by said microphone means and for a certain delay period thereafter.