Surveillance system having an operable recording device and a dummy recording device

• US 5,978,018 A
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakui, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Anand S.
• Application Number:
  US09/221,153
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/151, 348/153, 348/154, 348/156, 348/159, 360/137
• US Class Current: 348/151
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions

Abstract

A surveillance information recording system comprises a recording device loaded with a recording medium for recording video information concerning the object or place to be monitored, and a dummy device which can eject a recording medium in a manner similar to that in which a recording medium is ejected from an ordinary recording device. The recording device is located in an inconspicuous place, or concealed. The dummy device is located in a relatively conspicuous place. An intruder will mistakenly believe that if he carries out an ejecting operation on the dummy device and takes away the ejected recording medium, no evidence against him will be left behind. As an alternative, two loading sections may be provided in a single recording device, the recording of information being carried out in one of the loading sections, and the recording medium in the other loading section being ejected responsive to an ejecting operation.

Claims

1. A surveillance information recording device, comprising:

first and second loading sections, each capable of loading a recording medium;

means for recording on the recording medium loaded in said first loading section;

means ejecting the recording medium from said first loading section;

means for ejecting the recording medium from said second loading section;

wherein the ejection from said second loading section is effected in a manner similar to that in which ejection is effected in an ordinary recording device; and

the ejection from said first loading section is effected in a different way from the ejection from said second loading section.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the ejection from said first loading section is effected by means of operation of manual input means in some special mode or operation including entry of a password.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein a common opening is used both for said ejection from said first loading section and for said ejection from said second loading section, and said ejection from said first loading section cannot be effected in a state in which said second loading section is loaded with a recording medium.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a first outlet for said ejection from said first loading section, and

a second outlet for said ejection from said second loading section;

said second outlet being separate from said first outlet, and being concealed.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said ejection from said first loading section is effected by means of operation of manual input means in some special mode or operation including entry of a password.