Video monitoring system

• US 6,285,394 B1
• Filed: 05/10/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James L.F. Huang
• Original Assignee: James L.F. Huang
• Inventors: Huang, James L. F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Vu
• Application Number:
  US09/307,553
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/148-150, 348/152-156, 348/158, 348/159, 379/37-40, 379/44-49
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A video monitoring system, which includes a transmitter unit having an alarm means and an audio-video means, a receiver unit having a keyboard means and an audio-video means, monitors and video cameras and wired/cordless alarm devices and video cassette recorders respectively connected to the transmitter unit and the receiver unit, the transmitter unit being controlled by the user through the receiver unit to monitor status at predetermined detecting zones at a distance. Wired/cordless alarm devices at the transmitter unit are triggered to alarm when a particular condition happens, and at the same time the video cassette recorder is simultaneously driven to record the event, and an automatic dialer dials particular telephone numbers to give an alarm signal.

Claims

1. A video monitoring system comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit, said transmitter unit comprising an alarm means and an audio-video means, said receiver unit comprising a keyboard means and an audio-video means, said receiver unit receiving status signals from said transmitter unit to achieve alarm and monitoring operations, wherein said alarm means comprises:

a first keyboard input unit for operation by the user to set arm/disarm and monitoring status and codes;

a first voice processing unit having speaker means connected thereto, said first voice processing unit being controlled to process audio signal to be transmitted to a second voice processing unit of the transmitter unit;

a parameter setting unit for enabling the user to set arm, alarm and monitoring status codes;

a cordless alarm control unit controlled to output signal to external peripheral apparatus, and to receive signals from sensor means at predetermined detecting zones;

a wired alarm control unit controlled to receive signals from sensors means at predetermined detecting zones, and to output signal to wired peripheral alarm means;

a first main control unit for controlling the operation of the sub-units of the alarm means of said transmitter unit; and

a first recognition unit for recognizing codes inputted from said first keyboard input unit and a second keyboard input unit of said keyboard means of said receiver unit, for enabling said receiver unit to be linked to said transmitter unit when said transmitter unit started;

said keyboard means of said receiver unit comprises;

a second keyboard input unit for operation by the user to set arm/disarm and monitoring status and codes to output set codes to said first recognition unit of said alarm means of said transmitter unit.

2. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said first keyboard input unit comprises at least 20 key switches.

3. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the audio-video means of said transmitter unit comprises a second voice processing unit having a speaker means connected thereto.

4. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the audio-video means of said transmitter unit comprises a first image processing unit having a monitor connected thereto.

5. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said parameter setting unit enables the user to set parameters including cordless alarm code, length of sound of alarm, length of arm/outdoors delay time, length of alarm/indoors delay time, length of picture switching time interval.

6. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein N/C, N/O, COM are connected to said wired alarm control unit (6) for real time recording when a VCR (video cassette recorder) is installed.

7. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said wired alarm control unit outputs 12V when a wired alarm is connected.

8. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said wired alarm control unit is connected to a battery lid having switch means, and triggered to output an alarm signal when said battery lid is opened after setting of said parameter setting unit.

9. The video monitoring system of claim 8 wherein when the battery lid is opened, the switched is triggered due to vibrations, or a manual alarm switch PAINC is depressed when under the arm status, an alarm signal is given through said first main control unit and said cordless alarm control unit, or sent to said receiver unit through a first dialer.

10. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said alarm means of said transmitter unit is connected to the audio-video means of said transmitter unit through a first interface unit.

11. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said alarm means of said transmitter unit comprises a first power supply unit controlled by a power switch to provide the alarm means of said transmitter unit with the necessary power supply, and to output power supply to the audio-video means of said transmitter unit through a second power supply unit.

12. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said second keyboard input unit comprises at least 20 key switches.

13. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said second keyboard unit transmits arm/disarm and code input data to the audio-video means of said receiver unit through a second interface unit.

14. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said first keyboard input unit comprises a picture mode control key switch for operation to switch display mode, enabling different pictures be displayed on monitors, which are respectively connected to first image processing unit at said transmitter unit and second image processing unit at said receiver unit.

15. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said first keyboard input unit comprises a single picture display control key switch for operation to let four pictures be simultaneously displayed on monitors at said transmitter unit and said receiver unit.

16. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said first keyboard input unit comprises a zone key switch, which when depressed, enables said first main control unit to enter setting of wired/cordless arm zone'"'"'s “

Active”

or “

Bypass”

.

17. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said first keyboard input unit comprises a Setup key switch, which when depressed drives said first main control unit to control a second main control unit to make setting and storing operations, for example, to set and store system code, telephone code, alarm code, and three automatic dialing telephone numbers.

18. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the audio-video means of said receiver unit comprises a third power supply unit, which when depressed, enables said second keyboard input unit to be substituted for said first keyboard input unit to let the user control said transmitter unit from a remote place.

19. The video monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the audio-video means of said transmitter unit is connected to an external computer, which controls the operation of said transmitter unit.