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Surveillance system method and apparatus

  • US 6,462,774 B1
  • Filed: 12/20/1999
  • Issued: 10/08/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A computerized light monitoring system for use in combination with a video surveillance system that includes a surveillance camera producing video signals corresponding to light levels within a defined field of view, said monitoring system comprising:

  • a video signal input pathway for receiving video signals from the surveillance camera;

    a digitizer combined with the signal input pathway for translating video signals into digital light level data;

    a digitizer controller combined with the digitizer for selecting light level data corresponding to predetermined sample points within the field of view;

    a first memory combined with the digitizer and digitizer controller for storing selected light level data;

    a second memory combined with the processing unit for storing normal operation settings programmed into the monitoring system;

    a loss of video signal detector combined with the video signal input pathway and digitizer controller for detecting a loss of video signals from the video camera;

    a processing unit having a data input pathway and a data output pathway combined with the digitizer, digitizer controller, and first and second memories, said processing unit detecting degradation of light levels within a field of view, detecting black level conditions, and detecting a loss of video signal from the system and producing an output signal over the data output pathway corresponding to the condition detected;

    an alarm signal generator combined with the processing unit and being capable of generating at least one alarm signal; and

    timing circuitry combined with the processing unit for monitoring a durational requirement associated with an alarm condition.

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