Apparatus within a street lamp for remote surveillance having directional antenna

• US 6,462,775 B1
• Filed: 03/10/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Detection Dynamics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Detection Dynamics Incorporated
• Inventors: Marshall, Dan H. II, Loyd, Jaylon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAO, ANAND SHASHIKANT
• Application Number:
  US09/265,462
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143-159
• US Class Current: 348/151
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/08 with a standard F21S6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A covert surveillance system for viewing images from a remote location is provided. The surveillance system provides a mirror, lens and camera arrangement within a small enclosure that allows full 360 degree pan, tilt, zoom, focus and iris control from a remote location. The system receives control commands such as rotate left, zoom out and tilt down via a radio receiver, and controls the camera accordingly. Images viewed by the camera are transmitted to a remote receiver for display on a monitor, or for recording. Continuous camera rotation is achieved by use of a specialized conductive drum that provides continuous electrical contact between camera signals and camera control. In one embodiment, the surveillance system is mounted in place of a photo detector in a street lamp, making the camera virtually undetectable. In addition, a rotatable directional antenna is included in the surveillance system to allow surveillance at great distances from the system. The directional antenna is remotely rotated using the same radio receiver that is used for camera control.

Claims

1. A remote surveillance system, comprising:

camera image transmission logic for viewing images and for transmitting the viewed images;

image reception logic, in communication with said camera image transmission logic, for receiving the transmitted images from said camera image transmission logic;

remote control logic, in communication with said camera image transmission logic, for selecting images to be viewed by said camera image transmission logic;

a directional antenna system, coupled to said camera image transmission logic, and in communication with said remote control logic, for receiving rotation commands from said remote control logic, and for rotating a directional antenna in response to said rotation commands; and

a street lamp housing, substantially enclosing said camera image transmission logic.

2. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said camera image transmission logic can view the images from said street lamp housing, and can transmit the viewed images to said image reception logic, while said camera image transmission logic are substantially hidden from views.

3. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said camera image transmission logic comprises:

a camera, for viewing images;

camera control, coupled to said camera, for controlling said camera; and

an image transmitter, coupled to said camera, for receiving the images from said camera and for transmitting the images to said image reception logic.

4. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said camera image transmission logic further comprises:

a remote control receiver, coupled to said camera control, for receiving control information from said remote control logic, and for communicating the control information to said camera control.

5. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said camera comprises:

a lens; and

an image capture device, coupled to said lens.

6. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said lens provides zoom, focus and aperture control.

7. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said image capture devices is a charge coupled device (CCD).

8. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said camera control selects images to be viewed by said camera by controlling the focus and zoom of said camera.

9. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 8, wherein said camera control further controls the aperture of said camera.

10. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 8, wherein said camera control further controls the pan of said camera.

11. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 10, wherein said camera can pan a full 360 degrees within said street lamp housing.

12. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 8, wherein said camera control further controls the tilt of said camera.

13. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said camera is mounted within a rotatable housing.

14. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said rotatable housing is mounted within said street lamp housing.

15. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 14, wherein a portion of said rotatable housing extends through said street lamp housing.

16. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said rotatable housing extends through an upper surface of said street lamp housing.

17. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 16, wherein the portion of said rotatable housing which extends through said upper surface of said street lamp housing encloses a mirror, for directing images into said lens of said camera.

18. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 17, wherein said portion of said rotatable housing which extends through said upper surface of said street lamp is disguised as a photo detector.

19. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 17, wherein said portion of said rotatable housing which extends through said upper surface of said street lamp comprises a cylinder, having an opening which allows images to be reflected by said mirror to said lens.

20. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said camera control provides voltage control signals to a plurality of motors which drive pan, tilt and focus for said camera.

21. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said image transmitter comprises a microwave transmitter.

22. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said remote control receiver comprises a radio receiver.

23. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 22, wherein said radio receiver receives dual tone modulated frequency (DTMF) signals from said remote control logic, and provides the DTMF signals to said camera control.

24. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said image reception logic comprise:

an image receiver; and

a monitor, connected to said image receiver;

whereby said image receiver is in communication with said camera image transmission logic for receiving viewed images from said camera image transmission logic.

25. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 24, wherein said image receiver is a microwave receiver for receiving continuous video images from said camera image transmission logic.

26. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 24, wherein said image receiver provides television image signals to said monitor.

27. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said remote control logic comprises a radio transmitter having a keypad input.

28. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 27, wherein said keypad input is used to select images to be viewed by said camera image transmission logic.

29. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said keypad input provides tilt and pan control information to said camera image transmission logic.

30. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said directional antenna system comprises a loop yagi antenna.

31. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said directional antenna system freely rotates through a 360 degree revolution.

32. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotation commands comprise left and right rotation signals.

33. The remote surveillance system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said directional antenna system comprises:

a motor;

a belt, coupled to said motor;

a directional antenna, having a mount; and

a coupling mechanism, for coupling said belt to said mount, allowing said directional antenna to rotate