Modular thermal security camera system

• US 6,830,387 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Rife, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US10/322,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 396/535, 396/429, 396/419, 396/427, 396/428, 348/373, 348/143, 348/374, 348/372, 348/207.99, 348/33, 348/151, 219/201, 352/243, 250/352, 250/370.15, 250/252.1, 250/363.02, 250/559.08, 250/239, 250/316.1, 361/727, 361/600
• US Class Current: 396/427
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system includes a camera housing, a first pair of tracks formed on an outside of, and along a length of, the camera housing, a second pair of tracks formed on the outside of, and along the length of, the camera housing, a camera disposed in the camera housing, and an adjustable mounting device that includes a pair of protrusions configured to engage either the first pair or the second pair of tracks and a threaded mounting hole formed therein configured to couple to a mounting screw.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a generally rectangular camera housing;

a first pair of tracks formed on the outside of the camera housing adjacent a first side of the camera housing;

a second pair of tracks formed on the outside of the camera housing adjacent a second side of the camera housing;

a thermal imaging camera disposed in the camera housing;

a rear access cover coupled to a rear of the camera housing with at least one fastener coupled to a respective track of the first pair and second pair of tracks;

a twenty-four volt AC power input receptacle coupled to the rear access cover;

a BNC connector adapted for NTSC video output coupled to the rear access cover;

a lens housing having a lens disposed therein coupled to a front of the camera housing with at least one fastener coupled to a respective track of the first pair and second pair of tracks; and

a mounting device adapted to adjustably couple to the camera housing, the mounting device comprising a pair of protrusions configured to engage either the first pair or the second pair of tracks, the mounting device further comprising a ¼

-20 threaded mounting hole formed therein configured to couple to a mounting screw.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting device is formed from two separate pieces and further comprises one or more clamping screws operable to couple the two pieces together and further operable to secure a position of the mounting device within either the first pair or the second pair of tracks.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grooves formed in the inside of the camera housing, the plurality of grooves configured to engage one or more circuit boards associated with the thermal imaging camera.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each track of the first and second pair of tracks is formed along the entire length of the camera housing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to fit within an existing security camera enclosure.

6. A system, comprising:

a camera housing;

a first pair of tracks formed on an outside of, and along a length of, the camera housing;

a rear access cover configured to couple to a rear of the camera housing with at least one fastener configured to couple to a respective track of the first pair of tracks; and

an adjustable mounting device comprising;

a pair of protrusions configured to engage the first pair of tracks; and

a threaded mounting hole formed therein configured to couple to a mounting screw.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a twenty-four volt AC power input receptacle coupled to the rear access cover; and

a BNC connector adapted for NTSC video output coupled to the rear access cover.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the adjustable mounting device is formed from two separate pieces and further comprises one or more clamping screws operable to bring the two pieces in proximity to one another to secure a position of the adjustable mounting device within the first pair of tracks.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the threaded mounting hole is a ¼

-20 threaded hole.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of grooves formed in the inside of the camera housing, the plurality of grooves configured to engage one or more circuit boards associated with the camera.

11. The system of claim 6, further comprising a second pair of tracks formed on the outside of, and along the length of, the camera housing;

wherein the at least one fastener is configured to couple to the respective track of the first pair or second pair of tracks; and

wherein the pair of protrusions is configured to engage either the first pair or the second pair of tracks.

12. A system, comprising:

a generally rectangular camera housing formed from a single piece of material;

a first pair of generally circular tracks formed on the outside of, and along the length of, the camera housing adjacent a first side of the camera housing;

a second pair of generally circular tracks formed on the outside of, and along the entire length of, the camera housing adjacent a second side of the camera housing; and

a mounting device comprising;

a pair of protrusions configured to engage respective tracks of either the first pair or the second pair of tracks;

a threaded mounting hole configured to couple to a mounting screw; and

a clamping screw operable to selectively secure a position of the housing when the pair of protrusions are engaged with the respective tracks and the threaded mounting hole is coupled to the mounting screw.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mounting device further comprises a ¼

-20 threaded mounting hole formed therein configured to couple to a mounting screw.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a rear access cover coupled to a rear of the camera housing;

a twenty-four volt AC power input receptacle coupled to the rear access cover; and

a BNC connector adapted for NTSC video output coupled to the rear access cover.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the rear access cover is coupled to a rear of the camera housing with a plurality of fasteners coupled to respective tracks of the first pair and second pair of tracks.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a thermal imaging camera disposed in the camera housing.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of grooves formed in the inside of the camera housing, the plurality of grooves configured to engage one or more circuit boards associated with the thermal imaging camera.