Integrated enclosure for video surveillance camera

• US 6,992,723 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Wulf, John Douglas, Anderson, Luis E., Schieltz, Steven W., Paolantonio, James R., Hauge, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHIPKEY, JASON T
• Application Number:
  US09/609,057
• Time in Patent Office: 2,041 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/374, 348/143, 348/151, 348/144, D16/203
• US Class Current: 348/374
• 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: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions

Abstract

A video surveillance camera enclosure that includes a camera housing for receiving a video surveillance camera chassis through a lower end. In one embodiment, the housing is adapted to be inserted into an opening in a ceiling member and includes a flange near the lower end and a plurality of mounting clamps for engaging the perimeter of an opening in the ceiling. The video surveillance camera chassis includes a plurality of positioning members on the perimeter of the chassis. The positioning members are engageable with a plurality of alignment flanges on the interior of the housing to guide the chassis into a preselected position within the housing. Final insertion of the chassis into the housing and electrical connection via blind mating connectors is by threaded fasteners on the positioning members and flanges. In an alternate embodiment, the housing is installed in an enclosure that is not installed in a ceiling but is self-contained and can be located outdoors. In the outdoor installation, a heater and fan assembly can be connected to the chassis. Selection of an address for installation of the camera can be accomplished without the need to disassemble the dome assembly. LEDs can be viewed from below the camera chassis for installation and service.

Claims

1. A video surveillance camera chassis for mounting a video surveillance camera in a video surveillance camera housing, comprising:

a support member having a lower end adapted for installation of a video surveillance camera and a plurality of positioning members disposed on a perimeter of said support member, said positioning members being engageable with a plurality of alignment flanges on the interior of a video surveillance camera housing to guide said support member into a preselected position within the housing, each of said positioning members include a shoulder for releaseably engaging the corresponding alignment flange, each of said shoulders being moveable between a first position butted against the flange to capture said support member in said preselected position and a second position free of the flange for removal of said support member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each positioning member further comprising means for biasing said shoulder in said first position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first connector connected to said support member, said first connector being mateable with a second connector disposed on the interior of the housing, wherein when said support member is captured in said preselected position, said first connector and the second connector are in mateable relation to each other, and including at least one fastener for compressing said support member toward the upper end of the housing to mate said first connector and the second connector together and to secure said support member to the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a printed circuit board connected to said support member and having at least one LED, said support member having at least one LED view port that corresponds to said at least one LED for remotely viewing said LED from below said support member, said first connector being connected to said printed circuit board.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said LED view port comprises a substantially funnel shaped tube that extends from adjacent said LED to a lower surface of said support member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a video surveillance camera housing and an enclosure having said housing mounted therein, said support member being mounted within said housing and an optical surveillance camera dome cover connected to a lower end of said housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a printed circuit board connected to said support member, said printed circuit board including at least one switch that is selectable from the exterior of said enclosure without disassembly of said support member, said housing, said dome cover, and said enclosure.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said printed circuit board further comprising at least one LED and at least one LED view port that corresponds to said at least one LED for remotely viewing said LED from below said enclosure.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said LED view port comprises a substantially funnel shaped tube that extends from adjacent said LED to a lower surface of said support member.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a wiring pigtail having a first connector disposed at a first end and at least a second connector disposed at a second end, said first connector being mateable with a third connector disposed on said printed circuit board, the second end of said pigtail extending to the exterior of said housing, said connector disposed on the second end of said pigtail being releaseably connectable to a video surveillance camera monitoring system.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising at least one fan attachable to said support member for circulating air across said printed circuit board, across a camera pan motor attached to said support member, and across the interior surface of said dome cover.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a controllable heater element attachable to said support member, said air circulating across said controllable heater element.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said at least one fan and said heater element are both attached to a fan support member, said fan support member being attachable to said support member, said fan support member having a first plurality of apertures, said support member having a second plurality of apertures, said first and said second plurality of apertures aligning with each other when said fan support member is attached to said support member, wherein air circulates through said first and said second plurality of apertures.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a second fan mounted on said support member to assist in air flow across said printed circuit board and across the camera pan motor, and wherein said air flows substantially unidirectionally across the interior surface of said dome cover.

15. A video surveillance camera enclosure, comprising:

a camera housing for receiving a video surveillance camera chassis through a lower end, said housing adapted for insertion into an opening in a ceiling member and including a connector disposed on an upper end of said housing for electrical connection to a video surveillance camera monitoring system, said housing including a flange disposed near the lower end of said housing for engaging a lower surface of the perimeter of said opening and a plurality of mounting clamps positioned around said housing and adjacent said flange, said mounting clamps having a first position relatively flush with the exterior of said housing so said housing can be inserted into the opening, and a second position extended substantially perpendicularly outward from the exterior of said housing for engaging an upper surface of the perimeter of the opening, said mounting clamps being moveable from said first position to said second position to capture a portion of the ceiling member adjacent said opening between said flange and said mounting clamps to secure said housing to the ceiling member, wherein the video surveillance camera chassis and a video surveillance camera attached to said chassis are insertable into the housing through the lower end;

wherein the distance between said mounting clamps and said flange is adjustable to provide compression on a portion of the ceiling member adjacent said opening between said flange and said mounting clamps.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the video surveillance camera chassis is disposed within said housing and further comprising a plurality of positioning members disposed on the perimeter of said chassis, said positioning members being engageable with a plurality of alignment flanges on the interior of said housing to guide said chassis into a preselected position within said housing, each of said positioning members including a shoulder for releaseably engaging said corresponding alignment flange, each of said shoulders being moveable between a first position butted against said flange to capture said chassis in said preselected position and a second position free of said flange for removal of said chassis.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each positioning member further comprises means for biasing said shoulder in said first position.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a first connector disposed on the interior of said housing in the upper end adapted to mate with a second connector connected to said video surveillance camera chassis, wherein when said chassis is captured in said preselected position, said first and second connectors are in mateable relation to each other, and including at least one fastener for compressing said chassis toward the upper end of said housing to mate said first and second connectors together and to secure said chassis to said housing.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a printed circuit board connected to said video surveillance camera chassis and having at least one LED, said chassis including at least one LED view port that corresponds to said at least one LED for remotely viewing said LED from below said housing, said second connector being connected to said printed circuit board.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said LED view port comprises a substantially funnel shaped tube that extends from adjacent said LED to a lower surface of said chassis.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a switch connected to said chassis and being switchable from the exterior of said housing without the need to remove said chassis.

30. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said LED view port comprises a substantially funnel shaped tube that extends from adjacent said LED to a lower surface of said chassis.

22. A video surveillance camera enclosure, comprising:

a camera housing for receiving a video surveillance camera chassis through a lower end, said housing adapted for insertion into an opening in a ceiling member and including a blind connector disposed on an upper end of said housing for electrical connection to a video surveillance camera monitoring system, said housing including a flange disposed near the lower end of said housing for engaging a lower surface of the perimeter of said opening and a plurality of mounting clamps positioned around said housing and adjacent said flange, said mounting clamps having a fist position relatively flush with the exterior of said housing so said housing can be inserted into the opening, and a second position extended substantially perpendicularly outward from the exterior of said housing for engaging an upper surface of the perimeter of the opening, said mounting clamps being moveable from said first position to said second position to capture a portion of the ceiling member adjacent said opening between said flange and said mounting clamps to secure said housing to the ceiling member, wherein the video surveillance camera chassis and a video surveillance camera attached to said chassis are insertable into the housing through the lower end.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the distance between said mounting clamps and said flange is adjustable to provide compression on a portion of the ceiling member adjacent said opening between said flange and said mounting clamps.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a protective cover for said upper end of said housing.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising an optical quality, injection molded surveillance camera dome cover attachable to said lower end of said housing.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the video surveillance camera chassis is disposed within said housing and further comprising a plurality of positioning members disposed on the perimeter of said chassis, said positioning members being engageable with a plurality of alignment flanges on the interior of said housing to guide said chassis into a preselected position within said housing, each of said positioning members including a shoulder for releaseably engaging said corresponding alignment flange, each of said shoulders being moveable between a first position butted against said flange to capture said chassis in said preselected position and a second position free of said flange for removal of said chassis.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein each positioning member further comprises means for biasing said shoulder in said first position.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a first connector disposed on the interior of said housing in the upper end adapted to mate with a second connector connected to said video surveillance camera chassis, wherein when said chassis is captured in said preselected position, said first and second connectors are in mateable relation to each other, and including at least one fastener for compressing said chassis toward the upper end of said housing to mate said first and second connectors together and to secure said chassis to said housing.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a primed circuit board connected to said video surveillance camera chassis and having at least one LED, said chassis including at least one LED view port that corresponds to said at least one LED for remotely viewing said LED from below said housing, said second connector being connected to said printed circuit board.

31. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a switch connected to said chassis and being switchable from the exterior of said housing without the need to remove said chassis.