Infrared vision illumination enhancement

• US 7,593,056 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wubs, Leonard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tuan V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cowan; Euel K
• Application Number:
  US10/974,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 348370-371, 348/162, 348/164, 348/360, 362/276
• US Class Current: 348/370
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• 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

Abstract

A camera and illuminator combination unit has a camera to generate images within a predetermined field of view, the field of view having a central axis, and an illuminator having an illumination axis, the illumination axis being non-parallel with the central axis. Alternately, a camera and illuminator combination unit has a camera to generate images within a predetermined field of view including areas of different distance from the unit and an illuminator having an illumination axis directed towards a distant portion of the field of view.

Claims

1. A surveillance camera and illuminator combination unit comprising:

an enclosure;

a surveillance camera disposed within the enclosure and operative to generate images within a predetermined field of view of a surveillance area, the field of view comprising areas of different distance from the camera and illuminator combination unit, the field of view having a central axis; and

a plurality of infrared illuminators disposed within the enclosure on opposing sides of the surveillance camera each having an illumination axis, each illumination axis being directed towards a different distant portion of the field of view, each illumination axis being non-parallel with the central axis wherein the combined infrared light from the plurality of illuminators forms a cone of illumination that extends outwards from the enclosure along a combined illumination axis that is offset from the central axis and where the cone of illumination has a smaller relative size than the field of view of the surveillance camera.

2. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of illuminators each comprise an illumination axis, wherein at least one of said plurality of illumination axes are non-parallel with respect to any other of said illumination axes and the illumination axes of the plurality of illuminators are not parallel with the central axis.

3. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one illuminator comprises an illuminator selected from among the group comprising LEDs, incandescent elements, fluorescent elements, and chemiluminescent elements.

4. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 1 wherein said at least one illuminator emits energy in a predetermined portion of the EM spectrum.

5. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined portion of the EM spectrum comprises the infrared portion of the EM spectrum.

6. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined portion of the EM spectrum comprises the near-infrared portion of the EM spectrum.

7. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said camera is operative to detect light in a predetermined portion of the EM spectrum.

8. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined portion of the EM spectrum comprises the near infrared portion of the EM spectrum.

9. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 1, wherein said camera is operative to detect light in a predetermined portion of the EM spectrum, and said at least one illuminator emits light in an intersecting portion of the EM spectrum.

10. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 1, further comprising an enclosure having at least one window admitting light energy to or from said at least one illuminator or said camera.

11. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 10, wherein said window comprises a void of enclosure material.

12. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 10, wherein said window comprises a material transparent to energy within a predetermined portion of the EM spectrum.

13. The camera and illuminator combination unit according to claim 10, wherein said window filters energy outside a predetermined portion of the EM spectrum.