Mobile surveillance system

• US 7,755,668 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RVision, Inc. (COMSovereign Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: RVision, Inc. (COMSovereign Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Johnston, Gregory E., Levinkron, Arie
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/059,077
• Time in Patent Office: 4,478 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/143, 348/244, 348/151, 348/115, 348/146, 348/149, 348/14.02, 348/14.05, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.4, 348/211.7, 348/211.49, 348/211.13, 348/211.8
• US Class Current: 348/211.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

The invention is a mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising (1) a fully rotatable camera mounted to a vehicle for capturing images, (2) a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling the camera and its movement, and (3) an image capture box for storing the captured images or transmitting the captured images to a remote location. The display-control box is attached to an adjustable mount in the vehicle within an operator'"'"'s view and reach.

Claims

1. A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising:

a fully rotatable camera attached to a mount assembly that is mounted to a vehicle for capturing mobile images wherein said mount assembly incorporates a quick disconnect mechanism and a double locking mechanism where one mechanism is a security fastener;

a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling said camera and its movement, said display-control box being attached to an adjustable mount in said vehicle within an operator'"'"'s view and reach;

an image capture box for receiving said captured mobile images.

2. A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising:

a fully rotatable camera attached to a mount assembly that is mounted to a vehicle for capturing mobile images, said mount assembly comprising a ball-plunger for self-locking said mount assembly;

a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling said camera and its movement, said display-control box being attached to an adjustable mount in said vehicle within an operator'"'"'s view and reach;

an image capture box for receiving said captured mobile images.

3. A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising:

a fully rotatable camera attached to a mount assembly that is mounted to a vehicle for capturing mobile images comprising a security fastener as a secondary and operator activated mechanical locking mechanism for said mount assembly;

a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling said camera and its movement, said display-control box being attached to an adjustable mount in said vehicle within an operator'"'"'s view and reach;

an image capture box for receiving said captured mobile images.

4. A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising:

a fully rotatable camera attached to a mount assembly that is mounted to a vehicle for capturing mobile images wherein full rotation is achieved by mounting said camera to a tilting mechanism mounted on a panning mechanism, said mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus further comprising a singular support for both said panning mechanism and said tilting mechanism and separate drive gears and slip clutches for both said panning mechanism and said tilting mechanism;

a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling said camera and its movement, said display-control box being attached to an adjustable mount in said vehicle within an operator'"'"'s view and reach;

an image capture box for receiving said captured mobile images.

5. A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each slip clutch comprises:

a rotationally free gear;

a support housing for gear;

a friction pad co-aligned to said gear between said gear and said support housing;

a wave washer to apply a pressure against said rotationally free gear and said support housing of sufficient force to enable a motor to drive said gear and said support housing to a point where said support housing stops rotating and said rotationally free gear breaks friction of said friction pad while said motor continues to drive without overheating.

6. A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising:

a fully rotatable camera attached to a mount assembly that is mounted to a vehicle for capturing mobile images;

a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling said camera and its movement, said display-control box being attached to an adjustable mount in said vehicle within an operator'"'"'s view and reach;

an image capture box for receiving said captured mobile images;

a bimetal heat sink for camera power supply temperature control.

7. A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising:

a fully rotatable camera attached to a mount assembly that is mounted to a vehicle for capturing mobile images;

a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling said camera and its movement, said display-control box being attached to an adjustable mount in said vehicle within an operator'"'"'s view and reach;

an image capture box for receiving said captured mobile images;

a camera enclosure with bezel opening that is threaded to accept optical filters and is sealed with an o-ring for moisture blocking, said camera enclosure being adapted to act as an additional heat sink.

8. A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising:

a fully rotatable camera attached to a mount assembly that is mounted to a vehicle for capturing mobile images;

a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling said camera and its movement, said display-control box being attached to an adjustable mount in said vehicle within an operator'"'"'s view and reach;

an image capture box for receiving said captured mobile images;

a camera enclosure with bezel opening that is threaded to accept optical filters and is sealed with an o-ring for moisture blocking, said camera enclosure incorporating a one-way moisture passage plug with flexible and sealed passage for wires.

9. A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising:

a fully rotatable camera attached to a mount assembly that is mounted to a vehicle for capturing mobile images wherein full rotation is achieved by mounting said camera to a tilting mechanism mounted on a panning mechanism, said mount assembly including an adapter plate to mate to a light bar used on emergency and patrol guard vehicles;

a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling said camera and its movement, said display-control box being attached to an adjustable mount in said vehicle within an operator'"'"'s view and reach;

an image capture box for receiving said captured mobile images.